Kim Franke-Folstad

Carrollwood

Features editor at The Tampa Tribune (in other words, mostly the fun stuff). Interested in gardening, running, reading, pop culture, my family.

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Articles

2025 Tax Calculator Table with Examples

5 days ago | sofi.com | Kim Franke-Folstad

By Kim Franke-Folstad. June 22, 2025 · 11 minute read This content may include information about products, features, and/or services that SoFi does not provide and is intended to be educational in nature. The amount you’ll end up paying in income taxes doesn’t have to remain a mystery until you complete your federal return.
Do College Credits Expire?

1 week ago | sofi.com | Kim Franke-Folstad

By Kim Franke-Folstad. June 20, 2025 · 10 minute read This content may include information about products, features, and/or services that SoFi does not provide and is intended to be educational in nature. If you’ve been thinking about going back to college to finish your degree, you may have wondered, how long are college credits good for? Are the credits I earned years ago still worth anything? Do college credits expire? The answers to those questions depend on a few different factors.
The Ultimate House Maintenance Checklist

2 weeks ago | sofi.com | Kim Franke-Folstad

By Kim Franke-Folstad. June 09, 2025 · 13 minute read This content may include information about products, features, and/or services that SoFi does not provide and is intended to be educational in nature. Regular home maintenance can help you avoid major household repairs (and their expense), keep your property functioning optimally, and maintain or even build your property value.
2023 VA Home Loan Limits vs 2022 VA Home Loan Limits

4 weeks ago | sofi.com | Kim Franke-Folstad

By Kim Franke-Folstad. May 29, 2025 · 9 minute read This content may include information about products, features, and/or services that SoFi does not provide and is intended to be educational in nature. Thanks to home prices, which continued to rise in 2024, VA loan limits got a boost in 2025. For most U.S. counties, the baseline limit for VA loans is now $806,500, compared to $766,550 in 2024.
12 Ways to Stretch Your Money

1 month ago | sofi.com | Kim Franke-Folstad

By Kim Franke-Folstad. May 16, 2025 · 11 minute read This content may include information about products, features, and/or services that SoFi does not provide and is intended to be educational in nature. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck or just wish there were more wiggle room in your finances, you may want to consider some money-wise tips like budgeting, negotiating your bills, and lowering your debt.
Strategies to Lower Energy Bill When Working From Home

1 month ago | sofi.com | Kim Franke-Folstad

By Kim Franke-Folstad. May 08, 2023 · 7 minute read This content may include information about products, features, and/or services that SoFi does not provide and is intended to be educational in nature. One of the obvious perks of working from home is the opportunity to cut some expenses. Almost one in three workers remains fully remote in early 2023, and no wonder. When you no longer have to commute every day, you save time and money.
Buying a Home With Cash vs. a Mortgage

1 month ago | sofi.com | Kim Franke-Folstad

Share By Kim Franke-Folstad. May 14, 2025 · 9 minute read This content may include information about products, features, and/or services that SoFi does not provide and is intended to be educational in nature. Most people probably expect to use a mortgage to purchase a home, but what if you have enough to pay in cash?
Principal-Only Payments | SoFi

1 month ago | sofi.com | Kim Franke-Folstad

By Kim Franke-Folstad. May 02, 2025 · 8 minute read This content may include information about products, features, and/or services that SoFi does not provide and is intended to be educational in nature. Making principal-only payments on student loans (either monthly or just occasionally) can help speed up the payback time and lower your overall borrowing costs. But just making extra payments on your loan won’t necessarily lower your loan’s principal balance.
Can You Lose Your House with a Reverse Mortgage?

1 month ago | sofi.com | Kim Franke-Folstad

By Kim Franke-Folstad. May 01, 2025 · 8 minute read SoFi does not currently offer all the products and services in this article. Our content covers a variety of financial topics for educational purposes only. A reverse mortgage may help older Americans who find they need more money in retirement. It’s common for inflation and rising medical costs to be issues. A reverse mortgage allows them to convert some of their home’s equity into cash, which can benefit their financial situation.
How Much Do Smart Homes Cost in 2025?

1 month ago | sofi.com | Kim Franke-Folstad

By Kim Franke-Folstad. May 01, 2025 · 10 minute read This content may include information about products, features, and/or services that SoFi does not provide and is intended to be educational in nature. The cost of turning your house into a “smart home” could range from about $100 to $4,500 or more, depending on what type of upgrades you might be considering. According to 2025 data from the home improvement site Angi.com, the typical cost of a smart home ranges from $204 to $1,653.