http://www.artipot.com/authors/9723/chris-esposito/ Latest articles by Chris Esposito from Artipot - your one-stop resource for free articles. http://www.artipot.com/articles/422700/understanding-the-closing-costs-for-an-owner-builder-construction-loan.htm After an owner builder navigates through the labyrinth of qualifying, it will be time to close on the loan. This is essentially where you sign a huge stack of documents that you will barely skim, and hardly comprehend anyway. Basically, this is where the owner builder loan promises to give you the money, and you promise to repay it. Seems simple - so why is it usually a... Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:45:47 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/422700/understanding-the-closing-costs-for-an-owner-builder-construction-loan.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/399824/going-green-with-home-renovation-loans-the-managerial-art-of-building-equity.htm With the economic downturn, more and more people are opting for home renovation loans to rehab their existing property instead of purchasing a new house as a way to fit their family's home needs. With this trend comes a boom in green home features that people can install to make their homes more environmentally friendly. However, you must weigh the costs of the home... Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:05:16 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/399824/going-green-with-home-renovation-loans-the-managerial-art-of-building-equity.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/394382/the-home-renovation-loan-timeline-and-the-1-mistake-most-people-make.htm The number one mistake that most people make with their home renovation loans is not allowing enough time to get through the process. Renovating a home, and obtaining a loan to do so, is not as simple as going out and obtaining a mortgage to just buy a home. The planning stage of a home improvement project is often cited as the most stressful period of most people's home... Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:47:08 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/394382/the-home-renovation-loan-timeline-and-the-1-mistake-most-people-make.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/391875/the-holy-grail-of-diy-projects-home-renovation-loans.htm If you enjoy working around the home and doing various DIY projects, then maybe you're ready for the Holy Grail of DIY - a home improvement project through a home renovation loan. By repairing and renovating your home, you will build instant equity into your property, whether you are completing a minor home renovation or a full-scale home rehab. Sat, 18 Jul 2009 01:35:31 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/391875/the-holy-grail-of-diy-projects-home-renovation-loans.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/381872/what-should-you-expect-to-pay-in-closing-costs-for-home-renovation-loans.htm When looking for home renovation loans for a home improvement project, you will undoubtedly want to compare financing programs and closing costs. If you want a home rehab loan, you'll need to make sure you're comparing apples to apples when looking at loan fees. Specialized home renovation loans will have slightly more fees than simpler mortgages, but it should be worth it... Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:37:45 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/381872/what-should-you-expect-to-pay-in-closing-costs-for-home-renovation-loans.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/379087/the-ethical-side-of-credit-restoration.htm Is it ethical to remove legitimate, bad credit from your credit report? Of course it is. The credit rating system in the U.S. has not been kind to the American consumer; and, the term credit repair has been given a nasty reputation, becoming synonymous with fraud. This state of affairs often forces defense of credit repair practices - a completely legal and ethical service. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:27:51 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/379087/the-ethical-side-of-credit-restoration.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/377604/the-9-basic-steps-to-home-rehab-loans.htm Home rehab loans give you the chance to fix up a home and earn a lot of instant equity in the process. However, the loan process is more involved and time consuming than a simple purchase or refinance loan. If you are considering a home rehab loan, understanding these nine basic steps will make the project much smoother. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:34:15 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/377604/the-9-basic-steps-to-home-rehab-loans.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/374929/the-hidden-gems-underpriced-homes-needing-minor-improvements.htm We've all seen the news of the homes in Detroit selling for $100, requiring massive home improvement work. These may be great deals for the right person. But, for the rest of us, there are plenty of quicker, easier, better home improvement opportunities, not requiring experience in the industry. You just need to look for the hidden gems - the ones with minor blemishes that... Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:34:19 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/374929/the-hidden-gems-underpriced-homes-needing-minor-improvements.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/371524/15-huge-credit-myths-and-why-the-bureaus-prefer-they-stay-hidden.htm In the past, people could only guess at what helped or hurt credit scores. The creators of the credit scores maintained a shroud of secrecy about the scoring models to limit competition and prevent consumers from cheating the system - either of which would put the credit scoring companies out of business. Today, we know much more. In fact, here are the 15 biggest myths of... Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:21:58 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/371524/15-huge-credit-myths-and-why-the-bureaus-prefer-they-stay-hidden.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/370304/fannie-versus-the-government-who-has-the-best-home-renovation-loans.htm When considering a home improvement project, most people will need to turn to a home renovation loan to finance the desired repairs and upgrades. Nowadays, there are two big kids on the block in the world of home renovation loans: Fannie Mae's Homestyle loan and the government insured FHA 203k program. Let's take a look at which one is better for you. Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:20:09 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/370304/fannie-versus-the-government-who-has-the-best-home-renovation-loans.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/369461/how-your-credit-scores-are-calculated-the-5-main-factors-you-need-to-know.htm When most of us think of scores, we think of the straightforward systems used in sports or in school tests. Credit scoring isn't nearly so easy, using multivariate formulas so that the value of any given bit of information in your report might depend on other bits of information. So, you must know the five main factors that affect your FICO score according to their relative... Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:47:02 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/369461/how-your-credit-scores-are-calculated-the-5-main-factors-you-need-to-know.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/357027/quantifying-the-real-cost-of-bad-credit.htm What is the real cost of having bad credit? Let's take a quick look at automobile financing and mortgage loans to see if we can't put some specific numbers to it. Very quickly, you'll see that there is a very real, very quantitative cost to having a low credit score. On the other hand, you will also see how financially advantageous it is for you to work to increase your scores. Mon, 25 May 2009 07:27:11 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/357027/quantifying-the-real-cost-of-bad-credit.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/354327/credit-scores-what-is-good-what-is-not.htm What is a good score? Unfortunately, there is no one answer to this question. The simple answer is: it depends. We all know that the higher the score, the better. After that it gets a little more complicated. Each creditor makes its own determination of credit scores and what is acceptable - and what is not. The key is knowing what factors will help boost your score as high... Thu, 21 May 2009 02:18:42 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/354327/credit-scores-what-is-good-what-is-not.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/351684/the-home-renovation-loan-appraisal-what-you-need-to-know-before-your-financing-gets-denied.htm The appraisal is just as important to your home renovation loan qualification as your income, assets and credit. The appraisal for a home to be rehabbed is even more important than one for a home that already exists. If you are considering fixing up a property with a home renovation loan, you need to know the workings of a good appraisal. Sun, 17 May 2009 15:02:07 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/351684/the-home-renovation-loan-appraisal-what-you-need-to-know-before-your-financing-gets-denied.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/350959/the-lesser-known-uses-of-your-fico-credit-scores.htm Everyone knows that the FICO credit scoring system's main purpose is to predict your probability of defaulting on a loan. However, there are several other things that creditors use your credit scores for. Here's a list of seven lesser known uses of credit scores, as well as a quick breakdown of other important facts you need to know. Fri, 15 May 2009 22:24:57 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/350959/the-lesser-known-uses-of-your-fico-credit-scores.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/347999/20-dos-and-donts-of-home-renovation-loans.htm If you are considering a home renovation loan to finance your new home improvement project, then you need to go into the process as prepared as possible. These twenty tips will prove invaluable when shopping for and navigating through your home renovation loan. Tue, 12 May 2009 10:35:27 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/347999/20-dos-and-donts-of-home-renovation-loans.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/346397/your-credit-score-how-it-works-and-why-its-so-important.htm One thing that everyone must know about their credit scores is that you don't have just one credit score - you have many credit scores. And, these scores change constantly. Before you can go to work preserving or repairing your credit scores, it is important to understand how the credit scoring system works, what factors are important, and why they are important. Mon, 11 May 2009 02:52:31 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/346397/your-credit-score-how-it-works-and-why-its-so-important.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/344937/what-you-need-to-know-about-building-permits-before-you-begin-your-home-improvement-project.htm Almost every county has a local department to review house plans and issue permits for home improvement projects. If you're hiring a home improvement contractor to rehab your home, he or she should be intimately familiar with the local building codes and permit procedures. But, remember that the house will still be yours. Stay involved with the permitting process for your... Sat, 09 May 2009 21:38:09 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/344937/what-you-need-to-know-about-building-permits-before-you-begin-your-home-improvement-project.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/342616/the-great-unknown-the-fha-203-k-home-rehab-loan.htm FHA insured loans have spiraled upward in popularity with the demise of the sub-prime mortgage market. So, how is it that the FHA 203(k) program is still a hidden gem - still a great unknown? It is by far the most liquid, most flexible, most useful home rehab loan on the market. Here are the basics every potential homeowner needs to know right away. Thu, 07 May 2009 05:24:26 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/342616/the-great-unknown-the-fha-203-k-home-rehab-loan.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/341359/credit-cards-a-necessity-and-a-potential-evil.htm Credit cards are useful, often necessary for making hotel reservations, buying something online, or even getting the best exchange rate when traveling abroad. They offer the convenience of buying something now and paying for it later, and they give you the security of being able to get a refund for damaged or defective products. But, they can be very costly if you carry a... Mon, 04 May 2009 17:37:40 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/341359/credit-cards-a-necessity-and-a-potential-evil.