The down payment. It’s the only thing keeping you from a home of your own. You’ve got a good job, you’re paying down debt, and mortgage rates are still remarkably low. And rental rates are getting ridiculous. Let’s see if we can break down this home buying barrier. It doesn’t always take 20% down If…
The Federal Reserve raised short-term interest rates another quarter percentage point today. No surprise there. If only you could talk the central bank into a game of high-stakes, no-limit hold ’em. The Fed doesn’t have a poker face — and that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Chair Janet Yellen and her Federal Open Market…
Looking for the first-time home buyer tax credit? You may be thinking of the federal program implemented under the Obama administration. We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it doesn’t exist anymore. However, don’t despair: Other programs can help you get a first mortgage. To learn what happened to the first-time home buyer tax…
Buying a home can be nerve-wracking, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer. Not only is it probably the biggest purchase of your life, but the process is complicated and fraught with unfamiliar lingo and surprise expenses. To make the first-time home buying journey a little less stressful, NerdWallet has compiled these 25 tips to…
Thinking of bringing a little nature inside? Consider these six plants that look great while improving the air quality in your home! Bamboo Palm Can grow up to six feet tall Native to Mexico and Central America Low-maintenance, thrives in low light Cleans the air and is a natural humidifier Devil’s Ivy Scary name, cool…
Millions of Americans look to mortgage loans to help them buy homes, but the number of applications — and the percentage actually getting approved and funded — varies by where you live. To determine the states with the most mortgage purchase, not refinancing, loan applications and approvals, NerdWallet analyzed 2015 data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act…
In recent years, home equity loans have gone the way of boy bands. So last-century. In an era of low interest rates, home equity lines of credit and cash-out refinances have been the equity-tapping products of choice. Home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs, have been popular because they usually are built with low introductory rates,…
Let’s be real: Rejection hurts. It’s particularly hard if you’re denied for a mortgage preapproval, which is one of the biggest hurdles in the home-buying process. Mike and Brittany Delgado know the feeling all too well. In 2013, the couple tried to get a mortgage preapproval and were denied. Why? Mike’s credit report showed no…
The benefits of a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs continue beyond the day your loan closes. You can lower your rate, tap into your home’s equity or even bring your conventional loan into the VA program by refinancing. Two types of VA refinances You can refinance your VA loan two different ways: With…
Home prices are still rising — they’re currently averaging just below all-time highs set in 2006, according to the Case-Shiller Home Price Indices. Combine that with slim housing inventory in many markets, and you may believe you’ve missed the opportunity to buy your first, or your next, home. But bank-owned properties, also known as real-estate…
