The Motley Fool

MAY 8, 2024

Consider a VA loan You knew I was going to suggest this first, right? The Department of Veterans Affairs guarantees home loans offered to veterans through regular mortgage lenders. VA loans are offered by a lot of big-name mortgage lenders, so it's worth checking out our list of the best VA lenders for some top picks.

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The Motley Fool

MAY 29, 2024

If you're already worried about range anxiety and the cost of your monthly EV auto loan payment, being asked to pay an extra 11% for car insurance might be the last straw. The Motley Fool's Ascent's research found that five popular models of hybrid cars can save an average of $611 per year on gas compared to standard gas-powered vehicles.

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The Motley Fool

AUGUST 30, 2023

Image source: Getty Images Personal loans can be excellent financial tools to consolidate high-interest debt, pay for home improvements, or finance large purchases. Is it possible to have more than one personal loan at a time? The short answer Yes, you can have multiple personal loans at once.

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The Motley Fool

NOVEMBER 14, 2023

Featured offers: compare interest rates for the best personal loan options here So you want to buy a used car? I know, I know, it's not sexy, but remember, a lender is going to get up close and personal with them, and you want to beat that lender to the punch. in October. Here are some pitfalls to watch out for. Not so fast!

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The Motley Fool

MAY 30, 2024

And yes, that definitely happened pre-2008, but it was a very different time and homes were substantially easier to secure. Image source: The Motley Fool/Upsplash This morning I heard on the news that United Wholesale Mortgage, the largest mortgage lender in America, is offering what is essentially a zero down mortgage.

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The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 16, 2023

Here's how many quotes I obtained, along with some insight into why I got so many different loan estimates. I obtained quotes from: Lenders that I had a pre-existing relationship with: I have a business bank account with one institution and a personal bank account with another. That's what happened to me.

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The Motley Fool

JANUARY 3, 2024

The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage loan is 6.61% as of this writing, per Freddie Mac, which has the potential to make a home purchase a whole lot more expensive than it would have been even just two years ago, when that same loan had an average rate of 3.22%. Image source: Getty Images Welcome to 2024! Hey, me too! (I

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The Motley Fool

MARCH 21, 2024

Knowing how your credit stands and what kinds of red flags you might be waving at a mortgage lender can inform you what type of home loan you should apply for, as well as how much you could be approved for. According to credit card research from The Motley Fool Ascent, the majority (74%) of Americans have two credit cards or fewer.

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The Motley Fool

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

Clearly, getting a mortgage loan then wasn't in the cards for me. This is the first place I've ever lived that I personally chose -- I didn't have to move here for work or school. But I changed my tune at the end of 2021 and made homeownership my goal. Here's why. I've started putting down roots, and I want to continue.

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The Motley Fool

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

But even if you've been pre-approved and meet the lender's criteria when it comes to your finances, you might still be unable to get approved for a loan. Lenders don't just consider your personal finances There's a very simple reason why your perfect financial credentials may not necessarily guarantee you a mortgage loan.

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The Motley Fool

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

Even if you have great credit and can get a low-interest auto loan, saving money on your next car purchase is always a good move. If you're a Costco member, you can get special deals on new and pre-owned car purchases. If you're a Costco member, you can get special deals on new and pre-owned car purchases.

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Financing Finance Returns Investors 245

The Motley Fool

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

It's that time again when we're all buzzing with resolutions, and for many of us, improving our personal finances is at the top of the list. For instance, some companies offer unique benefits such as subsidies for public transportation using pre-tax dollars. Image source: Getty Images Ah, a new year! And the good news?

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The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

AARP notes that you'll need to replace about 80% of your pre-retirement income in order to live comfortably, and depending on your hopes and dreams for your retirement, you might want the flexibility to spend more money on travel and crossing items off your bucket list. You're probably familiar with the concept of a mortgage loan.

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The Motley Fool

MARCH 14, 2024

Image source: The Motley Fool/Unsplash Keeping on top of your credit score is a basic personal finance move that can do you a world of good. I recently signed into one of my credit card accounts that offers free FICO® Score monitoring , and decided to check in and see where I stand.

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The Motley Fool

APRIL 6, 2024

Image source: Upsplash/The Motley Fool It's a lousy time to buy a house -- and I feel qualified to say this, both as a personal finance writer and an aspiring homeowner. Get pre-approved If you're getting a mortgage to buy a home, your financial situation is absolutely crucial to the whole process. over a year prior.

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The Motley Fool

MAY 18, 2024

Image source: Upsplash/The Motley Fool The costs of car ownership have been getting more expensive in the past few years, with skyrocketing prices for auto insurance and rising interest rates for auto loans. But no matter what your budget situation might be, buying a car is never a cheap or simple endeavor. But EVs can be expensive.

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The Motley Fool

JULY 22, 2023

Your personal information This section will include your name, history of addresses you've provided to lenders, date of birth, and phone number. These may include credit card accounts, mortgages, student loans, vehicle loans, etc. These may include credit card accounts, mortgages, student loans, vehicle loans, etc.

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The Motley Fool

JANUARY 4, 2024

It's taken almost two years of different personal finance moves (including paying off debt and saving money) to reach this point, but I'm finally almost ready. If you're in the same boat as I am, you've likely also been waiting a long time and probably want to ensure that no credit missteps prevent you from securing a mortgage loan.

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The Motley Fool

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

17, 2024, lots of Americans are pretty happy with their personal finances. If people are feeling secure in their jobs, happy with their personal finances, and willing to keep spending and investing, the entire U.S. More : Our picks for the best credit cards However, not all Americans are equally happy with their personal finances.