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/336399/credit-should-not-be-feared-just-properly-managed.htm When used wisely, credit can enhance your life. It can allow you to purchase things like a home, a car, and even finance a college education. However, when you use credit unwisely, your financial life can become stressful and difficult. Remember, credit is a financial tool - neither good nor bad. How you use the tools determines whether they will have a positive or negative... Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:36:59 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/336399/credit-should-not-be-feared-just-properly-managed.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/334919/3-innocent-mistakes-that-could-destroy-your-home-improvement-project.htm Home improvement projects are providing the solution to the housing market slump across the nation, as savvy investors and homeowners are fixing up their properties to rebuild their equity. However, these three simple, innocent mistakes could cause your home improvement project to backfire disastrously on you. Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:05:57 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/334919/3-innocent-mistakes-that-could-destroy-your-home-improvement-project.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/332400/the-secret-to-making-a-low-down-payment-for-home-renovation-loans.htm With an over-saturation of foreclosures on the market, the country is turning to home renovation loans as the primary means of buying and fixing up these under-valued properties. In fact, these home rehab loans have been a great tool for first time homebuyers to begin building their nest egg. However, for many people new to real estate, the key is minimizing the down payment... Sun, 19 Apr 2009 07:50:04 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/332400/the-secret-to-making-a-low-down-payment-for-home-renovation-loans.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/330905/the-6-people-intimately-involved-in-your-home-renovation-loan.htm Home improvement projects are on the rise, as more and more people realize that there are amazing values to be found on the real estate market today, especially those homes that need a little rehab work. However, if you don't plan on paying cash to buy and fix up a home, then you need to know these 6 people who will be intimately involved in your home renovation loan. Fri, 17 Apr 2009 07:48:09 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/330905/the-6-people-intimately-involved-in-your-home-renovation-loan.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/329031/credit-scores-a-moving-target-for-home-renovation-loans.htm Not long ago, almost anyone could get a home renovation loan or home improvement loan, regardless of credit score. Then, with the housing and mortgage industry crisis, the best home renovation loans required at least a 580 credit score. The, it shifted to 600. Now, it basically sits at 620. Is this the last change, or will the target keep moving for credit scores and home... Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:48:43 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/329031/credit-scores-a-moving-target-for-home-renovation-loans.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/327504/what-is-a-home-renovation-or-rehab-loan-really.htm With the recent flood of foreclosures on the market, you've probably already heard some of the talk about the boom in home renovation loans or home rehab loans. But, there is a lot of misinformation out there about these financing products. Before deciding if it's right for you, step back a moment and get a firm grasp of what a home rehab or home renovation loan really does. Mon, 13 Apr 2009 08:22:09 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/327504/what-is-a-home-renovation-or-rehab-loan-really.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/253196/odd-ball-holidays-a-different-way-to-market-your-product.htm It's the holiday season once again. While most of your competitors are bumping up their marketing, you should find a smarter way to get noticed. My office provides owner builder construction loans - a small fish in a large construction financing ocean. The only chance we have of getting noticed is by being different and wacky - focusing on odd-ball holidays to send out our... Sat, 20 Dec 2008 09:22:11 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/253196/odd-ball-holidays-a-different-way-to-market-your-product.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/252110/holiday-shopping-for-owner-builder-loans-the-features-your-financing-must-have.htm Happy Holidays. It's that time of year again. Holiday season not only means shopping for stocking stuffers. It's also the time of year when people start planning their construction projects to be able to begin building in the spring. Here's a list of features your owner builder construction loan must have to make your shopping easier. Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:02:49 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/252110/holiday-shopping-for-owner-builder-loans-the-features-your-financing-must-have.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/249831/the-latest-owner-builder-home-improvement-loan.htm Home improvement loans are gaining popularity as more people opt to fix up their homes in today's economy instead of buy or build new houses. And, saving money during the renovation is more important than ever. The latest twist in the mortgage industry's home improvement niche allows you to manage the process yourself as an owner builder and cut out the costs of a general... Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:30:45 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/249831/the-latest-owner-builder-home-improvement-loan.htm http://www.artipot.com/articles/246211/is-an-owner-builder-loan-recession-proof.htm Certainly owner builder construction loans have changed over the last couple of years in response to the tightening of the mortgage industry's metaphorical belt. However, there are still some good owner builder construction loans available today. And, the main features of owner builder construction may make it a winner regardless of the current state of the economy. Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:44:25 +0000 http://www.artipot.com/articles/246211/is-an-owner-builder-loan-recession-proof.htm