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Street in Saisalito, CA, USA.
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Stuck in a Second Mortgage in the Bay Area? Hit Reset With Equity Sharing

Many Bay Area homeowners are feeling the squeeze from their second mortgage or HELOC. Monthly payments might be creeping higher. Variable rates might be climbing. And everyday living costs in the Bay Area — from groceries to insurance to childcare — aren’t exactly trending down. What once felt like a smart way to access cash has now become another source of monthly stress.

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Homeownership
Advantages & Disadvantages to a Home Equity Loan

You’ve probably heard of home equity loans, and have a general idea of what they are. But if you’re looking for a way to access your growing home equity and considering your options, a “general idea” isn’t going to cut it.

Homeownership
Advantages & Disadvantages to a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)

It’s no secret that Americans are sitting on an enormous amount of home equity (nearly $30 trillion!) But sitting is a passive act; you may be wondering whether there’s a way you could make your equity actively work for you.

Homeownership
Cash-Out Refinance Pros & Cons

A cash-out refinance is a mortgage refinancing solution that allows homeowners to replace their existing mortgage with a new one–usually at a higher loan amount–and receive the difference between the two loans in cash.

A house to symbolize what is home equity and how to use it.
Home Equity
What is Home Equity & How Can You Use It?

You’ve probably heard it’s good to build equity in your home. But what is home equity, exactly? How can you calculate the equity you have in your home? What can you even use that home equity to do?

home on a nice street with a couple of houses next to it.
Home Equity
Cash-Out ReFi vs Home Equity Loan

While you’ve heard that your house is your biggest asset, you might be unsure how to take advantage of the fact. Property is illiquid–which means, it isn’t ready money you can just use.

Home Equity
Coping With an Empty Nest

If your child is making the transition to college this year, you yourself may be anticipating a transition of your own: the “empty nest.”

Street in Saisalito, CA, USA.
Home Equity
Stuck in a Second Mortgage in the Bay Area? Hit Reset With Equity Sharing

Many Bay Area homeowners are feeling the squeeze from their second mortgage or HELOC. Monthly payments might be creeping higher. Variable rates might be climbing. And everyday living costs in the Bay Area — from groceries to insurance to childcare — aren’t exactly trending down. What once felt like a smart way to access cash has now become another source of monthly stress.

piggy bank and money on a beach
Financial Health
What Is a Good Interest Rate for a Savings Account?

If you’ve checked your savings account lately and wondered, “Is this rate actually good?”, you’re not alone. At any given time, the answer depends on three things.

person stressing over multiple debts and what to do about them.
Financial Health
What’s Better for Debt Consolidation: an Equity Sharing Home Loan or a Personal Loan?

Managing debt isn’t new for most of us. Whether it’s credit cards, personal loans, or other balances, it can all pile up quietly. Then one day, you realize that keeping track of multiple due dates, interest rates, and monthly payments is starting to feel like a full-time job.

keys on a table
Financial Health
How to Invest in a Second Property, Part 2: Financing, Strategy, and Smart Management

In the second part of our series, we’ll walk you through how to fund, purchase, and make the most of your second property investment, while maintaining flexibility and minimizing risk.

child using a smart thermostat under a woman's supervision.
Renovations & Remodeling
7 Smart Home Upgrades That Add Real Convenience & Value

The idea of a “smart home” can be exciting. Lights that turn on automatically, a thermostat you control from your phone, or a fridge that tells you when you’re out of milk – it all sounds futuristic! But not every gadget lives up to the promise. Some are expensive and fussy, some don’t really increase your home’s value, and some are just waiting for better tech before they’re actually worth the squeeze.

keys on a table
Financial Health
How to Invest in a Second Property, Part 1: Deciding Whether (& When) to Invest

For many homeowners, the idea of buying a second property represents more than just a second real estate purchase. It’s a vision of financial freedom, flexibility, and future security – whether that means having a vacation spot to enjoy, a rental home generating income, or a nest egg that can grow in value over time.