The best way to ensure that you build wealth and avoid debt is to diligently plan and save as much money as possible for both future needs and desires. However, exactly how you handle your savings can depend greatly upon your financial habits. Some financial experts recommend setting up a simple savings account tied to
These days, drivers keep their cars longer than ever, as the average age of the 240.5 million cars and light trucks in the U.S. is almost 11 years. And since that’s an average, you can assume there are plenty of cars older than that riding down American highways. A car that lasts for years is
Many home buyers fall in love with their house, sometimes at first sight. However, it is important to be careful when you open up your heart – otherwise, you may get trapped in a money pit. Your first step to avoid falling into that trap is to complete a thorough home inspection with a reputable,
While many homeowners are familiar with the option of refinancing their mortgage, not all homeowners understand loan recasting. This may be because not all lenders offer recasting or re-amortizing, and not all borrowers are eligible. However, the process could save you money in two ways: by reducing your monthly mortgage payment, and by allowing you
Whether you’re buying a home or refinancing your current home, you may assume your choices for financing with a fixed-rate home loan are limited to a 30- or 15-year term. While these are the most popular loan choices according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), many lenders offer mortgage loans for almost any loan term
If you have an FHA-insured mortgage on your home, you may have the opportunity to refinance with an FHA streamline refinance. While the hype surrounding the FHA streamline refinance program makes it sound fabulous, the reality is that mortgage lenders often put what are called “overlays” on FHA guidelines. In other words, while the FHA says
Whether you’re interested in snapping up a bargain home and renovating it to meet your needs, or you have a kitchen full of outdated appliances that you’d like to replace, an FHA 203k home loan may be the solution to your financial needs. Unlike standard mortgage loans, this loan – officially known as the Federal Housing
Record-low mortgage rates have been generating an avalanche of refinance applications, but if you’re age 55 or older, you need to seriously consider refinancing in the context of your retirement planning. How close you are to retirement has a big impact on this decision: If you have 10 to 15 more years of work ahead of
