Tag: Jessica Merritt

Best Debt Consolidation Loans of December 2023
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Best Debt Consolidation Loans of December 2023

What Are the Current Personal Loan Rates? The average personal loan rate is 11.54% as of December 6, according to a Bankrate survey. Personal loan interest rates are trending higher over the past several months, increasing by about half-a-point since early July: Personal loan rates vary widely based on creditworthiness. Borrowers with very good or excellent credit scores will see much lower interest rates than those with fair or poor credit. Often, borrowers with bad credit will apply for a secured personal loan that uses an asset as collateral in order to achieve lower rates: Bankrate Averages What Are Debt Consolidation Loans?A debt consolidation loan is a type of personal loan that combines high-interest debts and allows for one fixed-interest monthly payment...
Best Debt Settlement Companies of 2023
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Best Debt Settlement Companies of 2023

What Is Debt Settlement?Debt settlement is when a for-profit company negotiates with creditors to accept a lump sum for less than what you owe rather than the payment. The debt settlement company will usually instruct you to stop paying your creditors and instead put that money in a savings account that will be used toward the lump-sum payments. Depending on factors such as your number of creditors and how much you can save each month, you might need one to four years to make worthwhile settlement offers. In the intervening time, you could end up further in the hole from late fees and other penalties.Also, keep in mind that some creditors may not agree to settlements, and some creditors do not work with debt settlement companies.Working with debt settlement companies can be risky. You wil...
DoorDash and Chase Deliver a Rewards Mastercard | Credit Cards
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DoorDash and Chase Deliver a Rewards Mastercard | Credit Cards

Some of the links on this site contain offers from our partners. Chase and food delivery service DoorDash have cooked up a DoorDash credit card with Mastercard. The DoorDash Rewards Mastercard, which has no annual fee, offers exclusive DoorDash benefits to cardholders and earns rewards on purchases on and off the platform. The card could help you save money if you frequently use DoorDash for takeout and delivery orders, groceries and convenience store items, and household essentials.This card, which launched in March 2023, offers cardholders 4% cash back on DoorDash and Caviar orders, 3% cash back on dining, 2% cash back at grocery stores and 1% cash back on all other purchases. You also get free access to a year of DashPass – DoorDash's monthly subscription service – upon opening an ac...
Mortgage Fee Structure Changes: Understand 2023 LLPA Changes | Mortgages and Advice
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Mortgage Fee Structure Changes: Understand 2023 LLPA Changes | Mortgages and Advice

A new federal rule aimed at improving mortgage accessibility could result in higher prices for homebuyers with good credit while smoothing the path for riskier borrowers.Since May 2023, mortgages delivered to the Federal Housing Finance Agency have faced changes to their loan-level price adjustments. These changes affect conventional mortgages and refinance loans purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, adjusting conventional mortgage interest rates higher for some homebuyers and lower for others.What Are LLPA Fees?Loan-level price adjustments, or LLPAs, are risk-based price adjustment fees. These mortgage fees are tied to a range of factors, including your credit score, loan-to-value ratio and the type of mortgage. Lenders typically use LLPAs to determine your mortgage interest rate.LLPA...
Guild Mortgage Review 2023 | US News
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Guild Mortgage Review 2023 | US News

Compare Top Mortgage Lenders Lender Learn More Min. Down Payment Min. Credit Score Lender Learn More Min. Down Payment Min. Credit Score Lender Learn More Min. Down Payment Min. Credit ScoreWhat Types of Mortgage Loans Does Guild Mortgage Offer?Guild Mortgage offers traditional and special mortgage products ranging from conventional loans to first-time homebuyer programs with down payment assistance.Guild Mortgage's loan options include: Conventional mortgages Mortgage refinancing Adjustable-rate mortgages U.S. Department of Agriculture loans Department of Veterans Affairs loans Federal Housing Administration loans Jumbo loans The lender's specialty products include mortgages through the Fannie Mae MH Advantage program, which offers loans for manufactured homes that have ...
How to Find the Best Reverse Mortgage Lender
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How to Find the Best Reverse Mortgage Lender

