Do’s Do start checking up on your credit report for inaccuracies/late payments and fix the issues several months in advance Do dispute major inaccuracies, like accounts that don’t belong to…
Are We Approaching Another Housing Bubble?
There are some industry pundits claiming that residential real estate values have risen too quickly and that current home values are on the verge of another housing bubble. It is…
6 Tips For Paying Off Debt
Focus on the debt with the highest interest rate. A good way to start chipping away at your debt is to first focus on the highest rate. When you are…
What is a VA Loan?
There are three main types of home loans, Conventional, FHA, and VA. While they all have their purposes and advantages, the loan that would best benefit the borrower varies on…
A Bad Idea: Why LLC’s and Residential Real Estate Do Not Play Well
Investors looking into real estate often tend to assume they need to buy the property using a Limited Liability Company (or LLC) for risk mitigation purposes. While this may sound…
Private Mortgage Insurance
When a borrower applies for a conventional loan and the down payment is less than 20%, the borrower will probably have private mortgage insurance. Private Mortgage Insurance (or PMI) protects…
How Does Refinancing Work?
Refinancing your mortgage is when you trade in your old loan for a new loan with a new term and interest rate. You don’t have to refinance through the lender…
Understanding Your Credit Score
A key requirement for qualifying for an excellent mortgage requires strong FICO credit scores, as they can have a major impact on your interest rate and your loan terms. The…
Fannie Mae Raises the Debt to Income Ratio!
Fannie Mae is the largest insurer of mortgage loans in the United States. They have recently announced an increase in their debt-to-income (DTI) ceiling from 45 percent to 50 percent….
Fixed Rate vs. Adjustable Rate Mortgages
When applying for a mortgage, you have many different choices. Interest rates are a big factor in deciding which loan is right for you. Fixed rate loans have the same…