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Kim Porter

Editor

About

Kim Porter began her career as a writer and an editor focusing on personal finance in 2010. Since then, her work has been published everywhere from Forbes Advisor to U.S. News & World Report, Fortune, NextAdvisor, Credit Karma, Bankrate, and more. Connect with Porter on LinkedIn or check out her tweets at @kimsavesmoney.

  • How You Can Benefit From FHA Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARMs)

    An FHA adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) is a home loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration and comes with a rate that can change over time. The starting rates on ARMs are often lower than fixed-rate loans, making them an appealing...
    How You Can Benefit From FHA Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARMs)

  • How To Get Equity Out Of A Paid-Off House

    Paying off a mortgage is a huge milestone. It usually takes years to accomplish, but you finally own your property free and clear. Plus, you unlock other ways to borrow money. It’s possible to get equity out of a house...
    How To Get Equity Out Of A Paid-Off House

  • Escalation Clause: What Is It And How Does It Work?

    Creating a strong purchase offer is critical when you’ve found a home you want to buy. Essentially, you want to tell the seller you’re both qualified and serious about buying the home. In some cases, you may even write an...
    Escalation Clause: What Is It And How Does It Work?

  • Best Tax Software For Small Business Of May 2024

    Note: The deadline to file your 2023 tax return was Monday, April 15, 2024.  Taxes can be complicated if you own a small business. And while you have many online tax software options for your business, you’ll want to choose...
    Best Tax Software For Small Business Of May 2024

  • 5 Cities Where You Can Buy A House For Under $300K

    In 2022, the median home sales price surged to $479,500 before steadily dropping to $416,100 by mid-2023. While home prices are at historical highs, they vary widely depending on where you want to live. The good news is that it’s...
    5 Cities Where You Can Buy A House For Under $300K

  • Essential Guide To HFA Loans

    If you’re on strong financial footing but you can’t save enough for a down payment, a housing finance agency (HFA) loan might be an option. These mortgages allow down payments as low as 3% and provide financial assistance to help...
    Essential Guide To HFA Loans

  • Lower Home Equity Review 2024

    is an online lender that provides home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) of $15,000 to $500,000. The company also offers a unique HELOC and refinance combo, where you can refinance your home and take out a line of credit in...
    Lower Home Equity Review 2024

  • New York Housing Market 2024: Trends & House Prices

    When Covid-19 hit in 2020, New York's suburban and rural areas were considered buyer's markets. "That really shifted and they became seller's markets in spring 2020," says Mihal Gartenberg, a licensed associate real estate broker with Coldwell Banker. "[With NYC],...
    New York Housing Market 2024: Trends & House Prices

  • Underwater Mortgage: Everything You Need To Know

    If you owe more on your home than it’s worth, your mortgage is considered “underwater.” Hundreds of thousands of U.S. homeowners find themselves in this situation every year. Meanwhile, other homeowners may have low home equity if they recently took...
    Underwater Mortgage: Everything You Need To Know

  • What Happens If I Don’t File My Taxes?

    Though some Americans with low income are technically not required to file tax returns, the IRS generally expects you to submit a return if you meet the earnings criteria. If you’re supposed to file a 2023 tax return but don’t,...
    What Happens If I Don’t File My Taxes?

  • American Express Rewards Checking Account Review 2024

    American Express National Bank, Member FDIC, launched its first-ever consumer checking account early last year—and didn’t hold back. The touts no account fees or minimums, competitive interest rates, plus Membership Rewards® points when you spend on the accompanying debit card....
    American Express Rewards Checking Account Review 2024

  • How To Get Closing Costs Waived

    Once your lender approves you for a home loan, you’re not quite at the finish line yet. You’ll still need to pay for closing costs, which are upfront fees related to the mortgage. Buyers can expect to pay between 2%...
    How To Get Closing Costs Waived

  • FHA Loan Closing Costs

    Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are mortgages that offer flexible eligibility guidelines to help borrowers. FHA loan borrowers may qualify with lower credit scores and smaller down payments than other mortgage programs. But like with most mortgages, borrowers still pay...
    FHA Loan Closing Costs

  • Guide To Land Loans

    If you want to build a house or a commercial property, a land loan can help you secure a location. However, land loans are considered risky investments for lenders because there’s no property to serve as collateral. That means they...
    Guide To Land Loans

  • Guide To USDA Construction Loans

    If you’re looking to build a new home, a USDA construction loan could be the key to making your project a reality. USDA construction loans can provide funds for purchasing land, plus the financing for construction costs and other necessities....
    Guide To USDA Construction Loans

