I can definitely relate to that cautious mindset, but honestly, I've seen people get burned on both ends. A friend of mine jumped into a startup job h...

Interesting point about the home equity loan interest deduction, but I'd be careful assuming that's always a good deal. Sure, your friend saved some m...

I get the appeal of seeing your principal shrink faster, but honestly, I think the tax deduction angle can be a bit overstated. When I refinanced, I r...

Exactly this. People often get hung up on monthly payments alone, but refinancing to shorten your term can be a smart move if you're looking at total ...

That's a really solid cautionary note—seen it happen myself. A neighbor of mine dipped into equity to renovate, thinking they'd flip quickly and pay i...

Yeah, I'd lean toward payment history being slightly more impactful overall. Missed payments can haunt you for years... but utilization matters too, e...