You’ve read what we have to say about Dave Ramsey's way of living and gotten your financial house in order, making you ready to begin the great house hunt. But before you dive head first into gathering your top ten list of dream homes, you may want to learn a little more about what you'll be paying for that home. 

You’ve set a budget for your monthly payments, but those payments could vary greatly depending on the interest rate you pay for a loan. And the interest rate you end up paying may vary for a number of reasons, too. 

For a 30-year loan on $150,000, the monthly payment of interest and principal at 5 percent would be $805. That same loan at a 4 percent rate would be $716 a month. It's kind of amazing to see the difference one little percentage point can make.

The interest rate you pay is largely determined by your credit score, which includes:

You've decided to sell your home, and the big question you've been eager to have answered is, "How much money am I going to make on the sale of my home?" But actually, the first question you should ask is, "How much do I really owe on my current home?"

Many people think the amount shown on their monthly mortgage statement provides enough information. However, while this is in the general range, it does not show the actual payoff amount because of the way interest on mortgage loans is calculated and charged.

Summer is well underway, which means there is tons to do in Central Florida. July is no exception!

Celebrate 4th of July in Osceola County

Kissimmee, St. Cloud, and Celebration all have big events planned for 4th of July. In St. Cloud, you can get in on the action all day long, with live, local music and fireworks starting at 9:15pm. In Kissimmee, the festivities start at 5pm and culminate with a spectacular fireworks display starting around 9:10pm overlooking Lake Tohopekaliga. Finally, Celebration continues their tradition of "A Sci-Fi 4th of July" featuring a movie-themed costume contest at 7:30pm with fireworks afterward. All three events are family friendly and feature local music, food, and fun for everyone! 

 
image credit: Andrew T. Sullivan on Flickr