Maryalene LaPonsie

Mortgages Expert

About

As a trusted personal finance writer and mortgage specialist, Maryalene LaPonsie has interviewed hundreds of certified financial planners, CPAs and wealth advisors, and distills their expertise into accessible articles on topics ranging from retirement planning to tax-saving strategies. She is a regular contributor to multiple financial publications, and her work has been syndicated nationwide.

Maryalene has had a lifelong interest in money matters such as mortgages, budgeting, saving and investing. Out of college, she spent 13 years working and writing in the Michigan Legislature as a staff member before deciding to strike out on her own as a freelancer. She quickly discovered that personal finance was her niche, and she excels at taking complex topics and explaining them clearly and concisely.

For more than a decade, Maryalene has contributed to publications with some of the most recognizable names in personal finance, and her articles have been syndicated across the web. Along with mortgages and loans, her other areas of expertise include Social Security, retirement planning, investment strategies, budgeting, taxes and insurance.

When not writing about personal finance, Maryalene covers local news for her community on Lowell’s First Look, a hyperlocal news website she co-founded seven years ago.

Expertise

Mortgages
Loans
Retirement planning
Insurance
Credit cards
Tax strategies
Budgeting
Savings

Achievements

More than 25 years writing professionally, including a decade spent specializing in mortgages and other personal finance topics
Contributor to national publications such as U.S. News & World Report and Money Talks News
Trusted source of information regarding Social Security, retirement and budgeting

Other Publications

Education

Western Michigan University (B.A., Political Science)

3 months ago

What Is A Wholesale Mortgage Lender? Everything You Need To Know

For most people, buying a house means getting a mortgage. If you’re shopping for a home loan, you have many options, including banks, credit unions and online lenders. However, you may not realize that lenders also fall into two categories:...
4 months ago

What Is A Deed Of Reconveyance?

Paying off your mortgage is a financial milestone, one that should be marked with the issuance of a deed of reconveyance. A deed of reconveyance indicates that you’ve fully repaid your mortgage, releases the lender’s lien from the property and...
4 months ago

7 Tips To Get The Best Mortgage Rate

A mortgage is one of the largest expenses you’ll ever take on, and reducing its interest rate by even half a percentage point can save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. That’s why you...
4 months ago

Huntington Bank Mortgage Review 2024

is a regional institution that operates branches in 11 states but offers mortgages nationwide. Its products include conventional loans, refinancing, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and specialty mortgages. Borrowers need a credit score of at least to qualify for...
5 months ago

Wholesale Real Estate: What Is It And How Does It Work?

There are many ways to make money with real estate. Investors may buy rental properties, fix and flip houses or buy shares in real estate investment trusts (REITs). However, wholesaling is another option that’s commonly overlooked. For motivated individuals, wholesale...
5 months ago

How AI Is Influencing The Mortgage Industry

In the not-so-distant future, you might join a video call and meet with a virtual representative to discuss your mortgage options. Afterward, an AI-written document will deliver personalized recommendations based on the conversation. Finally, your application will run through an...
7 months ago

Michigan Housing Market 2024

Like most of the country, Michigan experienced a red-hot real estate market during the pandemic as people reallocated funds to housing and took advantage of low interest rates. Now, with rates up, fewer people are selling their homes. That has...
9 months ago

Maryland Housing Market 2024: Trends & House Prices

The price of housing in Maryland seems to only go up. Even with a slowing market this year, home prices are rising about 2.5% per quarter, says Joe Shaver, a realtor with Re/Max Realty Center in Olney, Maryland. “We were...
10 months ago

Can You Still Get A No-Doc Mortgage In 2024?

No-doc mortgages, which originally required no proof of a borrower’s ability to repay their loan, were considered a major reason for the downfall of the housing market in 2008. When the economy turned south and unemployment began climbing, it’s estimated...
10 months ago

North Carolina Housing Market 2024: Trends & House Prices

As with most of the country, the real estate market in North Carolina has been on a wild ride during the past few years. While the COVID-19 pandemic initially caused a slowdown in home sales, buyer hesitation was short-lived. “By...
10 months ago

Sage Mortgage Review 2024

Founded in 2020, Sage Mortgage is a relative newcomer among online mortgage lenders. The Fort Mill, South Carolina-based lender is licensed to do business in 26 states and offers a fully online mortgage application process. Sage Mortgage promises many enticing...
10 months ago

What Was The HAMP Program?

