Contacting customer service can be a frustrating endeavor. Shift the balance of power into your hands and get what you deserve: efficient and effective problem resolution. Steps: Get organized. Have all of the necessary documents – serial numbers, product IDs, Read more…
You don’t have to double your debt when you’re raising twins. Knowing a few tricks of the trade can keep your pocketbook, if not your sanity, intact. Steps: Write down what you can afford to pay monthly for clothes, food Read more…
Being in debt is an emotional experience. Learning how to deal with these emotions can make the experience more bearable and lead you to financial recovery. Steps: Acknowledge that you are in debt and have gotten in over your head. Read more…
The down payment, or amount of cash you’ll have to pay toward the actual purchase of a home, is determined by the lender as a percentage of the value of the house. Steps: Pick up a homes guide from any Read more…
Unless you relish the challenges of selling a home on your own, you’ll want a professional real estate agent to represent and protect your interests, and to help you complete the sale. Steps: Ask friends and neighbors about agents they Read more…
Take things into your own hands to ensure the successful sale of your property. Market, market, market! Here are some ideas for getting your property the attention it deserves. Steps: Make a list of all the special features of your Read more…
Refinancing is the process of replacing an existing mortgage with a new one. You might consider refinancing to: Cut costs: If interest rates have fallen significantly since you got your loan, refinancing may decrease your monthly payment and reduce the interest you Read more…
The process of applying for and getting a conventional mortgage loan usually takes just a few weeks. Government loans, and conventional loans issued to borrowers with serious credit problems, can take up to a few months to process. Once you’ve Read more…
A mortgage lender is a bank or other financial institution that issues mortgages. Traditionally, home buyers looked for a lender after they had found a house to buy. These days, real estate agents typically encourage home buyers to work with Read more…
Once you’ve determined how big a mortgage you can afford, your next steps (unless you’ve qualified for a government loan or another special situation) should be to choose your: Type of mortgage: Fixed-rate or adjustable-rate Term of mortgage: 15 or 30 years Read more…