If you've ever purchased a home before, you may already be familiar with the benefits and terms of title insurance. But if this is your first home loan or you are refinancing, you may be wondering why you need another insurance policy.

The answer is simple: The purchase of a home is most likely one of the most expensive and important purchases you will ever make. You, and especially your mortgage lender, want to make sure the property is indeed yours: That no individual or government entity has any right, lien, claim, or encumbrance on your property.

The function of a title insurance company is to make sure your rights and interests to the property are clear, that transfer of title takes place efficiently and correctly, and that your interests as a homebuyer are fully protected.

Renting an apartment may not be as big a financial commitment as buying a home, but it can still be a daunting process if you haven’t done it before. This guide covers the basics of what you need to find and move into your new place with as few bumps as possible.

With all the assorted fees and costs that come with buying a home, shelling out hundreds of dollars to have the home inspection can seem like a prime area to save money by skipping a step. But foregoing the inspection could end up costing you thousands of dollars later, even on new construction. So if you are going to spend the money, you might as well get the most out of it. Here’s how to optimize this important process.

Let's face it – life can get hectic! Teens face daily pressures at school, from friends and at home. Parents worry about kids growing up too fast and the financial stress of how to pay for college. So what can you do to help your teenager stay on track? Share the following tips with your teen and try making some of them daily habits for the whole family.

How much money will I save by choosing a 15-year loan rather than a 30-year loan?

A 15-year fixed rate mortgage gives you the ability to own your home free and clear in 15 years. And, while the monthly payments are somewhat higher than a 30-year loan, the interest rate on the 15-year mortgage is usually a little lower, and more important - you'll pay less than half the total interest cost of the traditional 30-year mortgage.

Is your child applying for college this year?  Register for a Free Financial Aid Webinar with Ken O'Connor* of  CU Student Loans. This weekly “College Planning Night” webinar reviews everything you need to know about choosing a school and paying for it. Get the most out of what financial aid can offer and get the inside scoop on how Colleges award scholarships all in one webinar. Register today!  Webinars are available for May 1, 8, 15, and 22.  All webinars are from 4 to 5pm EDT.

Home equity is the value of your home minus any outstanding mortgage balance.  That equity can be used to secure a loan. Because a home equity is loan is secured by your residence, you enjoy lower rates and a possible tax benefit.

If your teen is soon to be entering college, the time to get their financial house in order is before they leave home.  Learning the basics of managing money to a budget is imperative to preventing them from being guided by misinformation from peers or even poor financial advice from unscrupulous "financial advisers".

A prepayment penalty is a provision of your contract with a lender that states that in the event you pay off the loan entirely at a point prior to the final maturity date, you will pay a penalty. Penalties can be expressed as a percent of the outstanding balance at time of prepayment, or a specified number of months of interest.

Whether you tackle a do-it-yourself project or hire someone else to remodel your kitchen, beautify your bathroom or finish off the basement, common mistakes can easily throw a wrench in your plans for the perfect home renovation.