Is now a good time to refinance your home?

Pondering a mortgage refinance? There’s much to consider before pulling the trigger on this significant financial decision. Namely, how would a refi benefit you? What are the pros and cons of refinancing your home? Do the benefits of refinancing your home outweigh any disadvantages? And what refinancing alternatives exist?

Read my latest article on this topic, published by The Mortgage Reports, available here.

Cineversary podcast celebrates 50th anniversary of Jaws

Ben Mankiewicz and James Kendrick

In Cineversary podcast episode #83, host ⁠Erik Martin⁠ takes a deep dive to search for the perfect summertime thriller and finds it in Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, which celebrates a 50th anniversary this month. Accompanying him on this voyage is TCM host Ben Mankiewicz, and Baylor University film professor James Kendrick, author of Darkness in the Bliss-Out: A Reconsideration of the Films of Steven Spielberg. Together, they explore how Jaws marked a sea change in cinema, dissect the elements that make it a masterwork, hunt for key themes, and much more.

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com

When to consider a co-op

What if you could own shares in a residence, just as you can own shares on the stock market, but also be allowed to live in that residence? This is possible when you buy into a co-op, also known as a housing cooperative. 

If you’re in the market for a condo purchase or apartment rental, you may want to consider purchasing shares in a co-op that you can call home. Co-ops offer some advantages over condos and other housing options, but they also have their drawbacks.

Learn more about co-ops by reading my latest article for Bankrate on this topic, available here.

6 ways to improve your credit score

Whether you are yearning to apply for credit or seeking to purchase a home, your three-digit credit score will matter significantly. That's because lenders and credit card companies will scrutinize your score to determine your creditworthiness. If your score is too low, you'll likely get denied the financing you seek.

But there are surefire ways to raise your score they can make a big difference. Learn more about improving your credit score by reading my latest article for new client Rocket Mortgage, available here.

Cineversary podcast celebrates 70th birthday of The Night of the Hunter

In Cineversary podcast episode #82, host ⁠Erik Martin⁠ hunts on horseback for the perfect film and finds it in Charles Laughton's The Night of the Hunter

Imogen Smith

, which celebrates a 70th birthday this year. Joining him on this journey is Imogen Sara Smith, author of In Lonely Places: Film Noir Beyond the City, editor-in-chief of Noir City Magazine, and frequent contributor to the Criterion Collection. Together, they travel upriver to explore what makes this movie a masterpiece, the filmmakers it inspired, key thematic takeaways, and much more.

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com.

Know the expiration date on a home appraisal

Whether you plan to purchase a home or refinance it, you’re probably going to need a professional home appraisal. Getting one is also a smart idea if you plan to sell your property. But what if you’ve had an appraisal conducted relatively recently: Is a new one still required? For that matter, how long does a house appraisal last? More specifically, how long is a conventional appraisal good for? Or how long is an FHA appraisal good for, or an appraisal for a VA or USDA loan?

While appraisals don’t technically have a set expiration date, a good estimate is about 120 days, although this will depend on multiple factors, including the loan type, lender, and market conditions. Learn more by reading my recent article for Mortgage Research Center, available here.