Should I Pay Mortgage Points?

If you are buying a home or refinancing, you have probably heard about “mortgage points.” This form of pre-paid interest can save you thousands of dollars over the course of your loan but in many circumstances is not worth the upfront cost. How do you know whether to pay points or not? Here’s a quick
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Important Changes in FHA MIP Calculations

FHA loans have grown substantially over the past decade, primarily because of the benefits that these loans offer to families with low to modest budgets. The perks to choosing an FHA loan, one that is backed by the Federal Housing Administration, are plentiful and include lower down payments, more forgiveness toward poor credit and the
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Why the New Construction Market is Gaining Strength

In the years following the local housing rush which followed Hurricane Katrina, many home builders have lived through a dramatic slowdown in St. Tammany new construction market. Some experts attribute this to the rapid influx of post-Katrina new residents, and others to the general slowdown in the housing market which has affected the rest of
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An Overview of Rural Development Loan Programs

The mission of rural development programs is to assist low to moderate income rural families qualify for homeownership. Living in rural areas, it can sometimes feel like you’re forgotten and lack many of the resources that families living in the cities and suburbs take for granted. Rural development programs improve the quality of life for
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Pros and Cons to Debt Consolidation Loans

Debt consolidation is the act of refinancing your home, or taking out a 2nd mortgage, to pay off several smaller loans including retail or consumer loans that may not be tied to your home. It’s a way to help people gain control of their finances; instead of having all types of loans with various interest
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Will a Mortgage Calculator Tell Me what I Can Afford?

A mortgage calculator is a handy tool, but it cannot replace a mortgage professional. A mortgage calculator can give you a ballpark figure for what you can afford, however, based on your income and, depending upon how sophisticated the calculator is, the local tax rates and the cost of homeowner’s insurance for the properties you’re
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How Much Mortgage Can I Afford?

Calculating how much you can afford on a home mortgage is a lot more complex than calculating how much you can afford in rent. In the latter case, a third of your income is usually a good measure for the most you want to pay in rent. Where a mortgage is concerned, you have to
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