Home Loans
Home Economics: Renovate Carefully
Americans are on a home renovation binge. The remodeling experts at Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies estimates that we will spend more than $350 billion on remodeling in the next 12 months
4 Great Reasons to Rent
As we head into the heart of home buying season I am concerned some of you may be caught up in the “buy now!” frenzy.
Home Buying in Next 6 months? Do This Now!
If you are planning on buying a home in the next few months, I bet you are already spending plenty of time checking out online listings.
The Smartest Home Buying Move Most People Ignore
Most homebuyers choose a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. There’s nothing wrong with going the conventional route and spreading your payments over 30 years. But I wish more people would take out a 15-year mortgage instead.
Don’t Over-React to the Mortgage Rate Rise
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:
Avoid This Costly Refinancing Trap
In late July, the 3.4% average rate for a 30-year mortgage was near the historic low set in 2013. That’s great news for so many homeowners who were unable to refinance back in 2013 because they didn’t have the 20% equity that most lenders require for the best refi deals. Fast-forward to today and home values are up an average of nearly 30% since early 2013. That means plenty of homeowners can now-finally-refinance at today’s great rates.
Step 4: Closing the Deal: Scour your all-in Mortgage Costs
It takes a hefty wad of money to get a mortgage. It’s typical for all the fees associated with securing a mortgage—called Closing Costs-to add up to 2% or more of the loan. That’s a stiff $4,000 or so on a $200,000 mortgage.
Step 3: Get to the Point: When It Pays to Buy Down Your Mortgage
Lenders like to give home borrowers choices when it comes to their mortgage rate. You’ll always be presented with a standard rate: what you qualify for based on how the lender sizes up your financial profile (credit score, income, debts etc.) And then you will also be presented with some options to “buy down” or reduce that interest rate.
Suze’s Mortgage Tip #2: Know the Down Side of Making a Small Low Down Payment.
My absolute best advice is to strive to make a 20% down payment when you buy a home. I know that can be a lot of money. But hear me out. What you need to understand is that a small down payment can end up costing you big time.
Suze’s Mortgage Tip #1: Shop Around
It amazes me that so many homebuyers who spent weeks, if not months, hunting around for the best home, don’t shop around as diligently for the best mortgage. According to the Consumer Financial
Turn a Child/Grandchild’s Summer Job into a Retirement Windfall.
If you have a child or grandchild who is going to get paid for work this summer, I want you to consider a way to gift them a valuable retirement stake.
Four Smart Moves in a Falling Stock Market
Nobody likes to see the value of their investment accounts fall, but whether it’s a correction (a drop of at least 10% but less than 20%) or a full-on bear market (a decline of 20% or more) the reality is that markets go through rough periods. Always have, and always will.
4 Signs You’re About to Make a Very Big Real Estate Mistake
With the Spring home buying rush just around the corner, I want to make sure that you don’t buy into a very big mistake.
4 Ways New Mortgage Rules Can Save You a Ton of Money
Whether you are buying a home or refinancing an existing mortgage, new federally required disclosure documents make it easy-yes, I said easy-to be a super smart mortgage shopper.
The Massive Mistake 4 in 10 Parents With Young Children Make …and how to fix it in four easy steps
A new survey makes me sad, mad and very nervous. According to Bankrate.com, 37% of parents with children under the age of 18 have no life insurance. And even the parents with life insurance aren’t really protecting their family, as one-third have policies with death benefits that do not exceed $100,000. That may sound like a lot of money, but it’s woefully little once you sit down and run the numbers.
Why You Should Seriously Consider a Roth 401(k)
You know I love, love, love Roth IRAs. One of the prime reasons being that in retirement you will not owe a penny of tax on your withdrawals. That’s quite different from a Traditional IRA where every penny will be taxed at your ordinary income tax rate.
Three Steps to Guaranteed Financial Independence
As a nation we set aside one day a year to formally celebrate our independence. When it comes to your money my hope is that you will make every day, not just July 4th, a day where you make conscious decisions that will help you build financial independence: a life where you are in control of your money, and not vice-versa.
How to Get the Most Out of Social Security
Your Social Security retirement benefit is one of the most valuable pieces of your retirement plan. Not only will it likely account for a large portion of your income when you retire, but it also has an incredible feature: your annual benefits increase with inflation. Your 401(k) and IRAs don’t come with such a great guaranteed inflation-protection feature.
How To Marry Your Finances
It’s no secret that money can be a serious wedge issue for couples. Survey after survey reports that when couples argue, finances are often at the heart of the discord. Here’s how every couple can lay the groundwork for financial compatibility.
Suze Orman’s Practical Real-Estate Portfolio
The personal finance expert’s holdings are in places like New York, the Bahamas and South Africa
Why Everyone Needs a Living Revocable Trust
Everyone needs a living revocable trust, says Suze Orman on this week's episode of "The Suze Orman Show." In response to several emails and tweets asking why a trust is so mandatory, Orman spells it out. "A living revocable trust serves as far more than just where assets are to go upon your death and it does that in an efficient way," she said. Unlike a will, a living trust also covers you while you are still alive, Orman noted.
Resist home-buying pressure, Suze Orman advises
The recent rise in housing prices and the decrease in supply in certain parts of the country have some people willing to spend every nickel they have to get into the market now. But Suze Orman warns hopeful homebuyers not to be hasty and end up house poor.
