Buying a home is an exciting milestone but qualifying for a mortgage can be stressful especially when your income seems just shy of affording your dream home. If you’re considering applying for a $200,000 mortgage, a common question is, “How much income do I need to qualify?” The answer isn’t straightforward since several factors determine … Read more
You might think making a lot of money can automatically grant you access to the best interest rates on things like mortgages, credit cards, auto loans and more. But thats not true. When it comes to borrowing money, “credit score is usually king,” J. R. George, senior vice president at Trustco Bank, tells CNBC Make … Read more
Do you know what your debtors and creditors are? If not, then read on. Debtors and creditors play a huge role in the overall performance of your business. They can make or break it. You need to understand them inside and out if you want to run a successful business. The basic principle is this. … Read more
You can keep your Social Security number safe by leaving your Social Security card at home, not broadly sharing your SSN and shredding documents that show your Social Security number. Your nine-digit Social Security number (SSN) can be key to securing a job, applying for credit and opening a bank account. Unfortunately, its also a … Read more
On a scale of 300-850, a “good” credit score falls somewhere in the mid-600s to mid-700s. Learn how to get a good score and what opportunities it unlocks. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or … Read more
They have debit cards and do go to the bank to withdraw money. Stars, they’re just like us. This is just one of the stories from our “I’ve Always Wondered” series, where we tackle all of your questions about the world of business, no matter how big or small. Do you ever wonder if recycling … Read more
The heavy metal cards come with big annual fees, but not necessarily the benefits to match. 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 … Read more
Anytime anyone offers you something free, you should think twice if it’s safe to accept it. That’s true even if that something is coming from a legitimate business with millions of users. We’re talking, of course, about Credit Karma – a free credit checking service. Is Credit Karma useful? Of course! Is it free? Absolutely! … Read more
Borrowers seeking a mortgage to purchase or refinance a home must be approved by a mortgage lender to get their loan. Banks need to verify the borrowers financial information and may require a proof or proof of deposit (POD) form to be completed and sent to the borrowers bank. As proof of deposit, the borrower … Read more
Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases you can make. One of the first steps in the process is to get preapproved for a home loan. Mortgage preapproval may seem straightforward, but there are some considerations to be aware of. Most importantly, loan preapproval is not a guarantee. Preapproval means that you meet … Read more