Q: I often hear that you should keep three to six months’ worth of living expenses in an emergency fund, and that some people should keep even more. But in a low-yielding environment, that’s an awful lot of money to have sitting in the bank earning next to nothing. Any advice? A: You’re right–the past few …
Effective October 1, 2011, the costs associated with getting a VA mortgage are going DOWN! An overview: VA mortgages are bundled, securitized and sold in the secondary market with the backing of the Federal Government. In order to insure these mortgages, the government charges a type of insurance premium, called a VA Funding Fee, which …
Naturally, if you’re paying 6% for your mortgage and you can refinance at 5%, you’re gonna do it. Although cutting your monthly payment remains an important motive, there are at least five other reasons to consider a mortgage refinance, for long-term savings and convenience. 1. Change your mortgage term If you decrease the term of …
The Obama administration is considering further actions to strengthen the housing market, but the bar is high: plans must help a broad swath of homeowners, stimulate the economy and cost next to nothing. One proposal would allow millions of homeowners with government-backed mortgages to refinance them at today’s lower interest rates, about 4 percent, according to …
Everyone likes saving money and reducing your energy use in the summer is easier than you might think. Here are six tips to reduce summer heat in your house: 1. Don’t use the oven. Summer is a great time to grill or make one pot dishes to avoid heating the oven. 2. Check your hot …
What if there was a shoe store that had: An unparalleled selection of shoes of every size, color, and price range The shoes were discounted 30% or more You had a credit card that would finance the shoes for 30 years at 4.5% How many shoes would you buy? My bet is there would be …
If you’re a first-time homeowner, you might be a bit intimidated by the prospect of looking for the best home insurance coverage to protect your investment. With all of the different insurance companies out there, it can be confusing to know which coverage options you need and how to get them at the lowest possible …
New lighting efficiency rules take effect nationwide January 1, 2012 Prepare to say goodbye to the venerable 100-watt “general-service” incandescent bulb. In less than one year – as of January 1, 2012 – it will be a violation of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 (Public Law 110-140) to import the bulbs …
