6 Outside the Box Methods to Get Out of Debt

Last week I wrote a post about ways a homeowner can use the equity in their home to consolidate and transfer their credit card debt to a more efficient method of financing. But not everybody owns a house and not everybody that owns a house has enough equity to allow them to utilize that strategy. This week I want to Read More >

The Quickest and Most Efficient Way to Get Rid of Credit Card Debt

Getting rid of outstanding credit card debt is generally a top priority for most people that have credit card debt, but they either don’t know how to go about doing that, they don’t have the extra money necessary to do it, or both. There’s good news for those that own a home. The quickest and most efficient method Read More >

What is the Least Used and Most Flexible Financial Tool?

The Home Equity Line of Credit is the least used and most flexible financial tool available today! A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) is a revolving credit line that uses your house, and the equity in it, as collateral. For many Americans, the largest portion of their wealth is trapped in their houses and their Read More >

What If I Buy a House and the Value Never Goes Up?

Now there’s a question on a lot of people’s minds, both homeowners and aspiring homeowners alike. There are many reasons why people choose to buy a house, and it is highly likely that chief among those reasons is their belief that over time the house will rise in value. Admit it. If you were certain the house would Read More >

What is House Equity and How Does it Change?

Equity, which I refer to as wealth in the house, is the difference between the value of your house at any given time and the balance of any outstanding liabilities, such as a 1st mortgage, equity line of credit, etc… attached to the house at that same time. For example, if your house is worth $350,000 and the current Read More >

What Drives Real Estate Values?

Your house is part of a general housing market. If the market as a whole is rising or falling, it may influence the value of your house in ways over which you may have little control. However, ALL real estate is local. The value of a house in San Diego is not affected by the number of foreclosures in Florida or the Read More >