Understanding the Reverse Mortgage and How to Best Use This Unique Financial Tool

If you've studied the real estate market recently, you've probably heard about the reverse mortgage. This unique tool is a financial arrangement designed for senior citizens who have limited incomes and want to use the equity in their homes to meet their everyday expenses. And although it's becoming increasingly popular, few homeowners truly understand it. So how does a reverse mortgage work, and when is it appropriate for a homeowner to get one? Here's what you need to know. What is a Reverse Mortgage? A reverse mortgage is a loan that uses your home equity as collateral - essentially, you…
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Worried About Mortgage Rates Going Up? 3 Steps to Prepare Yourself Financially

Mortgage rates have been at record lows for quite some time, making it easy for new homebuyers to finance their dream homes. But what comes down will eventually go back up, and with the world economy expected to rebound in 2016, we're about to start seeing more expensive mortgages. So what can you do to prepare yourself before mortgage rates start to rise? Here are three strategies that will keep you ahead of the game. Start Saving More Money Now If you have a variable rate mortgage, you've benefitted from great interest rates that this world won't see again for…
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What Are The Requirements To Sell A Home Using An FHA Loan?

Before an owner can market a property to buyers that want to use a FHA loan, he will want to familiarize himself with the FHA's standards. FHA won't insure loans on just any property. While their standards aren't as stringent as they used to be, a home needs to be in relatively good condition to qualify for FHA financing. Location And Lot To qualify for FHA financing, the property has to be located on a road or easement that lets the owner freely enter and exit. The access also has to be paved with a surface that will work all…
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The Pros and Cons of Paying Your Mortgage off Biweekly Versus Monthly

If you have a mortgage, you're probably looking for the best option to pay it off. Monthly mortgage payments are an easy-to-manage way to pay for your house - in fact, they're the most common form of mortgage payment  but now, many homeowners are discovering that biweekly payments offer them better results. So is a biweekly payment the better option for you? Which payment strategy best fits your individual circumstances? Here's what you need to know. Biweekly Payments: Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster and Save on Interest Biweekly payments are becoming increasingly popular for a variety of reasons. With a…
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3 Reasons Why the Cost of Title Insurance is Worth the Investment

Title insurance is one of the few types of protection policies available to homebuyers and one that is often overlooked because of its optional nature. Because title insurance is purchased simultaneously with the home, it can be very easy to forego when looked at alongside all the additional fees that are associated with purchasing property. This is typicaly not advisable, as title insurance is one of the smartest forms of protection a homeowner can buy. Here are just three reasons why every purchaser should get title insurance. It's The Best Protection Against Fraud Title insurance protects the owner of a…
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Spouse with Bad Credit? 3 Reasons You’ll Want to Consider a Co-signer for Your Mortgage

Obtaining a mortgage can be quite a complicated process even without the financial hurdles, but if your spouse's credit has experienced a number of difficulties, acquiring a mortgage can be even more of a burden. If you're concerned about what bad credit will mean for your mortgage and are weighing your options, here are some reasons why it might be important to use a co-signer for your application. Increasing The Likelihood Of Approval From getting an education to purchasing your first vehicle, it's a common occurrence for people to take a loan out at some point in their life. However,…
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Understanding the Jumbo Mortgage and Why Refinancing These Mortgages is Different

It seems like everything is getting jumbo sized these days. Jumbo sized soft drinks. Jumbo sized fast food meals. Jumbo sized smartphones. But one thing that nobody thought would get jumbo sized? Is mortgages. So what exactly is a jumbo mortgage? How is it different from a standard mortgage, and what does that mean for your refinancing options? Here's what you need to know. Jumbo Mortgages: Larger Sums For Enterprises And Wealthy Buyers As the name implies, the main factor that sets jumbo mortgages apart from standard mortgages is the loan limit. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac impose mortgage limits…
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4 Things You Absolutely Should Not Do After You Apply for a Mortgage

If you have a good credit history and are prepared to invest in a home, you may be feeling pretty confident about the mortgage process. However, it's important to be aware that there are things that can have a negative impact on your application. Whether you've just submitted your documents or are getting close to it, here are some things you may want to avoid. Acquiring New Credit It may seem silly that something as minor as a new credit card can be a mark against your credit, but applying for new ones can be a bad sign to lenders.…
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