Applying for a Mortgage? 3 Easy Ways to Make the Process Easier — and Reduce Your Stress

There are more than enough details involved in getting a mortgage and moving into your own home that you'll want to know how to make the process as seamless as possible beforehand. However, there's a chance you might not be aware of the things you can do to make it a little easier on yourself. If you're currently looking for a home and are wondering how to streamline the approval process, here are some things to do before applying to minimize mortgage-related stress. Get Electronic Documentation In order to get approved for your mortgage application, you'll need to provide documentation…
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Baby on the Way? Helpful Advice for Managing a Mortgage With Only One Parent Working

If you're dealing with paying off your mortgage and going down to a one-income family, it can be complicated to determine how to financially swing it. However, becoming a parent and managing a mortgage are quite common nowadays with maternity leave and the modern family. While managing a mortgage on just one salary can be a challenge, there are a few simple things you can do to make it work. Buy The House You Can Afford It may sound much too simple, but many people get so wrapped up in the concept of a dream home that they forget about…
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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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