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By John Leiter

Spec Home Building: What You Should Know Before Investing

Spec Home Building: What You Should Know Before Investing

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If you're looking to buy a home, you may be experiencing difficulty finding homes for sale. That's because there is a housing supply scarcity in the US, and it's getting worse. According to Freddie Mac, the "severe" deficit grew from 2.5 to 3.8 million units in the 3 years prior. Affordable, entry-level property is especially hard to find. If your ...
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Home Buying

How to Choose the Best Mortgage Lender: Key Questions to Ask

Why Choosing the Right Lender Matters Buying a home is one of the biggest financial moves you’ll ever make. The lender you choose can influence your interest rate, monthly payment, closing costs, and even how smoothly the process goes. With so many options out there, how do you know which lender is truly right for you? The good news: you don’t have to figure it out alone. By asking the right questions and comparing multiple offers, you can put yourself in control of your mortgage. That’s exact
HELOC

Home Equity Loans vs HELOCs: What’s the Difference?

Why This Matters If you’ve built up equity in your home, you might be considering ways to tap into it for big expenses like renovations, debt consolidation, or education costs. Two of the most common options are Home Equity Loans and HELOCs (Home Equity Lines of Credit). At first glance, they might sound the same — both let you borrow against the value of your home. But how they work, how you repay them, and which one fits best into your financial plan can look very different. Understanding th
Home Buying

How COVID-19 Changed the Mortgage Industry Forever

The Pandemic’s Lasting Impact on Mortgages The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the mortgage industry in ways that will never fully return to “normal.” Interest rates hit record lows, digital tools became the standard, and homebuyers suddenly had new priorities. These changes didn’t just affect the market during the pandemic — they continue to shape how people buy homes today. At Lendgo, we believe that understanding these shifts can help you make smarter financial choices. The more you know about h
Home Buying

Jumbo Loans: What Are They and Who Should Consider Them?

What Exactly Is a Jumbo Loan? If you’re looking to buy a higher-priced home, you might find that a conventional mortgage simply doesn’t cover enough of the purchase price. That’s where jumbo loans come in. A jumbo loan is a type of mortgage used to finance properties that exceed the conforming loan limits set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In 2025, the conforming loan limit for most areas in the U.S. is $766,550 for a single-family home, though it can be higher in certain high-cost regions. If
Home Buying

The Role of Appraisals in Home Buying: What You Should Know

Why Appraisals Matter If you’re in the process of buying a home, the word “appraisal” might come up and leave you wondering what it really means. The truth is, it’s a key step that can decide whether your mortgage gets approved — and it plays a big role in how much your lender will actually let you borrow. Understanding how appraisals work can save you from surprises later and help you move through the buying process with confidence. At Lendgo, we want you to feel ready for every step of your

How to Choose the Best Mortgage Lender

Why Choosing the Right Lender Matters Your mortgage lender is more than just a source of funding — they are a partner in one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. The right lender can save you thousands over the life of your loan, while the wrong one can cost you with higher rates, hidden fees, or a stressful experience. At Rate Simple, we help you compare multiple lenders side by side, so you can focus on what matters most: finding the loan that fits your budget and goals.
Home Buying

Top Mortgage Trends in 2025: What Homebuyers Need to Know

A Year of Change for Homebuyers 2025 is bringing shifts across the housing market that every buyer and homeowner should understand. Mortgage rates are adjusting, inventory is moving, and affordability is evolving. When you have a clear picture of these changes, you can make better financial decisions. At Rate Simple, our goal is to help you feel informed and confident about your next step, whether you are buying your first home or considering a refinance. Trend 1: Mortgage Rates Are Moderati
HELOC

The Risks of Using a HELOC to Consolidate Debt (And How to Avoid Them)

Why Talk About Risks? A home equity line of credit (HELOC) can be a powerful way to simplify debt repayment and save money on interest. By rolling multiple high-interest balances into one lower-interest loan, many homeowners free up cash and gain control over their finances. But like any financial tool, a HELOC isn’t without risks. Understanding those risks upfront ensures you use it wisely—and avoid turning a helpful solution into a bigger problem. Overspending After Debt Consolidation One
HELOC

HELOC vs. Personal Loan — Which is Better for Debt Consolidation?

