Savings Corner
APRIL 4, 2024
Try to boost your credit score ahead of time by paying off credit card balances and avoid applying for new credit accounts. They may ask for copies of utility bills, lease or rental agreements, property tax bills or credit card statements as proof of address.
The Frugal Girl
MARCH 4, 2024
We live on the side of a small mountain in a quiet, rural town, but we’re less than 20 miles from a city of about 25,000 people and its shopping and dining opportunities. I still remember saving my change as a kid so I could “shop” for books at yard sales.) Alan and I, by choice, bought land in an area with low property taxes.
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Savings Corner
APRIL 4, 2024
Determining whether you qualify: Many cash-out refinance lenders require a credit score of at least 620 and at least 20 percent equity in your home. Shopping around for the best cash-out refinance rates: Compare at least three different lenders to get a sense of what you qualify for and what rates look like today.
The Frugal Girl
FEBRUARY 18, 2024
While we were still renting an apartment, I researched areas with lower property taxes, scouted out my ideal neighborhoods, and waited for a smaller, less expensive house to come on the market. I ended up switching to shopping sales, using discounts/bonuses, and planning ahead. Childhood joy.
Family Balance Sheet
MAY 6, 2020
I am totally paraphrasing the year, but had it not been for the money in our emergency savings, we would most likely have used credit cards to survive. We’d survived the dip in 2007, carried no credit card debt, and we were contributing to our retirement. We also started shopping around for a new-to-us vehicle.
Savings Corner
APRIL 4, 2024
But there’s one key difference: You use the cash from the equity you’ve built in your home to repay other non-mortgage debt, like credit card balances. Streamline refinance Caret Down A streamline refinance accelerates the process for borrowers by eliminating some refinance requirements, such as a credit check or appraisal.
Savings Corner
DECEMBER 24, 2023
Get started: You can get your credit report and score from each of the three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, for free once a year. Your bank or credit card company might offer free access to your score or credit report, too. Determine the maximum loan you qualify for.
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