It’s that time of year again. Tag sale signs are going up, and your friends are talking about spring-cleaning. Every year, you intend to partake in the spring-cleaning ritual. It sounds good, doesn’t it? Sorting through things you don’t need, and selling them for a bit of extra cash, or donating them to people in...Read More

It’s a bit of a catch-22, isn’t it? In order to build your credit, you need to have and use a credit card. But in order to qualify for many credit cards, you need to have good credit. What are you supposed to do when you know that your credit is bad, and you fear...Read More

A sure-fire way to get into debt quickly is to start accumulating interest on some type of balance. Whether you’re dealing with a student loan, a mortgage, or a credit card, interest is the kiss of death for those trying to get out of debt and stay out of debt. It can be very difficult...Read More

  My name is Theresa, and I think it is vitally important that my clients and colleagues know who I am and what I have been through on my own financial journey… During my college and law school years I was affected by medical issues and did not have insurance.  I took student loans to pay for...Read More

Loss mitigation is a tool that lenders have used for decades, with exponential growth since late 2006.  This was a result of the huge increase in foreclosures across the US.  While previously only a small department within the financial system, loss mitigation grew as a result of the near collapse of the mortgage industry due...Read More

One of the strengths of mediation is that there isn’t a one size fits all solution to the foreclosure crisis in America today.  Many commentators have suggested that all foreclosure mediation programs should deliver for vigorous outreach to borrowers.  This could result in much higher rates of participation than in programs with limited outreach.  Also, many lawyers...Read More

One of the basic principles of tax laws is if you owe a debt to someone else and they forgive that debt, the forgiven amount may be taxable.  As a result of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, the statisticall or texty few homeowners who have had mortgage debt forgiven may not owe...Read More

Unemployment is a common reason to file for bankruptcy in the United States.  If you are accumulating debt because you do not have a source of income, bankruptcy can help your situation.  However, depending on what type of bankruptcy you file for, your unemployment might still hinder your chance to erase your debt and start...Read More

Mortgage modification is the changing of a loan; the terms of a mortgage are modified outside of the original terms of the agreement between the borrower and lender.  Homeowners that simply cannot afford their mortgage payments can try to improve their deal with their lender.  The process is incredibly complicated with concessions offered usually only...Read More

Mortgage insurance is something that many homeowners pay for, yet many homebuyers try to avoid paying for.  What is mortgage insurance and why is it a requirement of Federal Housing Authority (FHA) loans?  You may be wondering, “What is mortgage insurance and why do I have to pay for it?” Conventional mortgages have private mortgage...Read More