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Avatar photo About James Hendrickson

James Hendrickson is an internet entrepreneur, blogging junky, hunter and personal finance geek. When he’s not lurking in coffee shops in Portland, Oregon, you’ll find him in the Pacific Northwest’s great outdoors. James has a masters degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland at College Park and a Bachelors degree on Sociology from Earlham College. He loves individual stocks, bonds and precious metals.

Are Paid Surveys Worth Your Time?

More and more individuals are finding what is commonly referred to as ​a “side hustle” or an extra way to make some cash. Some drive for a company like Uber, others walk dogs or babysit, and then there are paid surveys. Answering a few simple questions to make a few extra bucks sounds simple and pretty easy to do while watching the evening news, but are these surveys worth your time?

Plenty of sites across the web are weighing in with their opinions, like SurveysWonk’s review of SwagBucks, but this article will focus on paid surveys as a whole. So, how much can you really stand to make for a small chunk of your time?

​The Calculator Method​

To determine how much your time is worth you are going to need a calculator. Take the amount of money you made last year and divide that by 2,080, which is 52 weeks times 40 hours a week. The number you receive is how much your time is worth per hour.

Now, recent studies have shown that an average American feels that he or she is underpaid for his or her hard work. So, your time is probably worth more than the number on your calculator screen. When it comes to finding out if surveys are worth your extra time, we’ll use the number you found, though.

​The Survey Wage​

While plenty of surveys offer a dollar or less for a few minutes of your time, the real question is how much a handful of those surveys pay out per hour. Let’s say that one of these questionnaires pays one dollar and takes five minutes to complete. After some simple math, an hour’s worth of these five minute surveys comes out to $12.

In terms of wages, $12 an hour isn’t too bad for just filling out some surveys. Right? Even taking three extra hours a day to complete a few of these from the comfort of your own home comes out to a nice $1,080 extra in your bank account each month.

Now, before your eyes turn into comic cartoon dollar signs, there’s usually more to it than just that.

​A True Measure of Time​

A more realistic model for earnings is a dollar for around 15 to 30 minutes of your time, depending on how fast you can answer questions, your internet speed, and varying pay from different companies who post the surveys. Even at a rate of one dollar for ten minutes, that drops your $12 an hour earnings to $6 or $540 a month.

There are companies that pay upwards of $50 a survey, but these require strict rules for qualification instead of allowing you to take all the couple minute long $0.03 surveys you can handle. Other surveys might net you a free product to test out, which can also be beneficial if you enjoy that kind of thing.

Looking at a true average for how much someone can generally make through paid surveys, the outcome is somewhere between $30 to $60 on low paying sites. Sites like SwagBucks and Inbox Dollars pay out a little more, which can push those earnings up to $100 to $200 a month. Again, this is all based on only a few extra hours of your time each day.

​Are Paid Surveys Really Worth It?

That’s up to you. If you don’t mind answering some questions while watching TV in your slippers at home for an extra $50 or $100 a month, then why not make the extra cash? Even a little extra cash each month is worth the time you probably would have spent scrolling through your news feed anyway.

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Planning to Do Business in the UK? Here’s What You Need

Having your own business is not for the weak of heart – it can be very stressful and most owners report working more than sixty hours a week, especially when they are just starting up. On the other hand, it can be immensely rewarding, both in the financial sense (high profits) and in the personal sense, as it can give great job satisfaction.

To start doing business and making transactions in the UK, there are some legal and practical requirements you have to take care of. Are you planning to do business in the UK? Here’s what you need.

Registration

Your business needs to be registered, and this can be done in several ways, depending on what kind of business you have: sole trader, partnership, limited company, or a corporation. Each kind of business will have different taxation laws and may require you to submit different kinds of documents, especially if you are planning to open a UK bank account. There will also be different reporting and managing responsibilities you have to check into.

Other requirements

Depending on the type of business you have, you may have to show that you have certain permits or licenses. This is especially true for businesses that are in the food, drink, medicine, or weapons industry. Even if your business is mostly conducted online, there might still be certain rules and regulations or government laws you have to be aware of.

Hiring people

The UK, like the rest of Europe, has strict laws when it comes to employing people. Having people under your employ requires you to accept additional responsibility, especially when it comes to paying National Insurance, running a payroll, providing pensions to eligible staff, and insurance.

