Entries by April Reynon

Paying Off Your Mortgage When You Sell

Selling your home takes care of a lot of things — but what about the mortgage? It doesn’t transfer to the buyer, and it doesn’t just disappear. The payoff process is usually more straightforward than you’d expect. Most mortgages are paid at closing using proceeds from the home sale — with certain exceptions. Understanding how […]

5 Signs You’re Ready to Downsize

For younger homeowners with plans to build a family, a larger home can provide ample room to grow. But as time goes by and the nest starts to empty, all that extra space can quickly become a burden. Sound familiar? The decision to downsize is never easy. But moving to a smaller home can simplify […]

15 vs. 30: Choosing Your Mortgage Term

The length of your mortgage term shapes your monthly costs, your total interest bill, and how fast you build equity. That’s why 30-year mortgages are typically more popular than 15-year loans. Spreading payments over time lowers monthly costs and gives you more breathing room in your budget. But what you save today could cost you […]

How to Finance Building Your Own Home

For buyers who want to build rather than buy, construction loans offer a path from empty lot to finished home. Not only that, but they can cover everything from land and permits to materials and labor. Construction-to-permanent loans are the most common choice, but construction-only loans are also available. Here’s a look at construction loan […]

Could you pay off your mortgage sooner?

One extra mortgage payment per year could save you thousands in interest and shorten your loan term. How can such a small act make such a big difference? Interest is charged on your remaining principal balance. With an amortized mortgage, early payments go mostly toward interest, keeping your balance higher for longer. When extra payments […]

An Explainer on Interest Rate and APR

Weighing your mortgage options? Before making any big decisions, make sure you’re not comparing apples to oranges. Mortgage rates can be expressed as two different percentages: a nominal interest rate or an annual percentage rate (APR). And while the numbers may look similar on paper, the costs they represent can be significantly different. Let’s define […]

5 Practical Spring-Cleaning Tips

Spring has a funny way of unearthing winter’s dirty little secrets. As windows reopen and sunlight comes in, dust and clutter that went unnoticed can suddenly become impossible to ignore. Cleaning up can feel like a daunting challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few simple techniques, you can make your spring-cleaning routine […]

How Soon Can You Refinance After Buying?

Mortgage rates aren’t what they once were, but buyers are still moving forward. Many are choosing to secure the home they want now, with plans to refinance later if rates improve. As rates gradually ease, homeowners are starting to revisit those refinancing plans. But if you’ve recently purchased a home, how soon can you refinance […]

How to Finance a Manufactured Home

Manufactured homes can make homeownership more affordable for many, and modern options can often rival site-built homes. Financing a property with a manufactured home, however, isn’t always as straightforward as financing a conventional home. If you’re considering a property with a manufactured home, there may still be several loan options available. Here are a few […]

5 Ways to Finance Home Renovations

The right home renovation can improve how your space functions, refresh its look and increase your home’s value. The challenge is that even high‑return projects require money upfront. When paying cash isn’t realistic, financing can make renovations possible without draining your savings. Here are several common ways homeowners fund renovation projects, along with when each […]