Can I get a mortgage without a credit score? Yes, but it’s not simple, and it’s definitely not for everyone. I was a mortgage broker for a year back in 2000. I couldn’t believe these loans existed. But I was 21. I didn’t know any better. You could skip the credit pull entirely and still…
It’s hard to know how much house you can afford. Actually it’s easy to know how much house you can afford. It’s hard to know how much house you should afford. The McDonald’s Principle When I bought my first house, I developed The McDonald’s Principle. It was simple, clever, and powerful. It was my way…
Home prices are still climbing in many areas, and not just in the usual places. Some of the biggest gains are showing up in cities that used to be considered affordable, and it’s catching a lot of buyers off guard. This gallery breaks down the 15 major U.S. cities where home prices have jumped the…
Not every home renovation adds value. Some upgrades actually lower your property’s worth, make it harder to sell, or push buyers away. The worst part? You might not realize the damage until it’s too late. In this gallery, we’re breaking down the home upgrades that can quietly lower your resale price, even if they look…
Buying your first house isn’t about perfect timing, it’s about readiness. The market’s noisy, advice is all over the place, and most people are still guessing. In this gallery, we’ll walk through the signs you’re actually ready to buy a home, financially, mentally, and practically. 👉 Tap or Click through the slides to see if…
Imagine a financial strategy that can lower your monthly mortgage payments, save you thousands in interest, and bring you closer to the dream of early retirement. Mortgage recasting is a powerful tool that can help you achieve financial independence faster. In this article, I’ll explain mortgage recasting, explaining what it is, when and why you…
There’s a rule a lot of people grew up hearing: pay off your mortgage before you retire. It sounds clean, simple, responsible. But these days, more retirees are walking into their golden years with a mortgage, and not all of them are losing sleep over it. That said, the costs aren’t small. According to the…
Buying a home is still one of the smartest financial decisions someone can make, if it’s done right. It’s not just about owning property, it’s about protecting your budget now and building wealth long term. This gallery walks through Rachel Cruze’s 10 steps to buy a house, breaking down how to shop smart, stay on…
In my teens I developed a plan to try to buy myself an early retirement so I could spend that time with my children and wife that I didn’t yet have. The phrase Financial Independence Retire Early didn’t exist, but the path to it did. Unlike other FIRE experts online, Finance Experts in real life,…
Not all states are created equal, especially when it comes to your wallet. If you want to stretch your dollar, you’ve got to know where to look, and stop complaining about how unaffordable everything is when smarter options exist. According to Dave Ramsey’s cost-of-living data, some states make life a whole lot cheaper. These places…
I have heard so much advice over the years that people consider to be “good advice”. But if I had listened to all of this good advice, I would not have been able to retire young. By ignoring good advice, I was able to reach my goals. “You Have Too Much Debt, You Are Going…
Buying a house can feel like a game you weren’t taught the rules to. One wrong move and you’re stuck with a home with constant repairs or a daily drive that makes you question your choices. It’s exciting, sure, but only if you know how to play it smart. I’ve been a real estate investor…
Let’s talk housing prices. If you’ve been casually scrolling real estate listings and thinking, “Wait…wasn’t this $200k like two years ago?” you’re not imagining things. The sticker shock is real. To break it down, we compared 2019 data from Yahoo Finance with the latest 2024 numbers reported by Bankrate. The comparison tells a clear story:…
As a Chartered Financial Analyst with over 20 years of experience in real estate investing and financial services, I’ve seen firsthand the financial advantages of owning a home versus renting. I have rented to hundreds of families over the years and I’ve seen thousands of applications from tenants to rent. I have also owned homes…
Oh no, I’m 27 and being sued! In 2007, I made a bold move. After years of following a well-calculated strategy in real estate, I decided to take a leap outside my comfort zone. I had already built up a small portfolio of homes. These homes were my key to early retirement. I always bought…
In my few decades as a real estate investor, I’ve had my fair share of mortgages. I’ve seen it all, from the highs of property booms to the lows of market crashes. I’ve navigated through fluctuating interest rates, tricky loan terms, and yes, the dreaded Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). Early in my career, I even…