A defining feature of the 2008 recession was the staggering number of people who lost their homes. While there were 717,522 foreclosures in 2006, according to the Pew Research Center, that number ballooned to more than 2.3 million in 2008....
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...
11 months ago

Northpointe Bank Mortgage Review 2024

Northpointe Bank is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based bank that operates branches in 22 states and offers nearly two dozen home lending programs. From professional loan programs to options for those with lower credit scores, Northpointe Bank can help meet the...
11 months ago

Current Jumbo Mortgage Rates Of May 2024

If you have your sights set on a higher-end home, you may find you don’t qualify for some lending options. The same may be true if you live in an area with a competitive housing market. The Federal Housing Finance...
12 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...
12 months ago

Current FHA Loan Rates

Whether you’re buying your first or fifth home, an FHA loan can make it easier to afford a mortgage. These loans typically have lower down payment and credit score requirements compared to conventional loans. FHA loan rates can vary by...
1 year ago

Loan Modification Vs. Refinance

If you’re struggling to pay your mortgage, the conventional wisdom has long been to consider refinancing. Doing so has often meant a change in loan terms that can reduce monthly payments. However, with interest rates on the rise, refinancing may...
1 year ago

FHA Loan Requirements 2024

For many people, a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan is a ticket to homeownership. These government-backed home loans are available to many people who don’t qualify for a conventional mortgage. Whether you have a lower credit score or little money...
1 year ago

Can You Refinance A HELOC?

A house is many families’ most valuable asset. Not only is it a roof over one’s head, but it’s also a financial tool that you can utilize to access cash in the form of a home equity line of credit...
1 year ago

Mobile Home Refinancing Options

For many people, mobile homes—more commonly referred to nowadays as manufactured homes—are an affordable housing option. However, financing one is not as straightforward as taking out a mortgage for a traditional, single-family house. The government and lenders have rules about...
1 year ago

How To Buy Commercial Real Estate

Whether you need a building for your business or want to diversify your investments, purchasing commercial property can be a smart financial decision. However, it isn’t as simple as buying a home. Commercial properties come with different lending requirements and...
1 year ago

Our Best Money Tips For A Recession

Depending on who you ask, it’s not a question of if, but rather when, the United States will enter a recession in the near future. Certainly, many economic indicators are pointing in that direction. While no one can say for...
1 year ago

Consumer Confidence Falters Heading into the Holidays

Recent economic news has been encouraging, with lower-than-expected inflation in November and the Federal Reserve slowing the pace of interest rate hikes. Still, consumers are troubled by the state of the economy. The latest Forbes Advisor-Ipsos Consumer Confidence Biweekly Tracker...
2 years ago

Inflation Is Gobbling Up Thanksgiving Budgets This Year

It could be a dry Thanksgiving for some households this year. As people grapple with how to cut expenses as the holidays approach, alcohol is on the chopping block. Half of respondents in the latest Forbes Advisor-Ipsos Consumer Confidence Biweekly...
2 years ago

New Mexico Families Receive Rebates Of Up To $1,500 In 2022

As consumers nationwide feel squeezed by rising prices due to inflation, 19 states are sending or have already sent out stimulus payments to help ease their residents’ burden. In New Mexico, that relief was issued through two tax rebates spread...
2 years ago

Everything You Need To Know About The Colorado Stimulus Check 2022

Numerous states have issued stimulus checks and tax rebates to their residents, but few have been as generous as Colorado. The Centennial State is mailing $750 checks—$1,500 for married couples—to virtually all of its taxpayers in a program dubbed Colorado...
2 years ago

Massachusetts Taxpayers Receiving Refunds of 14% of their 2021 Taxes

Taxpayers in Massachusetts are receiving nearly $3 billion in tax refunds this fall, with checks hitting mailboxes from November until mid-December. The money comes as the commonwealth saw its 2022 revenue surge 20.5% above the previous year’s level. “Massachusetts has...
2 years ago

Alaskans Receive Record Dividends of $3,284

Alaska residents have been receiving annual dividend payments from the state’s Permanent Fund for 41 years, but the 2022 payout is one of the largest in history. Every resident received $3,284 this year, with most payments issued in September and...
2 years ago

HELOC Calculator

If you’ve been paying down your mortgage for a few years—especially in housing markets where home prices are shooting up—you’ve likely built up equity in your home that you can now access through a line of credit. This is known...

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Top Picks From Maryalene LaPonsie

How AI Is Influencing The Mortgage Industry

by Maryalene LaPonsie
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7 Tips To Get The Best Mortgage Rate

by Maryalene LaPonsie
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Wholesale Real Estate: What Is It And How Does It Work?

by Maryalene LaPonsie
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