Articles by Peter Warden - Page 37

Many homeowners refinance for lower payments or interest rates. Here's what you need to know about your options and some pitfalls.

A "spec home" is a house that was constructed by a developer speculatively: in the hope of finding a buyer — and making a profit — later. In other words, it was designed to appeal to as many potential buyers within a market as possible rather than one buyer in particular.

A few months ago, it didn't make sense for many homeowners to refinance. But almost overnight, nearly 5 million of them can cut their monthly payments. What's going on?

There are plenty of experts who will tell you that owning your own home doesn't meet the threshold to be regarded as a true form of investment. And they muster some strong arguments. But are they right?

You open a newspaper or website and search for "open houses near me" and spend your weekend checking out homes. But is that really the best way to buy?

Congress is investigating unsafe military housing provided to servicemembers in the US. But you may be able to buy your own home using a VA mortgage and housing allowance. Here's how.

You're not exactly single, and you're not exactly married. And you're not exactly (yet) a homeowner. So, should you buy a home with someone you're not married to?

There are many reasons a home buyer or homeowner might take on a not-great second mortgage, home equity loan (HEL) or home equity line of credit (HELOC). If you've got one, you might be experiencing borrower's remorse. So what can you do about a bad second mortgage rate today?

Many American renters want to be homeowners regardless of the cost of homeownership. But to make the right decision, you should at least know what those costs are.

Check out these 5 secrets to affordable homeownership and achieve your dream  -- wherever you live.

Government shutdown victims and others can find ourselves in impossible financial difficulties where we face a late mortgage payment. Here's what to do.

Millennial first-time homebuyers face a long slog if they try to come up with the "standard" 20 percent down payment for a home. But luckily, they don't need 20 percent. Or even 5 percent.

Recent economic data indicate that a recession may be in the offing for 2019. How do the experts see a recession coming? The signs are there.

Need a mortgage with a low credit score? It's possible if you are otherwise well-qualified or prepared to pay more for your home loan.

Second mortgages are loans against your home taken out after your primary home loan (your first mortgage). Thy can be a great source of cheap money, but things can go wrong. Here's what to watch out for.

If you like the mortgage you have, but want to cash out some of your equity, check out this list of best banks for home equity loans for 2019.

Understand that your lender can approve you as a borrower, but refuse to finance the property you choose. That doesn't cancel mortgage approval for you, but it does for that property.

What are the costs to sell a home? It depends, but some costs are more typical than others. Don't want to pay them? That's part of your negotiation.

How do you receive an offer when selling a home? It depends on who it comes from and who's presenting it.