I hear you on the convenience factor, but honestly, I'd be careful about paying extra just to dodge some paperwork. A slightly higher interest rate mi...

Good points overall, but just a heads-up—pretty sure the original HARP program ended a while back. There are similar options now, though, like Fannie ...

Good points all around, especially about leaving breathing room. I've tapped equity a couple of times myself—here's my quick take: - First time, went...

We bought a wooded lot a few years back, didn't build right away. Learned quick that letting nature "do its thing" means dealing with invasive vines a...

True, but honestly, bigger lenders have their advantages. I've refinanced three times now, and each time I went with a larger bank, the process was pr...

Good points. I'd add: - Pre-approval gives you leverage in negotiations—sellers take you seriously. - Seen too many friends lose out because they wer...

Totally agree, comps are king. Last time I appealed, the assessor barely glanced at my pics of peeling paint and cracked driveway...but the comps seal...

Went down this road couple years back—here's my take: - Equity loans can be decent options IF you're disciplined and realistic. But I've seen neighbo...

This is spot-on advice. When we refinanced a couple of years ago, we ran into a similar issue because my wife had recently switched from W-2 to freela...

Got one of those welcome boxes once, too. Pretty standard stuff: - Pens dried out within a week. - Stress ball shaped like a house—dog shredded it imm...