5 Ways to Calculate “How Much House Can I Afford?”
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5 Ways to Calculate “How Much House Can I Afford?”

If you’re looking to buy a new home – particularly if it’s your first home – you’re probably asking yourself a few big questions. “How much house can I afford?” is likely at the top of that list. It makes sense, too, as this is a pretty significant concern. Ensuring that you can not only…

5 Reasons Never to Pay Off a Mortgage Early (and 1 Reason You Must)
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5 Reasons Never to Pay Off a Mortgage Early (and 1 Reason You Must)

Should I pay off my mortgage early is an important decision. For some, it’s a question of whether to allocate some extra cash each month to the mortgage. For others, it’s a question of whether to pay off the home loan all at once. The lump-sum approach often becomes an option for an inheritance or…

Everything You Need to Know About PMI on FHA Mortgages

Everything You Need to Know About PMI on FHA Mortgages

In the past three years, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has changed its rules regarding private mortgage insurance (PMI). These rules have changed the entire nature of PMI as it applies to FHA mortgages, specifically. Though the FHA tweaks rules frequently, there have actually been two significant changes: one good, and the other not good…

How to Make a 30-Year Mortgage Just as Smart as a 15-Year
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How to Make a 30-Year Mortgage Just as Smart as a 15-Year

Some people call it “good” debt because it could increase your net worth. That said, its still debt, which means you’re paying interest in order to use that money. Financially–and to some degree, psychologically–it can sometimes make sense to pay this debt off quickly. This is where the debate over 30-year versus 15-year mortgages comes…