Dan Rafter

180 Articles

Dan Rafter has covered real estate, mortgage and personal-finance news for more than 15 years, writing for the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Consumers Digest and many others. A graduate of the University Illinois with a degree in journalism, he is editor of Midwest Real Estate News magazine and blogs on commercial real estate for that publication at rejblog.com, in addition to being a contributor for MortgageLoan.com.

Home Equity Loans

Rising values help boost San Diego home equity loans

San Diego is finally catching up to other high-priced housing markets in California, giving homeowners a chance to use home equity loans in San Diego to renovate or pay off debt.

3 years ago | 4 minutes read time

Home Equity Loans

Solar Home Financing: Alternative to Second Mortgages

Homeowners in Berkeley, Calif., may soon have access to low-cost financing for energy efficient home upgrades. A proposed city program would allow Berkeley homeowners to pay for the installation of solar panels and solar hot water heaters through their property tax bill.

13 years ago | 2 minutes read time

Mortgage

Reasons a Loan Modification Might Be Denied

What are some of the main reasons people are turned down for loan modifications? Aside from the obvious - like not enough income to maintain even a modified payment schedule - there are any number of less apparent reasons that can trip up someone who otherwise might be able to qualify and save their home from foreclosure.

11 years ago | 3 minutes read time

HELOC

Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Loans Explained

HELOCs offer low initial rates and financial flexibility, but are more unpredictable than a standard home equity loan. So are they the right choice for you?

6 months ago | 3 minutes read time

Mortgage

Choosing between a 15- or 30-year mortgage

Fixed-rate mortgages come in two main types: 30-year and 15-year loans. Though there are other variations, such as 10-, 20- and even 40-year home loans, the 30- and 15-year terms make up the bulk of fixed-rate mortgages that are written.

5 years ago | 4 minutes read time