Fort Lauderdale Blog

How to Turn Your Garage Into Living Space

How to Turn Your Garage Into Living Space

If you’re looking to add a little more usable space to your home without tackling a major addition, you might want to look to your garage. Here are some important considerations to think about first:

• Are you currently using your garage? This may seem obvious, but start by thinking about how much you actually use your garage to park your car and as storage space for tools and lawn equipment. If you don’t have alternatives for parking and storage, turning the garage into living space isn't a great option.
• What would you use the space for?  While a garage might be perfect for a play space for your kids, an exercise room, or a makeshift office, it’s not necessarily ideal for a guest room. You only want to renovate to the extent that you’ll be able to use the space as a garage again if and when you want to.

Demand for House Rentals Intensifies

Demand for House Rentals Intensifies

By Suzanne De Vita

Apartment rents are appreciating less than house rents, thanks to shifting demand for single-family rentals, according to a recent analysis by Zillow. Apartment rents nationally increased a median 0.5 percent, to $1,551, year-over-year—relatively flat—while house rents increased 1.3 percent to $1,404.

Just Bought a Home? Here's What Not to Do

Just Bought a Home? Here's What Not to Do

Buying your first home is an exciting milestone, putting you on the path to a smart financial future. There are certain traps you can fall into as a new homeowner, however, that can put your financial well-being at risk. Avoid doing the following too soon:

Remodeling. Unless there’s something in need of serious repair, hold off on any remodeling projects. This will give you time to assess the cost vs. value of the project, ensuring that the money you put into it actually increases the value of your home. Waiting will also give you time to research and secure the best professionals to work with.

Dog vs. Yard: How to Keep Your Landscape and Your Pet Happy

Dog vs. Yard: How to Keep Your Landscape and Your Pet Happy

Any dog owner has likely watched their beautiful new garden dug up by their four-legged family member, or their beloved new grass become Spot's outdoor toilet.  With this in mind, TurfMutt offers their top five tips for ensuring the family yard is a place everyone can enjoy year-round.

Consider your dog's needs
Each dog – senior, puppy, small, big, active breed or not-so-much – has different needs. Is your dog a water hound? Maybe you should include a splash pool or water fountain. Got a digger? A sand pit might work well to keep your dog entertained – and the mess contained. Does your dog love to run the perimeter of your yard? Design your yard with his path in mind. Does she have dog friends next door? Maybe an eye-level hole in the fence would keep her from barking. Jot down everything your dog needs from your family yard, then you map out your landscaping accordingly.

5 Questions to Ask Before Requesting that Credit Line Increase

5 Questions to Ask Before Requesting that Credit Line Increase

When you see that tempting “request a credit-line increase” message on your credit card statement, it can be very tempting to take advantage of the offer. Before you apply for an increase, however, creditcards.com recommends asking yourself these five questions:

Why do I need a credit-line increase? Do you need an increase to help you finance a large purchase, like a trip or a new fridge, that you’ll be paying off the following month? Or are you spending more than you make and running out of credit? If it’s the latter, an increase is not a smart move and will only land you further in debt.