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Portland Housing Center is an excellent resource for learning how to buy a home. They help you learn how to improve your credit (if you need to), navigate the sea of confusing (explain terms) and they help you find resources. Whether you're low income or just confused by the whole process, they really help break it down and make home ownership (yes, the American dream) accessible to many people.

They are also well aware of the mortgage deals that didn't make info as clear as the companies could have (that's my take on the root of the situation) and they help people avoid that situation.

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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Can someone explain the benefit (or not) of refinancing? People talk about it like it is free money, but there is no such thing. Where is the money coming from? Why would someone do this? My understanding is that the value of the home has gone up, you're only paying for the cost of the home when you bought it, and there is an understanding that when you sell it you'll get more because the value has gone up.

But what if the value goes down when you sell?

Basically, how does the bank account for that money you took out in the refinancing?

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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I understand that it's hard to get coverage with pre-existing conditions, but I don't understand what the big deal is, in general, about affording health insurance. I pay my own insurance - $144 a month. Sure, my deductible is $1,000, but I just keep that reserve in the bank in case. Co-pays would add up, but I just stay healthy as best I can and rarely go to the doctor. What am I missing here? Why are some people having such a hard time finding coverage? $144 is affordable when you prioritize (over cable payments, extra cell phone bells and whistles, etc.).

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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