There’s a lot to think about when buying a home between getting funding for a down payment and closing costs, making the winning offer, and gathering documents to give the lender. It’s important not to overlook your credit score. Lenders look at your history to determine the likelihood you’ll be able to handle your payments. … Read more
There’s one key step you should take to boost your odds of landing your dream home: getting preapproved for a mortgage loan with a lender. If you do this, sellers will view you as a more attractive buyer. When sellers get multiple offers, they are more likely to choose buyers who have already been approved … Read more
A credit card with no interest and only a monthly fee*. There are also no late payment or foreign transaction fees. You can also get Visa benefits1 like protection for your cell phone, emergency card replacement, and Visa Zero Liability2. A Platinum Visa card is one of the most prestigious and feature-rich credit cards available … Read more
“Expert verified” means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board is made up of financial experts whose job it is to make sure that all of our content is fair and unbiased. Bankrate is always editorially independent. While we adhere to strict , this post may … Read more
There are risks to think about when you use lines of credit. Part of the series: How to Run a Successful Small Business When you need money, you may consider getting a personal loan, which provides a lump-sum amount. However, if you don’t know exactly how much money you may need, you may want to … Read more
A balloon mortgage allows you to enjoy low monthly payments for several years — with a big catch. When you make your last payment, it “balloons,” which means it may be much more than what you’ve been paying. If you understand the risks and unusual features of a balloon mortgage, this loan type can make … Read more
Having a score of 974 on ClearScore puts you in the very highest credit score band. They call this range “Excellent”. Keep in mind that your ClearScore credit score comes from Equifax, which is the second largest credit reference agency in the UK. Equifax is one of the three main credit reference agencies, alongside Experian … Read more
Loan forbearance can be a great relief during times of struggle and need, but as with any agreement, it is important to understand what is forbearance as well as the difference between deferment vs. forbearance. Unsettling times are likely to happen to all of us at some point in our lives, whether they’re caused by … Read more
Roughly 66% of cars financed go to borrowers with scores of 661 or higher, but those with lower scores have options. The products shown on this page are mostly or entirely from our advertising partners. They pay us when you click on one of their links and then do something on our site. However, this … Read more
Having debt and owing money to creditors can be an incredibly stressful situation. Creditors and debt collectors contacting you to repay debts can feel overwhelming. However, there are certain laws that protect some of your income and assets from creditors and debt collection. This income is considered “exempt” and cannot be taken to pay back … Read more