Deborah Kearns

Mortgages Expert

About

With two decades of experience as a respected journalist and communications leader in the mortgage field, Deborah Kearns is passionate about helping consumers make smart homeownership and personal finance decisions. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, Associated Press, Forbes Advsior, Yahoo Finance, CNBC, MarketWatch, Money, NerdWallet and Bankrate. She has held several leadership roles in digital newsrooms and with top mortgage and real estate companies.

Mortgage specialist Deborah Kearns is an award-winning personal finance editor and writer with more than 20 years of diverse experience in journalism and communications. She has spent more than 15 years covering real estate and mortgages, and has been interviewed as a housing expert by Yahoo Finance, Cheddar News and CBS-New York, as well as countless online, print and radio news outlets.

Deborah is passionate about helping consumers understand the ins and outs of homeownership and how to make smart, informed financial decisions. Her work has appeared in some of the nation’s premier news outlets, including The New York Times, USA Today, The Associated Press, Forbes Advisor, Yahoo Finance, CNBC, MarketWatch, Money, NerdWallet and Bankrate.

She lives in Denver with her husband and two children. When she’s not working, you can find Deborah singing, putting time in at the gym, riding horses, traveling or tackling a home improvement project.

Expertise

Real estate
Mortgages
Economics
Debt management
Personal finance
Careers

Achievements

Two decades of experience as an award-winning journalist and corporate communicator
More than 15 years of real estate and mortgage expertise
Contributor to leading trade and consumer media outlets, including Forbes Advisor, NerdWallet, RISMedia and others

Other Publications

Education

Ball State University (M.A., Public Relations)

University of Florida (B.S., Journalism)

Honors and Awards

First Place – Sunshine State Journalism Awards for Mid-Size Breaking News Coverage (2007, The Gainesville Sun)
Platinum Awards for SEO & PR Campaigns – Hermes Creative Awards (2022, Finance of America Mortgage)

9 months ago

Medical Expenses Claim: Will It Work For Your Taxes?

If you’re paying a lot of healthcare costs out of your own pocket, can you deduct those medical expenses from your taxes? The short answer is yes, but there are some limitations. Can You Claim Medical Expenses on Your Taxes?...
9 months ago

What Is Estate Tax?

When you die, what you leave behind may be hit with a bill for estate tax. The federal estate tax is defined by the IRS as a levy on your right to transfer property—namely, every asset you owned—at the time...
10 months ago

What Is An IRS Transcript And How Do You Get One?

You should always keep copies of your tax returns for at least three years. But if you accidentally toss out some of that paperwork too soon, don’t stress; you can request a tax transcript from the IRS at no charge....
10 months ago

How To File Your Taxes: A Guide For 2024

Given the ever-changing nature of tax laws, filing your tax return can be confusing and overwhelming. While there are some situations when you may want to consider hiring a tax professional—like if you’re a business owner or have sold cryptocurrency—you...
10 months ago

Arizona Housing Market: What’s Happening In 2023?

The Arizona housing market was on fire during the pandemic, particularly in Phoenix. The state’s capital saw median home prices soar for two years until they peaked at $475,000 in May 2022—a 61% increase from two years earlier. “It’s slowed...
10 months ago

Interfirst Mortgage Review 2024

Interfirst Mortgage is an online mortgage lender based in Chicago offering loans in 43 states and Washington, D.C. It operates a direct-to-customer lending operation through ZeroMortgage and works with banks and mortgage brokers. Interfirst Mortgage is a good option for...
10 months ago

Washington, D.C. Housing Market: What’s Happening In 2023?

Washington, D.C. is a bustling city with a diverse culture, lots of history, exciting nightlife and plenty of jobs for young professionals and peak earners. There are 67 unique neighborhoods across the district’s four quadrants. D.C. has an expensive housing...
10 months ago

Virginia Housing Market: What’s Happening In 2023?

The Virginia housing market is diverse with exposure to the Washington D.C. metro area, the coastal Hampton Roads metro area, Richmond in Central Virginia and Shenandoah Valley. Many of Virginia’s counties have been in a post-pandemic seller’s market with three...
10 months ago

Las Vegas Housing Market: What’s Happening In 2023?

Much like its desert climate and booming tourism industry, the Las Vegas housing market has been one of the hottest in the country. The U.S. Census Bureau ranked the Las Vegas metro area as the 97th fastest-growing, with 19,000 new...
10 months ago

Married Filing Taxes Jointly Vs. Separately: What Are The Benefits Of Each?

When deciding how to file your federal income tax return as a married couple, you have two filing status options: married filing jointly or married filing separately. Each choice has advantages and drawbacks, so it's important to understand the differences...
10 months ago

What’s The Difference Between Your Marginal And Effective Tax Rate?

