You’ve Got Options—How to Pay for Your New Home

One of the major components of the American Dream is owning a home. However, purchasing a home can be a challenge for many adults. There are so many strategies and rules that it may seem impossible to figure out. Luckily, if you’re ready to buy your new home, you have options to choose a payment plan that works best for you.

Save up the 20 percent Down Payment

Most personal finance gurus recommend saving up 20 percent for the down payment before making the purchase. This strategy comes with some great benefits. First, you’ll automatically have some equity built up, so it’s unlikely you’ll go under on your loan. 

Another great benefit of taking out a conventional loan with a 20 percent down payment is the ability to avoid private mortgage insurance. Usually, if you’ve paid less than 20 percent, lenders require that you pay for PMI. 

Depending upon the price of the home, PMI can cost hundreds each month. The biggest negative associated with a 20 percent down payment is the length of time it can take to save it, but many consider the wait worth it.

Save up and Pay Cash

Another option for paying for your new home is saving up cash to pay for it in full. This will help you avoid debt, but it will likely tie up wealth that could otherwise be invested in more liquid investments. 

Having a paid-off home will greatly improve your monthly cash flow. This option will be more achievable in many areas of the Midwest. It will be very difficult for people looking to buy real estate on the coasts where housing costs are higher.

Fixed vs Adjustable Mortgages

Mortgages with adjustable rates tend to come with lower interest rates. These lower rates can make it easier for prospective homeowners to get into a new home. However, they can be adjusted upward, and your mortgage payments will be adjusted accordingly. The principal and interest portion of a fixed-rate mortgage will stay relatively steady over time.

Mortgage Programs

The US government provides incentives for new homeowners. Mortgage programs through the USDA, the VA, the FHA, and some companies who work with them can give you mortgages with no or very low down payment requirements. These can allow you to get into a house quickly without saving up tens of thousands of dollars. 

Likely, you’ll have to pay for insurance on these. If there’s a downturn in your local market, it could become difficult to sell a home without going into the hole because you’ll be less likely to have equity built up.

If you’re looking to get into a home of your own, you have options. Whether you have no money to put down or you can pay the full price in cash, it’s possible to get into your first home as long as you have reasonable credit. Regardless of the option you choose, you’ll want to perform due diligence to make it less likely you’ll wind up underwater on your purchase.

How Much Car Can You Can Afford on a Budget

Buying a car is a big step. Motor vehicles are expensive, and they require a lot of responsibility to operate safely. However, the car buying process itself can be very confusing. There are many choices on the market. 

There are coupes, sedans, minivans, SUVs, crossovers, and more to choose from. Deciding on just what kind of vehicle you want to buy can be tough. Just how much car do you really need and can afford on your budget?

Your Basic Needs for the Car

Everyone needs a car for a reason. Some need one to commute to work. Others need one to drive their kids to and from soccer practice. Consider what your bare minimum needs are for a vehicle. This includes the number of seats you need. If you have a spouse, three children and your parents living with you, obviously a car with four seats is not going to suffice.

Used Vs. New

One of the more significant decisions you will have to make is deciding between buying a new car and buying a used one. There are trade-offs for both choices. Older cars are definitely less expensive. However, more modern vehicles are likely to run better and require fewer repairs.

Buying Used Parts

Buying a fixer-upper can be a way to save money. If you are a gearhead or know someone that can work on the car for you, you’ll save even more. There are ways you can save money if you need to perform repairs on a used vehicle. 



For one, used parts are certainly cheaper than new parts from the manufacturer. Buying used Ford Mustang parts, for example, can make the sports car more affordable.

Insurance

You also have to consider the different factors that go into the exact total price to own a car. This includes insurance. Specific vehicles are much more expensive to insure. Others require less in premiums. Obviously, a European sports car will be more costly to insure than an American sedan.

Fuel Economy

Lastly, another thing you need to consider when deciding if a car is within your budget is just how much gas it will require. This is a substantial hidden cost you must find. SUVs, for example, tend to be gas guzzlers. 

Smaller cars, on the other hand, will be much more fuel-efficient. Similar sized models from different manufacturers may also have different gas mileage for both highway and city driving. Try to make a lot of direct comparisons.

