Cheryl Bourland's blog

If you've applied for a mortgage before, you likely heard the lender reference rates and points. While most people are familiar with rates (the percentage of interest that must be paid on the loan annually), fewer borrowers understand how points affect their mortgage. With rates as they are now at a higher levels you may be able to use mortgage points to your benefit. While they aren't for everyone you will want to find out if they are something that can help. Keep reading for a quick primer covering the basics of mortgage points and how they can benefit you!

With the holidays coming up and the option for a long weekend or end of the year vacation occuring you may want to update your kitchen. Have you always thought that your kitchen would look amazing with a tile backsplash, but you don't have the funds to pay a professional? Is it going to be just too hot to be outside and you have some free time over the weekend? Fear not, this step-by-step guide has everything you need to know in order to install the tile of your dreams! Not only will this kick your interior up a notch, it will also raise your home's value!

With the exception of major issues such as foundation repairs or flooding, homes are rarely the nightmarish money pits exaggerated for comedic effect in the 1986 movie of the same name. However, many homes do contain smaller money pits that hide in plain sight by draining your wallet slowly over time. These little problems never draw enough attention to warrant solving, but doing so can save you a shocking amount of money in the long run. Keep reading to learn about 5 of the most common home money pits and how you can eliminate them!