Separation Anxiety: How to Deal with a Joint Mortgage Loan in the Event of a Divorce

During the course of a marriage, it is common for the couple to acquire property together. This is what is referred to as joint or community property. When a couple divorces, it is up to the parties involved to determine what happens to this joint property or let a judge use applicable law to determine how property is to be split. What Happens To The House? A couple of options are available when deciding what to do with a house where both partners are listed on the mortgage. First, the couple may decide to simply sell the home and split…
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Scam Alert! Three Mortgage Modification Scams to Watch out for (And How to Avoid Them)

As if homeowners who are facing foreclosure don't have enough to worry about, a multitude of loan modification scam artists have invaded the internet, public files and even foreclosure notices in newspapers in hopes of targeting their next victim. By identifying the top three modification scams and learning how to avoid them, at-risk homeowners can protect themselves (and their homes). Never Pay For Mortgage Modification Assistance Many desperate homeowners fall victim to scam artists who offer to provide them with assistance in the loan modification process for an exorbitant fee. Many times the scam artist who promises to provide assistance…
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Can’t Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage? Here Are Three Tips to Try to Get a Mortgage Approval

Few people in the world can afford to pay the entire cost of a new home upfront, which is why banks and other financial institutions offer home loans. Also known as mortgages, those loans let you make monthly payments to pay off the money you borrow and the interest charged on that loan. If you can't get approved for a mortgage, try using a few easy tips. Improve Your Credit Score When you apply for a home loan, the lender looks at your credit history and credit score first. Your credit history contains a long list of all the money…
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Mortgage Terms 101: Understanding ‘Cash-Out Refinancing’ and How to Determine if It’s Worth It

With interest rates remaining near historic lows for the past several years, many of your friends and neighbors may have already told you that they have refinanced their home mortgages once or even a couple of times. A cash-out refinance can provide you with several important benefits, but it is not the best option for all homeowners. By learning more about what a cash-out refinance is and what the pros and cons of this type of refinance loan are, you can make a decision that is best for your current and future plans. What Is a Cash-Out Refinance? When you…
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Five Tips for Managing Your Monthly Budget to Ensure Your Mortgage is Paid On-Time, Every Time

Homeowners who are struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments can make it easier on themselves by cutting costs in other areas. Learning how to budget effectively will likely enable homeowners to pay their mortgage payments on-time, every time. Here are five of the best budget tips: Conserve Energy It is advisable to be mindful of energy use in order to keep utility bills down to a minimum. Lights, televisions and other devices requiring electrical power are best to leave off in unoccupied rooms. It is also a good idea to make sure that windows and doors are properly sealed…
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The Summer Buying Season Is Here: 3 Tips to Help You Secure a Favorable Mortgage Rate

The best way to ensure you get a good rate on your mortgage is to become an informed buyer. The more you know about mortgages, the more you'll be able to save, and that doesn't just mean knowing where to find the best interest rate. While interest rates play an important role in determining the price of your mortgage, there's always more to a mortgage than just the interest rate. Here are three things you need to know about mortgages to make sure you secure a favorable rate. Understand The Fees Involved - And How To Avoid Them Aside from…
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