Overall, what kind of car you can afford depends on a lot of different factors. There are also several different strategies you can use to save money. Consider all these factors when deciding if a vehicle is within your budget or not.

4 Tips to Lower Your Car Insurance Before Your Next Payment

Car insurance can be a major monthly expense, and many drivers spend way too much on their premiums. Luckily, with a few simple tips and tricks, you might be able to lower your insurance rates by hundreds of dollars a year.

Increase Your Deductible

One of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce your monthly premiums is to ask for a higher deductible. The deductible is the amount that you pay before your insurance coverage kicks in, and many drivers increase that amount when they haven’t been involved in a collision in a few years. 

You might also want to increase your deductible if you don’t drive very much and your risk of getting into an accident is relatively low.

Shop for a New Provider

If your current insurance provider refuses to alter your premiums, then you should consider shopping around for a new policy. Switching over to a new insurance company could end up saving you quite a bit of money every month, and those types of providers sometimes offer huge discounts to safe drivers. 




Before you choose a new provider, you should try to get quotes from at least three or four companies. Some providers might even match other quotes in order to get you to switch.

Negotiate a Better Rate

At least once or twice a year, you need to call your insurance provider to see if you can negotiate your premiums. As long as you are a safe driver and have a relatively clean record, you might be able to bring your premiums down with nothing more than a phone call. 

You can also call your provider and ask for a discount if your credit score has recently gone up. One of the biggest factors that insurance providers consider is a driver’s credit score, and bringing your score up by a few points could impact your rates.

Bundle Your Policies

Many large insurance companies offer a wide variety of policies, and you should see if your current provider gives discounts to those who bundle their insurance. Instead of insuring your home and car separately, you can lower the premiums by combining the two policies. 

You might also want to bundle your insurance if there are multiple drivers in your home who all have separate policies.

In addition to these few tips, you must also make sure that you purchase vehicles that are safe and secure. Your premiums might plummet if you invest in a reliable vehicle that is filled with modern security features.

Recently Diagnosed? 4 Tips for Securing Income While Getting Treatment

Getting a diagnosis of any kind can be difficult. It can signify the need for major changes as well. People who have medical conditions are in many cases unable to maintain their existing jobs. 

If you want to be able to get a steady income during your treatment course, then there are several things that can aid you in a big way. Make a point to explore all of your potential income pathways.

Seek Regular Medical Assistance

It’s crucial for people who have been diagnosed with illnesses of any kinds to seek routine attention from medical professionals. If you have just gotten a diagnosis, then you want to be able to prove it. 

You want to be able to prove that you’re getting treatment for it as well. This may make your journey to getting income go a lot more smoothly. It may minimize setbacks of all kinds.

Speak with a Workers Compensation Attorney

Workers’ compensation is the name of a kind of insurance that can accommodate individuals who have lost out on their wages due to medical conditions and injuries. If you want to get compensation after receiving a diagnosis, then it may help you significantly to set up an appointment with a lawyer. 

Speaking with a workers’ compensation attorney may help you figure out how you can acquire the financial protection you deserve.

Look into Organizations that Can Help You Temporarily

Going through medical treatment of any kind can be taxing. It can eat up so much energy. People who are in the midst of treatment understandably are unable to show up to work daily. 



That’s the reason that there are organizations that are often able to aid them. Research groups that may be able to provide you with financial assistance in your time of need.

Try out Crowdfunding

Getting workers’ compensation insurance is typically a process that requires some time. If you need income quickly, it may help you to test out the concept of crowdfunding. 

There are crowdfunding websites that can aid individuals who are going through medical treatment and who need to stay afloat for a while. It’s not uncommon for people who are going through taxing health concerns to turn to crowdfunding for medical bill coverage and beyond.

Getting a diagnosis can be emotionally draining. It can change your life dramatically, too. If you want to keep your life smooth and comfortable during treatment, then you need to focus on things that can keep your income flowing.

