When buying a home, the down payment will make up the bulk of your upfront expenses. While most mortgage lenders offer you flexibility in the amount of your down payment, it's difficult to decide how much money to spend right away. While a higher upfront cost, a higher-than-minimum down payment has some significant advantages. Here are the main...

Photo by Gino Crescoli via Pixabay Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) may be a common term in home buying, but not every home buyer understands exactly what it will mean for their finances. This short guide will give you the basics, so there are fewer surprises down the line. What Is PMI? PMI is a type of insurance that...

Photo by Precondo via Pixabay Some mortgage companies offer loans with points. In a nutshell, paying points means paying down the interest rate. One point is equal to 1 percent of the mortgage amount. On a $200,000 mortgage, one point is $2,000. The percentage the interest rate lowers depends on the mortgage company and the market. For example,...