Blog tagged as Mortgage

How to Save For a Downpayment

02/29/2024 04:49 PM By Mike Halper, CFP®, MPAS®, SE-AWMA®, CDAA, CBDA - Comment(s)

The traditional way to purchase a home is to make a downpayment when financing the purchase with a mortgage. Here are some tips for saving for a downpayment.

6 Common Pre-Retirement Mistakes that Cost Dearly

01/25/2024 04:47 PM By Mike Halper, CFP®, MPAS®, SE-AWMA®, CDAA, CBDA - Comment(s)

Even with a good income, there are some big mistakes that can foul up your retirement, and the effects may not be realized until it’s too late.

The 80/20 Rule In Homeowners Insurance

10/26/2023 08:20 AM By Mike Halper, CFP®, MPAS®, SE-AWMA®, CDAA, CBDA - Comment(s)

It's important to make sure your insurance policy covers at least 80% of the replacement cost of your home, and it's not just because your mortgage lender may require it.

Why is the Fed Interest Rate So Important?

12/14/2022 05:43 PM By Mike Halper, CFP®, MPAS®, SE-AWMA®, CDAA, CBDA - Comment(s)

The Fed's campaign of raising interest rates can have a wide impact on the economy. In fact, it's designed to.

How Rising Interest Rates Could Affect You

03/28/2022 08:25 AM By Mike Halper, CFP®, MPAS®, SE-AWMA®, CDAA, CBDA - Comment(s)

The Fed is poised to make multiple interest rate increases the year. Find out how they can affect you.

Are You Buying a Fixer Upper? Here's How to Cover Renovation Expenses

02/22/2022 08:18 AM By Mike Halper, CFP®, MPAS®, SE-AWMA®, CDAA, CBDA - Comment(s)

When purchasing a "fixer-upper," you can save on the cost of the home, but what about renovations? If you are looking to cut costs, then consider these 5 tips for covering expenses.

5 Tax Tips for Homeowners

10/26/2021 11:14 AM By Mike Halper, CFP®, MPAS®, SE-AWMA®, CDAA, CBDA - Comment(s)

If you're just buying a new home, here are some tax tips that can help you get the most out of your tax return. Existing homeowners, may find value in some of these tips as well.

Loans 101 For First-Time Homebuyers: What Is a Mortgage and How Does It Work?

09/24/2021 11:51 AM By Mike Halper, CFP®, MPAS®, SE-AWMA®, CDAA, CBDA - Comment(s)

Do you really need to put 20% down to buy a house? We've got the answer to this common question plus everything you need to know about mortgages as you begin your house hunt.

Tax Planning in Turbulent Times Part 3: Tax-Wise Financial Planning

09/02/2021 11:15 AM By Mike Halper, CFP®, MPAS®, SE-AWMA®, CDAA, CBDA - Comment(s)

Tax planning isn’t just for your investments. Life happens. Often, we cannot predict its next moves, but it's possible to weave each event into the tax-planning fabric of your financial life.

How Much Do You Need to Buy a House?

07/20/2021 11:54 AM By Mike Halper, CFP®, MPAS®, SE-AWMA®, CDAA, CBDA - Comment(s)

If you’ve decided to buy a home, there are many out-of-pocket fees, as well as long-term costs beyond the price of the home itself. Read this article to gain a better understanding of how much money you’ll actually need to become a homeowner.