The new legislation provides some relief for certain homeowners who have federally backed mortgages, including those purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, insured by the FHA, or guaranteed or insured by the VA or USDA. However, YOU MUST REQUEST THE RELIEF! It is not automatic. The relief will initially be granted for up to  … Read More

If you have a federal student loan, the payments are deferred through September 30, 2020, without penalty or interest. Collection activities against borrowers who were already behind on payments will also be suspended. Students who leave school for a coronavirus-related reason will have student loan obligations canceled and won’t have to return grants.

1. Check and replace your furnace air filter frequently. 2. Run the fan all the time to keep the warm air circulating throughout the house. 3. Shut off vents in unused areas of the house, but do not shut off too much of the house so the furnace does not overheat. 4. Close the blinds  … Read More

Timeshares are notoriously difficult to resell, even at a substantial loss. As more people try to get out of unwanted timeshares, criminals are targeting owners with direct mailings, telemarketing, and offers of free lunches and dinners. The scammers claim they can get timeshare owners out of their obligations for an up-front fee, sometimes as much  … Read More

1. Checking your credit score yourself does not affect the score, but if you apply for a loan or credit card and your score is checked, it lowers your score temporarily. That is the difference between a soft pull and a hard pull. 2. Getting married does not affect your credit score since each person  … Read More

People can start benefits as early as age 62, but monthly payments increase the longer a person delays, up to age 70. One study found that 57% of retirees would build more wealth over their lifetimes by waiting until they reach age 70 to start collecting their Social Security benefits. But in reality, most people  … Read More

To prevent identity thieves from gaining access to your child’s credit and setting up phony accounts in your child’s name, freeze the child’s credit. A child is defined as anyone age 15 and under. Freezing the report is free. Visit the website of the three major credit bureaus to get specific information on what information  … Read More

There are no fees to enroll borrowers in federal loan programs such as income-driven repayment plans. Anyone can enroll for free, and the process is not difficult. To avoid scams, never pay up-front or monthly fees to a third-party company claiming to offer or expedite student=loan forgiveness. Avoid companies that promise fast loan forgiveness or  … Read More

Housemates should be dependable, considerate, financially stable, and share your values. Becoming housemates is a financial partnership. There are different home ownership structures. Your lawyer can provide legal advice as to which alternative will help you minimize your risks. Make sure to have a professional review each would-be housemate’s financial circumstances. Agree which bills should  … Read More

7 million people in the US are late with car payments. That is a record number of people who are 90 days behind or more on their auto loans. Most people having trouble with car payments have low credit scores and are under age 30. This indicates that many people are having trouble paying bills  … Read More