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My wife and I are now empty nesters and no longer homeowners. We recently moved to a high-rise apartment in Midtown (Atlanta). It's the first time we have rented in our marriage. Before this, we were landlords ourselves and lived in the suburbs. Only you and your spouse can decide when the right or wrong time is to buy a home. Don’t let a realtor convince you that now is the right time to buy a home. A realtor only makes money when people buy and sell homes. I can hear the a

As you can see from the Google Trends searches over the past 20+ years, if you’re searching for help with your mortgage, you’re not alone. People are hurting, and I want to help. I wrote this post to give you options to understand the best solution for your situation. 36 Ways to Get Help With a Mortgage 1. Help Making a Mortgage Payment If you’re worried that you won’t be able to make your next mortgage payment, don’t wait until you miss it to ask for help. Contact your mortg

Why would a married couple want to pay off their mortgage early? I asked Michele Kruger, Ph.D. and CFP®, a Senior Financial Planner at Gratus Capital and a Part-time Lecturer at the University of Georgia, why a married couple would want to pay off their mortgage early. “Married couples may want to pay off their mortgage early if they have a high-interest rate,” according to Kruger. The high cost of a high interest rate mortgage We have been spoiled with the lowest interest

Securing a mortgage is often a part of buying a home. During this process, you will have to decide whether to include your spouse on the application for a loan. In some situations, going solo might be more beneficial than filing a joint application. Can I Apply for a Home Loan Without My Spouse? Yes, you can apply for a home loan without your spouse. Whether that's a good idea depends on a number of factors, which we will cover in this post. When to Include Your Spouse Combi

Homeownership has long been considered a sign of financial success, but it is not always a wise financial decision. My wife and I recently sold our home and are renting a great apartment in midtown Atlanta for at least a year, for many of the reasons shared in this post. For this post, I examine six compelling reasons why buying a home right now might not be the best choice for everyone. 1. Financial Flexibility The flexibility provided by renting over buying is one of its gr

The resources, tips, and data you need to decide whether to buy and renovate an older home.

Many folks are thrilled when they sell their house for a higher price than what they initially paid. They think they made a big profit, but did they? Buying or selling a home at the right time is crucial because real estate markets are cyclical. Frankly, much of this depends on luck. The housing market often experiences periods of rapid appreciation followed by stagnation or depreciation, which significantly impacts how much you'll eventually profit when selling your home, if

Buying a home together before marriage is a significant step for couples. Other couples elect to buy a home together and never plan to...

The American dream of owning a home has long been ingrained in our society, but recent trends show that the landscape of homeownership and renting is evolving. For many married folks, the most significant financial decision they will make together is the purchase of their home. There are a number of fluid factors influencing buying decisions. The 2021 Census data provides valuable insights into some of these changes, shedding light on the factors influencing people's housing

You may have seen news headlines like the one above revealing the continued decline in mortgage rates. Mortgage rates declined to 6.13%...

I couldn’t believe my eyes. I saw a news headline claiming no money-down mortgages were back. And then another headline. And another. For...

Buying a home is a significant milestone in life, often seen as a symbol of stability and financial security. However, amidst the...

Updated post: 3/8/24; Original post: 6/15/22 Click the image above for access to the USA Facts county by county interactive of rent...

How to Budget When Your Spouse Won't: Part 4 of our 10 part budgeting series We are going to begin with a fun five-question quiz. The...

Original post: 7/27/22 - Updated post: 4/20/22 Why you should care when the Federal Reserve changes interest rates The Federal Reserve...