Category: Blog

Over the past year, the pandemic made it challenging for some homeowners to make their mortgage payments. Thankfully, the government initiated a forbearance program to provide much-needed support. Unless they’re extended once again, some of these plans and the corresponding mortgage payment deferral options will expire soon. That said, there’s still time to request assistance. If your … Continued

No one is exempt from financial hardship, whether it’s from  unexpected medical bills, lost wages or money mismanagement. Each year, hundreds of thousands of American homeowners go through home foreclosure, an agonizing and particularly stressful time. Foreclosure, however, isn’t a picnic for the mortgage lender or servicer either. To limit the cost and the negative … Continued

Financial hardship can be one of the most stressful things to go through. Uncertainty of what the future holds can have your mind swirling with questions — when will the bank call? Will I lose the house? How can I pay my debts? Should I get another mortgage?   Here we’ll go over what bankruptcy … Continued

There’s hardly a worse feeling for a homeowner than when they struggle financially and aren’t sure how they can keep a roof over their family’s heads. Oftentimes, they turn to traditional lending institutions to acquire various types of loans, including home loans, bridge loans (if it’s a transitionary period), or home equity lines of credit … Continued

Reverse mortgages are often touted by traditional lending institutions as a way for older homeowners to access their home’s equity without making loan payments. But the fact remains that a reverse mortgage is still a type of loan, and as with all loan types, there are downsides. Here we cover everything you should know about … Continued

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone, and local governments are no exception. Due to a lack of federal aid, Chicago, in particular, passed a property tax increase in order to close the revenue gap caused by the pandemic. This new tax reform includes an increase of $93.9 million for a total … Continued

If you have bad credit, you probably know how stressful it can be; it severely limits your options when it comes to making big life decisions and can stagnate life’s financial necessities including, but not limited to:   Accessing quality lines of credit Acquiring student loans Acquiring home and auto loans Qualifying for apartment rentals … Continued

One of the most stressful things you can go through as a homeowner is losing your beloved abode due to unpaid bills. Particularly during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, millions of Americans have faced financial hardship because of record job losses, causing them to seek unemployment benefits. Experts estimate that up to 40 million people are … Continued

Homeowners in Illinois have probably noticed something startling over the past couple of years: their property taxes have been rising at an alarming rate. In fact, Illinois property taxes are the 2nd-highest in the country at 2.31% and are nearly double the national average. Typical Illinois homeowners pay over $4,000 per year, which can make … Continued

Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is one of the main factors traditional lenders take into account when deciding whether you qualify for a loan. The reasoning is pretty simple: if your current income status makes existing debt difficult to pay off, lenders will refuse to lend you more money since you will probably be unable to … Continued