Most people would be better off as homeowners than as renters. There are always financial advisors who tell people to stay in rental units and invest their extra income instead of buying a home, but we think that advice doesn’t reflect reality. The fact is, homeownership is how real people build wealth. That’s why we…
read moreThe Importance Of Checking Your Credit Score On A Regular Basis You can check your credit report for free once per year at www.annualcreditreport.com, and we urge everyone to do so. But checking your report isn’t the same as checking your score, and that leaves some questions. Should you check your credit score? How often?…
read moreWe urge everyone to check their credit reports regularly. Anyone can get a free credit report annually from annualcreditreport.com, from each of the three credit bureaus. That means three times per year you can check one of your credit reports at no cost. But some people need to check their credit more frequently. For them,…
read moreWe want everyone to learn how to read a credit report, and to get in the habit of checking their own credit regularly. You can get a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus once per year by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. But when is the right time to check? Here are 3…
read moreIf you’re a Millennial, it certainly can feel like the deck is stacked against you financially. Compared to our parents and grandparents, student loan debt burdens are substantially higher, and without a college education these days, good paying jobs are limited. House prices are 10 times as high as they were 50 years ago; meanwhile,…
read moreWhen it comes to boosting your credit score, there are a lot of myths floating around. It’s important to be skeptical and proceed with caution because your financial health is at stake. If you are influenced by the wrong myths about credit cards, you can actually suffer from poorer credit, because you might be avoiding things…
read moreWhen people are trying to build credit, typically they will use a credit card to establish that they are a good credit risk. They might start with secured cards, or become co-signers on the accounts of other users with good credit. However, getting a credit card can become a life-long commitment, getting you into debt…
read moreIn an ideal world, you’d begin your homeownership journey debt free (with a 3-month emergency fund saved, to boot). In the real world, however, debt is a reality, whether it be some credit card debt, a car loan, or outstanding student loans, all of which could add up to a sizable amount. Therefore, eliminating it…
read moreYour credit score is vital for your financial life. It’s what lenders will look at when deciding whether to offer you a loan or credit, and it will impact the terms they offer. As you can see from our “What is a Good Credit Score?” infographic and video, credit scores range from 300-850, with general…
read moreWe want homebuyers to have the best chance to succeed in achieving their goal of homeownership. Pre-purchase coaching is a must do for anyone looking to become a homeowner and here are the top 5 key benefits: Access to a knowledgeable housing coach Participating in a coaching session with a HUD-approved housing counseling organization provides…
read moreBaby steps can make a big goal look much more achievable. A $5 daily savings goal is a small commitment that can have a big impact over time. Following this practice for a year adds up to $1,825 to fund your emergency savings account, put a down payment on a car, or treat yourself to…
read moreThree years ago, my husband and I fulfilled our dream of buying a home together before we turned 30. Along the way, we made a few mistakes and learned important lessons about what it really costs to buy a home. If you’re thinking about house-hunting, read on to learn some potentially unexpected costs to factor…
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