Refinancing is common practice for homeowners, and it’s often a smart financial move. It can lower your payment, reduce your interest rate and more. But when it’s not the right time to refinance, it can be an unnecessary effort or even result in extra costs. When should you think about refinancing, and when should you […]

When you start researching to buy a home, you’ll see the terms “mortgage prequalification” and “mortgage preapproval” thrown around a lot. While they sound similar, they aren’t the same — and they serve different purposes in your homebuying journey. Thinking of making an offer soon? Here’s what you need to know about prequalification versus preapproval […]

Federal Reserve officials earlier this month agreed that smaller interest rate increases should happen soon as they evaluate the impact policy is having on the economy, meeting minutes released Wednesday indicated. Reflecting statements that multiple officials have made over the past several weeks, the meeting summary pointed to smaller rate hikes coming. Markets widely expect the rate-setting […]

Gift-giving season is upon us — and did you know that you can potentially use gift money to help cover your down payment? You most certainly can. However, there are some limitations and a few bases you’ll need to cover so your gift money is properly accounted for. Here are a few things to know: […]