Barbara Martin, Author at Vetted VA

Benefits of Saving Money as a Family

Whether your family is just you and your partner, a family with children, or a multigenerational household, all families have short-term and long-term financial goals.

A highly effective way to ensure financial stability within your household is by learning how to save as a family. Learning how to save as a family can establish healthy spending and savings habits that can result in financial stability.

Saving as a family encourages healthy financial habits in children

Learning about finances and making wise financial

Benefits of Saving Money as a FamilyBarbara Martin2023-05-09T10:03:44-07:00

Comparing Snowball Method and Avalanche Method to Pay Off Debt

Paying off all your debt can seem like an impossible task, especially if you can only manage to pay the minimum required amount each month. Fortunately for you, there are multiple strategies to help you pay off that balance. Two of these strategies are the snowball and avalanche methods. Learn about each method to decide which one will work best for you.

Using the snowball method to pay off debt

The larger your debt grows from having multiple loans and credit cards,

Comparing Snowball Method and Avalanche Method to Pay Off DebtBarbara Martin2023-05-08T15:19:13-07:00

How to Start Saving for Retirement

Many people dream about the day they can retire. Whether you’re early in your career, closer to the traditional retirement age, or would like to retire early, you will need to have a substantial amount of money saved to maintain your current standard of living when you officially leave the workforce.

Do you know how much money you’ll need to retire?

If you’re like the majority of Americans, you don’t know the answer. Experts suggest a safe withdrawal amount each year is

How to Start Saving for RetirementBarbara Martin2023-05-04T16:37:18-07:00

How to Start and Build Your Emergency Fund. The Benefits of Being Financially Prepared.

If your car unexpectedly broke down tomorrow, and you were faced with a $1000 repair bill, would you be able to pay the total amount from your savings? If your answer is No, you’re not alone. Sixty-one percent (61%) of Americans would be unable to cover an unexpected $1000 expense with their savings, according to a Bankrate.com survey.

The best way to prepare for these financial bumps in the road is with an emergency fund. Even if you

How to Start and Build Your Emergency Fund. The Benefits of Being Financially Prepared.Barbara Martin2023-05-04T16:37:29-07:00

How to Apply for a VA Home Loan With a Certificate of Eligibility

In recognition of your service, the Department of Veterans Affairs financially backs home loans for Veterans, Active Duty Service Members, National Guard, Reserves and some surviving spouses. VA home loans can be used to buy a single-family home or condo, purchase and renovate a house, or build a new home, often with no down payment required in many circumstances.

One of the stipulations to apply for a VA home loan is that you must show your mortgage lender

How to Apply for a VA Home Loan With a Certificate of EligibilityBarbara Martin2023-04-27T08:42:37-07:00

Tidewater Appraisal

The VA Appraisal

I want to concentrate on the appraisal process when it comes to the tidewater process.

Let’s say the lender has already ordered your appraisal, and the VA has assigned an appraiser. The VA has experienced appraisers in its marketplace. They are required to have a certain level of experience appraising properties before they are permitted to apply for the VA’s appraisal panel. Since they are associated with the VA,

Tidewater AppraisalBarbara Martin2023-02-26T05:04:02-08:00

Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan

IRRRL

All right, let’s get into our first type of refinance loan. And this is the interest rate reduction refinance loan, also known as the IRRRL, Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan. It’s taken me a couple of times to say it. So here we are. And the purpose of the loan is in the name. The purpose is to refinance and reduce the veteran’s interest rate.

Benefits

One of the benefits, of course,

Interest Rate Reduction Refinance LoanBarbara Martin2022-12-14T13:21:55-08:00

The Standard Purchase VA Loan

VA Loan Requirements

Before we get into the standard purchase, we need to remind ourselves of some of the basic eligibility requirements to participate in the VA home loan program. So first of all, is this person a veteran, if so, we need their COE. Do they have their DD214? Did they provide their statement of service that verifies they’re actually eligible to participate in the

The Standard Purchase VA LoanBarbara Martin2023-03-06T11:08:08-08:00

Prepay Interest Rates in Advance using Discount Points

1% Discount Points to Buy down Interest Rates

Discount points are an upfront fee paid on a loan to buy down the interest rate. One discount point on a loan will be equal to one percent of the loan amount. Discount points are used to prepay interest in advance to lower the monthly payment by lowering the interest rate over the term of the loan. Lowering the interest rate on a home

Prepay Interest Rates in Advance using Discount PointsBarbara Martin2022-12-06T11:43:15-08:00

Cash-to-Close is more than Closing Cost

Estimated Cash-to-Close

The terms get incorrectly used interchangeably but are actually different. Closing costs and prepaids are expenses necessary to close on your home. Cash to Close is the total net amount you pay at the actual loan signing and is the net sum total of the closing costs, prepaid items, discount points, down payment, and after the application of any credits. The earnest money deposit paid when an offer was made is deducted

Cash-to-Close is more than Closing CostBarbara Martin2023-02-21T11:39:41-08:00

About Barbara Martin

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barbara@vettedva.com

About Barbara Martin

Saving as a family encourages healthy financial habits in children

Using the snowball method to pay off debt

Do you know how much money you’ll need to retire?

The VA Appraisal

IRRRL

Benefits

VA Loan Requirements

1% Discount Points to Buy down Interest Rates

Estimated Cash-to-Close

Visit Your Vetted VA™ Community

WEST

MIDWEST

SOUTH

EAST

Mailing Address

Contact

Mailing Address

Contact