Let’s examine a few of the best times to consider getting a reverse mortgage. When you don’t have enough income to pay your bills Many seniors have significant equity in their homes after paying down their mortgage over time, especially if home values have increased. Unfortunately, many of these same seniors struggle to meet monthly…

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If you need a mortgage, a good credit score, also called a FICO score, is essential—and it’s within your control. In a nutshell, a credit score is a simplified calculation of your history of paying back debts and making regular payments on loans. If you’re borrowing money to buy a home, lenders want to know…

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A recent New York Times article offers a concise 5-year countdown-to-retirement plan, with the final year of the timeline being the time to –cautiously – consider a reverse mortgage. Offered as a way to make ends meet if you’re planning to stay in your current home, reverse mortgages are a “fourth- or fifth-tier line of…

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Memorial Day means firing up that backyard grill for the season, hopefully under warm, sunny skies. You can be sure to enjoy the day without hazards by taking a few simple precautions, said Dr. Mike Ren, an associate professor of family and community medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Watch out for rising…

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Pregnant women hear a lot of “Do this” and “Don’t do that” advice about what is safe to eat. But one recommendation that’s particularly important involves seafood: During pregnancy, women need to eat enough seafood to gain the health benefits, but not so much to raise the risk of some significant consequences. They also need…

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If you are thinking about purchasing a home near an airport, here’s what I considered on my homebuying journey to help guide you on your decision. Concern No. 1: Noise One of the biggest possible drawbacks of living near an airport is—you guessed it—the sometimes booming sound of planes landing and taking off. So you’ll…

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A Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-sponsored Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) requires a borrower to be at or over the age of 62 to qualify for a loan, making baby boomers most of the new qualifying candidates for a HECM. A new report from Construction Coverage sourced by its researchers and data from the U.S. Census…

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Retirees will continue to face financial difficulties over the course of 2019, stemming from perennial problems like pensions, personal finances, social security benefits and even leftover debt from student loans. This is according to a column at MarketWatch examining the current state of the financial landscape for retirees, and accompanying data from the Federal Reserve…

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It’s always a good idea to use caution when having some summer fun — and that includes preventing burns from barbecues and other heat sources. An expert from UT Southwestern Medical Center offers tips for avoiding heat-related pitfalls, including grilling and metal playground equipment during extreme outdoor temperatures. “Concrete, metal and even plastic surfaces sitting…

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