News & Updates

Q: I'd like to take out a loan against my home's equity, what are the differences between a home equity line of credit (HELOC) and a typical home equity loan? How does an environment of rising interest rates impact each choice?

Millennials are known as the generation that never leaves home. This isn’t a knock on them, per se. Rather, these living conditions are a reflection of high housing costs and slim job prospects.

The average household that use credit cards owes more than $16,000 on them, according to a new report from Debt.com. That’s an awful lot, so it’s useful that the Debt.com team has mapped out where the easiest and most difficult states are to pay down debt on a new interactive map.

The only thing certain about today's economy is that it is uncertain. While things look relatively stable now, no one can guarantee what the next few years will bring. Fortunately, you don't have to give up on the home of your dreams because of a fluctuating economy. Here are four steps you can take to make sure your money – and your house – are safe regardless of the state of the economy.

Bills are a lot like bad weather. They're going to come anyway, so you might as well not try to fix them, right? For some bills, that's the case. For others, though, you can make a big difference in your monthly budget with a little legwork.

Q: I'm hoping to buy a house in the next few months. How much of a down payment should I have saved up?

A: When you think about your down payment, balance is key.

Q: Every ad for mortgage companies I read talks about pre-qualification or pre-approval. Is that something I need to do before I start house shopping?

A: There are two phases to securing a mortgage.

Question: Do I really have to negotiate? It's such a terrible experience and I feel so intimidated.
Negotiating a car sale isn't most people's cup of tea. If you're buying from a dealer, it means sitting down with someone who may have more experience than you do, particularly with car sales. It doesn't have to be an intimidating process…

You've probably heard that a car is the second-largest purchase the typical American makes after their home, but that's not really true. It might seem like it, since the median home price in the US was just under $190,000 last year, while a new Honda Civic starts at about one-tenth as much.

Almost half of young adults with student loan debt say it is hindering them from buying a house, according to a survey by NeighborWorks America. While student loan debt can be a concern, another study shows that, for some, it isn't interfering with their home-buying plans at all.