With interest rates trending downward over the last several months, refinancing is all the rage. For many, refinancing an existing mortgage to a home loan with an interest rate that’s lower than their current rate, could hack hundreds of dollars off their monthly payment. This can easily add up to thousands of dollars in saved interest paid over the life of the loan. However, refinancing is not always a good idea. Here are six bad reasons to refinance a home loan. 1. To extend the term of the loan Refinancing a mortgage with a lower interest rate can save you money each month, but be sure to look at the… read more »

Buying a car for the first-time is a journey, and it can be a bit daunting. To make the process as easy to navigate as possible, consider following the pointers listed below. Before Car Shopping Before you begin shopping for a car, it’s worth taking the time to do some preparation. In particular, you’ll want to make sure you’re in a good financial situation to handle the cost. Determine your budget Your budget is the first item you should look at, particularly concerning how your monthly income compares with your existing financial obligations. Typically, it’s best to see that your car loan payments are no higher than 10% of your… read more »

“Payday loans,” which are also called cash advance, check advance and post-dated check loans, have become increasingly popular for fast cash. All a consumer needs in order to obtain a payday loan is employment, a utility bill, a checking account and a driver’s license. The borrower writes a personal check payable to the lender for the amount he or she wishes to borrow, plus a fee, which is typically in the range of 10% to 25% of the amount. That check is held for up to four weeks. At that time, the check is redeemed by the borrower by paying the face amount of the check or allowing it to… read more »