Getting and Using Your First Credit Card A “first” credit card can be exciting, tempting and intimidating. Credit cards are a great convenience, but they are also a huge borrowing responsibility. Here are some ideas to keep in mind as you get your first credit card and begin to use it. Choosing a credit card … read more »
Renting vs. Buying a Home: Things to Think About
Renting vs. Buying a Home: Things to Think About (FDIC Consumer News) With housing prices still low in many areas and a favorable mortgage-rate environment, people who don’t own their home may be thinking about buying instead of renting. Here are points to consider: Why Rent? Freedom to move: If you unexpectedly need to find … read more »
5 Qualities of a Good Mortgage Lender
So, you’ve made the decision to buy a home or to refinance the mortgage on one you already own. Now all you need to do is find the right lender to help make it happen. That should be easy, right? But with all the mortgage lenders available today—from your local bank to online mortgage lenders—it’s … read more »
How Consumers Can Benefit from a Home Appraisal
A home appraisal is often required as an essential component of the mortgage financing process. Because the consumer pays the cost of the appraisal when applying for a mortgage to buy or refinance a home, it’s worth learning more about what the consumer is getting for the money, and why lenders typically are required to … read more »
The Comeback of Adjustable Rate Mortgages
Adjustable-rate mortgages, also known as ARMs or variable-rate loans, have been out of favor with many people in recent years because of the low interest-rate environment and the perception that rising payments on ARMs contributed to foreclosures during the recent financial crisis. But with new federal disclosures and protections for consumers, some borrowers are wondering … read more »
Fixed- or Adjustable-Rate Mortgage – Choose the Best Option For You
What city or town do you want to live in? What features do you want in a home? What’s your price range? Anyone who has shopped for a home can tell you; there are lots of decisions to make. And once you finally find the perfect home, there’s a whole new set of tough decisions … read more »
The Home Mortgage Appraisal: How Consumers Can Benefit
FDIC Consumer Information – A home appraisal is often required as an essential component of the mortgage financing process. Because the consumer pays the cost of the appraisal when applying for a mortgage to buy or refinance a home, it’s worth learning more about what the consumer is getting for the money, and why lenders … read more »
6 Steps to Take Before You Buy a Home
Buying a home. It’s the American dream and one you may hope to realize soon. You may have even begun looking at homes online or canvassing neighborhoods to find the home that’s right for you. But before you set out on your home buying journey, there are six important steps you should take to be … read more »
Solutions to the Tax Changes on Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit
Recent changes to the national tax code have impacted several areas, including the deductions some home owners were used to taking. This reform affects home equity loans and lines of credit. Here’s the information you should know, and some solutions to help you better manage these changes. First off, what is Equity? Home equity is … read more »
How Getting Preapproved for a Mortgage Differs From Being Prequalified
You’ve probably heard this one: A home is the biggest — and most important — purchase of your life. Although that bit of conventional wisdom may be enough to cause even the coolest homebuyers to break out in a nervous sweat, this process doesn’t have to be the most complicated you’ll ever face. Securing a … read more »
