Buying a home involves a variety of nuances and strange-sounding terms, and one of the least understood aspects of the home buying process is the escrow account. Essentially, an escrow account is a third party bank account your lender can require you to pay into in order to cover certain costs related to your home. Your lender uses an escrow account to ensure that property taxes and home insurance fees get paid on time.
Buying a home is one of the largest investments you will make in your life, and that's why so many people have longer mortgage amortization periods to pay down the principal. While it may seem appealing to have a longer amortization period, here's why an extended loan term can end up costing you more and may be less financially beneficial when it comes right down to it.
What are some of the reasons why it may be beneficial to make two payments a month instead of one? Here are three reasons why you should ditch the monthly fees and make payments once every two weeks.
Are you in the market for a new home? If you are going to rely on mortgage financing to cover some of the purchase cost, you will need to start the application process as soon as possible. However, what if you just need to know how much you will be able to borrow so you can start finding homes in your price range?
Your home is more than just a place to live—it's an asset that can be leveraged to achieve various financial goals. Home equity loans provide homeowners with a means to tap into the value they have built in their properties. In this article, we will explore the ins and outs of home equity loans, how
Like a lot of people, I never thought I would see a 7.0% rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage again. But here we are. And it appears that 7.0% is the breaking point for most borrowers. Rates have simply moved too fast and too high. The result has been a significant demand in Adjustable Mortgage
It used to be that the rates for buying or refinancing a second home were more or less the same as those for buying or refinancing a primary home. Those days are gone now, though. The Federal Housing Finance Agency is going to raise fees/rates as of April 1, 2022 on some home loans, specifically
Most new homebuyers are aware of property taxes, but have no idea how much they may end up spending on them each year. The excitement about the new home and community can make it hard to focus on the nitty-gritty, but understanding how much property tax you may owe is essential to knowing if you
Every generation makes its mark on society with certain notable characteristics. The Boomer generation is remembered for their contributions to building the American economy, while Gen Z is associated with the start of social media. The housing market has not been immune to the generational changes, and Millennials, the generation of Americans born between 1981
Home buying has costs associated with it other than the mortgage itself. Known as closing costs,,these fees are a part of the home buying process and they are due at the time that the mortgage is finalized. Buyers, however, can negotiate these costs and reduce the expense with a little bit of effort and with the help of a good mortgage professional.
Most loan applications with less than 20% down payment are required to include mortgage insurance with the loan. However, mortgage insurance may still be needed, even if it's not typically required by your lender.
If you are self-employed, either as a freelancer or as the owner of your own business, your income can fluctuate greatly from year to year. That can make it difficult to get approved for a mortgage, although there are some things you can do to improve your chances. Here are three tips for securing a mortgage if you are self-employed.
