Is it possible to purchase a home with an FHA loan, rehabilitate it, and then rent it out? Also - what's it like to make an independent entry into the rental home market?
[more inside]
posted by speedgraphic
on Jul 23, 2012 -
14 answers
So I'd like to know if homes built in the USA in 1958 commonly had wood floors and it is possible this owner added the carpet later. If true we'd have hope that the wood below has possibility for restoration.
[more inside]
posted by usermac
on Jul 20, 2012 -
21 answers
Please help me decide between two couches: a chaise sectional, and a two-piece sectional!
[more inside]
posted by AceRock
on Jul 19, 2012 -
17 answers
Home energy advances. Are there any new developments I should know about as I'm about to move into an older single-family home after 13 years of living in an apartment? It is a gas/electric home with heavy tree shade.
posted by usermac
on Jul 13, 2012 -
6 answers
Work to live. How to find jobs we can do from anywhere in the US (or ideally anywhere in the world). Bonus for attorney jobs.
[more inside]
posted by semacd
on Jul 13, 2012 -
11 answers
Tell me about your experience living in some (relatively) affordable suburbs north of New York City! Special snowflake details inside.
[more inside]
posted by PuddleWonderful
on Jul 12, 2012 -
10 answers
My wife and I are buying a house in Austin, Texas ( Steiner Ranch ). We are trying to figure out how we want to finance it. We have the means to pay for the house with cash. We are being offered a mortgage at 3.6%. The cost of the house would represent about 50% of our net worth. The other 50% is fairly liquid, with an even spread between 401k, index funds, 529's, and cash. Should we do it?
[more inside]
posted by jasondigitized
on Jul 11, 2012 -
25 answers
Looking for a lead on Removall 220 available for retail in the Twin Cities area, or recommendations of equivalent (brushable, eco-friendly) paint strippers.
[more inside]
posted by longtime_lurker
on Jul 10, 2012 -
2 answers
I own a house built in 1904 - how can I learn more about home construction and home maintenance? I do a lot of my basic repairs myself and always make a point to watch and ask questions (non-obnoxiously) when I have repair people over.
[more inside]
posted by waylaid
on Jul 7, 2012 -
20 answers
Our new house has a very plain front - I think it needs some window trim, but I'm not sure if shutters are the right answer. Are there any other options that will be consistent with the look of the house and help it look less bald?
[more inside]
posted by ftm
on Jul 3, 2012 -
26 answers
My suburban yard began as a permaculture project but is overrun with invasive grass. What can I do?
[more inside]
posted by diode
on Jul 1, 2012 -
10 answers
The sparkers on my gas cook-top keep 'sparking' even when everything is turned off. There is no gas flowing to the range but the little spark plugs keeping sparking by themselves. From my lounge room I can hear them and it's getting worse and worse.
Any ideas? Should I just get someone in to fix it? European stainless steel cook-top around 10 years old. I saw
this AskMefi, but it doesn't quite answer my question.
posted by evil_esto
on Jun 30, 2012 -
6 answers
Should I purchase a home that I found out, after submitting an offer, belongs to an alleged (charged but not convicted) pedophile?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Jun 28, 2012 -
41 answers
Rented carpet cleaner seems to have killed a bunch of outlets/lights in my house. Any ideas?
[more inside]
posted by wongcorgi
on Jun 26, 2012 -
6 answers
How do I hook up
this irrigation/drip
system? I have an outside faucet for garden hoses. What do I need to buy, and where can I buy it? How does it work? Bought a house with this installed.
posted by sandmanwv
on Jun 20, 2012 -
5 answers
I have been battling with the sprinkler system at my house for almost a year (
previously on MeFi) and I am about to give up as it appears that it has gotten the better of me, here is a brief history...
When we moved in the outdoor watering system was a mess, there were drip lines on 24 hours a day, many of the sprinkler valves were not working properly, etc. I have spent many hours fixing, replacing and getting a better understanding of what is going on out there, I found multiple system and wiring all dead from neglect, quite a mess.
