Buying a home for the first time is a big life moment, and so is marriage. So if you're considering tying the knot and buying a home, there are a few things you should consider before deciding which you do first.
Mortgage companies won't use the highest credit score between you and your partner or even the average of your scores. They will focus on the lowest credit score, so if your spouse has a credit score that would keep you from getting the best rate possible, you may want to apply before you get married.
For dual-income couples, getting a mortgage with both spouses on the loan usually means you will qualify for a bigger home loan. However, if your spouse isn't on the loan with you, then your lender won't consider your spouse's income. That means you'll probably have to settle for a smaller, less-expensive home.
You also need to take into consideration your spouse's debt-to-income ratio. Watch to find out what that means, and how it could impact your chances of getting the mortgage you want.
An independent watchdog within the IRS reports that while taxpayer services have vastly improved, the agency is still too slow to resolve identity theft cases. And National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins says those delays are “unconscionable.” Erin M. Collins said in the report released Wednesday that overall the 2024 filing season went smoothly, though IRS delays in resolving identity theft victim assistance cases are worsening. It took nearly 19 months to resolve self-reported identity theft cases as of January, and Wednesday's report states that now it takes 22 months to resolve these cases.
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Climate change doesn’t just mean more extreme weather – it also leads to billions of dollars in lost productivity, tourism, and stresses infrastructure.
