Black Friday Money-Savings Tips

Black Friday, so named after the fact that most retailers will be taking their budgets from the red up to the black. So the question is how do you enjoy the deals but keep your holiday budget in the black? Here are a few tips to keep you on track this year. Go with a Read More »... Read more ›

  • money-savings tips

Deficit Falls Again

According to a recent report by the Congressional Budget Office, the nation’s deficit is shrinking. From the fiscal year 2013 to 2014, the deficit dropped from 4.1%to 2.8%of GDP. In hard numbers, America went from $675 billion in debt to roughly $480 billion. This decline is attributed to an improving economy, higher taxes and continued Read More »... Read more ›

  • national deficit

When Does A Home Equity Loan or Home Equity Line of Credit Make Sense

It seems people everywhere are getting home equity loans or home equity lines of credit. In the fiscal year that ended in June of 2014, these transactions increased more than 25% compared to the previous year. So does that mean everyone should do it? No. What everyone should do is consider these things before making Read more ›

  • heloc,
  • home equity line of credit,
  • line of credit,
  • loan restart

One Million Homeowners See Equity Gains

Over $1 trillion in equity was earned by one million homeowners over the year ending in June 2014. With that gain, roughly 44 million of the 49 million homes with mortgages have positive equity leaving just 10% underwater. The number of underwater homes is down from 12% in the first quarter of 2014 and down Read More »... Read more ›

  • box,
  • home equity,
  • positive equity

Economic Recovery: Signs To Watch For

Trying to determine whether or not the economy is truly on the road to recovery can be confusing. There are several different reports that consumers can check, but not everyone knows what to look for. Here’s a closer look at a few important statistics to keep an eye on. Housing Starts Housing starts refer to Read More »... Read more ›

  • consumer price index,
  • economic recovery,
  • home sales

Protecting Yourself & Your Credit From Credit Card Hackers

In light of the recent Credit Card and Debit Card information breach, we thought we would share with you a few steps to help you if you think your information may have been compromised, as well as some tips to protect yourself in the future. Over the past few months, companies like Target and Home Read More »... Read more ›

  • credit,
  • credit card,
  • credit fraud,
  • protecting yourself from credit card hackers

Getting Your House Ready For Fall

With temperatures slowly dropping, the final days of summer and the first few days of fall are perfect for getting your home ready for the new season. Between fall storms and winter snow, it’s important to make sure your home can handle it all. The following are some of the tasks you should plan on Read More »... Read more ›

  • getting ready for fall,
  • how do i get my home ready for winter

The Cost of Not Refinancing – Check Rates & Watch Your Credit Score

Many homeowners rarely think about their mortgage. They make their payment each month, the house stays in their name, everything is fine. However, something really worth taking the time to consider on a regular basis is the benefit of refinancing your mortgage. If you haven’t refinanced your mortgage in the last few years, you could Read more ›

  • box home loans,
  • credit score,
  • mortgage,
  • refinance,
  • refinancing,
  • todays rates

The Fading of Foreclosures

The housing crisis and economic collapse that the United States and many other countries all over the world experienced in the last few years devastated the housing market. The sheer number of foreclosures skyrocketed overnight. And with the sudden influx in housing inventory on the market due to foreclosures, home prices plummeted as a result. Read More »... Read more ›

  • foreclosures,
  • home sales,
  • national association of realtors,
  • realtors

What Do You Want In A House?

Determining what you want in a house of your own can be more difficult than you think. You might have a picture in your head of your ideal home, only to find out that it doesn’t match up with the reality of what’s available in your area or your price range. It’s also possible that Read More »... Read more ›

  • buying a home,
  • first time buyers,
  • what do you want in a house