Mortgage

July 29, 2015Is buying a home in your plans for the future? If that’s the case, you might already be thinking about all of the expenses you’ll have to pay for. You might be tempted to cut corners and avoid paying for a home warranty plan. But then again, when you buy your dream home you probably won’t want your excitement… read more…

July 27, 2015When you were first introduced to mortgages, you might have learned that there are fixed- and adjustable-rate loans. Fixed-rate mortgages maintain the same mortgage rate throughout the loan period, while ARMs start off with lower interest rates that can change… read more…

July 24, 2015Home equity is basically how much of your home you actually own. You can calculate by taking the appraised value of your home and subtracting the balance remaining on your mortgage. This is your home equity. It matters because you can borrow against this money to improve your home and raise the property value or… read more…

July 23, 2015From the mansions of Beverly Hills to the hipster bars of Silver Lake, Los Angeles charms visitors to its palm tree-lined streets. But if you’re pondering becoming a resident, you’ll want to get a handle on the true cost of living in the City… read more…

July 22, 2015What if the Denver Broncos became the Bridgeport Broncos? Or LeBron’s Cavaliers played their home games in Riverside, California? Denver and Cleveland fans: calm down – this isn’t going to happen. But, from at least one perspective, it wouldn’t be totally crazy if it did. Find out now: Is it better to rent or buy?… read more…

July 21, 2015One of the most important steps in the home-buying process is choosing the right type of mortgage. While many homeowners opt for conventional loans, there are a handful of alternatives, including loans backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There are some advantages to taking out a USDA loan, but it may not be right… read more…

July 20, 2015The mortgage interest deduction means that mortgage interest paid on the first $1 million of mortgage debt can be deducted from your taxes through 2025. If you bought your home after December 15, 2017, though, your deduction is capped for interest on the first $750,000 of mortgage debt. Deciding to itemize your taxes could see… read more…

July 17, 2015A reverse mortgage is a federally insured loan that provides homeowners with monthly cash payments based on the amount of equity they’ve built up in the property. While this can be a great tool for retirees who want an additional… read more…

July 14, 2015If the house you bought doesn’t resemble the home of your dreams, don’t fret. With a decent budget and a little extra attention, you might be able to whip it into shape. Securing the funds for home improvement, however, is no easy task. Fortunately, the federal government offers a loan called the FHA 203(k) that can help… read more…

July 8, 2015Editor’s Note: This study was originally published in June 2015. Home appreciation is generally considered a good thing. It means more equity for homeowners, and a bigger payout when the time comes to sell. But as we learned during the financial… read more…

July 7, 2015A thriving creative class is a key feature of nearly every successful modern city. A vibrant culture is not only valuable in its own right, it also often serves to attract and inspire talented workers in non-creative fields, creating a rising tide that benefits the entire city. However, that very same rising tide often lifts housing… read more…

July 6, 2015Buying a house is often an exciting milestone. With so many decisions to make, though, it can also be quite stressful. Figuring out whether to go with a fixed- or an adjustable-rate mortgage is a key element of the process. Before you… read more…

June 25, 2015If you happen to own your own home, it’s important to have the right kind of insurance in place to secure your investment. Traditional policies usually come with a low deductible, but the trade-off is often higher premiums. If you want… read more…

June 19, 2015When it comes to home buying, 20% or higher is the standard mortgage down payment size that most lenders would ideally prefer. However, things are much different today than they have been in the past, as FHA loans and other… read more…

June 17, 2015There are some who rejoice in the eerie calm of a storm and there are others who rush for shelter. Regardless of one’s personal views, there is no doubt that extreme weather can have profound effects on local, state and national economies. Are these… read more…

June 17, 2015Residents of the United States enjoy a quality of life that is among the highest in the world. The U.S. consistently ranks in the top 10 of the OECD’s “Better Life Index,” which compares countries based on a wide variety of factors. In 2015 the red, white and blue ranked 6th overall – just behind… read more…

June 12, 2015When it comes to putting a down payment on a home, the general rule of thumb is to hand over a minimum of 20%. If you don’t think you can afford that, however, don’t despair. You may be able to… read more…

June 3, 2015So, you’re ready to apply for a mortgage. To make yourself a more attractive borrower to lenders, you’ve taken on a part-time job to boost the income from your full-time employment. But here’s some bad news: That part-time income might… read more…

June 3, 2015According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a household that spends over 30% of its income on housing is considered “cost-burdened” and could find themselves under financial stress, unable to purchase basics like clothing, medical care and even food. Yet, for too many families, that 30% — which includes rent (or… read more…

June 2, 2015Taking out a reverse mortgage can generate another source of income in retirement. Unfortunately for many, it just became a lot more difficult to qualify. In April 2015, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) enforced new guidelines regarding who can get approved for… read more…

June 1, 2015Thinking about moving to Seattle? Seattle has been one of the fastest-growing big cities in the U.S. since 2010, and it’s expected to add nearly 200,000 more people over the next 20 years. This growth is a result of the… read more…

May 27, 2015Newly constructed homes can have a lot of appeal. If you buy a house before it’s actually built, you often have the chance to customize it based on your preferences. Or if the construction is already complete, you likely won’t have to worry about making repairs or renovations for a while. Despite the perks that go along with… read more…

May 27, 2015The healthcare industry is one of the fastest growing in the U.S., adding over 360,000 jobs between March 2014 and March 2015. That’s about 30,000 per month. As demand for healthcare professionals continues to grow, more workers are pursuing degrees in fields such as nursing, radiology and anesthesiology. Jobs in these fields usually pay well and,… read more…

May 20, 2015One of the most important steps in the home buying process is to make sure your home is immediately protected against theft, fire and other mishaps. Purchasing homeowners insurance is similar to buying any other type of insurance and it’s… read more…

May 19, 2015Traveling on a budget can be tricky and all the more so if you have children. While most of us would love to fly to Paris for the holidays or spend a few weeks in Australia this summer, those destinations are often too expensive for the typical American family to visit but once in a blue… read more…