Home Equity Loans 101
A secured home loan differs from an unsecured loan in that the secured loan borrows against one's home as collateral, thereby reducing the risk to the lender.As such, secured home loans often offer better interest rates than unsecured loans, but offer higher risk to the borrower, as defaulting on ... more...

Home Equity Line of Credit Great Idea for Rainy Day Emergencies
Most Americans tend to live on a paycheck-to-paycheck basis, and the typical household has nearly $10,000 in credit card debt. Adding to that is the fact that Americans are saving money at the lowest rate in history. We spend what we earn, when we earn it, and theres little or nothing available ... more...

Updated Bay Area Real Estate Prices
When looking at the average home price in the Bay Area, $616,000, and then looking at what $616,000 affords you (a 4 bedroom home in Stockton or a studio apartment in the Mission District of San Francisco) it is best to make sure you have the down payment and can make mortgage payments, and buy. ... more...

Real Estate Prices in the Bay Area
The rule of thumb for many potential Bay Area home owners is, try not to think about it too much. When looking at the average home price in the Bay Area, $560,000, and then looking at what $560,000 affords you (a 2 bedroom home in Stockton or a studio apartment in the Mission District of San ... more...

FHA Home Loan and FHA Home Loans
FHA home loans have basic requirements that must be met before qualifying for an FHA loan. FHA home loan requirements are standards that allow first time homebuyers the opportunities to meet mortgage qualifications. FHA home loans are easier to qualify for than conventional loans offered by lending ... more...

Home Equity Loan Comparison - Access Your Home's Equity Through a Second Mortgage or Equity Loan
You can access your home equity without the cost of refinancing with two financing options. A second mortgage will give you a lump sum check with a fixed or adjustable rate. A home equity line lets you tap into your equity when you want to. Both options allow you to write off interest on your taxes ... more...

How To Spot A Good Buy
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, particularly when it comes to buying a home. Features that attract one home-buyer may repel another.However, the one feature of interest to every home-buyer is price. Getting the most home for your money is paramount. The real problem is figuring out whether ... more...

18 Easy Steps to Buy a Bargain House
What is a "distressed" property? What is "bargain" real estate?A distressed property is one with a distressed seller. Job loss or transfer, divorce, death, pending foreclosure, and lack of money cause sellers to sell fast for less. Discovering the seller's problem and finding a solution is the key ... more...

Home Equity Loan When Does Refinancing Make Sense?
For the last two years, interest rates have been much lower than anytime during the last thirty years. This has resulted in an unprecedented boom in real estate sales, home refinancing and home equity lending, as borrowers try to take advantage of these rates for the long term. But refinancing or ... more...