Posts by Alex Silady:
Mortgage lenders use the debt-to-income ratio to evaluate the creditworthiness of borrowers. It represents the percentage of your monthly gross income that goes to monthly debt payments, including your mortgage, student loans, car payments and minimum credit card payments. The debt-to-income ratio does not take into account such big expenses as income taxes, health insurance or car insurance. Generally, lenders are looking for a ratio of 36% or lower, though it is still possible to get a mortgage with a debt-to-income ratio as high as 43%. Worried that you have too much debt to buy a house? A financial advisor could help you put a financial plan together for your needs and goals. Read more
By consistently paying your mortgage bill on time, you’re showing your lender that you’re a responsible borrower. That may be obvious, but what’s often overlooked is the art of making extra mortgage payments. Paying more than you’re required to can benefit you in several different ways, including reducing the amount of interest you pay over time. If you’re interested in making extra mortgage payments, here’s how to do it. Read more
While freelancing can be a convenient way to make money, it doesn’t always offer much stability. That’s why many people prefer to work nine-to-five jobs. But even if you’re working full time, freelancing in your spare time can benefit you in more ways than one. Besides putting more money in your pocket, a side hustle might help you move up the ladder. Here’s how to use freelance work to boost your career. Read more
If you can’t afford to pay your monthly mortgage bill, you have a couple of options. For one, you can choose to refinance. You can also apply for a loan modification. The former would force you to… Read more
As a small business proprietor, you probably enjoy moving to the beat of your own drum. But doing everything on your own might not get you very far. Some of the most successful business owners have… Read more
Every small business owner probably knows that it’s important to have a strong social media presence. But not everyone knows how to effectively market their products online. If you’re not playing… Read more
Investing can be intimidating, especially when you’re doing it for the very first time. It’s easy to get confused and overwhelmed when trying to understand financial terminology and many new… Read more
In an age of mega-corporation dominance of every industry and omnipresent online shopping, it may seem difficult to impossible for small businesses to get a foothold. Whether you’re trying to “shop… Read more
Once upon a time, checking accounts were the simplest type of bank account. They were no-frills affairs, designed for keeping your money safe but easily accessible with a check or withdrawal. Now,… Read more
Sometimes paying in cash is inconvenient, difficult or impossible – that’s where credit card issuers come in. According to payment systems research firm the Nilson Report, $4.765 trillion in payments… Read more
A feeling of safety where we live and work is an essential part of quality of life. After all, it’s hard to enjoy our situation when we’re constantly worrying whether we’ll come to harm. So where is… Read more
The United States has the highest percentage of its population in prison in the world, ahead even of countries like China and North Korea that are notorious for locking away political dissenters. All… Read more
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals with bachelor’s degrees alone make twice as much and are half as likely to be unemployed on average as those with only a high school education… Read more
A college education is increasingly important in order to get and keep a job in the current information-oriented world. However, even as it becomes more and more of a necessity, college costs are… Read more
Mortgage lenders are integral to the housing industry. Across the country, they help people become homeowners with various types of loans, which may have any number of different repayment periods… Read more
Not everyone has the time or qualifications to pick individual stocks and bonds to invest their hard-earned money in. That’s why mutual funds exist, so that many investors can pool their money in… Read more
The tech industry is booming across the country. From big cities to small ones, successful startups are taking root, and job prospects for tech workers are rising precipitously and show no signs of… Read more
The consolidation of banks in the U.S. has been a trend over the past 35 years. In fact, in 1985, there were 14,427 banks that were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).… Read more
Across the country, real estate markets are much healthier than they were a few short years ago, when a housing bubble precipitated a much larger economic crisis. But some places have recovered… Read more
What’s the price of a sunny day? Well, if you’re high-minded, you might say money can’t buy the experience of the sun warming your skin. But in a more down-to-earth sense, residents of some places… Read more
There are many reasons to choose a city to live in, but most of them revolve around our basic needs: employment, cultural stimulation and education. But sooner or later, we all need healthcare,… Read more
Once upon a time, chocolate was unheard of across most of the world. From the 1800s BCE to the 16th century CE or so, it was exclusively consumed by a small group of people – Aztec nobles in what is… Read more
As the last traces of the long and brutal winter disappear across the country and the weekends start to get warmer and sunnier, people of a certain mindset – let’s call them history nerds – start to… Read more
SmartAsset wanted to know who in the country is getting the best deal for their property taxes. To find that out we answered 3 questions: how good are the schools, how safe is the area and how much… Read more
It’s not just cowpunchers who hang their spurs in Dallas, the country’s ninth-largest city, anymore. From the place where America got its meat and textiles, Dallas has become one of the major places… Read more
