Higher education can be one of the most significant financial investments you’ll make, second only to purchasing a home. While federal loans are a common method for covering college costs, using your home’s equity is another option to consider.
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The VA loan program offers exceptional benefits to veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible surviving spouses, including no down payment, competitive interest rates, and no private mortgage insurance (PMI). But what about buying land?
Purchasing a home is a significant milestone, and first-time homebuyer programs make the process easier for many stepping into homeownership. But what if you’ve owned a home before or are currently a homeowner?
When securing a mortgage, buyers aim to lock in the best possible interest rate. But what if interest rates fall after you’ve closed on your loan? Are you stuck with your current rate?
With the holiday of the previous week in addition to an extremely light release week, only the Consumer Sentiment report is weighing in on the lending markets. With both the inflation reports showing inflation cooling off, there is still some optimism about where the Federal Reserve will take things. This optimism is only cooled by the uncertainty the new presidency will bring. Many markets have responded in kind, with lending partners showing a trend of increasing rates and other markets preparing for uncertainty. Within the next few months, we will see how the new administration intends to handle monetary policy. This will have a greater impact than the Federal Reserve on the direction things will be headed in the future. Next week will be the first FOMC Rate Decision of the year, with many being optimistic about a potential rate cut with the recent inflation data.
Refinancing your mortgage can be a strategic financial decision, enabling you to save money, access home equity, or adjust your loan terms to better suit your current financial situation.
Have you ever calculated how much rent you’ve paid over the years? It’s a staggering number. According to studies, the average American spends between $133,000 and $155,000 on rent in just six to seven years. Let’s break that down and explore what it means for your financial future–and how you might be able to change that narrative.
Dreaming of owning a home? Preparing your finances for a mortgage is key to making that dream a reality. Here’s how to get started:
Recent economic data brought significant relief, with both the CPI and PPI indicating that inflation was running cooler than expected. In the context of the current administration, this was welcome news, helping to ease concerns about potential monetary policy changes. The Federal Reserve has very frequently signaled they will follow the data and this time it was a positive result towards reducing rates further this year. The change in administration, however, still remains unknown and there is a lot of unrest across lending partners and markets alike. This was also followed by a better than expected Retail Sales report which has shown 2025 to start off with some economic momentum. Both reports are critical factors in shaping future rate adjustments. Despite this, lending partners have been raising rates in the last few months, driven largely by uncertainty tied to the transition of administrative positions.
Mortgage rates play a significant role in determining how much home you can afford. These rates influence the cost of borrowing money for your mortgage, which directly impacts your monthly payment and, ultimately, your home buying power.