Articles by Erik J. Martin - Page 8

You have extra cash — should you pay off your mortgage or invest? There are pros and cons to both strategies. Here's how to decide.

You have extra cash — should you pay off your mortgage or invest? There are pros and cons to both strategies. Here's how to decide.

DTI, your 'debt-to-income ratio,' includes taxes and insurance as part of your mortgage payment. Here's how to find your DTI with taxes and insurance.

You can finance a manufactured home, but only if it's considered 'real property'. Learn about converting a manufactured home to real property here.

In the mortgage process, 'escrow' is when funds are held by a neutral third party until the mortgage closes. Learn how escrow works here.

Waiving a home inspection could make your offer more competitive. But experts say waiving a home inspection isn't a good idea. Here's why.

A VA renovation loan lets you buy a fixer-upper with an ultra low interest rate. But these loans are hard to find. Should you look for an alternative?

We asked 10 housing and finance experts for their mortgage rate predictions and housing forecasts for late-2020. Here's what they said.

If you want to build your own home, you'll likely need a construction loan. Learn how construction loans work and why they're different from mortgages.

If you want to build your own home, you'll likely need a construction loan. Learn how construction loans work and why they're different from mortgages.

Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) requires you to reduce debts and save most of your income. But home buying with a mortgage is still possible.

Climate change is putting millions of homes at risk. Use these climate change maps and expert advice to help inform your next home buying decision.

Many families want to buy a bigger house to support work from home and remote learning. Does buying a house during COVID make sense for you?

You're allowed to pay extra on your mortgage to pay it off early. Here are three strategies to pay off your mortgage early if you have extra cash.

A new report put today's home- ownership rate at a 12 year high. But can home buying data during COVID be trusted? Experts are skeptical.

Sellers typically have the advantage over home buyers in summer. But could COVID-19 flip the housing market? Experts weigh in on both sides.

Buying a home during coronavirus is still possible. Here's how to navigate the contactless home buying process and move forward with your purchase.

Deed restrictions limit what you can build or do on a property. They're common for condos, but can apply elsewhere. Here's how to find out about deed restrictions on your property.

Use this free hardship letter template to request mortgage forbearance from your loan servicer. This is the one step to get CARES Act mortgage relief.