If you’re interested in purchasing property, you might be wondering, “how long does it take to buy a house?” Home buying is a lengthy process even when everything goes smoothly, and can easily become longer and more complicated with every potential hiccup. To help you better prepare for the process and save time, here are some key tips...

Many financial experts suggest paying a 20% down payment when buying a home. While for some prospective homebuyers this may be a simple task, others might wonder if the suggested 20% of the home purchase price—or higher—are necessary. Here are some reasons it benefits you to make a larger down payment when buying a house: Score Better Mortgage...

A loan from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs can be an excellent choice for financing a home purchase. While VA benefits are generally reserved for veterans, there are a few exceptions with mortgage programs. Here are some other ways you could be eligible for a VA loan: Active Duty Fortunately, you don't have to have served in...

Photo by Pixabay via Pexels Thinking of buying a home in the near future? You're going to need a preapproval. This tells real estate agents that you're serious about the home-buying process, and it alerts sellers that you're a solid, low-risk candidate. Preapprovals aren't always easy to score, however. And if you're someone who's had a few credit...

Photo by Precondo via Pixabay Some mortgage companies offer loans with points. In a nutshell, paying points means paying down the interest rate. One point is equal to 1 percent of the mortgage amount. On a $200,000 mortgage, one point is $2,000. The percentage the interest rate lowers depends on the mortgage company and the market. For example,...

Photo by 200 Degrees via Pixabay The gig economy has exploded over the past decade. Today, around 36% of the US workforce is freelancing and many more or self-employed small business owners. While being your own boss does afford you great freedom to set your hours and often work where you want, you may face extra scrutiny when...

Are you planning to buy a home? There is a chance that you will need a mortgage to finance the purchase. You can get mortgages from credit unions, banks, or other financial institutions. The fact is that you must meet some basic qualifying criteria before you qualify for a mortgage. Depending on the lender, there are different requirements...