RepayRepaying Loan Early? Should this homeowner cash out investments to repay their mortgage? Q: We only owe about $60,000 on our house (thanks to your sound financial advice when we got the mortgage, and suggestions about making extra payments along the way). We have two dividend reinvestment plans (DRIP) worth about $110,000 (again, due to [...]
Paid Off House: Will It Affect My Trust? If your house is in a trust, will paying off the mortgage affect the successor trustee? Q: Well, I just paid off my house and don't know what the next steps might be. I did receive a letter from my mortgage lender congratulating me on paying off [...]
How Do I Avoid Lowering My Credit Score? Q: I am widowed, retired, love to travel and grateful I have the wherewithal to do so. I am looking at getting an airline credit card to take advantage of their 75,000 point offer that my daughter says is worth around $750. I already have way more [...]
Why my credit score drop? Paying off loans or credit card debt may temporarily drop your credit score. Even as it seems paying off debt should raise them. Q: So my mortgage got sold again to a new loan servicing company. And, again my credit score went down. My score went down when they closed [...]
Final mortgage payment not accepted by check Q: When my 360th (and final) mortgage payment came due I was informed that a personal check wouldn't be acceptable. I had to submit a certified check with almost more information on the check than could fit. I had to include everything except my inseam size number of [...]
Mortgage due but daughter isn't paying. Is the IRS a threat? Q: I lent my daughter money to buy a home. It's been a couple of years since she made a payment to me. That’s mostly due to Covid shut-downs of her work and her health issues. Her home has continued to appreciate. I am [...]
Can't pay mortgage. Final payment is due. Now what? Q: Let's say your home mortgage's final payment comes due and you can't pay it before the due date. How many days do you have after the due date to make the final payment, without losing your home? A: If we understand your questions correctly, you’ve [...]
Loan payment due? Seller bought and flipped home quickly, confusing lenders about whether a loan payment was due. Q: I purchased a home on June 30th. I was made aware in loan documents and by the closing agent that my loan would be sold to another lender. Also, I received a letter in the [...]
Every year, Ilyce and Sam offer their readers New Year’s resolutions for home buyers, sellers and their personal finances. These are their 2023 Home Buyer Resolutions. My, how the tide is shifting for home buyers, sellers, renovators, investors, and owners. At the end of 2021, we wrote that “Covid is a trend accelerator.” When it [...]
My son is pressuring me to give him the farm. Immediately. But I want it to go to my grandchildren. What should I do? Q: I need help navigating my situation with my son. It’s a pressing situation where he wants me to give him the farm. He wants it immediately. Of course, there’s a [...]
