Home Equity Loan and Second Mortgage: What’s the Difference?
The terminology is confusing. A second mortgage is any loan that involves a second lien on the property. Some second mortgages are for a fixed dollar amount paid out at one time, in the same way as a first mortgage. As with firsts, such seconds may be fixed-rate or adjustable-rate. You will need to keep […]
Energy Improvement Projects
According to energy experts, roughly 35 percent of heating and cooling is lost through your roof. Even more can escape through the walls, windows, doors, and from air leaks. Make your home energy-efficient with the basics, and the most important is the proper sealing of air leaks and insulating sufficiently for the weather in your […]
Are you financially ready to buy a house?
A home is likely the single largest investment you will make in your lifetime. It has enormous potential to build up your wealth over time. But did you know that even in a relatively unpredictable market, you can purchase a home? If you adjust your thinking and your vision, you can almost always buy something […]
What You Need to Know About Your Credit Score
Your credit score can seem very confusing. In a 2016 survey from the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and VantageScore Solutions found that more than 80% of consumers know the basics of credit scores, but may not be aware of some very important details. Let’s take a look at what you need to know about […]
Home Buying and Millennials
Totaling more than 80 million individuals, millennials represent the largest generation in the U.S. By 2025, they will claim three-quarters of all jobs. Also considered the best educated, 35% of 25 to 29-year-olds hold a degree, while at the same time carry some of the highest debt levels due to student loans and credit card […]
Conserving Energy During a Polar Vortex
Winters can get expensive when it comes to energy costs. The amount of energy required to heat your home increases when temperatures drop. The greater the difference between the temperature outside and the thermostat setting inside, the harder your heating system will work and the more energy it will use. This is true even if […]
Creating a Mortgage Plan
If you’re shopping for a new home, you can calculate the home price you can pay and the mortgage schedule you will need based on the payment, down payment, taxes, and insurance you can afford. Fixed-rate mortgage Keeping the loan for the full loan term, such as 30 years, and making all of your payments […]
What does the government shutdown mean for my mortgage?
When the government shuts down, who gets hit hardest among people needing a home mortgage? The latest version of federal breakdown made one fact painfully clear: It all depends on the type of loan you’re shopping for, or already had in progress. For many borrowers a VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) mortgage or FHA (Federal […]
How to Save Thousands on Your Mortgage
Do you hate the thought of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest on a mortgage loan? When you make a mortgage payment, a portion of that money goes toward the principal amount of your loan, and the other part goes toward interest. During the early years of your mortgage, your payments will primarily […]
Hidden Costs of Home Ownership
To determine what they can afford, buyers too often focus on mortgage payment or a home’s list price alone. Non-mortgage related costs associated with homeownership can affect the monthly bottom line, if you’re not prepared. Let’s take a look at some of the hidden costs of home ownership. Property taxes If you’re only plugging in […]
