If you refinance with an FHA loan, you’ll need 15% equity in your home. VA loans, on the other hand, are unique in that you can refinance 100% of the home’s value. In other words, you don’t have to leave any equity in the home if you meet your lender’s credit score requirements. When you do a cash-out refinance, the cash you get is tax-free.
With the right planning and pieces, even a small space can become an outdoor retreat. Look for nooks in your yard where you can put a bench and a small side table and make a mini patio to enjoy your landscape. If you have a window that faces frigid winter winds, replace it with a high-efficiency unit. If your home has single-pane windows, they could be wasting up to 25% of your energy costs. Improve your home’s energy efficiency by replacing single-pane windows with high-performance double-pane Energy Star-rated windows.
- Many times people will create an opening through a wall between two rooms similar to a large window opening to try to make their home feel more open or bigger.
- Look for windows labeled low-emissivity (low-E) or spectrally selective—they have a coating that reduces thermal heat