A home equity line of credit (HELOC) could help you pay for home improvements or get a better rate on your debts. You may not know this, but you may be able to deduct the interest you pay on a HELOC from your federal income taxes. Heres what you need to know about the rules … Read more
Many or all of the products on this page come from partners who pay us when you click on their links or do something on their websites. This doesn’t change how we rate or review the products, though. Our opinions are our own. Santander personal loans may be a solid option for good- or excellent-credit … Read more
If you want to get loans and credit cards with low interest rates, you need to have a good credit score. The FICO score, which is between 300 and 850, is one of the most common ways to rate credit. To answer your question, a FICO score of 781 is good. In fact, it’s very … Read more
There are a number of different factors to consider Part of the Series Using a Mortgage Calculator If youre looking to buy a home, its important to understand how much you can afford to pay. A general guideline for an affordable mortgage is one equal to roughly 200% to 250% of your gross annual income. … Read more
Regularly checking your credit reports and credit scores is a good way to ensure information is accurate. But can checking your credit hurt your credit scores? [Duration: 00:54]. A lot of people are scared to ask for a copy of their credit report or check their credit score because they think it will hurt their … Read more
A debt doesn’t generally expire or disappear until its paid, but in many states, there may be a time limit on how long creditors or debt collectors can use legal action to collect a debt. In many states, creditors and debt collectors can’t go to court to collect on an old debt because the time … Read more
The issuer has a few standout cards in its portfolio. But Synchrony isn’t very good at making customers happy, and its retail cards, like most others, have problems and limits. Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their … Read more
“Expert verified” means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Bankrate is always editorially independent. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to … Read more
Getting a mortgage for a home purchase is exciting but comes with financial responsibilities. Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is usually needed when the down payment is less than 20% of the total price of the house. PMI adds to your monthly payment and delays homeownership. However, there are strategies to eliminate PMI, including getting an … Read more
It might seem like the easiest way to change your mortgage is to refinance with the same lender, but is that always the best choice? A question that comes up a lot is whether they should keep their current lender or look for a new one. While there are pros and cons to both options, … Read more