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7 House Buying Tips to Save Money
May 21, 2019
Categories: Budget, Budget, Home Buyer, Home Equity, Personal Loans, Savings, Savings
It’s finally house hunting season and you could not be more excited to get the ball rolling on your big purchase! Before you hit the road or the search bar, take these 7 tips into consideration. 1. Know Your Limits Before signing the papers or falling in love with the first home you see be realistic about what is in your budget. We recommend spending no more than 25 percent of your monthly income on the mortgage. When you know what this number is, be sure to stick with homes in that price
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4 Steps to Buying a Home That Won't Bust Your Budget
May 2, 2019
Categories: Budget, Budget, Home Buyer, Personal Loans, Savings, Savings
It’s that time of year when you’re likely to see ‘for sale’ signs on every block. Maybe you already have your eye on one and go out of your way to drive past it on your way home from work. Before you leap into purchasing a home, be sure to take these four steps before signing the bottom line. 1. Understand Your Monthly Expenses Alarmingly, many Americans don’t have a true understanding about what money they have coming out each month. This can be a dangerous territory
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5 Creative Ways to Save for Your New Home
February 6, 2019
Categories: Budget, Budget, Home Buyer, Home Equity, Home Seller, Personal Loans, Savings, Savings
You’ve made the decision that you are tired of renting and ready to step into the world of home ownership. Good for you! You may be wondering what your next steps should be in order to be financially prepared for this major investment. Here are some creative ways to ramp up your savings for this exciting adventure! 1. Consider a Move Now Is the place you’re living now truly the most cost effective for your budget? Consider moving to a temporary location that can significantly trim
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How to Tackle Student Loan Repayments
December 21, 2017
Categories: Financial Management, Personal Loans
What they didn’t teach you in school, was how to pay for school. Many know what it’s like to look excitably into your direct deposit account or open that envelope on payday, to only be dissatisfied by the large withdrawal that was taken towards your student loan debt. Confronting what seems like the impregnable wall of debt can be overwhelming. And many can feel unprepared-even duped at the debt to income ratio their college degree has given them. However, it doesn’t have to
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Student Loan PSA: What Student Debt Really Looks Like
March 9, 2017
Categories: Education, Personal Loans, Savings
Obtaining your secondary education can be a landmark goal on your journey to success. By opening up opportunities, and enhancing your capabilities, the study of a discipline gives you the skills you need to conquer your future ambitions. More often than not, student loans offer a helpful supplement when financing this experience. However, many students are able to obtain these financial aids without having to budget or offer a credit history, causing a higher likelihood of default among student
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Post-Honeymoon Finances: Managing Money Together
February 16, 2016
Categories: Budget, Debt, Education, Financial Management, Personal Loans, Savings
After tying the knot, finances can be a tricky subject, but they are an absolutely necessary discussion. As Dave Ramsey says, “If you can talk about money, you can talk about anything.” Getting your finances put together takes some decision making, but here are some basic guidelines to get you started. Be transparent with one and other. Begin the conversation with sharing each of your individual financial states, and the goals you have for where you want to be in the coming
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Prep Your Finances for Home Buying Season
March 17, 2015
Categories: Budget, Home Seller, Personal Loans
Whether you are buying your first home or it’s your third time around, there are always several points you need to keep in mind before you say “yes” to the dream home. Prepping your finances for home buying season is the most important thing you can do before you buy a home. Iowa State Bank wants to help make your home buying experience easy with our mortgage and rate watch options. Now, we have a few tips for you to prep your finances for home buying