How to Ready Home for Short-Term Rentals

Short-term rental opportunities make it easy to generate a little extra income. Preparing a spare room, unused area, or even the whole home for a short-term rental can be an important undertaking. A clean, orderly, and comfortable household can help to ensure better reviews and more rental opportunities in the days ahead.

Deep Cleaning

The first step towards any make-ready is too deep to clean any room being rented, as well as any common areas. Frequent rentals can allow you to get away with only a single deep clean with some less intense cleaning in between each guest. For an initial rental or for the first rental in weeks or even months, it is always a good idea to scrub everything down fist.

Declutter the Environment

A cluttered environment can lead to many problems. Depriving a guest of the space, they need to unpack or get comfortable is rarely beneficial. Cluttered and disorganized environments can also increase the risk that something gets broken or becomes misplaced. 

Pairing a rental area down to just a few essentials is often the smartest move. If you are transforming or flipping a home basement, you will have a lot of big projects. Use garbage removal services to throw away all your junk and get your rental clean and clutter-free.

Make Sure Everything Works

From light switches and electrical outlets to bathroom fixtures and WiFi access, taking an extra minute to ensure everything is in good working order can help you to avoid unnecessary problems with future guests. Contacting utility providers like electrical contractors to resolve an issue is something that would best be done long before the arrival of a guest.

Providing Amenities

A few amenities like extra towels or access to hot beverages like coffee and tea can help to make a short-term rental far more comfortable. Using the home to generate rental income can be an uphill battle for those who fail to meet the needs of their guests. 

Simple amenities and courtesy items often play a crucial role in ensuring that homeowners are more likely to obtain a favorable rating or review following a short-term rental.

Ensuring a Stress-Free Stay

Anticipating the potential needs of a guest rather than dealing with a problem after the fact often proves to be the best policy. A little care and forethought mean that essential concerns are less likely to go overlooked. Taking a more active approach towards preparing a room or even the entire home for a short-term rental means that problems and complications are less likely to occur.

4 Reasons to Meet with a Financial Planner before Deciding to Retire

Whenever you are looking to manage your finances, you will benefit by working with a financial planner. This is a professional that specializes in providing advice, guidance, and education to people who are looking to get more out of their financial situation. 

With a financial planner, you will be able to make sure that you are on the right track in terms of saving for retirement and managing your finances wisely. There are a few good reasons to work with a financial planner. As a result, using a financial planner can ensure that you are financially secure for the rest of your life.

SAVE FOR RETIREMENT MORE EFFECTIVELY

One of the reasons why you should meet with a financial planner before you retire is to help you save for retirement more effectively. While you can invest and save for retirement yourself, you may miss out on things that can allow you to increase your savings. 

A financial planner can help introduce you to investment options that can help enhance your wealth. If you already have a sufficient amount of savings, a financial planner can also help you with private wealth management as well.

BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU INVEST IN

Meeting with a financial planner before you retire can also allow you to better understand what you invest in. Whenever you are looking to invest in something, you may be unsure about how it works and how it can benefit you. 



A financial planner can educate you on how things such as stocks, bonds, and annuities work. As a result, you will be in a better position to know which investment options will best meet your needs.

HELP YOU PLAN YOUR FINANCES

Another reason to meet with a financial planner is that they can help you plan your finances more efficiently. They can help you set up a budget to pay your expenses. 

Financial planners can also help you find ways to pay off debts more quickly as well. A financial planner can give you advice on how to manage debts, whether it is a good idea to get a car loan and/or how paying off your mortgage will benefit you.

PREPARE FOR UNEXPECTED EVENTS

Financial planners can help you prepare for unexpected events. There are times when you might have something such as a medical bill or a job loss that can prevent you from reaching your retirement savings goals. As a result, you will benefit from having a professional guide you through this situation. 

A financial planner can help you develop a budget to cope with a job loss and/or a medical debt. With their assistance, you will be in a better position to get through these unexpected events that can affect your financial situation.

Managing your finances can be a bit complicated at times. Whenever you are unsure about how to allocate your financial resources, it is beneficial to get professional assistance. You will benefit by working with a financial planner. 

This professional will guide you through the process of setting up retirement accounts, finding the best things to invest in and also give you advice on how to oversee all of your financial affairs.