Category Archives: Finances

There are (or maybe were) options for future home buyers.

Given our limited cash, however, we were limited to FHA loans. When we started our search we were qualified for 100% financing. By the time we were ready to make offers, the rules changed and we were basically limited to FHA loans that required “only” a 3% minimum down payment. Whereas, conventional loans required a minimum of 5%. This might be OK in places where homes were selling for under $200K (in child-friendly neighborhoods), but in our region we were looking at $350k – $400K for a reasonable house in a reasonable neighborhood. Continue reading →

Since my last post way back in April ’08, we’ve gone through a number of changes.

After crunching the budget numbers (what can we really afford), we decided that the timing was good to take on the house hunt in earnest.

Over the winter we looked seriously at rentals but became frustrated with the rental agreement terms…ask for a copy to read at your leisure BEFORE SIGNING ANYTHING…and what we considered high rental rates. So, we turned to houses for sale. The houses were beginning to pile onto the market place and the prices were dropping. Continue reading →

To rent or to buy? That is the question! Really, it’s a serious question. And the answer is not dependent on what you can afford. First, let’s re-write the American cultural dictionary, Millennium edition. American Dream, re-defined: Life, liberty, and … Continue reading →

This is where I want to discuss budgeting. I think every woman should know where her money comes from and where it goes. We should all have a plan for how to make our money work for us. I’ll try … Continue reading →