Explore mortgage options, get pre-approval tips, and understand interest rates, loan types, and refinancing strategies. Whether you’re buying your first home or looking to refinance, this section helps you make informed mortgage decisions.
In an effort to prevent another mortgage crisis, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has published a new rule that’s intended to ensure that homebuyers end up with mortgages they can afford, barring unforeseen changes in…
Your mortgage lender may give you the option of skipping a mortgage payment, for example, at the beginning of your mortgage or refinance. While it may seem like they’re doing you a favor, skipping that…
Preparing for a mortgage can be a stressful process. The lender wants to see that you have a solid credit history, a low amount of debt, a stable employment history, and enough income to afford…
As troubled homeowners continue to face foreclosures through the mortgage crisis, shady mortgage relief companies have sprung up to “help” unsuspecting consumers – while charging advance fees without providing the services promised. But mortgage relief…
If you have a mortgage, you may have received a letter from a company offering to “help” you pay your home off faster by enrolling you in a bi-weekly mortgage program. Their pitch may sound…
Getting behind on your house payments is a tough situation. It’s best to tackle the problem before it get too far out of hand and your lender forecloses on your home. Take steps to try…
Is it a good idea to prepay your mortgage? Mortgage prepayment is a topic that financial experts often don’t agree on. Many financial advisors say that you can get a better return on your money…
Record numbers of foreclosures in the U.S. have presented scam artists with an opportunity to take advantage of desperate homeowners when they’re already down. The Federal Trade Commission issued a warning to consumers about crooks…
Escrows basically force a homeowner to budget for those pesky property taxes, hazard insurance premiums, and mortgage insurance. It’s commonly understood that the mortgage lender collects a prorated amount each month along with the loan…
Escrow payments will occasionally change. If your house payment consists of PITI (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance), then part of your monthly payment is going into an escrow account. Accurate escrow payments ensure that taxes…