Since transitioning out of the military, I’ve had the, um, “pleasure” of being around a lot more civilians. Some of the questions I’m asked on an annoyingly regular basis are, “Aren’t VA loans awesome? Don’t you get a free house? Did you get yours?” After polling some veterans, I realized […]

To begin with, it’s a complex term! It means different things to different people. It is regarded differently in different contexts. It is often misunderstood concerning its importance in financial situations. And, to some, it seems to run contrary to popular assumptions about whether or not it’s a good thing […]

A cash-out refinance isn’t just for paying off debt. You can also take advantage of the option to remodel your house, pay for a child’s tuition, fund a wedding or another need altogether. If you own a home and carry debt in several common ways (student loans, credit cards or […]

You likely can’t get a mortgage to buy a home without home insurance, so you might as well know how much home insurance costs – and know how you can get the best deal on homeowners insurance. Average home insurance costs vary from state to state (as home insurance rates […]

If you’re hoping to buy a house soon, one little number you’ll want to bring up to snuff is your credit score. Your credit score is a numerical summary of your credit report, a detailed document outlining how well you’ve paid off past debts—to your credit cards, college loans, and […]

When you begin looking for a house, you should also begin looking for all the paperwork you’ll need before applying for a mortgage. Here’s a checklist of what you’ll need, and it’s extensive — W-2s, pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns, brokerage statements and more. It’s never too early to […]

Buying your first home is a magical moment. Along with nailing down a steady job and getting married, it’s one of those undeniable signs that you’re a full-fledged adult. It’s also a process with long-term financial and emotional consequences. The last thing you want to do is make rash decisions […]

Most mortgage applicants are not perfect If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re at least a little worried about obtaining mortgage approval. An Urban Institute study classified mortgage applicants into three groups: At the top are applicants for loans without risky features, a FICO score above 700, finance no […]

For a lot of first-time homebuyers, getting a mortgage can turn into a baptism by fire. Often, you don’t know how complicated the process is until you’re in the thick of it. The truth is, financing your home doesn’t have to be a maddening experience. The better you understan how […]

If you need a mortgage to buy a house but lack the funds to make a 20% down payment, you might end up paying an added fee called private mortgage insurance, or PMI. So what exactly is PMI? In the same way homeowners insurance protects you in case of problems […]