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The Motley Fool

AUGUST 6, 2023

Buyers are getting used to higher rates It's fair to say that most people are not able to buy a house outright in cash, and so must rely on a mortgage loan to finance their purchase over time, generally 15 or 30 years. Unfortunately, today's market is only serving to make buying a home both more expensive and also more stressful. Here's why.

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The Motley Fool

JULY 27, 2023

I wanted to make sure I was ready to move forward financially and that I could maximize my chances of getting my offer approved, so taking care of this task was vital to me. I had to send in a ton of documents, including business and personal tax returns. Image source: Getty Images I will soon be making an offer to buy a new home.

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The Motley Fool

MARCH 8, 2024

Consumers were behind on various credit accounts, including mortgages, credit cards , and auto loans. of consumers were past-due on credit card accounts FICO's October 2023 data showed that mortgage and auto loan missed payments increased but remained below pre-pandemic levels. The latest report shows that 11.2% in April 2023.

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The Motley Fool

AUGUST 28, 2023

From auto loans to mortgage repayments, debt has become a way of life for most Americans, and it can be a struggle to keep up. With the rise in interest rates and home prices, the number of new loans have dropped by approximately 65%. Total household debt has reached an all-time high. trillion in debt. trillion $1.13 trillion $3.75

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The Motley Fool

JULY 10, 2023

Image source: Getty Images When you've gotten pre-approved for a mortgage loan and started your house hunt, you need to make a careful plan. You want to buy the right home , so you want to look at the right things during your real estate search. But, they are also very easy things to fix. That's why they are such a big turnoff.

Banks 246

Banks 246

The Motley Fool

FEBRUARY 4, 2024

Image source: Getty Images Saving for retirement is like time travel for your personal finances. And whenever you rack up credit card debt or take out a loan, you're borrowing money from your future self. This is another pre-tax account that lets you reduce your taxable income. Learn more here.

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The Motley Fool

JANUARY 27, 2024

Assess your financial and personal situation You might want to become a homeowner, but be honest with yourself -- are you actually ready, or are you just assuming that buying a house is "the next step," and not doing so means you're not a "real adult"? There are many different types to choose from -- a conventional loan is only the beginning.

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The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023

A common refrain is that you'll need about 80% of your pre-retirement income to live on when you're no longer working. It's reasonable to assume you'll have fewer bills in retirement, especially if you're able to pay off your mortgage loan in full before you retire (if you own a home, that is). Here's what to think about.

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The Motley Fool

DECEMBER 12, 2023

At this point, I only need to wait to get tax documents and have my 2023 tax return filed (necessary because I'm self-employed, so I'll have to jump through more hoops to qualify for a mortgage loan ). Image source: Getty Images I'm so close to starting the home-buying process, I can taste it. What do online lenders offer?

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The Motley Fool

AUGUST 8, 2023

And you may want to consider these items that are available now and are great bargains for your personal finances. And you may want to consider these items that are available now and are great bargains for your personal finances. And if they're of the food variety, you might even get to sample some along the way.

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The Motley Fool

MARCH 24, 2024

They found that when they want anything beyond just very basic cabinets, they are often better off with the custom option from a small local shop rather than the pre-fab option that may seem cheaper at first glance. Image source: Getty Images I am currently in the middle of a major remodel after buying a home that needed huge changes.

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The Motley Fool

DECEMBER 31, 2023

Image source: Getty Images It can be hard to know where you stand when it comes to your personal finances. Your credit score Your credit score helps determine if you can get a loan, what rates you'll be offered, and which credit cards are available to you. Social Security typically only replaces about 40% of your pre-retirement income.

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The Motley Fool

MAY 20, 2024

It went from $273,600 at the end of 2013 to $435,400 at the end of last year, according to data gathered by The Motley Fool Ascent. It went from $273,600 at the end of 2013 to $435,400 at the end of last year, according to data gathered by The Motley Fool Ascent. Land.they're not making any more of it! Here's why.

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The Motley Fool

APRIL 9, 2024

If you got a mortgage at 3.00%, or even 4.00% which was common pre-pandemic, then you have a very valuable asset -- an affordable home loan that's locked in for 30 years. Your remaining loan balance would be $225,851.01. There's a problem, though. The average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is 6.87% as of March 21, 2024.

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The Motley Fool

NOVEMBER 26, 2023

It works by providing you with an alternative to taking out loans to pay for emergency fees like insurance deductibles, and if you were to lose your job, you could pay bills from it. Think of it as a loan to future you. A mistake, in hindsight, and one that could cost me thousands in the long run. This year has been a rocky one.

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The Motley Fool

APRIL 20, 2024

When you get a refund, it essentially means that you gave the IRS a tax-free loan the year before for nothing in return. Like traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, HSAs are funded with pre-tax dollars, so your contribution exempts some of your income from taxes. And the average refund came to $3,050.

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The Motley Fool

APRIL 11, 2024

I decided to pay for the remodeling costs out of pocket rather than buying with a rehab loan because I wanted to keep my mortgage bills as low as possible. Mortgage rates were very high when I got my loan, so I'm being pretty careful with what I spend. Here are three of the big things I'm happy to spend extra money on.

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The Motley Fool

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

Data from Allianz found that Americans were expected to spend around $214 billion on travel this summer, and that 2023 summer travel spending was on track to more than double from pre-pandemic levels. Otherwise, you may want to look at an installment loan with a fixed interest rate. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market.

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