mortgage

Why you shouldn’t panic when mortgage rates rise

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Mortgage interest rates are rising, but rushing to buy a home before prices rise further will lead only to worse financial challenges. I’ve always thought of homeownership as a kind of train. As renters, you’re running behind it, trying to … Read More … Read More

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Why a new fee on mortgage refinancing shouldn’t affect you

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Refinancing a mortgage is getting pricier due to the Adverse Market Refinance Fee, but refinancing doesn’t offer the benefits you think. There’s a new fee in town. The Federal Housing Finance Agency has instituted a 0.5% fee on refinancing of … Read More … Read More

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Eviction in the pandemic: Owning versus renting

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There is a big difference in how quickly eviction can occur for renters versus owners when dealing with non-payment of rent or mortgage. The to-rent-versus-to-own issue when it comes to housing is a tough one. And that’s assuming you have … Read More … Read More

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Netting

My take on Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps (Part 2, Baby Steps 4-7)

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This post is part of a two-part series: My take on Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps (Part 1, Baby Steps 1-3b) My take on Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps (Part 2, Baby Steps 4-7) In my last post, I talked … Read More … Read More

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Mountain wall

The debt doldrums: how to manage a single large debt

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Do you have a really big debt? I do. It’s called my mortgage. Last year, I was able to successfully pay down my mortgage such that my loan-to-value ratio (essentially, the percentage of how much I owed on my home) hit … Read More … Read More

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Trophies

Getting rid of PMI (part 5): The moment of truth?

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Part of a series: Getting rid of PMI (part 1): The P stands for “parasite” Getting rid of PMI (part 2): The M stands for “misdirection” Getting rid of PMI (part 3): The I stands for “I already told you” … Read More … Read More

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White Cliffs of Dover

Getting rid of PMI (part 4): Hard work vs. a risky shortcut

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Part of a series: Getting rid of PMI (part 1): The P stands for “parasite” Getting rid of PMI (part 2): The M stands for “misdirection” Getting rid of PMI (part 3): The I stands for “I already told you” … Read More … Read More

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Getting rid of PMI (part 3): The I stands for “I already told you”

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Part of a series: Getting rid of PMI (part 1): The P stands for “parasite” Getting rid of PMI (part 2): The M stands for “misdirection” Getting rid of PMI (part 3): The I stands for “I already told you” … Read More … Read More

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Free cash sign

Four ill-advised reasons to refinance your mortgage

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So there are definitely some reasons where refinancing a mortgage could be a good move. Rates too high? Terms no good? Not going to be moving for a while? It could make a lot of sense, and save you money. … Read More … Read More

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White elephant statue

Is it time for me to refinance? My mortgage origination company thinks so

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I closed on my home almost two years ago. And while I made the terms a little longer than I needed to, my plan currently is to pay it off as if it were a 15 year mortgage. As I’ve … Read More … Read More

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