Buying a House? How Much Home Can You Afford?
Maybe youve heard the expert advice that your debt to income ratio shouldnt be more than 36 percent of your total income. But do you truly know what that means, and how lenders will look at your financial history in order to decide whether or not to extend you a mortgage? If you need help ... more...

Uncle Sam's Snake Oild
Uncle Sam and his band of merry-men, better known as Congress, have been pushing snake oil on the unsuspecting public in the form of retirement plans. But wait, isnt a pension plan one of the perks we look to when shopping for an employer? Well, not all pension planning is created equal and in most ... more...

How to Figure Debt to Income Ratio
Ever wonder how to figure out you debt to income ratio? Lenders use your debt to income ratio to help them evaluate your creditworthiness and debt load.Mortgage lenders use your debt to income ratio to calculate what percentage of your income is available for your monthly mortgage payment after ... more...

Home Equity Loans Online
If you are in the market for a home equity loan, consider an online lender. Home equity loans online are fast and easy. You could be approved in just minutes when you apply online for a home equity loan. The online lending industry is highly competitive. Online lenders are offering home equity ... more...

Understanding the Loan to Value Ratio
These days many renters are taking advantage of the present low level of interest rates to get into a home of their own. In addition, many current homeowners are taking advantage of those same low interest rates to refinance their home mortgage loans at more favorable interest rates.Therefore, ... more...

10 Things You Shouldn't Do When You're Buying a Home
Home Buying Don'tsYour home buying process is well underway. The sellers accepted your offer to purchase. The home is officially under contract and you're counting down the days to closing. The lender pre-approved you, so buying the house is a sure thing, right?Not quite. Nothing is certain until ... more...

Do You REALLY Need a Home Equity Loan?
Your equity is the amount your home is worth, on the market, minus the amount you owe to your mortgage broker. For example, if your property is worth $200,000 and the balance you owe your mortgage broker is $100,000, then your home equity - the part of your property that you own free and clear - is ... more...

Subprime Mortgages How Large of a Down Payment Do You Need?
Subprime mortgages offer more flexibility with down payments than conventional home loans. You can choose to put nothing or over 20% down. And with a subprime mortgage, you dont have to worry about paying private mortgage insurance.Zero-Down MortgagesZero-down mortgages allow people with little ... more...

Why Get a Home Equity Loan?
If you're a homeowner, chances are that you've been deluged with offers from finance companies to lend you money based on the equity you have invested in your home. A home equity loan is a loan extended to you that is secured by your home. The amount of the loan is based on how much 'equity' you ... more...

A Home Equity Credit Line
1 way to borrow against the value of your home is a home stock line of credit, which is a form of revolving credit where your home serves as collateral. With a home stock line, you will be approved for a specific amount of credit -- your credit limit -- meaning the maximum amount you are able to ... more...