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Mortgage Refinancing Help
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: Gardening (3,789)
 Lenders like pristine credit reports. If you have a bunch of open credit card accounts that you never use (and who doesn't?), consider closing them. It will boost your credit score and make you a much more attractive borrower to a lender. Then, a month after you've closed your accounts, go over your credit report with a fine-tooth comb. It should read that the accounts were closed at your request. (You don't want lenders to think someone cut you off and that you're a bad credit risk.)
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 Exploratorium: Science Of Gardening »
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 Let's Go Gardening »
General gardening site, with versions geared towards US and UK gardeners. Tips and articles, informational resources, links to events, societies, and public gardens, and a forum.
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 The Garden Helper »
Offers basic information, seasonal tips and task lists, plant indexes by common and botanical names, and advice on soil, fertilizers, pest, and weeds.
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 Garden Terms »
Gardening dictionary with brief definitions of a large number of terms, optionally arranged by category.
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 P. Allen Smith Garden Home »
TV host, writer, and professional gardener, P. Allen Smith provides tips on a variety of gardening topics, along with his biography, recipes, and instructional videos.
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 LoveToKnow Garden »
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 Hort.net »
Offers a collection of garden reference materials, including a plant gallery and profiles, archives of mailing lists, gardening news, and links.
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 Fees are a hidden cost of many mortgage loans. By law, lenders must disclose fees within three days of a loan application. Fees can go by many names like - document prep fees, courier fees, administrative fees, and more.
Refinacing your mortgage can allow you to take cash out of the equity which you have built in your home. You can pay off your higher interest debts and pay all of your debts at a lower interest rate. This will allow you to save money on a monthly basis and achieve your financial security.
Don't escrow taxes and insurance. Unless you're undisciplined, avoid putting monies in escrow to cover your property taxes and homeowner's insurance. There's usually a fee for this privilege that runs under 1 percent of the loan amount, in states where it's allowed. "Paying the fee will allow you to time your tax and insurance payments to your benefit," says Bank South's Steve Austin. For instance, you may be able to prepay taxes that are due next year and use those payments to reduce your current tax bill. Moreover, you get to hang onto your money longer. That may be an advantage when interest-bearing accounts start paying more.
It is feasible to go for a refinance when you have built up at least 10% equity in your home (For Fannie Mae owned mortgages, the value is 5%). It is also possible for you to choose the option if your equity is less than 5%, but you may have to pay a certain amount of cash in order to make up for the difference in equity.
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