Opening bank accounts

Opening a bank account is often seen as a necessary step; it allows transactions to flow better and gives the company more credibility (even though there are alternative ways to do this). The requirements will depend on what kind of business you are in, and the demands of the bank itself.

General requirements

Here’s what you should expect:

  • A UK address. You’ll need to establish a physical presence in the UK.
  • Business registration. Your bank will want to see those documents.
  • TIN. Tax identification number is necessary.
  • Other bank requirements. Different from bank to bank.

Establishing your business does require fulfilling formalities and legal requirements – and it may seem like a hassle at times. But once you’ve completed these necessities, you’ve established the groundwork for your business; you’ve prepared the basics upon which your business model can operate. The smart businessperson understands that it isn’t about working hard; it’s about setting up a system that works hard for you. By accomplishing the basic steps (business registration, bank accounts, and so on), you’re establishing a foundation for future success.

Image attributed to Pixabay.com

How bank charges have affected the financial system

How bank charges have affected the financial system

Bank charges have made an indelible mark on the financial system during the last two decades. These charges include fees levied on a monthly basis for account provision, charges for transactions and overdrafts, and exceeding monetary limits, in addition to interest rates on loans and mortgages. This area of finance is complex and ever changing, but there is an ongoing correlation between the state of bank charges and the prospects of the wider economy.

The impact of rising interest rates

The US Federal Reserve decided in June 2017 to raise interest rates for the third consecutive quarter in order to keep inflation in check. It set aside concerns about how rate hikes could influence rates of consumer spending but the decision will continue to affect the financial system in a number of different ways. Credit card rates, for example, will increase, so it costs more for people to borrow money, which results in the general public actually taking out fewer loans and purchasing fewer assets, such as homes and products. This in turn slows down the economy as consumer confidence decreases.

“What the Federal Reserve does normally affects short-term interest rates, so that affects the rates that people pay on credit cards,” PNC Financial’s Faucher says. The variable interest rates for credit cards are tied to the prime rate, which is generally a few percentage points above the rate for general funds. So, when there is an uptick in the federal fund rate, there is also an uptick in the prime rate and then credit card rates.

Negative interest rates

The Federal Reserve’s interest rate does not affect Americans directly or immediately, but it does filter its way through the economy in the long term, so potential homeowners, for example, will have to select more expensive mortgages when it rises, which then increases the profitability on loans for banks. However, since the global recession, a new trend has emerged where banks use negative interest rates, a forceful monetary measure to combat low levels of investment and low growth. The central bank of Denmark was the first do so in 2012, and several countries in the Eurozone and Asia have followed suit. Reducing bank charges allows banks to loan more money to consumers and businesses, which may lead them to save less and spend more.

PPI controversy

There is no more damning case study for the obfuscation of bank charges and the impact on consumers and the financial system than the payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal. Major financial institutions in the UK aggressively mis-sold inefficient and ineffective bank loans, mortgages and credit cards for more than a decade. The scale of the scandal was uncovered when Lloyds Banking Group decided to set aside a staggering £18.1 billion to compensate those who had been affected. The other banks implicated make up a further £22 billion.

Premiums and claims

Consumers who fell foul of PPI during the 1990s and 2000s often had to pay premiums that added 20 percent to loan costs, though this figure increased to 50 percent in some of the worst cases. These charges sometimes came in the form of a “single premium”, which was added at the start of the loan for mortgage buyers. This practice was banned entirely in 2009.

It is now believed that as many as 45 million policies could have been mis-sold. The Financial Conduct Authority revealed earlier this year that there have been 13 million genuine PPC complaints thus far, with more than 12 million customers receiving payouts before November 2015. The FCA has now set a new deadline of August 2019, so any consumers affected have just under two years to file a Barclays PPI Claim.

Transparency post financial crisis

While the PPI premiums typified the financial sector’s desire to chase profits at the expense of the customer, the public controversy and the 2008 financial crisis has driven a new wave of transparency. In the UK for example, the Financial Services Act (FSA) ensures consumer interests are always looked after, while individual banks are supervised. This resulted in a new regime for PPI, so it could not be sold until seven days after a loan is agreed, any charges are required to be outlined in writing, and it is only included as an optional extra.

