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7 Questions to Ask If You’re Considering a Home Equity Agreement
Tapping your home equity can be a good way to pay off debt, fund home improvements, or cover education expenses. When it comes to accessing your home equity, you have plenty of options: a home equity loan, a home equity line of credit (HELOC), a reverse mortgage, cash-out refinancing, or a relatively new funding method, […]
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How Do I Choose a Real Estate Agent?
Key takeaways: If you’re considering buying or selling a home, you have a long to-do list ahead of you. But one of the very first things to do is to decide whether you’ll need professional help, and if you do, how to find the right professional. People have been doing “for sale by owner” for […]
Comparing the Options for Accessing Home Equity
Key takeaways Home equity can be a tricky thing. You own it, but you can’t access it as readily as you can cash or money in a bank account. But there are several ways you can access that home equity, converting it to cash to make needed purchases or pay expenses. You’re probably familiar with […]
Home Improvements that Save Energy and Money
Key takeaways: Reducing energy use and costs are good ideas any time, but with Earth Day around the corner (April 24 this year), you may find a little extra motivation to implement some cost-effective, energy-saving improvements. Energy-efficient upgrades can make your home more comfortable while significantly lowering energy costs. Plus, you may even be able […]
How to Decide Where to Retire
Retiring is an enormous life change, and if you’re thinking about moving after you stop working, that transition may become even bigger. In this article, we’ve rounded up some of the most important considerations to help you tackle the decision of where to retire. In the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies 2023 survey, retirees ranked […]
Time for Taxes: 6 Key Changes to Know About This Season
Nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes, according to Ben Franklin. But this time of year, we can add one more thing: at least some tax-filing rules, deductions and exemptions. As you start to prepare your information to file your 2024 return, be sure you are up to speed on what’s […]
What Will Mortgage Rates Do This Year?
Key takeaways: Get ready for lower mortgage rates? While the one eternal reality of mortgage rates is just how hard it is to forecast them, it’s probably still worth checking in on what those who make their living forecasting the housing market think. And yes, the general consensus is that the days of “higher for […]
7 Common Credit Score Myths – Separating Reality from Fiction
Key takeaways: Credit matters. Whether you’re trying to qualify for a loan, obtain the best interest rate or get a new job of apartment, credit can play an essential role. As important as credit is, there are still many misconceptions about it. Here, we look at seven of the most common myths surrounding credit scores. […]
How to Fund a Business with Home Equity
Key takeaways Do you have a business – or an idea for a business – that you need to fund? If so, congratulations! A new venture is a big step. While it may seem like a headache to figure out the logistics, we’re here to help simplify. One of the easiest and most logical ways […]
Debt Consolidation, Debt Settlement: Understanding the Differences
Key takeaways: Debt can feel like a heavy weight, leaving you stressed and anxious, and sending you searching for a solution. Along the way, you may come across “debt consolidation” and “debt settlement.” While they may sound somewhat similar, they offer distinctly different ways to pay off your debt. Here, we’ll explain how they are […]
How Lower Interest Rates Might Help Homeowners
Key takeaways: The high-interest rate era may be drawing to a close, and that could open more options for homeowners. As you probably know, the Federal Reserve began raising rates in 2022, hoping to put a lid on inflation, which was running at its hottest rate in more than two decades. The Fed has been […]
Money Issues to Discuss Before Tying the Knot
Key takeaways: More than a third of couples get engaged between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, according to the wedding planning magazine The Knot. That means we’re at the tail end of engagement season and many couples will soon be in the throes of planning their nuptials. While they may deliberate on everything from dresses and […]
7 Questions to Ask If You’re Considering a Home Equity Agreement
Tapping your home equity can be a good way to pay off debt, fund home improvements, or cover education expenses. When it comes to accessing your home equity, you have plenty of options: a home equity loan, a home equity line of credit (HELOC), a reverse mortgage, cash-out refinancing, or a relatively new funding method, […]