Do You Have to Put 20 Percent Down on a New Home?
Some hopeful homebuyers know they can afford a mortgage payment – in many cases it’s lower than rent – but struggle to come up with the down payment. Saving that much money is a challenge for most of us. In some metropolitan areas, average home prices are very, very high, requiring a down payment of… Read More
Ask the Expert: Does Credit Counseling Hurt My Credit Score?
Credit counseling is a term used to describe a variety of services offered to consumers who find themselves buried in credit card debt. Credit counseling is often used to describe both debt settlement and debt management programs offered by legitimate not-for-profit credit counselors. And while each is designed to get the consumer out of credit… Read More
What’s a Credit Freeze And When Should You Use It?
The weather may be heating up, but if you’ve been the victim of identity theft, it may be time to consider a credit freeze. Freezing your credit blocks prospective lenders from viewing your credit report so that fraudsters can’t secure a mortgage or credit card in your name. However, you can still use existing credit… Read More
What Quitting on Maternity Leave May Mean for Your Finances
Almost every mom on maternity leave considers quitting her job and staying home with the baby. Between the sleep deprivation, the constant feedings, and the loving time with the baby, even moms who love their job have conflicted feelings about returning to work. Quitting while on maternity leave can have an impact on your personal… Read More
Financing Purchases Online: What to Know
Looking to buy big? Financing large home purchases—like a new refrigerator or television—has long been a big selling point of major brick-and-mortar stores, but now some of the biggest online retailers are offering amazing financing options. Amazon and PayPal both offer ways for you to finance the purchases that you make online. Just like larger… Read More
Today’s Housing Market – What You Need to Know
Here’s a snapshot of today’s housing market nationwide. Rising prices Home prices in 133 of 150 major metropolitan areas rose sharply in the first quarter of 2013, experiencing their biggest gains in many years. The national median price for an existing single family home is now $176,600 – up 11.3 percent from one year ago…. Read More
Bill May Remove Paid Medical Collections from Credit Reports
Medical collections can have big implications for your credit score and report. But that may be about to change. Recently, several lawmakers have proposed bills that may keep medical collections off of consumers’ credit reports. Earlier this year, Senator Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon, introduced the Medical Debt Responsibility Act of 2013 (Senate Bill S160)…. Read More
