House, Townhome, or Condo?
The real estate market offers many different housing options. Depending on your life stage, financial resources, and where you are on your financial journey, one ...
Homeownership Articles
Building Equity in Your Home
If you own a home, the mortgage payments you make each month could help you build a substantial asset - home equity. The home equity you build represents how much ...
How Escrow Accounts Work
When you purchase a home with the help of a lender, the lender will likely set up an escrow account for ...
Down Payment Strategies for First-Time Home Buyers
The idea of buying a first home is exciting. Coming up with a sizeable down payment, however, can feel like an insurmountable task. That is especially true ...
How Home Construction Loans Work
Home construction loans provide families and individuals with the ability to finance new home construction projects ...
Buying a Vacation Home
It is something many families dream of: Owning a small cottage by the lake, a cabin in the mountains, or ...
Estimating a Home's Market Value
Whether you are preparing to buy a home or sell a home, it is essential to determine its market value so you can make ...
15-Year vs 30-Year Mortgages
What makes more sense financially for you, a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage or a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage? ...
About Private Mortgage Insurance
If you are in the market to buy a new home and have less than a 20 percent down payment, you are ...
Cash-Out Refinancing or a Home Equity Loan?
What's the top benefit of owning a home? Many would point to the equity you gain as you steadily pay down ...
Finding the Right Home
Buying a home is an important decision. In fact, it will probably rank as the biggest purchase you ever make ...
Fixed Rate vs Adjustable Rate Mortgages
You are ready to apply for a mortgage. Your question? Should you take out a fixed-rate loan or an ...
Know When to Lock-In a Mortgage Rate
When you are preparing to get a mortgage, one of the steps you can take is to lock in your interest rate ...
Qualifying for a Mortgage
Qualifying for a mortgage loan today is no easy task. However, it is also far from an impossible one ...
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early?
As you explore options to get out of debt and get your financial house in order, your home, becomes one ...
Should You Refinance Into a Shorter Term Mortgage?
When mortgage rates are low refinancing to a shorter-term mortgage can save you tens of thousands of dollars ...
The Pros and Cons of an HOA
A homeowners association (HOA) provides you with the chance of living in an orderly and well-run neighborhood ...
The ROI of Home Improvement Projects
One of the most rewarding things about being a homeowner is that you can make changes to your home ...