The majority of Americans don’t enjoy their work. According to a study of workplaces in more than 140 countries from 2011 through 2012 conducted by Gallup: 30 percent of Americans are engaged at work. These people are emotionally invested in their work and focused on doing their jobs well. 52 percent of Americans are not [...]
You’ve done all the right prep work to buy a home. You saved for a down payment, cleaned up your credit, and got pre-approved for a mortgage. You found a home that you can afford, and now the days are ticking down to closing—and everything seems too good to be true. Unfortunately, it could be. [...]
(Scroll down for video) If you’ve been thinking about buying your first home, this could be the year to finally pull the trigger. But with all the information out there about the real estate market, it can be difficult to determine what it all means for a first-time homebuyer like yourself. Before plunging headfirst into [...]
This article was written by guest blogger Steve Cook. Many of the important differences between buying a condominium and buying a single-family home are obvious: living space, neighborhood type, yard, maintenance, convenience, amenities, security, utilities, and transportation. However, there are some lesser-known, and often overlooked, differences that should also be considered when deciding between a [...]
It’s selling season and buyers are excited to take advantage of the incredible low interest rates out there. But before you start shopping for a mortgage, you should check your credit score. You need to know where your credit stands to be able to work towards the house of your dreams. FICO credit scores start at 300 [...]
The mortgage interest tax deduction is one of the big perks of homeownership. There’s a limit to how much you may deduct, though, and deducting more than your fair share could put you at risk of an audit. You may only deduct mortgage interest if the debt is secured by your main or second home, [...]
When you’re shopping for a mortgage, it can be hard to decide what the best option is for you. Should you take the lower interest rate of an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), or is it better to lock in your rate for 30 years? The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) suggests seven things to keep [...]
Among all the paperwork that is exchanged during the home buying process, the Good Faith Estimate is arguably the most important piece of information a mortgage lender will give you. A Good Faith Estimate, or GFE, is a document your lender gives you that describes the basic terms of the loan and estimates how much [...]
Foreclosed homes present an interesting opportunity for those struggling to buy. The selling season should be in full swing but our economic issues have caused a housing slowdown. There are not enough homes available and many are way above what people can afford. Buying a foreclosed home may help you take advantage of the historically [...]
Q: My ex-husband is deceased, and we had two sons together. They are 34 and 35. His sister asked me to handle his estate and to help the boys with it. He has a house with an insurance policy that will pay for the mortgage for one year. We’ve applied for that, but he is [...]