Banks are now under more scrutiny, so accountability and transparency is vital. Ms McConnell, Financial Transparency Coalition Director concludes: “We can’t keep relying on the next Lux Leaks or Swiss Leaks to reveal the billions hidden away in the shadow banking system. Banks should be required to disclose information to authorities and the public on a regular basis.”

4 Ways to Use Technology to Power Your Side Hustle

If you and your spouse are dreaming of moving to a bigger home, taking a well-deserved vacation or buying a new car, you may be contemplating taking on a side gig to turn your dreams into reality. While you have comfortable incomes and don’t have kids and their accompanying expenses, you like the idea of using your spare time to bring in extra cash and help pay for some of the many luxuries in life.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways that you can use the convenience of technology to power your side hustle and become and Income Artist — check out the following suggestions:

Harness the Power of Social Media

Once you decide what type of side gig to take on, you will want to get the word out to friends and family. A great way to do this is through social media. Use the power of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to let folks know what you are up to, and encourage them to reach out to you if they would like to try your products or services. Interestingly, one of the companies that has allowed people to bring in extra income for decades is a master at using social media to its advantage. As the world’s No. 1 direct selling business, Amway uses its LinkedIn page to help people learn more about the history of the company and how to become a direct seller. Readers can also find interesting news updates about Amway and what the company is up to.

Use Your Smartphone to Sell Your Unwanted Collectibles

A great way to earn some extra cash is by selling some of your unused items on websites like eBay or Craigslist. Everything from that designer purse you bought a couple of years ago and never use and gently used name brand clothing to art work, coins, sports memorabilia and more can be sold on these sites — often for a pretty penny. Download the eBay app onto your smartphone; this way you can easily create listings for your items, take and upload photos, get updates on your sales and track your packages — all from the comfort of your mobile phone. Craigslist also has a user-friendly app that you can use to set up shop on your iOS or Android phone. You can also text your customers from your smartphone to arrange a safe meeting place like a restaurant or grocery store parking lot.

Answer Professional Questions with Your Tablet

If you are an attorney, physician, veterinarian, IT expert or another type of highly-knowledgeable professional, you might be able to use your skills and your tablet to bring in extra money. Sign up with JustAnswer, a website that pays you to answer professional questions from people who are unsure about legal, health and other matters. Once you have been approved to answer questions through the website, you can set up shop wherever you can get an internet connection and work as little or often as you like.

Tutor Through Your Laptop

Thanks to video chat technology like Skype, you can use your laptop to earn money as a tutor — even if your student is halfway around the world. If you are a teacher, advertising your skills as a tutor is a great way to bring in some side income; you can set up your laptop on your dining room table and teach math to a fourth grader across town, or help someone who is new to the country to learn English. Your student will need to have a Skype account as well and access to a computer for the lessons.

How to Shop for Affordable Consumer Loans

If you are looking into several loan options, canvassing for the best and cheapest loans can get quite complicated and there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. There are tons of loan terms, time limit and monthly payment options that finding the one that will suit your needs may take some time and effort.

Financial institutions and banks give you the choice on several loans but if you’re still undecided, there are a few basic things you need to consider and analyze first before you choose the loan that’s for you.

Here’s a simple guideline you can follow when you look around for consumer loans:

  • Length of the loan term. It is important for you to compare the different loan terms and if possible, you should choose the shortest loan term available. A shorter loan term may have higher monthly payments, but overall, you are paying a lower amount of the total interest on the loan. If you do come across a shorter loan term with a higher percentage rate, you can contemplate taking on the longer-term loan but make large payments, as long as there is no prepayment penalty fee. Always read the fine print of your payment option and payment methods.
  • Annual percentage rate (APR). This is one of the most important factors to consider in picking out which is the best loan for you. For other loan types, comparing off interest rates is the pertinent information to look at but the APR is a much better one to review. The APR factors in fees while the interest rate is only the basic interest charged on your loan. For mortgages, it’s the lenders that are required to let you know about the APR so that when you compare APRs, you can determine which loan will cost you later on. Take note, that for variable loans, there isn’t an easy way to compare interest rates. When it all comes down to it, you can just choose one where you are comfortable with the variability in interest, as well as the monthly payment.
  • Balloon payments. There are loans terms that are shorter than the actual amortization term. Those type of loans has a balloon payment due at the end of the loan term.This is basically the remaining money owed by that time. If you are looking into a loan with a balloon payment against one that doesn’t, you will need to have that money available when it becomes due, otherwise, you will need to finance it out.
  • Review the total amount owed. This includes the original amount that you borrowed plus fees and interest rate. It is best to choose a loan that has the least amount of money owed over the whole loan term, as long as you can afford the monthly payment.
  • Check the monthly payment. You will need to look at the monthly payment for you to know the amount that you will be paying each month. Evaluate what you can afford and make sure that you are not getting over your head regarding this. If possible, take out a loan that has the lowest interest rate or APR and a term that you know you can afford the monthly payments.

