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Why Telephone Scams Often Target Seniors
By Charlestien Harris I am entering my sixties, so I am looking at financial issues that affect my age group more and more. One of the most common issues is telephone scams. Telemarketing fraud is a multi-billion dollar business in the United States. Every...
Paying Down Debt and Raising Your Credit Score
By Charlestien Harris As an accredited financial counselor, I’m often asked questions like “How long will it take for my credit score to increase when I make a payment on my accounts?” or “When will I see an increase in my score?”. The answer I most often reply...
Breaking Down Your Mortgage Payment
By Charlestien Harris There are so many industry terms used in the home buying process that can be unfamiliar to the average consumer. One example commonly used by the mortgage lending industry is the acronym PITI. PITI is an acronym for a mortgage payment that...
Understanding the Benefits of the Homestead Exemption
By Charlestien Harris As a new homeowner or a first-time home buyer, one piece of important information that can be overlooked is the filing of the homestead exemption. Any homeowner can suffer a major loss, like the loss of a spouse or other financial setbacks,...
10 Steps to Buying A Home
By Charlestien Harris Purchasing a home is one of the most important decisions most people will ever make. The length of time it takes to buy a home varies according to the readiness of a potential buyer. For some it can take a few months, for others it...
Understanding a Reverse Mortgage
By Charlestien Harris A lot of conversations have been happening around understanding how mortgages can be used as a financial tool to improve your financial health and possibly build your net worth. So let’s dive in to get a better understanding of how a...
Understanding Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
By Charlestien Harris As a financial counselor, I get a lot of questions and concerns about which financial products can best suit my clients’ financial goals. One such product of interest is the certificate of deposit or the CD as it is most-commonly...
Why Home Inspections Are Important for Buyers and Sellers
By Charlestien Harris In the excitement of buying or selling a home, people sometimes overlook an essential step in the process. However, it is very important that you schedule a home inspection whether you are the buyer or seller of a house. The inspection is an...