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Mortgage concepts every buyer should know

By Jack Guttentag, Monday, March 31, 2008.

Home purchasers sometimes get into trouble because they are not clued into the sequence of steps involved in financing their purchase. These are qualification, preapproval, approval and lock.  more...

Major home remodel may not pay off

By Dian Hymer, Monday, March 31, 2008.

Several years ago, if your home no longer suited your needs, you bought another one that worked better. Generally, listings sold quickly, so many homeowners bought first and then sold the old home. Today's challenging residential real estate market makes this process more risky. For some homeowners, it's impossible due to tight credit markets.  more...

Will refinancing to lower rate really save money?

By Benny Kass, Monday, March 31, 2008.

DEAR BENNY: I bought my condo 18 months ago. The interest rate on my 30-year loan is 6.25 percent. Should I consider refinancing to a lower rate? I plan on staying here and paying off the loan so it seems even if I save some money on a lower interest rate I will be extending my loan and paying more/longer? --Scott

DEAR SCOTT: Since you've had your loan for a relatively short time, the costs to refinance your loan may not outweigh the benefits of a lower interest rate.  more...

An agent planning for retirement

By Alison Rogers, Monday, March 31, 2008.

I left my old corporate job, with its lovely 401(k) that offered cushy matching funds, in 2005.

The year after was such a financial disaster -- I piled on credit-card debt like, well, a sailor on shore leave with a fistful of credit cards -- that I didn't make any retirement contributions at all.

But now, I am doing my 2007 taxes, and (huzzah!) I get to be responsible again. That means I'm making a contribution to my retirement funds.  more...