Category Archives: Uncategorized

Still searching for a house? How to protect your down payment money.

You’ve saved up the typical 5-20% for a down payment, but haven’t yet been able to purchase a house. What should you do with that money as you continue the search? The answer depends a great deal on your future … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 971 Comments

If you’re planning to buy a new home – postpone buying a new car

If you’ve already been pre-approved for a home mortgage loan, your loan officer will have told you not to do anything that will change your financial picture. That includes making any large purchases, obtaining new credit for any reason, co-signing … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 737 Comments

Refinancing: Which lender should you choose?

If you’ve been watching interest rates coming down and thinking about a refinance, you may be wondering whether to go back to your current lender or look around for a new one. The beauty of refinancing with your current lender … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 133 Comments

Why Refinance Your Mortgage in 2021?

If you have a home mortgage, you’ve probably been getting letters from a variety of mortgage companies, urging you to refinance right now. Should you pay attention to them? Yes. There are several reasons why you should, although rather than … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 286 Comments

Can your home help you lower your income tax obligation?

The answer is “It depends.” Now that the standard deduction has been raised to $12,400 for individuals, $18,600 for heads of household, and $24,800 for married couples filing jointly, you may gain more by taking the standard deduction. However, it … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 2,033 Comments

Fleeing the city? Consider a USDA home mortgage loan.

What? You’re not a farmer. Why and how could you get a home loan offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture? The idea that you have to be a farmer to be eligible for a USDA backed home loan is … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 91 Comments

2020 Mortgage Myths

  2020 Mortgage Myths Life in 2020 is a time of confusion, especially for the real estate and mortgage industries. What are the rules this week? Will interest rates continue to fall or are they going up soon? How has … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 2,999 Comments

Appraisal waivers – a benefit from COVID-19?

  Homeowners refinancing today are often surprised to hear that they’ve been granted an appraisal waiver – saving them hundreds of dollars. But what is it, and why are banks offering it? Being granted an appraisal waiver means that you … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 146 Comments

Changes in mortgage lending, thanks to COVID-19

The pandemic has affected almost every other aspect of our lives. Of course it has affected mortgage lending. First, the good news: mortgage interest rates are at their lowest levels in decades. The bad news is that getting a mortgage … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 104 Comments

Do you like the idea of a no-fee mortgage?

  Of course. Most people do, at least until they learn the cost. If you’ve seen the ads for no-fee mortgages, you might think they’re just what you need. And for a few people, they are. However, nothing is really … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 99 Comments