Shopping for a home can be one of the most exciting times of your life. Unfortunately, if you receive one mortgage loan application denial after the next, this joy can soon turn to pain. With this in mind, it’s important to understand the most common reasons for a denial. This information can help you adjust your approach, thus increasing your chance of an approval in the future. Here are five common reasons for a mortgage loan...
You don’t need an excellent credit score to live a good life, but it can definitely help you feel better about your financial situation. If you’ve checked your credit score and don’t like what you see, there’s no better time than now to take action. Here are a handful of benefits that come along with boosting your score into “excellent” territory: • Lower interest rates. Are you applying for a car loan? What about a mortgage?...
Are you in the market for furniture? From a couch to a dining room table to an entertainment stand, there’s no shortage of things you can purchase for your home. Here’s a common problem when shopping for furniture: everything you like is priced out of your budget. While this is a concern among most furniture buyers, it shouldn’t stop you dead in your tracks. There are steps you can take to save money, with these among...
Are you looking forward to the spring months? Do you have big plans in mind in regards to your home? Are you hoping to take on a renovation project in the next few months? Although the cold weather is lingering, there is no better time than now to plan your spring home renovation project(s). Here are three reasons why you should take control right now: 1. Improved Financial Planning Most home renovation projects take a lot...
Many major credit cards provide car rental insurance, alllowing you to ditch the car rental agency’s expensive daily plan and save money on the cost of your rental. Before you rent, here are a few essential things to know. You must pay for the rental with your credit card. Coverage only applies when you use your credit card or rewards points to pay for the rental. You must decline the car rental agency’s collision damage waiver....
Having your money in a traditional savings account typically isn’t the best way for it to grow. Sure, it’s safe and easily accessible, but you may have the opportunity to earn more interest on your savings if you move it to another type of account. Here are three ways you can earn more interest on your savings and still keep your funds safe. Switch to an online savings account. Online banks don’t have the expenses of...
Whether you’re traveling for vacation or for business, the last thing you want is to run into issues with your credit card. That kind of stress can make it difficult to enjoy your trip and worse, leave you without a source of funding. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while you’re traveling to make sure your payment methods are protected. Let your credit card issuer know if you’re going out of the country....
Are you in the process of starting a business? Are you creating your business plan to help guide you through the startup phase? Do you have some concerns about the cost of getting your company off the ground? No two businesses are the same, so it’s hard to know exactly how much you’ll spend on startup costs until you dig into the finer details. Even so, some expenses are common across the board. Here are five...
The foreign transaction fee isn't the most common credit card fee, but it’s one you should look out for even if you don’t travel frequently. A foreign transaction fee is charged as a percentage of purchases or ATM withdrawals you make in other currencies. Typically, you’ll pay around 3% of the transaction in a foreign transaction fee. That’s $3 on a $100 transaction. It seems like such a small fee, but if you’re frequently making transactions...
Do you have big plans for your next home renovation project? Have you come to find that the work is beyond your scope? Are you ready to hire a contractor? Hiring a contractor is never quite as simple as it sounds. On the surface, you assume that all you have to do is find a qualified company, discuss the project, and agree on payment terms. Unfortunately, it’s not always this simple. There are both good and...
