Reddit may not be a place to seek expert advice, but you can gauge genuine public opinion on valuable topics, such as credit cards. According to Reddit users, there is no top overall credit card, but several cards offer excellent rewards on groceries, gas, dining out, and travel. The American Express Gold Card and Citi Custom Cash Card were some of the most-recommended cards. Based on your spending habits and the benefits and rewards related to each card, there is a top card for...

An escrow refund occurs when a mortgage borrower has excessive funds in their escrow account. This overage can be due to a number of reasons, such as a lower property tax bill, lower homeowners insurance fee, a mortgage refinance, or a payoff. Lenders have the option to issue escrow refund checks or withhold the refund if the excess balance in escrow is less than $50. Anyone who has dealt with utility bills and groceries knows that, in most cases, prices tend to go up. And while these costs...

HOA dues are fees associated with the ownership of condos and planned communities. You pay a set amount of money every month related to the upkeep and maintenance of the property as well as any amenities you might enjoy. As an HOA is not a for-profit entity and is made up of property owners, you have options for lowering your HOA fees. You might also be able to decline to pay some portions because of a dispute. Certain amenities have become a popular way for developers to sell properties and...

Debt collection agencies buy up debt from different lenders for less than its dollar value and try to collect it for a profit. Paying off your debt via a collection agency could have negative implications for your credit report, so in many cases, not paying a debt collection agency makes sense. However, it’s imperative to understand the consequences of not paying off your delinquent debt. When you think of a debt collector, you might picture someone like Dog the Bounty Hunter, star of an...

You can obtain a mortgage from a variety of financial institutions, including banks and credit unions. As credit unions are smaller and more community-based, their home loans could be easier to obtain and come with lower fees. In some cases, credit unions (and smaller banks) don’t have the capital to spend on cutting-edge technology, so their systems and processes can seem outdated. Are you in the market for a mortgage? If so, you’ve likely noticed the overwhelming number of loan and mortgage...