Kimberly Porter

The approval process "breaks down into four basic categories," says Nicole Rueth, producing branch manager of Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. in Englewood, Colorado. "If you nail these, your approval is straightforward. Of course, each of these has 100 variations, which is where the nuance comes in."
Capacity, or your ability to repay the loan. The lender will check your income and employment stability from the last two years to make sure you can comfortably take on the monthly mortgage pa...

Lenders charge origination fees to cover the costs of making loans. These fees can increase your borrowing costs, whether you're taking out a mortgage, a personal loan or an auto loan.
Before you borrow, it pays to know what an origination fee is, how it can influence loan costs and when to pay one.
Typically, origination fees compensate lenders for processing loans, including handling applications, preparing documents and underwriting, says Ashley Luethje, loan officer with Paramount Residen...

Potential homebuyers with credit problems, low income or not much saved for a down payment may have trouble finding a home loan. For those borrowers, an FHA-insured loan might be a good solution. Here's what you should know if you're weighing whether a conventional or FHA mortgage is the best way to go.
The FHA insurance program provides a means for many prospective homeowners to achieve the dream of owning a home who might not have otherwise been able to do so.
An FHA loan is a mortgage issu...

If you want to refinance your mortgage but you're enrolled in a forbearance program, you will need to end the forbearance and meet certain conditions.
As the coronavirus pandemic drags on and strains Americans' finances, 3.4 million homeowners were in forbearance in September, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. At the same time, U.S. mortgage rates have hit record lows, which could help consumers obtain more affordable loans.
Refinancing involves paying off your original loan and ...

Though you might use an eight-hour workday to benchmark your productivity, research suggests workers are only productive for about three hours during that time frame.
Whether you’re working remotely or in an office, distractions pop up, and tasks that earn you money or a promotion take a back seat.
While some distractions are inevitable, they shouldn’t steal your focus from doing things that create value and help you earn money, says Grace Marshall, author of the award-winning book “How to Be...

As the COVID-19 pandemic sends shockwaves through the economy and forces big businesses to cut budgets, freelancers and other independent workers are feeling the squeeze.
Freelancers make up 35% of the U.S. workforce and contribute $1 trillion to the national economy. But some are dealing with less work right now while others are working overtime to keep up with new demand. And on top of an uncertain financial future, some freelancers might be struggling with isolation and anxiety.
12 Things ...

Picture it: You’ve been sifting through job ads for weeks, looking for the perfect fit. The next one you pull up is an exact match for your skillset.
But the “hard skills”— the specifics of how to get the job done—aren’t the only skills employers look for. Soft skills are just as important.
“Soft skills highlight your interpersonal skills, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and adaptability,” says Renee Frey, a recruiting expert, speaker, and author of “I Hate Mondays: A Guide to Landing a...

After teaching in the classroom for more than 20 years and earning a master’s in education, Laura Saulters was looking for ways to earn money in retirement.
When her friend told her about VIPKid, an English language tutoring service geared toward students in China, she thought it would be a good fit. She applied for a teaching position, got hired, and opened up for business. After teaching a few dozen lessons, “I was hooked,” Saulters said. “By the end of my first year, I had taught about 2,0...

Whether you’re looking to earn more, your work goals have changed, or your boss isn’t great, you might be looking to switch careers.
About half of adults have made a dramatic career change at some point in their lives, according to a survey conducted by Indeed.com.
But jumping immediately to a new career could cost you time, money, and energy — for a new role that might not be a good fit. If you’re interested in changing careers, it’s best to set up a plan of action first.
7 Ways to Find a Ne...

Day one of your new job can be intimidating. You know you need to learn the ins and out of your new role, but you also want to get along with your coworkers and managers.
The first day at a new job “sets the tone for what kind of worker you’ll be in the future,” says Darren Easton, Vice President and Creative Director at The Cyphers Agency. “If you immediately show that you have a good, positive attitude and get along with people, you’ll be someone who your coworkers not only want to work wit...

In the early days of her business, Gabby Wallace heard you shouldn’t grow a YouTube following until you have a product. But for her, it was the other way around.
“I built up a following and then listened really carefully to my viewers,” Wallace says. “All the people who were asking questions—they created my product.”
Her YouTube channel, Go Natural English, started as an extra resource for her language students in Japan. But once other viewers started asking for private lessons and requesting...

If you love art and you’re looking for ways to diversify your investment portfolio, art investing can be a solid choice.
“Not only does [art] appreciate over time, but it’s a strong way to diversify,” said Blair Haden, registrar at Restoration Division, a company that restores art pieces. “If the stock market crashes, fine art can remain unaffected and even continue to rise in value.”
The art market has seen both peaks and valleys, but it consistently returns 7.6% to investors, according to o...

If you’re on the hunt for a new job, your resume is a crucial piece of your job application. Recruiters use this document to help them decide whether you move to the next phase of the hiring process. This means it must showcase your accomplishments and the value you can bring to the company.
But you only have seconds to make an impression. Recruiters spend an average of 7.4 seconds scanning a resume, according to a study by Ladders Inc.
That’s why it’s important to learn how to make a resume ...