Should you hire movers or do a DIY move?

Preparing to move into your first or next home? It’s natural to be excited about your new domicile and getting settled in. But you’ve got a big decision ahead: How are you going to get all your stuff from here to there? Ambitious home buyers may think they can do it all themselves, but a major move can be more challenging and physically demanding than anticipated.

Which begs the question: Should you hire professional movers, or perform a DIY move? Answers await in my latest article for Mortgage Resource Network, available here.

Ready to refinance? Be prepared for the appraisal

Excited about refinancing your mortgage and hopefully lowering your monthly payments? Now that rates have come down, this could be a great time for a refi. You’ve been through this process before when you first took out your home loan. Many of the steps involved are similar, including the need to have your home appraised. But it’s natural to wonder: What do appraisers look for in a refinance? And what strategies can I follow to improve my odds of a more favorable refinance appraisal?

Learn more by reading my latest article for Rocket Mortgage, available here.

Cineversary podcast celebrates Sunset Boulevard's 75th anniversary with TCM's Eddie Muller

In Cineversary podcast episode #85, host ⁠Erik Martin⁠ is ready for his close up as he celebrates the 75th anniversary of Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard. Accompanying him on this diamond jubilee is Eddie Muller, host of TCM’s Noir Alley and founder/president of the Film Noir Foundation. Together, they explore what makes this movie timeless and relevant, its influence on other filmmakers, prominent themes, and much more.

Eddie Muller

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com.

Co-op shop

What if you could own shares in a residence, just as you can own shares on the stock market, but also be allowed to live in that residence? This is possible when you buy into a co-op, also known as a housing cooperative. 

If you’re in the market for a condo purchase or apartment rental, you may want to consider purchasing shares in a co-op that you can call home. Co-ops offer some advantages over condos and other housing options, but they also have their drawbacks. Learn more by reading my newest article published in the Chicago Tribune, available here:

CineVerse film discussion group turns 20

I'm not just a busy journalist: I'm also a podcast host and the creator/moderator of a film discussion group I founded in 2005 called CineVerse. 

Recently, CineVerse celebrated its 20th anniversary. We got pretty decent coverage in a few newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Daily Southtown, and Patch.com. Learn more about our movie club by checking out these links and also visiting the CineVerse blog.