Do Not give your home back to the bank? Consider a short sale.

I am often asked how does a short sale or foreclosure will impact someone's credit score. A new report from syndicated writer Kenneth Harney now reveals the damage.

Before we go further, please note that these figures below are compiled based on your Vantage credit score. The Vantage score is a fake score manufactured by the three main credit bureaus -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. It is not the official score used by most lenders. Yet it still give you a good indication of what to expect with your true credit score.

• A short sale will ding your credit score by 120-130 points.•

For the full article click the link: Foreclosure or Short Sale

Here are eight home improvements you can finish by Labor Day that will pay you back. Each costs less than $1,000 and less than a day’s work

Here are eight home improvements you can finish by Labor Day that will pay you back. Each costs less than $1,000 and should require less than a day’s work.

Replace Sinks and Faucets

Estimated Price: $400 (sink), $150 (faucet)

For home buyers, “the kitchen is king,” says Paul Cardis, chief executive of Avid Ratings, which conducts an annual survey of more than 20,000 first-time home buyers to determine design preferences. “For those looking to spruce up their house, the kitchen is the place.”

You can replace a kitchen sink and faucet yourself in a matter of hours. Be sure to seek out low-flow faucet aerators that can reduce water usage by 30%. (Energy-efficient features, specifically, are a “must have” or are “really wanted” by 88% of home buyers these days.) You can expect to recoup 70% to 80% of the cost of kitchen-remodeling work when you sell your home.

Add a Backsplash

Estimated Price: $14 per 12-by-12-inch tile



For the rest of eight home improvements click the link: Eight Home Improvements