Do you have any other tips you’d like to share on what you should look for to get an affordable consumer loan?

Financial Emergencies: Getting the Help You Need Now and Preventing it in the Future

loan moneyJust about all of us has faced some sort of financial emergency. Unfortunately, they never come at a time when you have the means to deal with it. You’re doing well and then one day, a utility bill comes in the mail and it’s twice the normal amount with a shut-off notice, or you head into work and your boss tells you that your hours have been reduced, or you go to take a shower and the ceiling starts leaking. There’s always something, and never enough money to go around. Short of running away and assuming a new identity, what can you do to resolve the matter, or even better, to prevent it from happening in the future.

Handling the Right Now

Though there are things you can do to prevent being in a financial jam in the future, at the moment you need to handle the right now. Right now, you have a huge bill to cover and not enough money in your banking account to cover it. What can you do to get out of this jam, and fast?

·  Ask someone you know – If you’re talking about a few hundred dollars you may be able to find some relief with your friends or family members.

·  Borrow from pension – If you have a pension or 401K account you could potentially borrow funds from the account to hold you over.

·  Installment loans – If you don’t have the credit rating needed to borrow from a bank, you could apply for an installment loan. Companies such as Blue Trust Loans provides consumers with the opportunity to apply for as much as $1250. Installment loans are approved fast and repayment options are flexible giving you time to recuperate.

·  Do some odd and end jobs – There are some odd and end jobs that you could complete in the meantime to earn some extra cash to handle your financial emergency. Mowing the lawns of a few neighbors, babysitting, or even helping someone file their taxes for a fee can earn you cash on the spot.

·  Charge it – If you have a credit card that could cover the expense, go ahead and charge it to your card. However, remember, you will need to budget to pay it back.

Managing Your Finances

The best solution to dealing with a financial emergency is managing your finances so that it doesn’t catch you off guard. There are creative ways of doing this. Here are a few examples:

·  Save often – Financial emergencies likely startle your finances because you’re not prepared for it. The first line of defense when something costly comes up should be your savings account. If you haven’t been adding money to this, you need to. Whether you’re saving $5 a week or $500 a month, the savings you compile will add up over the years and act as a nest egg the next time you need more cash than you earn.

·  Increase your income – If the issue is that you don’t make enough money to handle your finances then you should start looking for ways to increase your income. Whether you start a blog on personal finance to help others or you create how-to videos on YouTube and earn from advertisements, every penny you earn can be used for a rainy day.

·  Kick bad habits – There are a lot of bad spending habits that could ruin your budget. From getting a Starbucks coffee every day to splurging at the mall every weekend, you may not realize how much you’re messing up. Start tracking your spending to determine where your triggers lie and then kick those bad habits to the curb.

·  Ask for help – Managing money is not easy for everyone, especially when you don’t have a lot of it. If you’re in over your head and need assistance, reach out before it’s too late. Credit counseling, debt consolidation companies, and even the companies you owe money to may be willing to help you until you’re able to get back on your feet.

Money makes the world go around. When you don’t have enough, it can seem like your world has stopped. When dealing with a financial crisis be sure that you’re making informed decisions. Whether you decide to take out an installment loan or borrow the money from your friends, remember to be responsible and repay the funds to prevent further emergencies in the future. Once you’ve resolved the matter, be sure to employ the above-mentioned tips to minimize the chances of it happening again.

Personal Finance Apps to Help Ease Financial Pressure

The financial climate we live in today means that many of us face daily pressure when it comes to money. One of the key issues for many people is that they find it very difficult to monitor, track, and control spending. This can have a big impact on your financial situation, as it can leave you short of cash and more likely to get into debt.

