Are you worried about credit reporting and what might happen to your credit during the COVID-19 lockdown? Businesses have been shuttered for two months or longer, millions of homeowners are applying for mortgage forbearance due to lost income, and many struggle to keep up with their monthly payments. What do you need to know about credit reporting during COVID-19? Credit Reporting Is Still Happening The government’s consumer watchdog site, The … [Read more...]
Hierarchy of Savings – What Should Come First?
It can be difficult to establish a hierarchy of savings. What should come first when you are paying yourself? Three basic areas represent parts of your life that need financial attention; your retirement fund, your money set aside for emergencies, and debt repayment. The last one doesn’t sound like you are paying yourself--at first. But debt management is an important part of establishing financial freedom. Emergency Fund: A Savings Account You … [Read more...]
Do You Need A Loan? Advice From Personal Experience
Do you need a loan? Do you REALLY need a loan? Sometimes the answer is yes, and sometimes the answer is no. There are LOTS of articles with vague, non-specific advice about whether or not to apply for a personal loan, a small business loan such as a dti loan, or a student loan. But what SPECIFIC advice is there for people who just aren’t sure whether or not to commit? What follows is my own personal experience. The opinions are mine alone. … [Read more...]
Mortgage Scams To Avoid
Mortgage scams to avoid come in a variety of different types and not all of them have to do with purchasing a home or applying for a new loan to so. The Department of Housing and Urban Development warns consumers that mortgage scams frequently involve foreclosure avoidance schemes or refinance loans instead of new purchases. New purchase loans are not always scam-free. But there are some things you can do to protect yourself when buying the … [Read more...]
Government-Backed Mortgages Vs Conventional Home Loans
Do you know the difference between a conventional mortgage and a government-backed home loan such as an FHA loan, VA mortgage, or USDA home loan? There are two big areas some are concerned with; those areas are down payments and mortgage insurance. We’re looking at the differences between conventional and government-backed home loans with this in mind since a home loan down payment and the insurance you’ll need over the course of the loan are … [Read more...]