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Home Finance Center

Mortgage Rates

 

Home Equity Rates

 

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Fixed vs. adj. rates
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Affordability
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Rent or buy?
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Mortgage Basics

Should you buy or rent?
Find out what you might encounter if you decide to embark on the journey toward home-ownership.

Home Equity Basics

What home equity entails
Wade through the gibberish and get the low down on everything from collateral to credit.

Home equity loan strategies

Trends in home equity lending
Record default levels have been hard on lenders and borrowers, necessitating change.

Mortgage rates drop again

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 10 basis points, to 5.7 percent, according to Bankrate's weekly survey.

5 tips for buying a foreclosed home

Do the footwork first to find a deal on a foreclosed home. Here's what you need to know.

Rate Trend Index -- Mortgages

Each week, Bankrate.com surveys experts to gauge which way interest rates are headed on mortgages -- a vital tool if you're about to buy a home.

Use mortgage broker for land refinance

A mortgage broker can be a big help on a land refinance that includes a so-called "story loan."

Weigh interest-only mortgage refinance

A condominium homeowner may benefit from a mortgage refinance on an interest-only loan.

Avoiding mortgage modification scams

Scammers use phony mortgage modifications to prey on homeowners. Here are four ways to foil scams.

Mortgage rates edge up slightly

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage moved to 5.80 percent, according to Bankrate's weekly survey.

Fed holds rates steady, keeps rate near zero

The unrelenting recession forces the FOMC to leave the federal funds rate untouched again.

Cut your own interest rates

No help from the Fed? Follow these tips to make your money go further.

Good times, bad times for 1st-time buyers

Buying a home was made very easy for first-timers several years ago. With prices at such low levels, are those loan packages still out there?

Is your agent tech-savvy?

The Internet is where it's at when it comes to selling homes these days. Is your selling agent wired in?

On the hook for short-sale debt

In some states, you can be made to pay short-sale debt. But if it's forgiven, the IRS won't tax it.

Mortgage rates head lower

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage declined to 5.76 percent in Bankrate's weekly survey.

Mortgage regulation key in Obama reform

The Obama administration's proposal for new financial rules includes a simple mortgage.

Interest Rate Roundup

Here are the latest interest rates and commentary on five common consumer banking products from Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large banks and thrifts.

Is the 40-year mortgage a joke?

Borrowers may like lower payments, but a mortgage that lasts for four decades isn't always best.

10 ways to keep home and love it

Economy forcing you to stay put in your existing home? Here are expert tips on how to realize less can be more and to realize, "There's no place like home."

Cash-out home loan refinance sensible

The math suggests a cash-out home loan refinance may make the most sense for one homeowner.

Who wins, who loses in today's market?

In this topsy-turvy real estate market who stands to win and who's fighting an uphill battle?

What will $400,000 buy today?

Bankrate's annual interactive looks at how much home you can buy today for $400,000. In 2009? Quite a lot.

Gaining an easement from hostile neighbor

There are options to trespassing that might give you leverage over your neighbor and are legal.

Home equity loan rate dilemma is common

A homeowner wondering when to convert to a fixed-rate home equity loan faces a classic dilemma.

How to navigate a short sale

Many real estate transactions today are short sales. These deals require patience, caution and luck.

Mortgage rates hit 6-month high

The 30-year fixed rate vaulted again this week in Bankrate's survey. Is an ARM a good alternative?

Future plans key to mortgage refinance

A mortgage refinance makes little sense for most homeowners who plan to move in the near future.

Surrendering the suburbs

Yesteryear's flight to the suburbs is yielding to a return to the cities, thanks to sustainable elements, transit access and pricing. What to look for.

Think twice about becoming a landlord

The current economy may not be the best time to try out landlording.

10 ways to turn off a homebuyer

Homeowners hoping to sell their homes in a tough market should avoid these 10 buyer turnoffs.

Sell home, don't play absentee landlord

If you're leaving the country, sell the house at no profit before becoming an absentee landlord.

8 freebies builders may give away

It's a fact of life -- home builders are hurting big time. Unfortunate for them but it gives you a great chance to buy a brand new home and get a slew of extras thrown in.

Video: Questions to ask before refinancing

With mortgage rates near record low, is it time to refinance? Find out if it will benefit you.

Want to modify mortgage? Get a trial run

We answer 10 questions about how the required Home Affordable Modification trial period works.

Mortgage rates shoot up

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 5.65 percent, according to Bankrate's weekly survey.

Today's reality: Small homes new big thing

Welcome to the new realty reality. Ostentation is passé. Size is so not cool. Small is the new big. And oh, by the way -- have you hugged your home lately?

12 'don't-miss' factors in home purchase

It's hard to think of every little thing when you're checking out a home for purchase. These are the most often overlooked.

Can't sell? Do SOMETHING

If you can't sell your home and it's eating you alive financially, you need something to generate cashflow. Try out these tips.

Modify loan, stay in home

The bank may be willing to adjust your loan and extend your payments to avoid seizing it.

Mortgage rates gone wild

With mortgage rates suddenly skyrocketing, what should potential homebuyers do?

Home buying and selling 2009

There are opportunities for first-time buyers and with the jump in foreclosures, they can be choosy.

Video: Reappraising appraisers

Proposed new rules may not solve the problem of appraisers being influenced by lenders.

Rates rocket up quickly

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage increased to 5.45 percent, according to Bankrate's weekly survey.

My house is worth how much?

Appraisers have the last word on a home's value, but homeowners can provide some input.

Good credit, not good enough

In the new lending environment, a good credit score is not good enough for today's homebuyers.

5 off-the-wall ways to sell your house

As many are painfully aware, it's not easy to sell your home anymore. But if you let your imagination run a little you might come up with some offbeat methods. Like these.

Co-signer has few loan options

You can approach the lender for a loan modification, but the homeowner still controls the property.

Bailout can help homebuyers

President Barack Obama's Economic Stimulus plan includes key strategies aimed at helping people buy homes and stimulate the housing market.

12 tips to buying a home at auction

There are differences between large regional home auctions and those on the courthouse steps. Here are 6 tips for each.

Who chooses your home appraiser?

The new code for appraisers could have some dramatic repercussions for homebuyers and homeowners.

Second-home market offers bargains

Careful shoppers may find that many popular U.S. second-home markets are on sale right now.

Mortgage rates up slightly

The benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 5.24 percent, according to Bankrate's weekly survey.

Can you get an Obama loan modification?

Find out if you qualify for the federal government's new program to reduce mortgage payments.

Don't let PMI stop you from refinancing

Ask yourself where you want to live before making other important decisions about a mortgage.

Staying put? How stimulus plans may help

The current real estate market is tough on buyers and sellers. And those staying put aren't real happy either. Here's how the stimulus plans may help the "homebound."

Time to become a landlord?

Thanks to mounting foreclosures and the scarcity of new mortgages the housing rental business is looking up. Or is it?

Bankruptcy may end second mortgage woes

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing may help a homeowner get out from under a second mortgage.
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