  • Guaranteed Rate Mortgage Review 2024

    Guaranteed Rate is a Chicago-based lender that offers mortgages and personal loans in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Though it operates primarily online, you can visit one of Guaranteed Rate’s 390 branches across the U.S. With Guaranteed Rate, borrowers...
    Guaranteed Rate Mortgage Review 2024

  • PrimeLending Mortgage Review 2024

    PrimeLending is a Dallas-based home lender that offers mortgages in all 50 states, but physical branches are only available in some locations. Homebuyers can choose from a range of purchase mortgages—including conventional, jumbo and government-backed loans from the Federal Housing...
    PrimeLending Mortgage Review 2024

  • FHA Loan Down Payments

    For many prospective homebuyers, coming up with a down payment can be a massive obstacle to homeownership, especially when home prices are high. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are one of several mortgage programs that offer low down payments. What...
    FHA Loan Down Payments

  • What Is A Hard Money Loan?

    If you’re looking for a way to finance a real estate purchase, you could try a traditional mortgage—or look at alternative options, like a hard money loan. A hard money loan is a short-term, secured loan that usually comes from...
    What Is A Hard Money Loan?

  • Clear To Close Timeline Explained

    “You’re clear to close!” Those are the magic words every mortgage applicant longs to hear after weeks of waiting, providing documents, making phone calls and answering emails. But what happens after you get that good news? How long until you...
    Clear To Close Timeline Explained

  • What Is A Purchase Money Mortgage?

    If you’re running into problems qualifying for a conventional mortgage to buy a home, there are other options you can explore. One such option is a purchase money mortgage, also known as seller or owner financing. A purchase money mortgage...
    What Is A Purchase Money Mortgage?

  • CrossCountry Mortgage Review 2024

    CrossCountry Mortgage is a Cleveland-based direct lender with more than 600 branches across the U.S., operating in all 50 states. The lender says it can close loans quickly, but its website lacks some key information and borrowers pay origination fees...
    CrossCountry Mortgage Review 2024

  • Mortgage Loan Originator: What Do They Do?

    For most home buyers, applying for a loan or refinancing can be daunting and confusing. Fortunately, the real estate industry has professionals and institutions dedicated to easing your mind. Mortgage loan originators are here to walk new and returning buyers...
    Mortgage Loan Originator: What Do They Do?

  • Freedom Mortgage Review 2024

    Freedom Mortgage is a Florida-based mortgage lender that specializes in providing government-backed loans from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Freedom Mortgage is one of the nation’s largest nonbank...
    Freedom Mortgage Review 2024

  • What Are Water Rights?

    The average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water at home every day, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. As such, laws are often put in place to govern water usage. In the U.S., water rights are state...
    What Are Water Rights?

  • Regions Mortgage Lender Review 2024

    Alabama-based Regions Financial Corp. offers consumers a full range of financial services: banking, investing, credit cards, auto loans, student loans, personal loans and mortgages. Regions originates mortgages in Washington, D.C. and 22 states, but most of its home loan business...
    Regions Mortgage Lender Review 2024

  • What Is A Quitclaim Deed?

    If you want to transfer your interest in a piece of real estate to someone you know, a quitclaim deed can be a fast and simple way to do it. You’ll need to follow some technicalities to make the transaction...
    What Is A Quitclaim Deed?

  • Ultimate Home Inspection Checklist

    If you’re like most homebuyers and sellers, you don’t have the expertise to identify every problem a home inspector might find. A home inspection checklist can help you learn what areas to examine to know the safety issues a home...
    Ultimate Home Inspection Checklist

  • What Is The Gift Tax Rate?

    If you’re planning to make a large gift of money or property to someone—whether a family member, neighbor, friend or otherwise—then the gift tax should be on your radar.
    What Is The Gift Tax Rate?

  • A Guide To VA Renovation And Rehab Loans

    If you’re eligible for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan and you’re willing to buy a fixer-upper, a VA alteration and repair loan can provide the necessary financing to purchase the home and make repairs. You can...
    A Guide To VA Renovation And Rehab Loans

About

Kim Porter began her career as a writer and an editor focusing on personal finance in 2010. Since then, her work has been published everywhere from Forbes Advisor to U.S. News & World Report, Fortune, NextAdvisor, Credit Karma, Bankrate, and more. Connect with Porter on LinkedIn or check out her tweets at @kimsavesmoney.