The First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit: 2020
Looking for the first-time home buyer tax credit? You may be thinking of the federal program implemented under the Obama administration. We hate to be the bearer of bad news,…
Emily Starbuck Crone
Emily is a former NerdWallet writer covering mortgages and homeownership. She's been writing about personal finance since 2007, with work published in USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Consumers Digest, The Christian Science Monitor and Business Insider.
Posts by Emily Starbuck Crone:
Jumbo Loans: When a Regular Mortgage Isn’t Enough
What is a jumbo loan? A jumbo loan is a mortgage used to finance properties that are too expensive for a conventional conforming loan. The maximum amount for a conforming…
FHA Mortgage Insurance
Mortgage insurance protects lenders from losing money if you default on the loan. Most lenders require private mortgage insurance (PMI) for conventional loans when the home buyer makes a down payment…
Online Legal Services: Small Business Money-Savers
When starting or growing a business, it’s tempting to cut costs by tackling projects yourself. When it comes to legal matters, a DIY approach works sometimes, but it can be…
10 Steps to Opening Your Own Hair Salon
Hair salons can be significantly profitable — stylist Ted Gibson charged a cool $1,200 for a cut in his now-closed New York City salon. Few salon owners reach celebrity status…
The Down Payment Reality Report
As more millennials reach the ages when they’re considering buying their first homes, the dire predictions that they would be too burdened by student loans or are too fond of…
How 3 People Conquered Credit Trouble and Bought Homes
Unless you’ve built a stockpile of savings or lucked into a windfall, you’ll probably need a mortgage to buy a home. Qualifying for one requires adequate income and a solid…
Why You Should Consider a Mortgage Recast
Mortgage recasting is one way to reduce your monthly mortgage payments. It’s less common than refinancing or modifying a loan, and it’s rarely advertised, but it decreases mortgage payments for…
Mortgage Rates Thursday, Aug. 17: Steady Following Fed Comments
Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed loans ticked up slightly, while 15-year fixed and 5/1 ARMs remained unchanged, according to a NerdWallet survey of daily mortgage rates published by national lenders…
FHA Mortgage Insurance: What You Need to Know
When deciding between an FHA mortgage and a conventional mortgage, the most important difference is arguably the mortgage insurance that the Federal Housing Administration requires. This insurance typically can’t be canceled…