Why Compare HELOCs and Personal Loans? If you’re managing multiple debts—credit cards, auto loans, or student loans—it can feel like you’re constantly playing catch-up. Consolidating those balances into one loan can make life much easier. Not only does it simplify your finances, but it can also reduce your interest costs and help you pay off debt faster. Two of the most common tools for consolidation are home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and personal loans. Both can help, but which one actu
HELOC

How to Qualify for a HELOC for Debt Consolidation

Why Homeowners Look to HELOCs When you’re dealing with multiple high-interest debts, like credit cards or personal loans, it can feel impossible to get ahead. Consolidating those balances into one loan with a lower rate is one of the smartest ways to ease the burden. For many homeowners, the solution is a home equity line of credit (HELOC). But before you can tap into your home’s equity to consolidate debt, you’ll need to know what it takes to qualify. The good news is, with the right preparat

Energy Saving Tips to Lowering Your Electricity Bill

If you commonly get high electric bills, don’t worry—you can reduce them just by making simple home changes. You don’t have to spend much or buy expensive technology to help the environment. A lot of the finest tips only involve making tiny adjustments in your habits. Get A Free Solar Quote The guide suggests simple energy-saving tips to help you use less electricity and put more money away. Why Energy Saving Matters Using less electricity saves you cash and helps the environment. Whe

Energy Saving Ideas for Every Room in your Home

Reducing energy use at home helps you save on power bills and supports the planet. The energy needs in each room of your home are not the same. Making just a few changes and choosing carefully will help you save money and energy. We can look through every area in your home to spot where you can save money. Get A Free Solar Quote Kitchen: Save While You Cook and Clean The kitchen is one of the busiest places in the house and uses a lot of energy. Here's how to use less: * Choose Newer

Energy Saving Devices that Work

Would you like to spend less on your electric bill and use less power around your home? Saving both energy and money is something a lot of people care about. Using energy-saving devices is one of the easiest ways to help. Using these tools doesn’t make home life more difficult, but helps you save energy. Get A Free Solar Quote But with so many products out there, how do you know which ones actually help? In this article, we’ll look at energy-saving devices that really work and explain how

How Many Watts Does a Space Heater Use? Cost and Efficiency Guide

When you turn on a space heater, you immediately feel comfort due to the instant heat it generates. A space heater becomes the automatic choice each cold day before coffee preparation begins. You will find yourself immersed in the coziness that suddenly develops, so does a looming question for many homeowners: Get A Free Solar Quote Do space heaters use a lot of electricity? Space heaters can operate safely. Inside the tale lies additional important information. Exclusive usage of space

Heat Pump Incentives Mass Save Rebates and Federal Tax Credits

Seeking ways to reduce energy bills and migrate to sustainable heating plus cooling options can use heat pumps now at drastically reduced prices through state and federal programs. Heat pumps benefit from state and federal programs, which make them both efficient and eco-friendly while being highly affordable. If you have heard about the Mass Save heat pump rebate but are not sure what it means for you, or how federal tax credits can stack on top of it, this guide is for you. Get A Free Solar
Does a background check show employment history

What Employment History Shows Up in Background Checks

Does a background check show employment history? Read on to discover the significance and impact of employment history in background checks.
Background Checks

Behind the Scenes of Background Checks: What Employers Want to Know

Employers are often faced with the challenge of selecting the right candidate from a pool of applicants. To aid in their decision-making process, employers often turn to a crucial tool - background checks. These checks go beyond a quick look at a candidate's past, providing information that significantly influences hiring choices. Behind the scenes, employers have clear expectations and specific goals in mind. Background checks offer a detailed view of an individual's history, helping employer
Background Check Topics

Behind the Scenes of Background Checks: What Employers Want to Know

Employers are often faced with the challenge of selecting the right candidate from a pool of applicants. To aid in their decision-making process, employers often turn to a crucial tool - background checks. These checks go beyond a quick look at a candidate's past, providing information that significantly influences hiring choices. Behind the scenes, employers have clear expectations and specific goals in mind. Background checks offer a detailed view of an individual's history, helping employer
Background Search Basics

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): How It Shapes Background Checks and Your Rights

Background checks are a typical and crucial step in the recruiting process for many businesses since they may be used to confirm an applicant's identification, education, job history, references, criminal history, and credit history. Background checks, however, may also have a substantial influence on the impartiality, accuracy, and privacy of the data that employers gather and utilize. To control the gathering, sharing, and utilization of consumer information by consumer reporting organizations
Background Check Topics

Understanding How Far Back Fingerprint Checks Reach

Fingerprint background checks are a frequent means of authenticating a person's identification and criminal history, particularly for positions requiring high security or trust. Many consumers, however, are unclear about how far back these checks may go and what type of information they can uncover. This article will teach you the fundamentals of fingerprint background checks, such as how far back a fingerprint background check may go and how long fingerprint data are kept on file. Run A Fr
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