Mortgage

August 13, 2025Dramatic landscapes, mild winters and a relatively low cost of living are drawing an increasingly diverse population to the state of Arizona, including new parents and retirees. In fact, it’s one of the 10 fastest-growing states in the country. If… read more…

August 13, 2025For New York residents, there are a number of federal- and state-level programs that are designed for first-time homebuyers. These programs can focus on easy-to-meet down payment requirements, specific home locations, low interest rates and more. A few offerings even cater to… read more…

March 29, 2023The state and federal government run several first-time homebuyer programs in New Mexico to help make homeownership a reality for all. So don’t feel discouraged if your income isn’t stellar or if your credit history isn’t superb. Several programs help… read more…

February 16, 2024Filled with pristine lakes, rivers and state parks, Wisconsin can be a wonderful place to lay down roots. And a first-time homebuyer program in Wisconsin can help you make it a reality. Wisconsin and the federal government sponsor various first-time… read more…

March 31, 2023The state and federal government sponsor various Oklahoma first-time homebuyer programs designed to give everyone the chance to lay their roots here. So don’t feel left out because of low income or a lackluster credit score. Some of these Oklahoma… read more…

August 13, 2025Median home prices in Illinois are nearly 40% lower than the national average, which makes homeownership a great option, especially outside of the Chicago area. First-time homeowners may also get a hand from the federal and Illinois state governments, which have created… read more…

September 7, 2023Buying your first home can be an intimidating and expensive process. That’s why the federal and Ohio state governments have created loan and mortgage programs specifically for first-time homebuyers. No matter what your financial situation, they can make homeownership both… read more…

March 24, 2023The state of Kansas and the federal government sponsor several first-time homebuyer programs. Some cater to low-income individuals with less-than-superb credit scores. Others support public service professionals like teachers, police officers and firefighters. One even assists people who already have… read more…

September 7, 2023Purchasing your first home can be intimidating and expensive. As you go through the homebuying and mortgage process, you’ll encounter both big price tags and unfamiliar situations. Luckily, both the federal government and the Maryland state government offer programs to help first-time… read more…

August 15, 2025Making a down payment for a new home can be expensive, even for those with decent income. If you’re eyeing a particular home but don’t know whether you can afford to make a down payment to secure a mortgage, don’t worry. Down payment assistance programs are widely available to home buyers who need an extra… read more…

August 15, 2025A mortgage interest rate is the cost of borrowing money. It’s given as a percentage. A mortgage annual percentage rate (APR) is the interest rate plus other costs associated with a mortgage, including discount points and lender fees. This is why an APR is typically higher than the simple interest rate. It is important to have… read more…

October 31, 2018Tech jobs are some of the hottest in the country. And the increasingly available opportunities to work in tech deliver high salaries, to boot. But because some of the traditional tech hubs are clustered in the cities with the highest cost of living, like New York or San Francisco, that tech pay may not always… read more…

August 13, 2025Between breathtaking natural beauty, a burgeoning craft beer scene and a plethora of job opportunities, there are plenty of reasons to move to Colorado. Unfortunately, home prices in the Centennial State have grown exponentially since Colorado rebounded from the 2008… read more…

February 15, 2024Both the Texas state government and the federal government offer special programs for first-time home buyers. These programs may allow you to get a loan with low down payment and credit score requirements. There are also programs designed for specific… read more…

February 15, 2024The process of purchasing your first home can be daunting and expensive, and it will likely include many financial situations you’ve never encountered. Luckily, the federal and Florida state governments have stepped in and created programs specifically for first-time home… read more…

August 13, 2025While it may seem like an intimidating process, purchasing and owning your first home is an attainable goal. It’s made even more attainable through mortgage programs specifically geared toward first-time homebuyers. There are programs offered by both the federal government… read more…

October 17, 2018One of the most important decisions young families make is deciding where to raise their children. Families need to balance priorities like finding a city where they can get an affordable mortgage and living somewhere with access to first-class public schools. Below we look at these and other factors to rank the best cities for children.… read more…

April 2, 2023With homeownership comes home equity. Both home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) use the equity you’ve built up to help you pay off big expenses. You can use these loans to tackle credit card debt, tuition… read more…

April 2, 2023When you take on a mortgage loan, you may be so laser-focused on reducing your debt load that you get overeager and make payments ahead of schedule. But your exuberance and diligence can actually have a negative effect. If you… read more…

August 15, 2025Trying to find an affordable apartment is almost a full-time job for renters in America’s largest cities. But the housing crisis ranges in severity, depending on which city you consider. In Columbus, Ohio, for example, the average renter spends 28.1% of their income on rent. In New York City that figure is 32%, and in… read more…

July 24, 2018Just under 70% of U.S. households have a pet, according to the National Pet Owners Survey. It probably comes as no surprise that the survey also found that dogs were the most popular pet for American households. Of the 85 million pet-owning households, 60.2 million of them opt for a pooch. But as any dog-owning… read more…

July 17, 2018When it comes to owning a home, shouldering the burden of a hefty down payment and paying off your mortgage over many years can be daunting. For that reason, it would be pretty hard to turn down a generous cash gift a few months prior to securing your mortgage. But how do you take this cash and… read more…

August 15, 2025Taking out a mortgage to buy a home can be a great investment (as long as you are buying a home you can afford, of course). Just take a look at the average American home. The median home in America increased in value by $10,500 between 2015 and 2016. That’s only an increase of around… read more…

August 3, 2025If you’re looking to build your dream house or tackle a renovation, you may want to secure a construction loan. This describes a sum of money you receive to help finance your building costs. But borrowing money in this way… read more…

September 19, 2018Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a grizzled veteran of the home-buying experience, you want to make sure you are taking out a mortgage you can afford. Homes can be good investments and the best home purchasers are those who taken on mortgages they can afford while buying an undervalued home. If you’re not a… read more…