When you file your taxes each year, figuring out how much tax you'll owe or whether you can expect a hefty refund will be top of mind. For answers, it's helpful to know your marginal and effective tax rates. Understanding...
10 months ago

Navy Federal Credit Union Home Equity Loan Review 2024

Navy Federal Credit Union was founded nearly 90 years ago in Vienna, Virginia, by seven Navy Department employees with similar financial goals. The company has grown over the years and now serves more than 13.2 million member-owners across all military...
11 months ago

What To Look For When Buying A House

Buying a house is a major decision. It's critical to know what to look for when buying a house so you enter the process with clarity and purpose. Having criteria for your dream home and neighborhood could mean the difference...
11 months ago

How Do Realtors And Real Estate Agents Get Paid?

A good Realtor or real estate agent makes a huge difference when buying or selling a house. They gather and provide important background information on local housing market conditions, help you devise the best strategy to attract buyers, and guide...
11 months ago

How To Find Out Who Owns A Property You Want

You are in the market for your first home or an investment property, and you happen to walk by your dream house, the ideal fixer-upper or a plot of land in a great location to build a vacation home. One...
11 months ago

Can You Buy Land With A VA Loan?

Homebuyers are not limited to using a conventional loan. U.S. active-duty military service members, reservists or National Guardsmen, veterans and eligible surviving spouses can take advantage of the Veterans Affairs (VA) loan program. VA loans help military members and their...
11 months ago

HARP Replacement Programs

Refinancing your mortgage can be difficult if you have poor credit or a high debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. It can be practically impossible if you're underwater—meaning your property is worth less than you owe on your mortgage. Fortunately, underwater borrowers with...
11 months ago

What Are Mortgage-Backed Securities?

Mortgage-backed securities (MBS) can be an attractive option if you want to invest in the real estate market without owning property. They are investments secured by a pool of mortgages that are bought and sold on the secondary market. This...
11 months ago

What Is A Home Equity Conversion Mortgage?

A home equity conversion mortgage (HECM) is a reverse mortgage that enables seniors to access their home equity without selling their homes or making monthly mortgage payments. HECMs are the most popular type of reverse mortgage available. Nearly 65,000 senior...
11 months ago

What Is A HUD Home, And How Do You Buy One?

Through programs run by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), HUD homes are properties the government has acquired after foreclosure if the property was purchased using a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan. To recoup the government’s financial...
11 months ago

Getting A Mortgage After Foreclosure

Going through the financial hardship of a foreclosure can be overwhelming. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, though. It’s possible to qualify for another mortgage after experiencing a foreclosure—with some patience and hard work. Getting another mortgage...
12 months ago

Guide To The Tax Implications Of A Cash-Out Refinance

If you’re a homeowner looking to access some of your home's equity, you may want to consider a cash-out refinance. A cash-out refinance allows homeowners to tap their home's equity without selling their house. But before diving into this option,...
12 months ago

How Buying A HomePath Property Works

Buying a house in today’s market can be daunting, and finding an affordable home can be an even bigger challenge. One option to consider that might check the affordability box and require less haggling is HomePath homes sold by Fannie...
12 months ago

Wells Fargo Mortgage Review 2024

Headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo is one of America’s largest banks with assets of about $2 trillion. It’s also the nation’s third-largest mortgage lender by volume. In addition to traditional banking products and investment services, the company offers a...
12 months ago

Police & Fire Federal Credit Union Home Equity Review 2024

Police and Fire Federal Credit Union (PFFCU) is a Philadelphia-based credit union that serves active and retired Philadelphia police officers and firefighters and their families. Whether you’re looking to finance a major purchase, make home repairs or consolidate debt, Police...
2 years ago

Best FHA Loan Lenders Of May 2024

Loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, or FHA loans, are popular among first-time home buyers because they come with more generous credit score and down-payment requirements than other home loans. Keep in mind that FHA loans are not just...
2 years ago

Best Online Mortgage Lenders Of May 2024

Nowadays, there are more online mortgage lenders than ever. Because borrowers have different needs and financial profiles, Forbes Advisor compiled a list of online mortgage lenders that excel in various areas. So, whether speed is a top priority or you...
2 years ago

Best Ways To Tap Your Home Equity

For many homeowners, the last few years have been a gold rush. Homeowners gained more than $14,300, on average, in their home equity between the fourth quarters of 2021 and 2022. That’s a slower increase in home equity gains compared...
3 years ago

Closing Disclosure: What It Is & How To Read It

The closing disclosure is one of the most important documents you’ll get during the mortgage lending process because it spells out all of the details of your home loan, including how much money you’ll need to bring to closing, your...
3 years ago

Construction Loans: What They Are And How They Work

Building a house from scratch can be a great opportunity to get the home you’ve always wanted. But construction costs can add up quickly and timelines can be unpredictable. Luckily, a variety of construction loans provide the upfront cash needed...