Down Payment Requirements FHA loans have long been touted as the go-to option for home buyers who don’t have a significant amount of cash for a down payment. It’s possible to buy a home with as little as 3.5% of the purchase price down through the FHA loan program. Traditionally, a 20% down payment has been the standard for conventional loans, but it’s now possible to get a mortgage through Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac with a down payment of 3%....

A teller or personal banker can print counter checks for you. When you first open an account at a bank, you will probably be given several counter checks to get you started before your official checks arrive. They will have your account information on them, so they work just like regular checks. Your ABA routing number and account number appear on the bottom of each check in that familiar computerized MICR font....

Creating a commodity trading plan can be accomplished in as little as a day, but it can also take months to complete a well-designed plan. The most successful trading strategies are iterative processes that improve over time. When one approaches the markets for the first time, trading experience, the level of market education and the sophistication of trading strategies will be basic. The construction of a trading plan does not have to be a complicated process....

With that kind of money on the line, it’s crucial that students and their families understand their student loan options, including Direct Loans. These federal student loans have key advantages and are a popular way to pay for college. But are Direct Loans your best option? Here’s what you need to know about federal Direct Loans for students. What Are Direct Loans? Direct Loans are loans that are funded and owned by the U....

The rewards credit card issuer released its 2021 rotating bonus category calendar on Sunday, which informs consumers of the types of purchases eligible to earn extra rewards each quarter for several of its credit cards. Cardholders will earn 5% back on purchases made with more than 20 streaming service providers in the second quarter next year. Eligible streaming services include Apple TV+, Hulu, Netflix, Spotify, Pandora, and YouTube TV. The streaming service addition replaces the Uber and Lyft category Discover included in its bonus category line-up this past spring....

What Is a Business Owner’s Policy? A business owner’s policy (BOP) is a package policy designed for small businesses. It combines general liability and commercial property coverage in a single insurance contract. Some insurers write BOPs on standard Insurance Services Office forms while others use their own policy forms. BOPs are intended for businesses with low-risk exposures, such as small contractors, retail stores, small office buildings, low-rise apartments, and restaurants with limited cooking facilities....

Know When To File Your annual federal tax return is usually due by Tax Day every year, which is normally April 15. Tax Day can change due to certain circumstances, so it’s important to know when your return is due. If you feel like you need more time to file, you can ask for an extension by filling out Form 4868 and sending it to the IRS on or before the spring deadline....

The hope is that increased global trade will lead to more competition, which will spread wealth more equally. Those who are in favor also claim that trade across borders will help limit military conflicts. However, there are downsides to boosting trade between countries. Some critics point to globalization as a factor in rising nationalism and income inequality, among other issues. Learn more about the pros and cons of globalization to understand how it affects economies and individuals....

You may be interested in buying EGLD. Keep reading for a closer look at how Elrond works, how to participate in the Elrond community, and more about EGLD as a cryptocurrency. What Is Elrond? Elrond is both a blockchain-based platform and cryptocurrency with the symbol EGLD. Elrond is named for a character in Lord of the Rings, and several projects related to the currency stick with the same theme. Elrond was founded in 2018....

The six most common types of retirement income are taxed according to varying rules. Social Security Income You probably won’t pay any taxes in retirement if Social Security benefits are your only source of income, but a portion of your benefits will likely be taxed if you have other, additional sources of income. A formula determines the amount of your Social Security that’s taxable. You might have to include up to 85% of your benefits as taxable income on your return....

“If we have to raise interest rates more over time, we will,” Powell told senators at his nomination hearing for a second term. “We will use our tools to get inflation back” under control, noting that high inflation is a “severe threat” to economic expansion. The central bank’s willingness to be aggressive in controlling inflation is a key point of debate as consumer prices soar to the highest levels in decades....

Certain levels of debt may be manageable and may not put a major strain on your budget. On the other hand, having too much debt can cause an unhealthy financial life. Even if you can afford the monthly payments, your debt may still affect your ability to meet other financial and life goals. If you fear you might have too much debt, there’s a way to see exactly where you stand....

Basic Internet Listing Information Include all key elements in your listing description. If you miss an important detail, a prospective home buyer might pass over your Internet listing on home selling sites: Property address. Sales price. Number of bedrooms and baths. Year the home was built. Style of home & number of stories Square footage. Acreage or lot size. Name of subdivision or location. Other rooms: family-den-media-library, etc. Type of flooring....

Parents have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 28 to opt out of the initial payment. They can do so online using the Internal Revenue Service’s child tax credit portal, where they can check eligibility and advance payments, or unenroll from advance payments. Users will need their existing IRS username or ID.me account, or enroll for one using a photo ID. As part of the American Rescue Plan pandemic relief bill, the child tax credit was significantly increased and overhauled for 2021....

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke first used the term on February 29, 2012. He warned the House Financial Services Committee, “Under current law, on Jan. 1, 2013, there’s going to be a massive fiscal cliff of large spending cuts and tax increases…” Tax Increases The five tax increases were the December 31, 2012 expiration of three tax cuts and a tax credit. The renewal of those taxes would occur on January 1, 2013, the same day a new tax would begin....

The franchise agreement will govern everything about how the franchisee runs the new business and lay out what they can expect from the franchisor. Learn more about what’s in the agreement and what it will mean if you decide to franchise your business or become a franchisee. What Is a Franchise Agreement? In the United States, a business becomes a franchise if it meets the definition established by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), known as the FTC Franchise Rule....

1. Vanguard’s Plain Talk on Retirement Vanguard offers online investment and retirement courses that allow you to click through different topics and issues that are most relevant to your stage of life. For instance, the investment course covers the following: I am already saving or just starting to save: Information found at this link helps you figure out how much you should save and how you should invest. I am preparing to retire: This link provides materials on everything from preparing your portfolio to figuring out how much you can withdraw in retirement....

As a small business owner, you need to know the terms “gross income” and “net income,” how they are different, how they are calculated, and how they work in business tax returns and financial statements. What’s the Difference Between Gross Income and Net Income? Gross income is the total income of a business (often just income from its operations) and net income is gross income minus expenses. But gross income is also the result after deducting some expenses directly related to the core products or services of the business....

Gross profit measures the dollar amount of profit from the sale of a business’s product. It is the dollar amount of sales revenue you have left after paying all the direct costs of producing your product. Gross margin measures by percentage what part of the product’s cost is the sales price. It is the percentage by which sales revenue exceeds the cost of making those sales. Gross profit is an especially important financial metric because it helps a small business owner determine what is affecting the profitability of their business....

That’s according to a Thursday analysis by real estate data company Attom Data. The analysis showed that in 95% of the most populous counties in America, it took less of your income to rent a three-bedroom home than to buy one. Renting overtook buying as the more affordable option this year: When Attom ran the same analysis in 2022, buying was cheaper in 60% of the counties. The map below shows where it’s cheaper to buy or rent, and how much of a typical wage your housing costs would take up....