8 Things to Know About Buying a Home Today

The home-sale market is showing signs of life. More buyers are confident now than they were a year ago that now might be a good time to buy. Interest rates are near all-time lows and home prices in some areas are back to 2002-2003 levels. Some analysts are finally suggesting that we may be headed [...]

Will the $25 Billion Forclosure Settlement Help You?

An investigation, headed in part by 49 state attorneys general and the federal government, found that employees at Ally, Bank of America, Citi, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo routinely signed foreclosure-related documents without even verifying the information. Other violations include lost paperwork and improper documentation. In short, some borrowers should never have lost their homes [...]

Homeownership Possible Within Three Years After Foreclosure

Losing your home can be devastating to your credit, not to mention your psyche, but you can buy again within as few as three years after a foreclosure or short sale. It's not surprising when you lose your home you also lose some self-esteem, especially if your were raised in a culture that sees homeownership [...]

HARP 2.0 Refinance: What You Need to Know

Highlights     HARP 2.0 allows refis on mortgages, no matter how far underwater they are.     Among the requirements: You must have a good recent payment history.     Having a second mortgage shouldn't be as much of an obstacle. The wait is over for homeowners who want to refinance but owe more on their mortgages [...]

The Mortgage Fix That Can Save the Economy

By Ann Brenoff | AOL Real Estate The loan modification programs have been a joke. You have a house that has tanked in value and the best the banks can come up with is a plan where they sort of delay what you owe long enough for you to get back on your financial feet [...]

Avoid These 3 Red Flags When Applying For a Mortgage

The financial crisis fallout created a fear among lenders about borrowers who might default or walk away from their mortgage – or perhaps even commit mortgage fraud. As a result, lenders are scrutinizing mortgage applications very closely. Here are a few triggers that may cause the most lender scrutiny of loan applications. Large deposits of [...]

Refinancing Tips: Take Advantage of Today’s Rock-Bottom Rates

With the interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage down to 4.09%, hitting yet another record low, now is the best time to refinance more than ever before. But before you go running off to your lender to catch the best rates since 1951, settle down and get yourself straight. According to the LendingTree Marketplace [...]

Avoid Credit Dings When Shopping For a Mortgage

How to steer clear of  ‘borrower in distress’ label Borrowers in distress often contact many lenders hoping to find one who will approve them. For this reason, multiple inquiries can have a negative impact on a consumer’s credit score. But multiple inquiries can also result from loan applicants shopping for the best deal. The challenge [...]

5 Tips to Raise Your Credit Score

The higher your credit scores, the better shot you have of getting a loan or credit card application approved. Improving your credit scores takes time, but it can be done. Start by getting free copies of your three major credit reports at the government-authorized site annualcreditreport.com. 1. Check your reports for accuracy. Look for credit [...]

Stopping the Debt Cycle

For most Americans, the cycle of debt can seem never-ending. They're never quite out of the hole and are living month to month, just one emergency away from financial disaster. A recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that 51 percent of Americans would be unable to come up with $2,000 cash [...]

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