Mortgages

Should You Save For Emergencies or a Down Payment First?

May 1, 2013

If you’re just starting out on your journey to financial success, you may not have a big emergency fund saved. And if you’re planning to buy your first home soon, you may be wondering how to structure your savings. Should you save for your emergency fund first? Or should you save for your home and [...]

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8 Ways to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early

April 30, 2013

The decision to pay off your mortgage early is a controversial one. But for some who have tackled many of their big financial goals and erased other debt, putting their home mortgage in their crosshairs can make sense. If you’ve decided to pay off your mortgage early, here are several strategies for saving money and [...]

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Homebuying Programs for Low-Income Families

April 29, 2013

In most areas of the country, owning a home is a significantly better investment than renting an apartment. If you have a bit of money in savings and can consistently pay your rent on time, you may be ready for homeownership. For many, however, there is one big hurdle–the down payment. What if there’s no [...]

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How to Refinance a Mortgage That’s Underwater

April 23, 2013

Photo: 401(K) 2013 If you’re underwater on your home – meaning you owe more than your home is worth – you’re certainly not alone. Many American families are in the same situation because of the real estate market crash. Even though property prices are starting to rise in some areas of the country, many families [...]

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How Much Should You Save for a Home?

April 11, 2013

Photo: 401(K)2013 My family is on a long journey toward homeownership. Despite plenty of questions about when our little family of three will move out of our tiny apartment and into a home, we know we’re just not ready to buy a home yet. The main reason? We know how much money we’ll have to [...]

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10 Little-Known Facts About Home Appraisals

April 4, 2013

Are you preparing to buy a home or sell the one you’re in? If so, the home appraisal process will be incredibly important. If you’re selling your home, a professional appraisal can help you set a fair, realistic listing price. If you’re buying a home, your lender will require a professional appraisal to ensure it [...]

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7 Steps to Take Before Buying Your First Home

March 22, 2013

Buying your first home is exciting, but it can also be a little overwhelming. Credit checks. Mortgage applications. Home listing after listing after listing. Where do you begin? With these seven steps, of course. 1. Research Prices in Your Area This is something many first-time home buyers don’t do. But skipping this step can result [...]

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Important Facts about Mortgage Debt Forgiveness

March 18, 2013

Photo: 401(K) 2013 If you’ve been through hell and back with your mortgage, having part of that mortgage forgiven by your lender may seem like a blessing. Until tax time, that is. Before the housing market bottomed out and mortgage debt was being forgiven left and right, tax time could be a huge problem for [...]

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The Truth About Reverse Mortgages

March 12, 2013

Reverse mortgages are a mixed blessing. On the one hand seniors can get access to the equity in their home without selling or taking on additional debt. On the other hand, these financial products are difficult to understand and often come loaded with fees. So I was glad to host a guest post from the [...]

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