When applying for a mortgage to purchase a new home or refinancing your existing mortgage, you have to be ready to jump through some hoops. It can be a difficult and time-consuming process to shop for a lender, evaluate interest rates and terms, and pay out some steep fees. Some of the requirements of a
When shopping for a car, one major factor to consider is fuel efficiency. With rising gas prices, this is an especially important issue for most consumers. Although some cars advertise that they are more fuel-efficient than others, automakers do not have free rein to determine just how fuel-efficient to make the vehicles they sell. Instead,
Everyone knows that credit card debt is “bad” debt due to the high interest rates on most consumer credit cards, while mortgage debt is often described as “good” debt. But sometimes the distinction between “good” and “bad” debt isn’t so clear-cut. In fact, because of this generalization, some people make the decision to refinance their
Have you been invited to attend a timeshare presentation? Perhaps you’ve been offered a steal of a vacation deal – the only catch is that you have to attend a mandatory timeshare meeting. Buying is optional, of course. The timeshare company just requires a little bit of your time. Sounds great, right? Timeshares are arrangements
Incorporating a business can be a great way to save money on annual taxes, in addition to the protection it offers you from liability – and if you want your business to have a separate legal identity distinct from you, incorporation is crucial. However, there are some steps you need to take to ensure that
The vast majority of home buyers use some type of mortgage loan to pay for their home. If you are one of them, then you likely know how much paperwork and fine print is involved. While you can’t be expected to commit every term of your mortgage loan to memory, it is important to be
Do you have a second home or vacant property you’re considering putting up for rent? Renting your house can be a great way to earn income, and can even be an option to help you avoid foreclosure. With a variety of different rental arrangements available, almost any homeowner can find a way to rent their
When people talk about the practice of extreme couponing, they throw a lot of numbers around about how much you can save on your grocery bill, and how much stuff you can get for free. However, what isn’t stated is how much time they have spent on the practice. You probably also won’t hear about
