My kids got out of school last week, and they are thrilled to now be on summer vacation. But that doesnât mean I get a break. In fact, it means my job is harder. Along with the regular things I do every day, now I also need to herd my seven- and nine-year-old boys into
The post American Family Budget: The Vacation Plan appeared first on MintLife Blog.
(Since April is Financial Literacy Month, a number of articles will be devoted to more educational topics. This is Part I in a four-part series about how understanding economic cycles could inform your financial decisions. Part II is Recognizing economic seasons: recovery and growth. Part III is The fall and winter seasons of the economic cycle. Part IV is How to profit from economic cycles.)
Getting rich slowly is built on these four commonly understood pillars:
Despite the fact that many people followed those four guiding principles during the Great Recession, some “got poor quickly” instead. I believe that is because there is something else to know about the economy and how it affects our finances. This post is the first in a short series explaining what I understand about the economy and its seasons.
Table of Contents What is the VA Loan Limit? How to Apply for a VA Home Loan? What is the Median Home Price? What are the VA Appraisal Fees? Do I need Flood Insurance? How do I learn about Property Taxes? What is the Population? What are the major cities? About Trinity County Veteran Information […]
The post Trinity County, California VA Home Loan Information appeared first on VA Home Loan Centers.
I have two second cousins who serve in the military — both brave young men I am proud to call my family. We don’t always talk much, though. The age gap can be a roadblock and those boys are always traveling around, serving overseas and living on bases in order to fulfill their military duties and finish school.
Still, social media makes it easier than it used to be, and emails are a quick and painless way to stay in touch. So I wasn’t surprised to receive an email from my cousin, Michael, asking for advice on his future financial goals.
So, what’s the deal? As part of his military compensation, Michael will soon start receiving $2,124 per month for housing and wanted ideas on how to parlay that money into long-term wealth.
Several items are necessary for mortgage approval, and these things often come into play during pre-approval. This article will help you understand the documents and proof that are critical to earning this confirmation as you seek financial help.
The post Getting Approved for a Mortgage: Mortgage Pre-Approval Checklist first appeared on Total Mortgage.
With a rising number of students taking out loans for college, it has become crucial for families to get as much financial help as possible. Thatâs why, starting next year, the FAFSA will be available three months ahead of its normal release date. The FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is
The post FAFSA Change Gives More Time to Enroll appeared first on MintLife Blog.
Sales of previously owned U.S. homes unexpectedly declined for a 12th-straight month in January, extending a record decline and underscoring how high mortgage rates continue to stifle housing activity. Contract closings slipped 0.7% at the start of the year to an annualized pace of 4 million, according to data from the National Association of Realtors … [Read more…]
Existing home sales data was released this morning by the National Association of Realtors for the month of January. It was fairly close to forecasts, but nonetheless slid to the lowest levels since 2011 for the second straight month (just edging out the initial lockdown lows of 2020). It’s no surprise to see sharp declines in sales given the massive shift in rates and housing sentiment that unfolded over the course of 2022. While there had been a glimmer of hope for a bounce over the past few months, rates are once again ripping up toward 7%. As such, it makes sense to ask: how bad is it? We can all already see how bad it CURRENTLY is. So the better question is how bad could things get. Alternatively, we could ask when things will get better. The second question is easy, but the answer isn’t a huge relief in the short term. Things will get better when inflation is firmly under control and the economy stops periodically showing signs of “running hot.” Yes, I know that the idea of an economy “running hot” seems like a crazy thing to entertain for those of us in the housing/mortgage market, but in many sectors, it’s a thing. Recent data confirms as much, as seen in the jobs report earlier this month and several reports since then. On the topic of “how bad could things get,” the good news is that the set-up could be a lot worse. Yes, the rate spike has been onerous, but let’s not forget that the housing market was overheated in terms of prices. Even now, median prices remain far above the trend established over the past decade and still clocked year-over-year gains in January.
The housing market was savagely unhealthy last year and now we are back to a more normal level of over 30 days on the market.