A question many potential home buyers ask when applying for a mortgage is: Should I pay off debt before applying for a home loan? Credit card debt, auto loans and other forms of debt can all have an impact on a person's credit score, which in turn affects the rate they are able to get on their mortgage (or their ability to qualify in the first place). The answer isn't always as simple as a yes or a no, but there are a few figures to keep in mind that can aid in making this decision. Potential...

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Do you have home-improvement projects you are wanting to tackle but don’t have the excess cash readily available to do so? A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) may be the perfect solution for you. A HELOC is a revolving loan that is secured by your house. It allows you to leverage the equity that you have in your house to gain access to funds to use for home-improvement projects, such as home renovations, debt consolidation, emergency expenses etc... HELOCs are a variable rate loan. You...

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If you’re considering building your dream home instead of purchasing an existing house, you’ll need financing. The whole thing can be confusing and more than a little intimidating. Do you need a mortgage? A personal loan? It’s hard to know where to start. What’s tricky is that you’re asking for financing for something that doesn’t actually exist yet. It requires something different than a traditional mortgage. Trying to find land, a builder, and all the other...

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The home buying market is hot right now. Summer is the perfect time to move, the economy is stable and buyer confidence is high. However, inventory is also a bit low and that means that houses are selling fast. If you are actively looking, you will want to be prepared to act quickly when you find that perfect property. That means having all your financing sources in-line. What’s the first step? Pre-qualification and pre-approval are two different terms used to describe the initial part of...

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