Refinancing is common practice for homeowners, and it’s often a smart financial move. It can lower your payment, reduce your interest rate and more. But when it’s not the right time to refinance, it can be an unnecessary effort or…
For both homebuyers and homeowners, understanding how property liens work is important. In fact, they could impact your ability to buy a specific house or make a home cost more. Fortunately, finding out if a property has a lien against…
When you start researching to buy a home, you’ll see the terms “mortgage prequalification” and “mortgage preapproval” thrown around a lot. While they sound similar, they aren’t the same — and they serve different purposes in your homebuying journey. Thinking…
Is there a difference between the right house for your current situation versus your ideal home for life? There’s usually a big difference for most buyers, and it’s a good idea to consider both options carefully. When deciding between a…
Gift-giving season is upon us — and did you know that you can potentially use gift money to help cover your down payment? You most certainly can. However, there are some limitations and a few bases you’ll need to cover…
There are lots of creative ways to afford a home, but house hacking might be one of the most interesting on paper. Not only does this investment strategy have generations of practical use behind it, but digital advancements in the…
Building your home from the ground up can be extremely rewarding. You get to have a lot more control over your property’s design and construction, and starting from scratch can be an adventurous passion project. But how can you finance…
When you apply for a mortgage, lenders assess two things: your risk as a borrower and any risks associated with the property. While you can influence the former through having a good credit score and low debt-to-income ratio, the latter…
Knowing whether the price is right for a property you’re interested in is vital to avoid problems further down the road. It can be easy to miss though, especially in a hot market. With stiff competition, an overpriced listing can…
Mortgage rates have risen since the beginning of the year. As home prices still remain high and economic uncertainty creeps in, you might be considering pausing your home search. Is that the right move, though? The truth is, no homebuying…
