The age-old debate over the relative merits of renting or buying a home rages on. It’s doubtful that a definitive settlement is on the horizon. There are simply too many variables at play and too many unique factors affecting individual homeowners’ situations….
Your debt-to-income ratio compares what you owe against what you earn. In its simplest form, it’s the percentage of your monthly income that goes toward debt payments. Your debt-to-income ratio is one of the most important factors the lender considers…
America has lots of old houses. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the average owner-occupied structure is about 40 years old in 2016. For reference, that’s higher than the U.S. median age of 38.8. In some parts of the…
Breaking my apartment lease wasn’t the worst financial decision I ever made, but it was one of the scariest. Legally speaking, I didn’t have a compelling reason to break my lease. I was voluntarily leaving my current job and relocating…
Relocating is an overwhelming prospect, even when the move is entirely voluntary. It’s that much more intense when you’re up against a deadline, like your first day at a new job or the start of the school year. Few endeavors…
According to a 2016 report by the Rand Corp., the Department of Defense moves about one-third of all military service members each year in a process known as permanent change of station (PCS). According to the United States General Accounting…
Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, looking to purchase a second home, or downsizing after a life change, you can’t move into your new house until you officially close on the property. Your closing day – the day you meet with the…
Recently, we discovered the #1 financial perk for military families: the VA Home Loan Guaranty, commonly known as the VA loan program. It is designed to make homeownership more affordable for current and honorably discharged members of the Armed Forces…
Once you’ve determined to buy a house rather than rent, you need to get approved for a mortgage. Then you need to go through a multi-week underwriting process that climaxes on closing day – the day your dream home officially becomes…
If you’re ready to buy a house, congratulations. You’re one step closer to making what’s likely to be the largest single purchase of your life – at least until your family grows larger and you’re forced to upsize to a more…
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