How to Make a Household Budget 1. Consider your monthly expenses You’ve probably realized that your responsibilities as a homeowner aren’t the same as when you were a renter. That goes for your monthly bills, too, and there are a few you may not be familiar with. Utilities: You’re probably used to paying for electricity, […]
A 3-Step Downsizing Plan Moving into a new house is often bittersweet. You are excited for the change, but sad to leave a home so full of memories. Downsizing can be even harder — a smaller place means you don’t have room for all of your current possessions. But downsizing is also an opportunity […]
You have a lot of things to consider when house hunting. One of the most significant is – do you want a home that you could move into tomorrow or a home that you can fix up and customize to your liking? Choosing between move-in ready homes and fixer-upper homes can be challenging given they […]
How Your Money is Protected How Your Money is Earning Interest When You Collect Your Money and Interest How Your Money is Protected Two Types of Lending: 1st Lien and 2nd Liens Both are protected via Deed of Trust and Loan Agreement that is signed along with the closing documents. In a […]
What is Earnest Money and Why Do You Need It? As you close in on making an offer on a home, your real estate agent – or the seller’s agent – will ask about “earnest money.” Earnest money is a type of security deposit, also known as a “good faith” deposit, offered to show the […]
Housing Market The U.S. housing market had a record-breaking year in 2021. It remained a competitive seller’s market, mortgage rates hit record lows, and there was more interest in relocating to new cities across the country than ever before. As we enter the new year, the housing market has already started off with a record-low […]
Commit to your space For those of us who don’t have a home office — which is a lot of people — work-from-home routines can easily get derailed. Designating an area for work, even if that place is the bill-paying area in your kitchen, is a way to stay in your routine and get yourself […]
Refinancing your mortgage is something most homeowners consider at least once throughout the lifespan of their home loan. It allows you to pay off your previous loan by applying for a new one that has better financial advantages. While there are many good reasons to refinance, here are a few common ones. ? Scoring a […]