Personal Insights

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What You Should Know Before You Buy a Foreclosed Home

Foreclosure homes offer buying opportunities at bargain prices if you understand the market.

Foreclosures often attract those who enjoy the work of remodeling or renovating a property and have the necessary cash to spend on repairs.

Risk Assessment is About More Than Testing Your Tolerance

Other factors, including your capacity to absorb losses, should come into play.

Many people think risk tolerance is just a matter of, "Do I want to be aggressive or do I want to be conservative?" But there's much more to it than that.

How to Apply for a Mortgage: Step-by-Step Guide

You've found your dream home—now you just need to finance it. From prequalification to loan estimates to closing, here's how to apply for a mortgage.

It helps to get quotes from several lenders before you apply for a mortgage. That's because interest rates, closing fees and other loan terms can vary enough to make a difference.

Complete Guide to Down Payments: FAQs

A 20% down payment can help homebuyers qualify for lower interest rates and reduce monthly payments. Learn more about mortgage down payment requirements.

Down payment requirements for a mortgage may be far more flexible than you imagine.

Dark Web Security Tips to Keep Your Finances Safe

Keep scammers from getting enough information to breach your identity.

Change your passwords often, and use a password manager if you tend to forget password, or don't know how to create strong options.

Homebuyer's Glossary of Mortgage Terminology

Buying a home? This glossary includes easy-to-understand definitions for over 130 terms you'll encounter during the homebuying and mortgage underwriting process.

Learn the terms you'll hear throughout the loan process.

Mortgages 101: FHA Versus Conventional Loans

Wondering if an FHA home loan is right for you? Here's everything you need to know about FHA loans, from pros and cons to eligibility requirements.

For those who may struggle to qualify for a conventional mortgage loan, FHA loans can offer a promising path to homeownership.

What Type of Mortgage is Right for You?

Here's what to consider when shopping for a mortgage, from your budget to your long-term financial goals.

Most mortgages are conventional mortgages, which are loans made through a private lender and not part of any specialized government program.

Things to Consider Before You Relocate in Retirement

There's more to moving than simply finding your dream home.

Just because you don't have a job with a regular paycheck doesn't mean you can't qualify for a mortgage if you need one.

Are Deposits a Money Maker Again? The Resurgence of High-Yield Accounts

With an unpredictable stock market, low bond returns and rising inflation, more people are turning to high-yield savings accounts.

The primary reason to invest in deposits is not because they're currently high-yield accounts, but because they're secure.

Student Loans: Consolidate or Refinance?

Check out the benefits of both student loan consolidation and refinancing. Either way, you could simplify payments and save on interest.

Consolidating student debt refers to combining several loans into one new loan.

Student Loans: Strategies for Repayment

Review the latest available programs and set a strategy for how you'll pay down your student loans.

Now's a great time for most borrowers to revisit their budgets and consider reducing their discretionary expenses as they transition back into loan repayment mode.

Retirement Readiness: SECURE 2.0 Rules Could Help

New provisions in the SECURE 2.0 Act could make it easier to reach your retirement goals.

The landmark SECURE 2.0 Act makes changes to retirement account rules that affect broad cross-sections of retirees and retirement savers, from people just entering the workforce to those who are already comfortably retired.

Financial Prep to Pursue Your Passion Project

It pays to make sure your passion project will be financially viable, and perhaps even profitable, after you retire.

Even if you have big ambitions going in, a lot of avoiding burnout comes down to pursuing your passion in a way that aligns with your resources.

Strategically Grow Your Retirement Fund

Maxing out IRA contributions can be an important part of your retirement investing plan.

Maxing out Roth IRA contributions may be the best plan if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket when you retire.

What You Should Know About Social Security Survivor Benefits

Understanding what Social Security may pay to your survivors is a key part of legacy planning.

From the day you begin paying into it, a portion of the taxes collected for Social Security are set aside to provide a form of life insurance for your spouse and dependents.

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This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be relied on or interpreted as accounting, financial planning, investment, legal or tax advice. First Citizens Bank (or its affiliates) neither endorses nor guarantees this information, and encourages you to consult a professional for advice applicable to your specific situation.

Third parties mentioned are not affiliated with First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company.

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