It’s getting to the end of the year, which means holiday parties, shorter days and depending on where you live, plenty of cold and snow. It also means that it’s time to review your financial situation before year-end and the start of the tax season. Take a few minutes or hours over the next month […]
In the past, reverse mortgages were often considered a last resort to drum up some cash and they had a bit of a bad reputation but that has changed in the last few years as reverse mortgages have become more mainstream and are being used a financial planning tool for homeowners. Reverse mortgage actually date […]
While home prices continue to rise, the risk of another housing bubble is starting to take shape and with a bubble comes the possibility that it will burst, resulting in th loss of a big chunk of your life savings. Fortunately, or not, depending on how you look at it, there is a new product […]
Owning a home is something that most people aspire to at some point in their lives. While homeownership offers a ton of benefits, everything from lowering your taxes to building equity, it’s important to make sure you are ready before you sign on the dotted line. Buying a home before you are ready financially can […]
According to data from the Census Bureau, roughly 11 to 12 percent of Americans change addresses every year. Anybody who has ever moved knows that it can be a very frustrating experience, it can also be fairly expensive. Moving not only requires packing up all of your belongings but also updating your insurance policies, tracking […]
Buying a new house is a major expense and prices seem to go up every year. According to the Census Bureau the median sales price of a home in the United States was $278,800 in 2015. Unfortunately, the sales price is just the beginning of the expenses when it comes to home ownership. Buying a […]
Shopping for a house can be a difficult and stressful time and in some cases it is possible to forget a few key things during the process. Before you make an offer and sign your name on the dotted line there are a few questions that you should ask your real estate agent and the […]
Buying a house is probably one of the biggest financial commitments you will make in your life. While your mortgage payment will make up a considerable portion of the monthly costs related to your new home, there will be additional expenses that you will need to consider before you plunk down your earnest money and […]
Tucked away in your mortgage, hidden in the small print, is a little surprise that could cost you big, but only if you fail to keep your homeowners insurance premiums up to date. Every mortgage ever written specifies that the homeowner must carry homeowners coverage in certain dollar amounts. In most cases the house must […]
The day that you close on a new house is unforgettable. It’s always exciting and a bit nerve wracking. At the end of the day you will get the keys to your dream house, but before that happens there are tons of papers to initial and sign as well as dozens of things to arrange. […]