Bella Mertz

You can use student loans—federal and private—to cover living expenses like housing, groceries, toiletries, and more. These expenses are part of your school’s cost of attendance (COA), which lenders use to determine how much money you should receive. For many students, the cost of college extends far beyond just tuition. Finding affordable housing, paying utility … Read more

Some or all of the mortgage lenders featured on our site are advertising partners of NerdWallet, but this does not influence our evaluations, lender star ratings or the order in which lenders are listed on the page. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners. A dependable income is a must … Read more

Buying a home in Texas? As a prospective homebuyer, it’s important to understand conforming loan limits when getting a mortgage. These limits establish the maximum loan amount that government-sponsored enterprises like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy or guarantee. Exceeding the limits means you’ll need a jumbo loan with usually higher rates and stricter … Read more

We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free – so that you can make financial decisions with confidence. Bankrate has partnerships … Read more

There are nearly 4.4 million notaries in the United States and many of them are also loan signing agents. But how do they differ? Here is everything you need to know. As a notary signing agent, you’ll likely spend a lot of time handling real estate and lending document packages While every signing has its … Read more

These days, it’s common for used cars to cost more than $25,000, so you’ll probably need to finance your purchase before you can jump into your next ride. Still, you might be wondering if it’s better to use an auto loan or a personal loan for your car purchase. Generally, auto loans are the best … Read more

A wraparound mortgage is an unusual and complex type of financing that involves the seller “wrapping” a new loan around their existing mortgage. If you’re wondering what exactly a wraparound loan is this guide will explain how it works and the pros and cons to consider. Wraparound Loan Overview A wraparound loan is a creative … Read more

Have you driven past a dealership that advertised “no credit, no problem”? That’s an in-house financing car lot. An in-house financing car lot is a dealership that gives its own loans. Instead of borrowing from a bank or finance company, you’ll get your car loan directly from your dealer. An in-house loan might seem like … Read more

Homebuyers who cant put down a sizable down payment with a conventional loan will often need to pay for PMI, or private mortgage insurance. This insurance is designed to protect the lender in the event you default on your loan. For conventional loans, you’ll typically need to pay for PMI unless you can put down … Read more

Homebuyers who are veterans, whether they are active or not, can receive assistance in buying a new home through several mortgage programs created solely for U.S. military veteran borrowers. Both the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA*) and the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) offer veteran loan programs to eligible military veterans. If you’re … Read more