You can find apps these days that can help with all sorts of financial issues from helping you to calculate working capital if you run a business through to helping you streamline your household budget. Using personal finance apps can provide huge benefits when it comes to easier money management.

Some of the top apps to use 

When it comes to personal finance apps, you should find plenty that are ideally suited to your needs. Better still, you will find plenty of apps that are either very cheap or completely free to use. As we often hear on CNN News live and other media channels, consumer debt issues are a big problem these days. Something as simple as using the right apps can help you avoid getting into this type of situation. Some of the main apps to use include:

  • Mint: This is an app that offers a huge variety of capabilities to help you with your personal finance needs. You can view and manage all of your finances from loans and credit cards through to household budget and spending. It provide automatic tracking features, which is perfect for those who tend to forget to log details of financial transactions down. There are also graphs and charts to make the information easier to digest and understand.
  • Level Money: If you are looking for expert advice on controlling your spending, this app could provide the perfect solution. Once it is connected to your bank account, it does all the number crunching for you including calculation of recurring bills. It will then provide you with advice in relation to what your spending levels should be and how much you should be trying to save every month.
  • Digit: Many people find it very difficult to save money. However, you should bear in mind that you don’t have to put aside large amounts into saving – every little will help. This app does all of the legwork for you, as it takes small amounts that you probably won’t miss from your account based on your income and outgoings. It then puts this into a savings account that it also manages.
  • Credit Karma: This is a good all around finance app that offers everything from credit score information through to financial tracking and monitoring. It can help to simplify the money management process for individuals as well as providing valuable information and access to credit reports.

Of course, this is just a sample of the many personal finance apps that you can choose from these days. All you need to do is get them installed, find your way around them, and you can then start enjoying greater financial ease.

What You Need to Know Before Hiring a Business Attorney

how to earn money online from home without investmentCountless entrepreneurs who just started out or are already running a business worry about a lot of things and one of them is whether they need to hire a business attorney. There is this misconception that lawyers charge astronomical rates and since a lot of small businesses don’t have that much or extra capital to pay lawyers.

As a result, these small business owners only hire a lawyer when confronted with a serious legal issue. You certainly don’t need an attorney for every step in your business, however, prevention is still the best course of action. Legal assistance is another cost of the business that can actually save you money and help your business in the long run.

There will be issues that you can handle on your own and there will be issues where you will need the assistance of a business lawyer. Here are a few examples of scenarios where you’ll need one:

  • Investigating or filing of complaint/s against your business by local, state or federal government entities.
  • Employees, whether former, current or prospective ones suing on the grounds of discrimination or a hostile working environment.
  • Your business gets involved in an environmental issue and even if your business isn’t the cause of the environmental problem, you may be penalized.
  • Negotiating to sell your company or acquiring another company and its assets.
  • You’d want to make an allocation of profits and losses or you’d like to contribute to your partnership or agreement.

You’ll definitely need to get an attorney for the serious issues mentioned but you can also focus on preventing such occurrences from the very start. Consulting with a reputable business attorney wouldn’t hurt.

So what qualities should you look for? Take note of what the potential lawyer says and does and here are a few guidelines you can keep in mind before hiring one:

  • Ability to communicate effectively. If the lawyer only speaks in legal terms without bothering to explain what they said or they won’t entertain your inquiries, then you should look for someone else.
  • Vast experience. It’s best to find someone who has good expertise in the field they are practicing in, like Steven A. Sugarman. Also, make sure that the lawyer is willing to take on all types of legal problems related that you need help with.
  • It is important that you get along with your lawyer. Afterall, they will be the ones representing you legally. You’ll be discussing a lot of things with them, so you should find someone you’re comfortable with.
  • Contributes to the business growth. You are looking for someone that is long-term and integral in your business growth. Would they understand what you’d like to happen and do they share your vision?
  • Good references. Inquire what types of businesses or cases they have handled in the past. You can also gather a list of clients or other attorneys that you can contact to discuss the competence, services, and fees of the potential lawyer you’d like to hire.

It may be challenging to find that perfect attorney, so make it a point to interview at least a handful of them. Since it’s their job to protect you against any legal issues, you should find one that always has your best interest in mind.

What are Your Loan Options When You Have an Unexpected Expense?

