Getting Rid of Private Mortgage Insurance
When purchasing a standard mortgage from a private lender, you may be required to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI). However, PMI can be costly, usually charging you ...
HOMEOWNERSHIP
ARTICLES
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 ...
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 ...
Down Payment Assistance Programs
For those at the low-to-moderate-income level, the most substantial barrier to homeownership are the closing costs and a down payment associated with ...
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 ...
What Now for Home Equity?
The recent tax law changes have many homeowners and home buyers more than a little nervous ...
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? ...
Buying vs Renting a Home
Does it make more sense to rent than to buy? This has been a long-running debate in this country ...
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 ...
Home Affordability
You are ready to make the jump from renting to buying a home. That is good news ...
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 Refinance Close to Retirement?
When mortgage rates are low -- and in late 2016 the rates on both 30-year rates were at 4.30 percent and ...
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 ...