When you think about financial planning, chances are it's not an exciting proposition. However, it could be a truly life-changing event if you take a few minutes to envision the possible results.
Even though the 2024 holiday season is still a few weeks away, plenty of us have already begun our shopping. Since estimates suggest that we'll spend around 3% more than we did in 2023, you'll want to check out our story on planning a gift budget before you hit the stores or surf the Web. Gift shopping may be the only major economic activity many of us choose for the rest of the year, as interest rates seem to be stuck in place for the time being, and early voting has just begun for the November presential election.
November is National Veterans and Military Families Month and also celebrates Veteran's Day. One of ways we like to honor and celebrate our veterans is by sharing the stories of what home and homeownership means to them.
The VA home loan program is an amazing benefit for our deserving active-duty service members, veterans, and surviving spouses of veterans. While no one could ever repay you for the sacrifices you’ve made, the VA home loan can make your dreams of homeownership just a little easier to achieve.
The Federal Reserve is lowering interest rates, and now is the perfect time to take a fresh look at your mortgage. A quick review could yield lasting benefits, especially if you have purchased a home in the past few years or need to tap into your home equity.
A couple of weeks ago, the Federal Reserve announced a hefty 50-point cut in the benchmark interest rate, which was bigger than the expected 25-point decrease. The Fed's decision to cut rates was mainly fueled by the decreasing levels of inflation, although shoppers are still faced with high grocery prices. It still remains to be seen if the rate cut will encourage more residential home sales, especially as other factors such as labor and economic data also affect real estate markets.
The Federal Reserve is lowering interest rates, and now is the perfect time to take a fresh look at your mortgage. A quick review could yield lasting benefits, especially if you have purchased a home in the past few years or need to tap into your home equity.
It’s no fun to have a lot of debt hanging over your head. It’s even less fun when that balance is large enough to keep you from doing the things you want to do and achieving the dreams you’ve always had.
High interest credit card debt can suck the life out of anyone. Paying off your credit card debt at today's high interest rates can also take major sacrifice—but it doesn't have to. Not if you're a homeowner, anyway.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is held each year from September 15 to October 15, celebrating the culture and significant contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans.
At APM, we use this as an opportunity to learn more about our APM Family and what their history, culture, and heritage means to them.
High interest credit card debt can suck the life out of anyone. Paying off your credit card debt at today’s high interest rates can also take major sacrifice—but it doesn’t have to. Not if you’re a homeowner, anyway.
Last month's Consumer Price Index (CPI) news was positive, as it showed that prices cooled to 2.9% last month (on a 12-month basis), down from 3% in June. This is the first time the CPI dipped beneath 3% since March 2021, and strongly suggests that the Federal Reserve will proceed with a rate cut later this month. Mortgage interest rates also show signs of falling, which has already encouraged some homeowners to refinance their existing mortgages.
A debt consolidation refinance may let you kill two birds with one stone. It can allow you to achieve a lower interest rate on your debt while streamlining all your monthly payments into one. You’ll essentially consolidate debt obligations and roll them into your mortgage, but at a much lower interest rate. The result is a single payment at a lower interest rate: your monthly mortgage payment.
Investment properties can be a great way to earn passive income while someone else (or a bunch of other people) pays your monthly mortgage. Home-share platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and other vacation rental websites have made it even easier for those who want to market their investment properties as short-term rentals.
Sometimes we get by with a little help from our friends…or family.
There are many reasons someone may need help to qualify for a mortgage to buy a home. They may just be starting out and haven’t established a good credit history yet. Or perhaps they’re just getting out of a tough financial situation that they’re turning around.
If you prefer not to make major financial decisions during an election year, you're not alone. However, history shows that stock markets tend to rise slightly following an election, with no long-term difference in performance. Other positive financial news has appeared lately, such as a slowdown in the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) and an increase in the number of homes for sale. Also, an additional credit scoring method for home loans was recently approved by the FHFA, which is expected to help millions more potential homeowners achieve their dreams.
Tuition, books, transportation, room and board…the cost of college can add up fast. At first glance, it may seem crazy to consider buying a home for a college student, but is it?
Summer has officially begun, so it's a perfect time to take some time off and spend time with friends and family. If you have savings in place, check out our article on Compound Interest and see just how hard your money's working for you, even when you're not. Even though you may be camping indoors this month, don't feel guilty about going online and checking out future purchases. Research has found that this habit, aka dreamscrolling, can encourage better financial management habits.
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