Everybody finds themselves in need of money right out of the blue, at some point in life. No matter how much you save, there can always be an opportunity or emergency with a cost that is outside of your capabilities. This will require you to either go without or to find a lender. If you are unaccustomed to getting loans, you may be surprised that there are many different options available to you. This is the case regardless of your income and credit history. If you can find terms that work with your situation, you’ll find that this is one of the best times in history to borrow money. Here are some options.

  • Doorstop Loans. Doorstop loans may seem a little old-fashioned, but this is specifically the aspect of them that makes them most valuable to a certain set of customers. With doorstop lending, a lending representative will come right to your house to discuss your loan possibilities, to make sure you understand every aspect of the process before making the decision. Once you’ve selected a loan, the representative will return weekly or monthly to take your payments with cash, check, or card. For the non-tech-savvy, this is one of the most convenient and available options.
  • Payday Loans. Payday loans available from lenders such as MrLender.com don’t always have something to do directly with payday. The unifying element of all payday loans is that they are small, unsecured loans meant to be paid back quickly. Because they have such a short term, payday loans will have higher interest rates than long term loans, but if they are repaid as planned, they can be paid in full fairly quickly. Payday loans are often available quicker than most other options.
  • Guarantor Loans. Guarantor loans are very common in various types of lending, from small loans to mortgage loans and everything in between. Basically, a “Guarantor” is someone who co-signs a loan, agreeing to pay it back if you, the primary borrower, are for any reason unable to do so yourself. If you’ve ever dipped your toes in the world of lending at any prior time, you’ve probably heard about co-signers. These people could be parents, relatives, friends, or anyone else who is willing to risk their money to improve your chances of being accepted for a loan. This is a great option for people with bad credit or no credit.

This by no means represents the full options available to would-be borrowers. There are lenders for every type of person in every financial situation, and each lender may offer a variety of loan packages. It’s important to understand the basics of lending so that you don’t get involved in a loan that doesn’t serve your best long term interests.

Take the time it takes to learn what options are available to you, what they mean, and to search out lenders who will offer them to you at the best possible rates. This will put you in a position to both get the money you need and to pay it back fast!

What You Need to Know to Buy a Home

If you’re in the market to buy a home there are a few things you need to know to have success.

In this article we’re going to explain some of the things you need to do before you start the home buying process.

Have Money Saved for the Down Payment

Gone are the days that you need a 20% down payment to get a mortgage. With the introduction of FHA loans you can now buy a home with just a 3.5% down payment. There are other Government mortgage programs that offer low and no down payment home loan options such as, VA and USDA loans.

Know Your Credit Score

For most types of mortgage loans will you need a credit score of at least 620 to qualify. FHA loans have the lowest credit requirements of all types of home loans. They require a 500 credit score with a 10% down payment, and a 580 credit score with a 3.5% down payment.

You can get your free credit score from websites such as Credit Karma or Credit Sesame. Go through your report to make sure there are no errors. If you do find errors you can contact the credit bureaus directly and have them correct it.

Have Money in Reserves

Lenders will not approve your mortgage if you’re spending every last dime you have coming up with the downpayment. Typically lenders want to see about 2-3 months worth of mortgage payments in reserves.

Remember there are other costs associated with buying a home such as, the home appraisal and inspection. Budget about $1,000 for both the inspection and appraisal.

Get Pre-Approved

Before you start house hunting you’ll need to get a pre approval letter from a lender first. The fact is that most realtors won’t even start taking you to look until you’re approved. Get pre-approved for a mortgage is a relatively simple process, and can usually be completed in one phone call with a loan officer.

A lender will first pull your credit report to make sure your credit is sufficient. Then they will verify your income and assets with tax returns, pay stubs, and bank statements. Typically you can have a pre-approval letter in your hand within an hour.

Work with an Experienced Real Estate Agent

Don’t skip having a realtor trying to save the commission, it always backfires. Realtors are experts that know how to negotiate a great deal and is paid to pay attention to the details. In fact, you don’t even pay the agent’s commission, its built into the contract, the seller pays the commission, not the buyer.

Compare Rates with Multiple Lenders

Don’t stop talking to mortgage companies once one approves you. Mortgage rates, origination fees, and other fees vary from lender to lender. It’s recommended you compare rates and loan offers from at least 3-4 mortgage lenders.

You can also use these loan offers to help you negotiate lower fees and rates. It will also give you a chance to speak to a few different loan officers to see which one you feel the most comfortable with.

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