Michele Lerner
Wall Street Journal
Washington, DC, United States
Contact Michele
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by Michele:
How Much Does It Really Cost to Remodel a Kitchen?
On average a kitchen remodel costs $26,780, according to Angi, a home services company. However the total amount will vary depending on your location and the scale of your project. → Read More
How to research your neighborhood
If you are curious about a neighborhood, here are tips for digging into schools, crime, environmental risks and more. → Read More
How to shop for homeowner’s insurance
There are ways to save money, but make sure you get what you need → Read More
Buying down your mortgage rate: It’s not just one way or the other
For years after the Great Recession, mortgage interest rates hovered at historically low levels, and home buyers became accustomed to borrowing at less than 4 percent — and sometimes less than 3 percent. But in spring 2022, rates began to rise, and once they hit 6 or even 7 percent, buyers stepped up the search for ways to reduce them. “Buy-downs,” which reduce mortgage interest in exchange for… → Read More
6 big answers for home buyers now that interest rates are soaring
With high interest rates, buying a house is more complicated. We have answers about refinancing when rates go down, cashing out stocks or retirement accounts, and how much house you can (really) afford to buy right now. → Read More
How does a mortgage rate buy-down work?
A temporary buydown is a cash payment that lowers the borrower’s interest rate for a limited period, allowing borrowers to reduce their monthly payments. → Read More
Should you cancel your contract to buy a home?
Buyers should make sure the contract is written so their earnest money deposit is protected and that their right to get out is as indisputable as possible. → Read More
New England displaces South among hottest housing markets
TOWN SQUARE | More than half of the hottest Zip Codes for home buyers are in New England. → Read More
D.C. among the areas where stale housing inventory rose the most
TOWN SQUARE | The share of homes that were on the market for 30 days or longer rose to 61.2 percent nationwide in July, according to Redfin. → Read More
Tips to pay off your mortgage faster
TOWN SQUARE | Some homeowners may look toward early payoff to save on interest, free up cash or reduce their overall debt burden before retiring. → Read More
Maryland home buyer assistance programs expanded
TOWN SQUARE | Qualified home buyers can now receive a 6 percent down payment and closing cost loan through the program. → Read More
Two-bedroom, three-bathroom condo in Brightwood lists for $399,999
AFFORDABLE HOME OF THE WEEK | The building has been approved for FHA financing, which many first-time buyers choose. → Read More
New apartments leasing at the Parks at former Walter Reed site
TOWN SQUARE | Residences at the Hartley range from studios to three-bedroom units in six townhouses and 317 apartments. → Read More
Housing supply and demand are beginning to balance
TOWN SQUARE | In July, homes sold in a median of 35 days, which is two days faster than in July 2021 and 25 days faster than in July 2019. → Read More
How to test and improve your tap water
TOWN SQUARE | The most accurate test for hard water is to send a sample to an accredited independent laboratory. → Read More
Two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in Fairfax lists for $397,500
TOWN SQUARE | The Vienna Metro station, Fair Oaks Mall and Fairfax Corner shopping center are all less than five miles from the condo. → Read More
Cooling housing market brings relief to buyers
More homes have been listed for sale compared to a year ago in 13 of the past 16 weeks, a trend which is expected to continue. → Read More
One-bedroom, one-bathroom Alexandria condo lists for $299,900
Building amenities include a roof deck with views of the Potomac River, the Masonic Temple, the Washington Monument, the Capitol and National Harbor. → Read More
New scoring system for condo and homeowner associations
The idea for the score started with the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo in Surfside, Fla., in 2021, which highlighted delayed maintenance. → Read More
Mixed-use development coming to Howard University
TOWN SQUARE | Known as the Oliver, the building will include 93 fully furnished residences, a lounge area and commercial space leased by the university. → Read More