Even though retiring is the furthest thing from the minds of most twenty-somethings, you need to invest sooner, rather than later for one reason – you have an advantage over everyone else: time. Time to let your money grow exponentially. There is a reason Albert Einstein is credited with calling compound interest “the 8th wonder
Borrowing
By Andrea Woroch More Americans than ever are buying homes. In fact, a report from Zillow estimates 6.9 million existing home sales this year, the most since 2005, and projects a nearly 22% one-year gain in sales, the largest jump since the early 1980s.
If you are among the millions hunting for a home, it’s
By Andrea Woroch
Money is a top concern for most Americans these days and, with so much uncertainty still ahead, it’s important to create financial security for yourself and your family as we enter into this new year.
Improving your finances may seem like a daunting process, but getting started is half the battle. Here
Some people swipe credit cards haphazardly during the holidays and accrue debt with little thought to the aftermath. It is also common for folks to blow their year-end bonuses on big ticket items before ever receiving them. People get swept up in the emotions of the holidays without considering the financial ramifications.
In an effort
Veterans Affairs (VA) loans are invaluable for homebuyers. Their advantages include little or no money down, qualifying with a lower credit score, competitive interest rates, potentially lower closing and auxiliary costs, and no private mortgage insurance requirements.
VA loans are administered through approved lending institutions and backed through an entitlement of up to $36,000. This
Gone are the days of having to call a 1-800 number to interact with customer service teams. With the rise of social media, support is often available around the clock. If you’ve ever called out a company on social media for bad service, you know they can be quick to respond. Don’t be in a
You learned a lot at school. But did your teachers or professors educate you on how to use credit, protect your identity, or maintain a good credit score? Sadly, personal finance education does not rank up there with reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic.
According to research from the credit bureau Experian, more than one in three
You’ve probably moved at least once in your life and had to fill out the Change of Address form at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The USPS makes it easy to change your address or temporarily forward mail to a different address. Forms are available at your local post office, or you can make the
Equifax… Uber… Target… Under Armour…. The list of data hacks keeps growing and growing, increasing the odds that someone will steal your identity. Last year, this digital epidemic affected 14.4 million Americans. But the more you know, the better you can protect yourself.
We conducted an exclusive MoneyTips Google survey in 2018 to
Are you dealing with more credit cards than you can handle? You may have several cards for different purposes – perhaps a travel card to maximize travel benefits, a cash-back rewards card, and a low-interest rate card for large purchases that will require you to carry a balance. They were all good ideas at the
Does your credit score need help? Don‘t look for quick fixes. Set up a realistic budget that will help you repair your credit score over time.
Consider these six ways that a budget can raise your credit score and keep it high.
1. Paying Bills On Time – On-time payments are the most critical
Statewide restrictions are easing, and businesses are slowly reopening across the country, but consumers are still experiencing a lot of financial anxiety about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on their income and budgets. In fact, a survey by LendEDU found that 63% of poll participants were concerned about running out of money and 51%
With interest rates currently at a three-year low, it is clear that home values are on the rise. This makes it a great time to purchase a home — especially for first-time buyers. However, buying a home is no cakewalk; it must be handled with great care, and you must be prepared before applying. Here
For years, you have been dreaming about buying your first home and now you are debating taking action. Are you ready to enter the home buying market? Consider these seven signs before taking the plunge.
1. Having Job Security – Mortgage loan approvals require a steady regular income. Is your employment situation secure enough that
You have just closed on your home purchase and money is going to be tight for a while. Should you buy a home warranty to help you avoid out-of-pocket expenses or will it be a waste of money?
Before you decide if it will be worth it to you, you should understand what a home
When it comes to financing your mortgage, trying to navigate the labyrinth of lenders can get confusing. Like any significant financial transaction, there are advantages and disadvantages that come with each type of lender.
Get started by asking your realtor for referrals. With a large commission at stake, realtors have the right sort of incentive
Is your credit card interest rate causing you financial pain? As of April 2020, the average annual percentage rate (APR) across all credit cards is 16.12%. Low-interest rate cards average 12.95% – a huge improvement when you’re struggling with debt.
If your card’s APR doesn’t measure up, how do you get a low-interest rate credit
Can you spot a credit score myth when you see one? Survey after survey, including a 2017 MoneyTips survey, finds that people continually believe the same credit score myths. Have you fallen for these examples?
1. Checking Your Own Credit Report Drops Your Score – This myth confuses the two types of pulls on your
Selling a home can be a stress-inducing experience, especially if you are counting on the sale of your existing home to fund the purchase of a new home. It can seem like you are coordinating a million things at once. A simple checklist can help you to keep track during the chaos and prevent necessary
The old phrase “you get what you pay for” really does ring true in some cases. There are some cases where quality is far more important than price. Would you consider discount brain surgery? Probably not… and if you would, we suspect it might be repeat business.
Medicine warrants a whole category of areas where
You’ve set up a lame date for the upcoming weekend but you’re hoping a better offer comes along. If one does, you’re ready to accept it and cancel your earlier date. You’re hedging your bets, so you won’t be sitting home alone on Saturday night.
That logic applies to real estate transactions as well. Perhaps
Certificates of Deposit (CDs) can be a useful part of your investment portfolio – but did you know that opening a CD at some banks and credit unions can drop your credit score? It’s possible, depending on how your bank or credit union assesses risk.
When you apply for credit, lenders check your credit report
It’s a classic dilemma. You can’t build a credit history and get a credit score without a source of credit, but how do you get a source of credit without a credit history?
If you don’t have a credit score to assess, you’ll have to give lenders a different method of assurance that you won’t
A vacation home sounds delightful, doesn’t it? If you can’t afford one, you may be able to at least afford a part of one – by purchasing a timeshare.
You’ll have plenty of company if you do. The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) reports that timeshare sales have risen for eight consecutive years, reaching $9.6
You decide to participate in a government survey regarding your debt and credit card usage. Will you answer the survey questions honestly, or will you shade some of your answers when you’re not proud of the truthful response?
Researchers at the Federal Reserve decided to compare credit card data from different sources to answer that
The coronavirus outbreak that began in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 has spread fast and caused global panic. Even the financial markets have suffered, causing the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve to decrease its rate by half a percentage point in an emergency move. This sets the Fed’s target interest range
You have decided that it is time to sell your home. Regardless of the reason why, you want as smooth and as quick of a sale as possible. To keep your sale trouble-free, consider these potential stumbling blocks before you begin your home-selling journey.
Overpricing – Set the price using appraisal values and market rates,
The home appraisal process can be one of the most nerve-wracking parts of a home sale. A single independent party is assessing the fair market value of your home, and the appraiser’s conclusion can sink the deal. Banks will not approve the loan if the appraisal does not give them sufficient collateral.
The primary factors
When you decide to revamp your home, the goal is usually to suit your lifestyle and create an ambiance more to your own taste. In a world of financial uncertainties, however, it is crucial to consider the effect on the resale value of your property. Home improvement projects that enhance sought-after features can make your
You would love to embark on a home improvement project that will spruce up your property and improve its resale value at the same time, but you only have $1,000 in the budget. What sort of projects can give you the best return on your investment (ROI)? We have five options below for your consideration.
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