A credit score at the lower end of the range can make it difficult to get a mortgage at today’s competitive interest rates—or to qualify for a mortgage at all. But there are several ways you can help improve your chances of qualifying for a mortgage at the best rates, including building a stronger credit [...]
If you owe money or have filed for bankruptcy, you may be worried about creditors going after your retirement funds. Regardless of your financial situation, here is some essential information to know about both ERISA-qualified retirement accounts and non-ERISA accounts: ERISA-qualified retirement accounts Retirement accounts set up under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) [...]
When your debt is cancelled or “forgiven” by a creditor, you may owe taxes on that debt. This debt is called phantom income, named so because despite the fact that the IRS considers it income, it never appears in your bank account. Imagine losing the home of your dreams, either through a short sale or [...]
If you own a house and have credit card debt, you may be considering using a home equity line of credit (HELOC) to pay off your credit card debt, and with a lower interest rate. When you take out a HELOC, you open up a revolving line of credit from your mortgage lender where your [...]
How can you invest in notes? What credit alternatives exist for consumers? Get answers to these questions by listening to this week's Ilyce Glink Show. You can click the audio link below to listen to the full show, or download the podcast via iTunes. On this week's show I talk to four guests: Joel Cone, a freelance real estate and [...]
“Spend less, save more.” It’s the third most popular new year’s resolution behind getting organized and losing weight, according to a Journal of Clinical Psychology study on resolutions. While I can’t help much with resolutions one and two (though it is helpful to apply the same principles to thinning your waistline as thinning your budget), the third one is [...]
My 17-year-old daughter is just about to get her first credit card. Next year at this time she’ll be in college, and I want her to get some credit card experience now, while I can still mentor her. If you’re teaching your child about credit, maybe some of what I’m doing can be helpful to [...]
Your credit score is probably one of the most important scores you’ll ever receive. It can save you thousands or cost you thousands when taking our loans, and can even determine what kind of car you get or whether or not you can buy a home. While people often hem and haw over their credit [...]
Accessing or “pulling” your credit report allows you to review your credit behavior. You can see what lenders are reporting about you while you monitor your payment history. Checking your credit report should be a regular part of your routine financial behavior, similarly to reviewing your bank statements or creating a budget. Some consumers are [...]
