Mortgage & Finance

Helping your children pay off their mortgage can cause problems, and you need to consider if helping is truly in your child's best interest. Q: My son in-law walked away and left my daughter with no job and no money. They are not delinquent on their house payments as of now but will be next [...]

Mortgage rates today are at record lows - doing an FHA streamline refinance could help lower your mortgage interest rates. Q: I obtained a 15-year fixed FHA home loan early last year with an interest rate of 3.75 percent. I have about 13 years to go on the loan.  I've been told FHA streamline refinances [...]

It is important to know the FHA streamline requirements when trying to refinance. Be sure to shop around for current refinance rates. Q: I have an FHA loan for my house and I was wondering if this is a good time to refinance. I am current on my mortgage and my home value is higher [...]

Has your mortgage company filed for bankruptcy? If your loan modification paperwork is still being processed, you may need to refile. Q: I often listen to your show on my way home from church. A couple of days ago, my brother, who lives in Las Vegas, called me and said he received a letter saying [...]

When getting a divorce and signing a quitclaim, it is crucial to remember your home mortgage is separate from your property title. Q: I’m divorced and signed a quitclaim deed to my ex-wife. My ex-wife failed to make payments on the mortgage and the home has now gone into foreclosure. Mine is the first name [...]

If you live in one of the nation’s largest cities, you might be wondering why foreclosures are getting worse in your real estate market than they are nationwide despite the encouraging headlines reporting that foreclosures are finally on the decline. The truth is that the national foreclosure picture today is a tale of two cities. [...]

Applying your mortgage escrow account overage towards your loan principal will help pay off your mortgage and lower your interest payments. Q: I have a $2,000 overage on my mortgage escrow account. Should I let the lender apply the cash to the next 12 payments equally over the next year or get a refund and [...]

Divorce and refinance issues often come hand in hand.  Protect yourself from fraud by keeping copies of your mortgage papers updated. Q: My ex-husband, while we were still married several years ago, refinanced our home without my knowledge. The home was in both of our names but he was allowed to do it as a [...]

Have you tried to refinance your mortgage and were denied? An owner-occupied loan on an upside down mortgage could be why you can't refinance your mortgage.  Q: I listen to you on Sundays after I leave the station on my way home. I have a real estate question that I hope you can answer since [...]

If you can pay off your mortgage early, but you have a very low interest rate, should you? Or should you invest your money elsewhere? Q: I tried to get on your radio show this past weekend, but I called too close to the end. I refinanced two years ago to a 3.625 percent loan. [...]