Suze’s Blog & News

It’s getting close to the pins and needles moments for families with college-bound high school seniors. Acceptance notices will soon be mailed out. I know it will be a relief for your entire family to have the news, and hopefully, some great choices to make.

My friends, you are killing me with your inability to plan for your death. A new survey from caring.com reports that just four in 10 adults has either a will or a revocable living trust. Even more disturbing to me was the news that barely one-third of adults with minor children has either of these essential documents.

The average refund for federal tax returns is nearly $3,000. And I know plenty of you also end up getting some money back when you file your state tax as well. Don’t blow it! Look, I know how easy it is to see your refund as a windfall. And that triggers thoughts of vacations, new wardrobes, or a new gadget or two.

Over the past few months mortgage rates have begun to rise a bit. And the expectation is that they may continue to drift higher throughout 2017. While there’s no question mortgages now cost more, I want anyone thinking of buying a home, or refinancing, to not over-react to higher rates. Keep in mind:

We all know that the busy season for buying homes starts in the spring and runs through early summer. That means that right now, in the middle of winter, is when anyone considering buying a home this year should focus on getting their finances in order. There are moves you can make today that will pay off two or three months down the line when you apply for a mortgage. Here’s how to home in on getting your financial house in order before you embark on buying a new home: