Personal Finance and Home Buying Education
Real Estate Investing Basics: How to Start Building Your Portfolio
There’s money to be made in real estate — and many of our country’s most successful leaders and influencers are the proof. If you’re hoping to join their ranks, then you’re not alone. As billionaire Andrew Carnegie once put it,…
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10 of the Best Personal Finance Podcasts
Podcasts are the perfect mix of media. It’s like listening to music and reading a book all at the same time — and the best part? You can enjoy them anytime, anywhere. Blare one on your commute into work, plug…
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4 Must-Know Facts about Mortgage Points
When you obtain a mortgage, your lender may charge “mortgage points.” What does this mean, and how can the concept be used to your advantage? A single mortgage point is equal to one percent of the total mortgage amount. For…
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5 Steps for Rebuilding Your Credit After Bankruptcy
Your credit rating is an important part of your overall financial picture. And when you’re in the market to buy or refinance a home? Simply put, good credit gets you a better interest rate because the lender know there’s less…
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Tax Day 2018: Have You Prepared Your Tax Forms Correctly?
Well, 2018 tax day is just around the corner—and so are those refunds. Have you given your returns a once-over to make sure you’ve covered all your bases and maximized your write-offs as a homeowner? If not, there’s still time.…
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Get a Lower Interest Rate with a Better Credit Score
The better your credit the lower interest rate you’re likely to get. Why? In a word—risk. The higher your score the less risk you represent, the more willing a lender is to finance your mortgage. It is that simple. But…
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Jumbo Loan vs. Conforming Loan: What’s the Difference?
If you’re new to home buying, you’ll probably notice that there are a lot of mortgage loan types to choose from. From fixed rate and adjustable rate to FHA, jumbo and conforming loans, the choices are endless—and probably more than…
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Military Homeowners Insurance: Military and Veterans’ Discounts
Your home is an investment—and probably the biggest one you’ll ever make. Want to protect that investment? That’s where homeowners insurance comes in. Designed to safeguard your home (and your finances) against weather, theft, natural disaster, or anything else that might…
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10 Steps to Homeownership
Looking for a new home? We can give you a step by step path to follow.
Most often a prospective homebuyer’s first question is, “How much can I afford?” The answer many lenders provide better answers the question, “How much can I borrow?” Many lenders only consider what you are able to pay each month, then tell you how much you can borrow.
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The Cost of Convenience: Which Credit Cards to Pay Off First, and How to Avoid Falling into a Debt Trap
Credit card rates are fairly high as it is, but when the rest of your interest rates start to rise— whether mortgage, auto, or investment — that means consumers are facing even higher credit card interest rates.
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