[more inside]
posted by silsurf
on Jun 16, 2012 -
9 answers
Last night I was threatened by someone on my property. What should I do to get over feeling vulnerable/anxious?
[more inside]
posted by brevator
on Jun 15, 2012 -
21 answers
I need to paint my previously painted cement block porch while putting in the least money, time, and effort. What can be painted over a chipped paint job without it chipping again?
[more inside]
posted by paperclip2000
on Jun 11, 2012 -
5 answers
My mom has been a nurse for 43 years and is about to retire. She'd like to pick up some extra income at home. Is anyone aware of at-home work that would use her extensive nursing knowledge?
[more inside]
posted by Jennifer S.
on Jun 8, 2012 -
13 answers
Mexico Oaxaca-What is the history or background of the poor old women who sell things at the Zocalo?
[more inside]
posted by pakora1
on Jun 7, 2012 -
9 answers
I remember reading about a material that was designed to make walking across it very difficult if not impossible.
[more inside]
posted by NekulturnY
on Jun 7, 2012 -
25 answers
Flatmate filter: I'm planning on having a calm discussion with one of my flatmates this weekend about some issues I know she has about the house, but that haven't been discussed in the open. I would like tips on remaining calm and collected in the moment.
[more inside]
posted by mooza
on Jun 3, 2012 -
16 answers
I'm on a quest for inexpensive (over the long haul) home carbonation. The big limit here is NO PLASTIC. HomeBrewFilter?
[more inside]
posted by kalessin
on Jun 2, 2012 -
18 answers
We have a small 1982 tract home. It has all the original fixtures: brass doorknobs, little clear plastic knob faucets, brown ceiling fans with brass filigree. Is there any benefit to leaving it as is?
[more inside]
posted by kristymcj
on May 29, 2012 -
9 answers
A question about the lifting capacity of sponges, gravity, pvc tubing and whether my lawn can be irrigated.
[more inside]
posted by otto42
on May 23, 2012 -
9 answers
Blowing Hot Air About Cold Air: Reviews of portable air conditioning units are rather vague about how loud they are. There are a few that advertise "library quiet", but I'm not so sure. Does anyone have experience with one of these machines? I need a QUIET one. If I could get down to half the volume of a window unit, I'd be very happy.
posted by ecorrocio
on May 18, 2012 -
5 answers
We just bought a new three-story house with 2,900 square feet of gorgeous dark hardwood floors that make every single tiny speck of dust stand out (and we're about to get a short-haired, light-colored dog). How the hell do I keep this place clean without going crazy?
[more inside]
posted by halogen
on May 17, 2012 -
20 answers
My mom has sold my childhood home :( I want to leave a 'time machine' box with small objects in a place where it may or may not be found.... I want to write something but I'm at a loss for words... Can you suggest a poem?
[more inside]
posted by iiniisfree
on May 8, 2012 -
17 answers
I'm retiring after 35 years in 6 months.Any suggestions on good sites for retirement talk, hobbies,vocations etc...thanks
posted by malhaley
on May 8, 2012 -
7 answers
Cohabiting couples, how do you handle the housework? Is there a clear distinction between your mess and their mess?
[more inside]
posted by emelenjr
on May 4, 2012 -
52 answers
I just bought a small brick 1960s ranch house and I want to: 1) cover the outside of the cinder-block lower level with something like stucco, 2) get rid of the crappy grass in the yard and replace it with nice grass, and 3) replace the crappy vinyl siding with something like
wood siding. Can a dummy like me pull this off?
[more inside]
posted by critzer
on May 1, 2012 -
14 answers
Can you write off renovations to your home on your taxes for a home based business if you don't own or rent the residence?
[more inside]
posted by blubutterfly
on Apr 29, 2012 -
1 answer
Can I keep my hair blonde using at home products? Is there anything I need to know to not screw it up? Can anyone recommend specific products?
[more inside]
posted by Quincy
on Apr 27, 2012 -
19 answers
