The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, has free information for you to protect your interests.
In high-priced housing markets, it can be difficult to afford a home. That’s why a growing number of home buyers are forgoing traditional fixed-rate mortgages and standard adjustable-rate mortgages and instead opting for a specialty mortgage that lets them “stretch” their income so they can qualify for a larger loan.
But before you choose one of these mortgages, make sure you understand the risks and how they work.
Specialty mortgages often begin with a low introductory interest rate or payment plan — a “teaser”— but the monthly mortgage payments are likely to in...
Financial issues are in the news constantly. Below are two resources reprinted with permission from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® for your reference when considering your own personal finances.
Get Your Finances in Order: To-Do List
1. Develop a household budget. Instead of creating a budget of what you’d like to spend, use receipts to create a budget that reflects your actual spending habits over the last several months. This approach will factor in unexpected expenses, such as car repairs...
The subject of appraisals has been in the news recently. Here is information for you to help clarify the topic.
The following is reprinted with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Credit scores range between 200 and 800, with scores above 620 considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. The following factors affect your score:
It is a great time to purchase a first home home! If you are considering buying a new home, use this short checklist for your reference to make sure you end up with the property that you really want.
What You Can Do to Improve Your Credit
Credit scores, along with your overall income and debt, are big factors in determining whether you’ll qualify for a loan and what your loan terms will be. So keep your credit score high by doing the following:
