Topics in Home
and Auto
Updated - Oct. 19, 2009


Time to Go Appliance Shopping?
It may be that a new appliance could pay for itself in a few years.

Playing Defense against Harsh Weather
Up on the roof, you can see if your home is ready for rough weather.

My Story: “New” Mini-Blinds
Updating vinyl blinds for less.

Do You Need that Rental Car Coverage?
Knowing when to accept or reject this expensive add-on.

Can't Afford Housing Repairs?
What to do when you run out of money mid-project.

Putting your Lawnmower to Bed for the Winter
Minimize your aggravation next spring.

Energy Efficiency How-To
Simple advice for lowering heating bills.

Finding the Best Contractor
Get the work done right without overspending.

The Auto Auction
You don’t need two jobs to buy a decent car.


Ask Bob: Auto Answer Man

Is Engine Warm Up Necessary?
You should not just turn the key and zoom away.

Good Battery
His engine refuses to crank.

Sometimes Starting
You never know whether this Honda will start.

Weak Alternator
It is probably on its way out.



Got a car care question?
Visit the Car Care Clinic

The Natural Handyman

Unstable Toilet
Consider hidden leakage.

Painting the Inside of a Garage
Is interior or exterior paint better?

Replacing a Dryer Vent
Making sure to allow maximum airflow.

Electrical Safety
Protect your loved ones.



Knowing When to Sell
Josh wants to know when he knows that it's time to get out of his car loan.

Dave Discusses Paying the House Off
Dave has a very good reason (three of them, in fact) for why the argument to keep your mortgage doesn't hold water.

A New Engine
Either my car needs a new engine, or I need another car. How do I know which one I should do?

Christina's Downward Auto Spiral
What's really stupid is that if I had kept my first SUV, it would be paid off already. Ten years and I'm still making car payments!


Today's Market
The real estate world has turned upside down. What's old is new. What was in is out and yesterday is the future.

Buyer's Boon
It may be the best time in years to buy a home. Or will prices drop even further?

Seller's Sufferings
The pain continues for those who must sell -- but will the stimulus spark sales?


As time runs out, don't blow first-time home buyer tax credit
Running up credit card bills before closing can jeopardize that $8,000 tax break you were hoping would make you a first-time home buyer.

Don't let delinquent debt keep you from getting a mortgage
Getting serious about buying a house someday? Those delinquent debts have got to go or your dreams of homeownership may remain just that -- a dream.

Best to apply cash to credit card debt or down payment?
Is it wiser to use a lump sum of cash to pay off credit card debt or dump it into savings for a future house down payment?

How foreclosures, short sales, other mortgage defaults affect credit
How big a bite does a home foreclosure, short sale or other mortgage default take out of your credit score?

When hit with extra fees on auto lease, pay them on time or else
Our expert warns that whether you're talking about a credit card, a car lease or any other type of debt, the best thing you can do for your credit is to pay what you owe -- in full and on time.

Think twice before rolling credit card debt into mortgage refinancing
People with equity in their homes can still borrow against it to settle debts. With mortgage rates at historic lows, consolidating credit card debt in a refinance can substantially lower monthly expenses. Yet many financial experts advise against it.



8 popular types of mortgages
Take a look at the different types of mortgages on the market to decide which would be best for you.

Renters get relief from foreclosure
The foreclosure crisis has not been kind to renters. A new federal law aims to change that.

Time to reassess your homeowners policy
Does the decline in housing prices mean your homeowners coverage and premium are too high?

Extra payments cut mortgage by 12 years
Diverting a little extra cash into your mortgage can save you tens of thousands of dollars.

Mortgage modification may be credit downer
How a modified home loan affects your borrowing depends on how it's reported. Here's what to expect.

Mortgage flexibility is not cheap
A first-time homebuyer is wise to buy some financial wiggle room, even if it costs $10,000.

How much is that house worth?
A home's true value boils down to what a willing buyer and seller can agree to.

Should you sell home without agent?
Ask yourself these five questions before selling a home without the help of a real estate agent.

7 steps to a great foreclosure buy
Thinking of buying a foreclosure? Follow these tips to help assure you get a good deal.

Simple-interest mortgage savings can add up
Making payments a month early reduces the interest expense on a simple-interest mortgage.

3 ways to lose a HELOC, keep the house
When a HELOC is secured by your home, one of these options may help you to keep your property.

When will YOUR housing market recover?
Forget the forecasts; analyze what's happening with the real estate market in your town.

Cheap ways to spruce up a home
Make a splash without spending much cash with these 10 quick and easy home projects.


Driving for Dollars

Is a returned GM car a good deal?
Sure, a just-bought, returned car would be discounted, but don't bet on anybody bringing one back.

New fuel standard: pay now, save later
The government's proposal for fuel economy will cost drivers initially but save over the car's life.

Find financing before car shopping
By going to the lender first, you can determine how much car you can afford to buy.

Car buyers keep Subaru humming
Bucking a stifling recession for automakers, Subaru sales are up as it fills a niche in the industry.

The Real Estate Adviser

Seek loan extension before giving up home
The bank may be willing to adjust your loan and extend your payments to avoid seizing it.

There's little hope for co-signer
You can approach the lender for a loan modification, but the homeowner still controls the property.

Sell stake in home to other owners
In a tenant-in-common deal, your partners may not want to jointly own a home with a stranger.



Bankrate: Fighting Foreclosures

With the home equity bubble popping, consumers could find their homes in peril, especially those with adjustable-rate mortgages.

Fight Foreclosure
A number of factors started the housing mess but it ends with homeowners fighting to keep a roof over their heads.

8 Do's and Don'ts for Fighting Foreclosure
What to do and what to avoid in order to avert a financial disaster.

Mortgages: Mortgage Foreclosure Timeline for Day 1 through Day 415
Homeowners have several chances to stop the foreclosure process once it's started. Here are the details to help you keep your house.

Avoiding Foreclosure-Rescue Scams
The convergence of economic and political forces may soon bring about a home-equity version of the stock market crash of 1929.

Double Whammy: Foreclosure and Taxes
Losing your home in a foreclosure is bad enough. Wait until you get the tax bill.

Facing foreclosure? Try a Workout.
If you're in trouble with your mortgage, here are steps to take to work out a solution with your lender.

Foreclosure Counseling for Homeowners
Community organizations offer a less intimidating alternative to banks for homeowners trying to work through foreclosure.

Know-Your-Mortgage Worksheet
Can't keep the terms and conditions on your adjustable-rate mortgage straight? Use this work sheet to pull the key information together on one simple form.

Mortgage Reset Calculator
Do you know what your new mortgage payment will be when your rate adjusts? Use this calculator to find out what your payment would be if your rate was to adjust today.