HOMEOWNERSHIP
ARTICLES

Homeownership
Tax Implications of Home Ownership

Owning a home carries several tax implications that you should know about before you decide to buy. The U.S. Tax Code provides a few tax benefits, including reducing your tax obligations ...

Homeownership
Key Mortgage Terms

Choosing to buy a home is a straightforward decision, but navigating the home loan process can be intricate, with many mortgage terms that might be new to you ...

Homeownership
Getting Rid of Private Mortgage Insurance

When purchasing a standard mortgage from a private lender, you may be required to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI). However, PMI can be costly, usually charging you ...

Homeownership
House, Townhome, or Condo?

The real estate market offers many different housing options. Depending on your life stage, financial resources, and where you are on your financial journey, one ...

Homeownership
Building Equity in Your Home

If you own a home, the mortgage payments you make each month could help you build a substantial asset - home equity. The home equity you build represents how much ...

Homeownership
How Escrow Accounts Work: Do Escrow Accounts Earn Interest?

When you purchase a home with the help of a lender, the lender will likely set up an escrow account for ...

Homeownership
Down Payment Assistance Programs

For those at the low-to-moderate-income level, the most substantial barrier to homeownership are the closing costs and a down payment associated with ...

Homeownership
Down Payment Strategies for First-Time Home Buyers

The idea of buying a first home is exciting. Coming up with a sizeable down payment, however, can feel like an insurmountable task. That is especially true ...

Homeownership
How Home Construction Loans Work

Home construction loans provide families and individuals with the ability to finance new home construction projects ...

Homeownership
Buying a Vacation Home

It is something many families dream of: Owning a small cottage by the lake, a cabin in the mountains, or ...

Homeownership
What Now for Home Equity?

The recent tax law changes have many homeowners and home buyers more than a little nervous ...

Homeownership
Estimating a Home's Market Value

Whether you are preparing to buy a home or sell a home, it is essential to determine its market value so you can make ...

Homeownership
15-Year vs 30-Year Mortgages

What makes more sense financially for you, a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage or a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage? ...

Homeownership
About Private Mortgage Insurance

If you are in the market to buy a new home and have less than a 20 percent down payment, you are ...

Homeownership
Buying vs Renting a Home

Does it make more sense to rent than to buy? This has been a long-running debate in this country ...

Homeownership
Cash-Out Refinancing or a Home Equity Loan?

What's the top benefit of owning a home? Many would point to the equity you gain as you steadily pay down ...

Homeownership
Finding the Right Home

Buying a home is an important decision. In fact, it will probably rank as the biggest purchase you ever make ...

Homeownership
Fixed Rate vs Adjustable Rate Mortgages

What is the best way to decide whether you should aim for a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate loan? Do the research ...

Homeownership
Home Affordability

You are ready to make the jump from renting to buying a home. That is good news ...

Homeownership
Know When to Lock-In a Mortgage Rate

When you are preparing to get a mortgage, one of the steps you can take is to lock in your interest rate ...

Homeownership
Qualifying for a Mortgage

Qualifying for a mortgage loan today is no easy task. However, it is also far from an impossible one ...

Homeownership
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early?

As you explore options to get out of debt and get your financial house in order, your home, becomes one ...

Homeownership
Should You Refinance Close to Retirement?

When mortgage rates are low -- and in late 2016 the rates on both 30-year rates were at 4.30 percent and ...

Homeownership
Should You Refinance Into a Shorter Term Mortgage?

When mortgage rates are low refinancing to a shorter-term mortgage can save you tens of thousands of dollars ...

Homeownership
The Pros and Cons of an HOA

A homeowners association (HOA) provides you with the chance of living in an orderly and well-run neighborhood ...

Homeownership
The ROI of Home Improvement Projects

One of the most rewarding things about being a homeowner is that you can make changes to your home ...

Homeownership
Understanding Housing and Debt Ratios

You've found your dream home in the perfect neighborhood. There's just one problem ...

Homeownership
Understanding Mortgages

Most people will need a mortgage to finance the purchase of a home. A mortgage works much like any other ...