In today’s digital world, many people rely on credit cards, debit cards and electronic payments while keeping very little cash on hand. This can be a convenient and secure way to handle spending during normal times, but being caught without enough cash during an emergency can spell trouble. Here’s what you need to know about keeping a supply of emergency cash.
As the holidays draw nearer, many people are beginning to plan their gift shopping. If you need a little extra help choosing gifts for the important people in your life, here are some tips that will help you select the perfect presents without breaking a sweat or the bank.
Today’s higher mortgage rates have increased the cost of buying a home, but most recent homebuyers have a plan: buy now, refinance later. According to a survey conducted by U.S. News in September, 84% of homebuyers who purchased a home with a mortgage in the previous year said they plan to refinance. But what does a mortgage refinance involve, and what are the benefits and drawbacks? Read on to learn more.
Last year, there were many pessimistic forecasts about the U.S. housing market. After home prices had soared nearly 50% nationally during the pandemic, a growing number of economic commentators began calling home values a bubble and predicting an impending housing crash like the one that began in 2008.
When nationwide home prices peaked and began falling in June 2022, it appeared that these predictions might be correct. However, by early 2023, the market had resumed its rise. Now, home values have hit a new record high, and talk about a housing bubble seems to have mostly faded away.
When two or more homebuyers want to purchase the same home, a bidding war can occur. This is a situation where multiple buyers compete against each other with incrementally increasing bids on the same property. Bidding wars are common in competitive homebuying markets, but they can happen wherever a desirable property attracts enough interest. If you’re in the market to buy a home and are expecting competition, here are some strategies to help you win a bidding war for the home you want.
