Understanding Mortgage Pre-Approvals and How to Avoid Being Declined for One

The mortgage process is a long and complicated one, with a number of similar-sounding terms that can easily confuse first-time homebuyers. A pre-approval is not the same thing as a pre-qualification, and it's important to understand everything that goes into a pre-approval. Being declined during the pre-approval process means you'll have a hard time getting the funds you need to buy your home, so it's important that you know what the process is going to look like before going into it. How does a pre-approval work, and how can you make sure you won't be declined? Here's what you need…
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3 Reasons Why Buying an Investment Property Is the Best Way to Build Your Net Worth

Whether you have recently graduated from college or are getting close to retirement, it's likely that you have given some thought as to how you can grow your net worth. You might have invested in stocks, picked up a few bonds or have a 401(k) plan set up to help fund your retirement. But have you considered buying real estate as part of your portfolio? In today's blog post we'll have a look at three reasons why real estate investing is one of the most effective ways to grow your overall net worth. Reason #1: It Generates Passive Income One…
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On Time, Every Time: How Being Late on Monthly Payments Can Affect Your Mortgage

Are you the type of person that struggles with remembering to pay their bills on time? You're not alone. People across the country regularly submit late monthly payments, inflicting terrible damage to their credit. Let's take a quick look at how paying your loan or other monthly payments late can have a negative impact on your mortgage. Your Credit Score Is At Risk As you already know, almost all banks, credit cards, mortgage companies and other lenders rely on your credit score to help assess the risk of lending money to you. Paying any of your payments late – even…
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In a Hurry to Buy a Home? Speed Your Mortgage Approval up by Following This Checklist

Have you finally found your dream home after months of searching, only to discover that the seller has received other offers? Few circumstances can raise your stress level as much as finding yourself in a bidding war against another buyer. However, being unprepared by not having your finances in order can make the situation even worse. Let's take a quick look at a few ways that you can speed up your mortgage approval if you are in a hurry to buy your next home. Pull Your Credit Report ASAP The first step you will want to do is check your…
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4 Financial Benefits of Home Ownership

Home ownership may be one of the most familiar goals of adulthood, but there's more than one reason why so many people flock towards this type of investment and leave the rental market behind. If you're trying to decide if you should make the big plunge towards buying, here are some benefits of saving up for a down payment and finding the right place to settle in. It's More Economical Many people eschew home ownership simply because it can be hard to wrangle together the funds for a down payment. However, while a monthly rental is money you'll never see…
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Graduating From College? 3 Things You Need to Know About Mortgages and Student Loans

Are you thinking about buying a new home using a mortgage loan? If you've just graduated from college, you're probably wondering how your student loans will impact a mortgage and what your options are. In today's post we'll share three things that you need to know about mortgages if you're still working on paying off your student loan debt. #1: Yes, Your Student Loan Will Affect Your Application You might as well embrace the fact that your outstanding student loan is going to cause some questions to be asked during the mortgage application process. Mortgage lenders have a responsibility to…
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How Do I Know If It’s a Good Idea to Refinance My Mortgage?

Are you interested in paying less per month on your mortgage? Or perhaps you would prefer if your mortgage was paid off a couple of months – or years – faster? If you are a homeowner with a mortgage, one option that is open to you is refinancing. In today's post, we will explore the topic of mortgage refinancing and how to know if it is a good idea. How Does Refinancing Work? In short, refinancing is a process in which pay off your existing mortgage and borrow a new mortgage under a different set of terms. In most cases,…
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