What Are the Types of Reverse Mortgage Loans?There are three major types of reverse mortgage loans: home equity conversion mortgage, proprietary reverse mortgage and single-purpose reverse mortgage. Home equity conversion mortgage. The home equity conversion mortgage is the most common type of reverse mortgage funding, and it is available to qualified borrowers who are at least 62 years old with homes that are paid off or have low mortgage balances. These loans are insured by the U.S. government through the Federal Housing Administration. If the amount you owe from the reverse mortgage grows to exceed the home value, the FHA will assume most or all of the loss. You will pay a mortgage insurance premium, but it can be financed into the cost of your loan. The FHA limits the origination an...
What Should I Keep in a Safe Deposit Box?
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What Should I Keep in a Safe Deposit Box?

A safe deposit box is a well-secured storage box housed at your banking institution. Think of it as your own private bank vault. You can use a safe deposit box to store valuable items, important paperwork or other items you want to keep private and secure.In the age of cloud storage and digital record-keeping, a safe deposit box may seem like a relic from another era. But a safe deposit box can make sense if you need secure storage away from home.Considering opening a safe deposit box? Here's what to know.What's a Safe Deposit Box?A safe deposit box is a small, secure container housed at a bank. The boxes can range in size from 2 inches high by 5 inches wide, to 10 inches high by 15 inches wide or even larger. Rental prices vary according to the bank and box size, but generally start arou...
What Is Loan-Level Price Adjustment? | Mortgages and Advice
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What Is Loan-Level Price Adjustment? | Mortgages and Advice

Loan-level price adjustments, or LLPAs, are fees that influence the cost of a conventional mortgage based on a borrower's risk level. LLPA fees lower mortgage pricing for low-risk borrowers while raising the cost for higher-risk borrowers. Here's what you need to know about LLPAs if you take out a mortgage.What Are Loan-Level Price Adjustments?"LLPAs are adjustments to the price of a mortgage that compensate for risk," says Casey Fleming, a mortgage advisor and author of "The Loan Guide: How to Get the Best Possible Mortgage." Ultimately, it's what affects your price quote, he says.When you get a conventional mortgage quote, your lender will determine the interest rate and cost of discount points by using an LLPA fee matrix set by Fannie Mae or a credit fee matrix from Freddie Mac. These ...
Discover Student Loans Review 2023
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Discover Student Loans Review 2023

Borrower tip: Refinancing federal student loans into a private student loan can make you ineligible for certain types of protections, such as income-driven repayment plans, federal debt forgiveness programs and forbearance/deferment options through the Department of Education. Find the Best Student Loans for You Lender Learn More Fixed APR Variable APR Loan Term Lender Learn More Fixed APR Variable APR Loan Term Lender Learn More Fixed APR Variable APR Loan TermWhat Types of Student Loans Does Discover Offer?Student loan options from Discover are: Undergraduate. Graduate. Parent. MBA. Law school. Medical school. Residency. Bar exam prep classes and living expenses. Student loan refinancing for students and parents. What Are Discover's Loan Terms, Fees and Discoun...
Better.com Mortgage Review 2023 | US News
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Better.com Mortgage Review 2023 | US News

Compare Top Mortgage Lenders Lender Learn More Min. Down Payment Min. Credit Score Lender Learn More Min. Down Payment Min. Credit Score Lender Learn More Min. Down Payment Min. Credit ScoreWhat Types of Mortgage Loans Does Better.com Offer? Conventional mortgages Fixed-rate mortgages Adjustable-rate mortgages Jumbo loans Refinancing Better Mortgage does not offer FHA, VA, USDA or home equity loans.How Does Better.com Work?Potential borrowers can apply for two types of preapproval letters from Better Mortgage. Better Mortgage will use your self-reported income and a soft credit check for a basic preapproval, while a verified preapproval requires a hard credit check and a more detailed review of your financial information. Your mortgage rate will depend on attributes such as marke...