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Oct 10, 2024 | 
marketwatch.com | Joseph Widenhofer |David Gregory
If you’re a first-time homebuyer or considering refinancing your existing home, you may be wondering if you should use a mortgage broker. Mortgage brokers can help simplify the process of getting a home loan. They can typically secure the best mortgage rates and terms for you, and they’ll work with everyone involved in the lending process, from the real estate agent to the underwriter and closing agent.
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Aug 29, 2024 | 
marketwatch.com | Joseph Widenhofer |Paul Underwood
If you’re a veteran, an active-duty service member or an eligible surviving military spouse, the path to homeownership can be made easier through U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs home loans. With no or low down payment requirements, no private mortgage insurance and other perks, VA home loans turn the dream of owning a home into a reality for countless military service members every year.
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Feb 20, 2024 | 
marketwatch.com | Joseph Widenhofer |David Gregory
HELOCs and reverse mortgages are two financial tools with distinct features — making them suitable for different financial situations.
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Feb 20, 2024 | 
marketwatch.com | Joseph Widenhofer |David Gregory
When is the right time to use an installment loan or revolving credit? The answer comes down to what you need the money for. If you have a planned, predictable expense, an installment loan is generally the best way to go. You’ll know how much you need to borrow and can benefit from the fixed monthly payments. If you have ongoing needs to borrow, revolving credit can give you that flexibility. Let’s take a look at two hypothetical scenarios:Sarah is planning a significant home renovation project.
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Feb 14, 2024 | 
marketwatch.com | Joseph Widenhofer |David Gregory
A home equity loan, often called a second mortgage, allows you to borrow against the equity you’ve built up in your home. Equity is the difference between the current market value of your home and the outstanding balance on your mortgage. Below is a list of several standard criteria used to determine one’s eligibility for a home equity loan. These requirements ensure that both you and the lender are entering into a responsible financial arrangement.
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Feb 9, 2024 | 
marketwatch.com | Joseph Widenhofer |David Gregory
Mortgage lenders come in a few different varieties. Traditional banks and credit unions issue mortgage loans, but you can also get them from specialty lenders, either brick-and-mortar or online. Banks offer a range of services, including savings accounts, checking accounts and mortgage loans, often with physical branches. Choosing a bank for your mortgage can be convenient if you already have an established relationship.
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Jan 30, 2024 | 
marketwatch.com | Joseph Widenhofer |Jen Hubley Luckwaldt
A promissory note for a personal loan is a formal, written agreement outlining a personal loan’s terms and conditions. It’s a binding contract between the borrower and lender, designed to establish trust and clarity in the lending relationship. If you get a personal loan from a bank or online lender, the company will generally send you a standard promissory note to sign. But even if you’re considering lending money to a friend, using a promissory note is a wise decision.
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Jan 29, 2024 | 
marketwatch.com | Joseph Widenhofer |David Gregory
Yes, applying for a loan initially hurts your credit, though only by a small amount. That’s because you undergo a credit inquiry as part of the application process. A credit inquiry is a request from a lender or another entity to review your credit report. Lenders do this to assess your creditworthiness when you apply for a loan, credit card or mortgage. There are two types of inquiries: hard and soft inquiries. These have very different impacts to your credit score.
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Jan 25, 2024 | 
clintonvillespotlight.com | Joseph Widenhofer |Cliff Wiltshire
As the winter chill settles over Clintonville, our beer preferences take a delightful turn toward the darker and stronger side of the spectrum. There is a certain seasonal rhythm to beer drinking, with recent passage from Octoberfest beers and pumpkin ales to a variety of Christmas-themed flavors. Now, during the cold months, we can find solace in the hearty embrace of stouts, winter warmers and other darker beers. But why the shift toward more potent brews in winter?
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Jan 23, 2024 | 
marketwatch.com | Joseph Widenhofer |David Gregory
Juggling multiple debts with varying due dates, interest rates and principal balances can be time-consuming, expensive and stressful. Debt consolidation can be a great solution for those seeking reduced monthly payments and financial relief. Discovering if debt consolidation is a viable and wise decision for your finances can be the first step in simplifying your debt repayments and potentially saving you money.
