Buying A House: Down Payments and Private Mortgage Insurance
July 11, 2009
Buying a house can be confusing if you don’t have someone you trust explaining the process to you. Fortunately for my wife and I, my my mother-in-law is a real estate agent and my dad is a real estate broker, so we haven’t had to play the guessing game with our first two property purchases. […]
Interest Rates & Mortgage Options
July 3, 2009
Once you’ve been pre-approved for a loan and found a house you want to buy the next step is determining the type of mortgage to use and when to lock in your interest rates. Due to the real estate decline and sub-prime mortgage meltdown, lenders and brokers are more careful with how they lend, what […]
Mortgage Pre-Approval When Buying a House
July 2, 2009
A mortgage pre-approval letter was very helpful for my wife and I when we started looking for houses about 8 months ago. My wife’s mom is a real estate agent, so she helped us every step of the way, but many agents won’t deal with buyers who aren’t pre-approved for a loan. They don’t want […]
Start A Side Business in the Lazy Days of Summer
June 25, 2009
The summer can be a great time to start a side business because life tends to be a little more laid back. People are going on vacation and taking time off to hang out with their kids so your day job may be a little more relaxed. Plus there’s nothing on TV to distract you at night : […]
Five Financial Pitfalls To Avoid During The Summer
June 17, 2009
I don’t know about you, but I develop some lazy habits during the summer. Maybe it’s because I live in Florida, and the brutal heat and humidity can make anyone feel lazy and lethargic. The only remedy to the heat in Florida is a nice pool or the beach but even the Atlantic Ocean warms […]
Keep Your Kids Busy Without Breaking the Bank This Summer
June 16, 2009
Summer is a fun time for kids, but it can be challenging for parents to keep them occupied and entertained while they’re home all day. There are many different programs and camps you can sign your kids up for but that can get expensive quickly. If you don’t want your kid just hanging around with […]
Seven Ways to Save Money on Your Summer Family Trip
June 9, 2009
When I was a kid, my family always had a particular spot that we vacationed for at least two weeks out of the year. We went to see my grandmother and grandfather for the first week, and then we went to their cottage on Lake Michigan just north of Muskegon, Michigan. My family was pretty […]
Affordable Apartments for College Graduates
June 3, 2009
Once you graduate from college, finding an affordable apartment that suits your financial needs and budget is essential to properly starting off your working life. Finding the right apartment can be a daunting task, so here are some tips to help you pick the right apartment to fit your budget. Calculate Your Rent Budget Generally, one-fourth […]
Emergency Funds for College Graduates
May 23, 2009
Emergency funds are for old married people, not recent college graduates, right? Just scraping by financially is an art form perfected by many college students. Creative ways to earn extra money in college and spend as little as possible helped you make it through school. Now that you’re leaving college and looking for a job it’s time to start […]
Auto Insurance for College Graduates
May 22, 2009
Auto insurance quotes for college graduates searching for car insurance will probably make them wish they were back on their parent’s insurance policy. While some college graduates will have been paying their own auto insurance throughout college, the ones that have been covered by their parent’s insurance are in for a rude awakening. Getting cheap […]
