Mortgages
Key takeaways While the Trump administration has suggested sweeping changes to the federal student loan program, many loan forgiveness options still exist. Programs that lead to forgiveness typically require monthly payments for 10 to 25 years, after which remaining balances can be wiped away. Make sure to stay up-to-date on…
Ivan Pantic / Getty Images Key takeaways Choosing between these two airline credit cards can be difficult as both cards allow for solid redemption of miles on flights and other purchases. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers a higher welcome bonus and has a lower annual fee. The…
Morsa Images/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate A certificate of deposit (CD) is a time deposit account in which your money accrues interest at a fixed yield for a set period of time, or term. CD terms typically range from as short as a few months to as long…
A personal guarantee on a credit card makes you personally responsible for all payments and any resulting debt charged to that card. A business card with no personal guarantee means you may be only partially liable or not liable at all for repaying the balance your business defaulted on. Business…
Unlike personal checks, money orders are prepaid, ensuring recipients receive the full payment without the risk of insufficient funds. Money orders can be purchased without a bank account from locations like post offices, grocery stores and banks. While generally affordable, money orders have purchase limits and digital money orders are…
Key takeaways A wraparound mortgage is a unique form of seller financing in which the seller keeps their mortgage and extends a loan to the buyer. To offer a wraparound mortgage, the seller must have an assumable mortgage. While popular with those who can’t qualify for traditional financing, wraparound mortgages…
Delahaye/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways Down payment assistance (DPA) programs provide eligible homebuyers with loans or grants to help cover down payment and closing costs. These programs are typically reserved for first-time homebuyers or buyers with low to moderate incomes for their area. Many down payment…
Image by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate To pay or not to pay? That’s the question in my soul. Do I Venmo Uncle Sam, And put forgiveness hopes on hold? This lyric popped into my head as I pondered the meaning of debt management in the era of student loan…
Yes, I stopped contributing to my 401(k) and paused all other types of investing to pay off my student loans. And no, I don’t regret it. Going against the grain not only helped me become debt-free, but after I paid off my loans, I was able to invest enough to…
ImagePixel/Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate A cashier’s check is a secure form of payment since it’s paid for upfront and an authentic official bank check generally can’t bounce like a personal check. The bank may require you to wait up to 90 days before reissuing the check to allow…
