Downpayment Resource Center

FYI...improved credit scores could just now be coming to fruition for many consumers.

How FICO 9 May Increase Credit Scores How medical debt and other collection items are tallied in a credit score is changing, potentially i...

Ever wondered what to do if flooding is predicted in your area?

How to Prepare Your Home for Flooding While no one ever wants to imagine their home filling with water, for many areas of the country, flo...

Low credit shouldn't stop you from getting a second mortgage to pay off debt or make home repairs. What home project would you use the money for?

Refi Options for Those With Low Credit Scores If you want to get a second mortgage so you can make renovations to your home, it can be difficult i...

Leaning green? Here's how you can help the environment without revolutionizing your lifestyle.

A Beginner's Guide to Painlessly Going Green You’ve heard the warnings about global warming, you feel compassion for stranded polar bears a...

Know the facts before signing up

What to Do If a Bank Offers You Credit Card Protection A common phone call that new credit cardholders get from their bank is an offer for credit card add-...

Everything in your home should have a place. Even those pesky, unsightly cables.

Minimizing Clutter by Maximizing Storage Looking for space to store your things at home? Everything you own is competing for space in your ho...

They add up! Avoid bank fees, like ATM charges, with these tips.

How to Avoid Bank Fees The average bank fee for overdraft protection is $33. Make the mistake of not having enough money in...

Ever have a conversation that ended badly, but you don't know why? Here are some tips on clear communication.

3 Ways to Have Clearer Communication Whether it’s a big talk with the boss, a deep process with your partner or breaking some hard ...

Having trouble keeping track of your monthly payments? You might be damaging your credit score.

How to Negotiate a Clean Credit Report A late payment on a credit bill or other debt such as a mortgage can have a significant impact on yo...

Adding a dog to your family? Here are common expenses to know.

The Costs of Owning a Dog One of the biggest responsibilities a child—or a family—can take on is adopting a dog as a pet. Feed...

Federal laws are meant to protect student loan borrowers. Here are some ways to make sure problems with your lender don't become burdensome.

Solving Student Loan Challenges When it comes to student loans, dealing with the lender can be more difficult than repaying the loan...

Avoid becoming a victim of debt collection scams by paying attention to these red flags.

How to Check If a Debt Collector Is Legitimate Figures from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) show that about 70 million people—more ...

For the home cook! What are your favorite spices to cook with?

5 Spices That Add Flavor but Not Heat Are you looking to add spice to your home cooking, but not heat? Here are five interesting flavors t...

Don't call a handyman for basic home repairs. Here are four things every homeowner should know.

Homeowners: Know How to Complete These Basic Tasks Owning a home is infinitely rewarding but issues do pop up, and there’s no need to call a handyman e...

Heard about a recent increase in interest rates? Here's how it could affect your credit card and loan terms.

How Federal Rate Increases Affect Credit Cards and Loans If you’ve ever noticed a rise in interest rates in the news or saw your credit card bill get a littl...

Want to lower your utility bills? Try these easy DIY tasks.

4 Ways to Slash Utility Bills With a DIY Energy Audit Fixing a few of your home’s most likely trouble spots can improve energy efficiency and save you a b...

Decorate your bedroom for peaceful sleep, tonight.

Bring Peace to Your Bedroom While world peace is a great idea, if you want to add a touch of calm to your life, begin with your ...

State-sponsored 529 accounts are a tax-free way to pay for a child's college education.

Getting the Most Out of Your Child's 529 Plan to Pay for College State-sponsored 529 accounts are a tax-free way to pay for a child’s college education. Opening an i...

Great tips for picking a new color palette for your home!

5 Ways to Pick the Perfect Color Scheme If you’re revamping your interior design scheme, you may be considering a new color palette. S...

High credit card debt? A personal loan might be the answer.

Using Personal Loans Against Credit Card Debt A poor credit score can affect people in many ways. It can make it difficult to get approved for a m...

If wedding bells are in your future, it's time to sit down and open up with your soon-to-be spouse.

3 Conversations to Have Before You Say 'I Do' Getting ready to walk down the aisle? Congratulations! As you prep for your new life together, it

Say goodbye to your couch potato tendencies with these three alternatives.

3 Things to Do Instead of Watching TV Is your evening couch potato routine with your partner growing stale? It can be hard to find the ene...

You might not be aware, but you can ask your credit card company to increase your limit. What home improvement project would you take on with a higher limit?

How to Ask for a Higher Credit Card Limit A higher credit limit can help in an emergency, allow you to make any necessary large purchases and ...

When setting up any speaker, it's important to follow the display model!

Setting Up Your Surround Sound Speakers When you move into a new house, there are numerous things you’ll want to do early on to get your hou...

Are pink and aqua the new neutral? Retro colors are back!

Retro Colors Make a Comeback: What's Hot in Decor Right Now Everything old is new again, and that goes for decorating with color. While the last decade in home ...

These tips are sure to brighten your day. What makes you smile?

5 Ways to Smile More Feeling down? It happens. However, if the blues seem to follow you everywhere you go, consider these...

Looking to invest? Here's what you need to know.

Growth vs. Value Investing: Know the Differences Your investing style and tolerance for risk can help determine what type of stock mutual funds you i...

Helpful tips for managing your budget.

5 Reminders to Keep In Your Wallet Your purse or wallet can be more than just a place to pull your money out of so you can spend it. It...

They say diamonds are forever, but household stone trends don't stick around for long. Read on to find out what will be replacing granite in your kitchen!

Is Granite on its Way Out? According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, granite countertops are in less demand today...

How often do you give out your birthday information? An 'unbirthday' can keep your identity safe.

Protecting Your Identification With a Fake Birthday Other than your Social Security number, birthdays are one of the worst things to share online when r...