In 2020, housing market interest rates hit and remained at historic lows. Government-backed home loans and refinance loans plunged into the low two percent range with a 52-week average for these mortgages and refinance loans at roughly 2.25%. I wrote about these conditions all through 2020, and the number of people including those in my own family who refinanced their home loans last year or in early 2021 was probably higher than any time in … [Read more...]
How Much Interest Does One Million Dollars Earn?
When I started saving for retirement, I wasn't sure how much money I should save, so I set my first milestone at one million dollars. I'm not there yet, but I'm working on it. Of course, the more I save, the more I earn in interest. But if I save one million dollars, how much interest will I earn? How does interest work? How much interest you earn all depends on your interest rate. If you can match the average annual inflation rate, which … [Read more...]
Your Money Problems: Common Money Mistakes People Make
Do you have money problems? There are some common mistakes people make when planning a budget or trying to sort out their bills. Check our list below of bad financial habits to avoid when trying to take control of your finances. Paying Too Much For Housing Are you overspending on rent or your mortgage? Many people read advice that your housing expenses should not take up more than roughly 30% of your income, but in the 21st century, it’s more … [Read more...]
Protect Your Credit To Survive Coronavirus
That title is pretty sensational, but there are indications in the American economy that credit scores are going to be very important in the era of coronavirus and COVID-19. That’s not based on speculation; mortgage lenders across America are reconsidering their FICO score requirements for home loan approval, making scores in the mid to upper 600 range less of a sure thing for loan approval than they were previously. For the record, FICO … [Read more...]
Why You Should Not Apply For A Subprime Loan
Why is it a bad idea to apply for a subprime loan? What follows is not MY advice, but rather the advice from credit reporting agencies like Experian, and from government watchdog agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. I preface today's article with that disclaimer because I want the message to be clear; applying for a subprime loan is something most consumers should think twice about doing. And that is according to the … [Read more...]