Do It Yourself Content Index - Page 1

To save money, some people follow do it yourself projects. Our do it yourself content shows you how to build and repair items around your home. Do it yourself projects are one way to save the expense of hiring a handyman. However, do not take on projects that are too much for you. Always call in a professional if you need one.

**Qualifying For a Mortgage Loan Stricter For Home Equity Lines Of Credit** Today, bank requirements for a loan are stricter for new home equity lines of credit than they were just a few years ago. Banks and lenders are tightening the requirements for home equity lines of credit and other personal lines of credit to make sure their funds are safe. Now, banks might require higher credit scores, more equity in your home, and other strict requirements before they will give you a line of credit. However, if you shop around, you may be able to find a bank willing to give you a home equity line of credit.

Ilyce Glink Show Notes - November 1, 2009. How has the credit crisis and recession changed you and your spending habits? I want to hear from you. Free books and ebook deal. This week, our latest ebooks, on investing in real estate, will be released on ThinkGlink.com as will our podcasts from our How to Profit From Foreclosures event. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest information, discounts and deals.

**Title Insurance May Solve Encroachment Issue** If you are buying a home and find out you may have a title problem, you should talk to the title insurance company to determine if the title problem can be insured over by the title insurance company. Many real estate properties have minor title insurance problems that are small enough that the title insurance company may be willing to give you peace of mind with coverage under the title insurance policy.

**LLC vs Corporation: Can You Do Without Either** When it comes to choosing how to hold your real estate investments, you can choose from many options. The most popular options are using an LLC to own real estate or a corporation. Some decide that they would prefer to hold title to their real estate investments in their own name. Is it wise to own investment real estate properties in your own name?

**Why Buy Title Insurance On a House When You Pay Cash For the Home** If you are making the largest investment of your life, wouldn't you want to make sure you are protected by obtaining and buying title insurance? When you buy title insurance on a house, a title company gives you certain guarantees that you are the rightful owner of the home and certain other title protections. Title insurance does not protect you against future title problems that might develop nor does it protect you from fire or other casualties. But if you are paying cash to a seller are you certain the seller will give you good title to the home?

**Transferring Home To Children When You Co-Own The Home With Them** Many parents want to transfer their home to their children during their lifetime, rather than wait until they have died and transfer the property by will. In some cases, transferring a home to a child when the parent is living may be a mistake. In other cases, if the planning is done right, the parent can get his or her wish of having the home pass on to the child during his or her lifetime without adverse tax consequences for the parent. When you co-own a home with your children, you need to be extra careful in the way you transfer your interest to them.

**Home Buying Risks, Pitfalls and Tips For New Construction Homes Part 2** Home buying has risks associated with it, particularly the purchase of a new construction home in a new development. There are pitfall all along the way. What should you do to protect yourself? How do you handle the uncertainty of buying a new construction home in a new development? One reader suggests that the buyer should share any risks in that new construction purchase with the lender that give the buyer the loan. Would you agree? What about municipal inspections and certificates of occupancy? The builder's or developer's reputation? What about using a real estate attorney? Leave your comment below.

New Media Atlanta conference featuring Chris Brogan. Social Media and Social Marketing Conference notes and tips. I'll be blogging live with some of the best social media and social marketing tips I'm learning. Photo credit: [Jennifer Carter](http://maxsell.net/author/jcarter/)

Refinancing a Jumbo Mortgage Loan is Difficult In This Housing Market. During the housing crisis and the credit crisis, it has become increasingly harder to refinance jumbo mortgage loans. Jumbo mortgage loans now have two strikes against them: if home values have come down, the owner will have trouble refinancing the jumbo mortgage loan without coming up with a significant amount of money at the closing and with the credit crisis, many mortgage lenders have moved away from the jumbo mortgage market and will only refinance conventional loans that are for $417,000 or less. For many jumbo mortgage loan home owners, the Obama Making Home Affordable or Home Affordable Refinance plans and programs won't help.

Saving to buy a home? How much should you save? What will your housing expenses be? When deciding to buy a home or a house, you need to answer these questions to have a better idea and know how much you will be able to afford. You might be saving money monthly now to buy a home in the future. And, now is the right time to plan for those initial costs to buy a home and then have savings for housing expenses that will come later.