As Mark Twain best said, “The secret to getting ahead, is getting started.” People talk about financial freedom, but many, given their current financial situation, don’t have a plan or understand how to get ahead. But in order to get anywhere, you have to get started and have a disciplined plan to stay focused to…
As I’ve written in past blog posts, the three most important financial numbers you need to understand is your Debt-to-Income ratio, Down payment, and Credit Score. These personal financial numbers determine a big part of your home buying power. I want to spend a little time on the last personal number, your Credit Score. Before we get started,…
When my wife and I bought our first home in 1994, our PITI (Principle, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance) was about 30% of our gross monthly income, well within the lending Debt-to-Income ratio. However, it’s important to understand not just what the maximum is you can afford and qualify for, but also making sure you enjoy…
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