Amy Lillard
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Amy Lillard Articles

Regulators Could Ease Lender Rules, Underwriting Guidelines

100% Financing: Mortgages Without a Down Payment

Underwriting Guidelines: What do Lenders Look for?

Mortgage Rates and the Stock Market: Understanding the Relationship

The eRate Resource Guide to No-Closing-Cost Refinancing

Poorly Rated: A Look at the Landmark Lawsuit Against S&P

Deposit Accounts: Understanding Stocks

Deposit Accounts : Understanding Bonds

Deposit Accounts: Beyond Savings, Beginning Investing

Deposit Accounts: CD Laddering

Deposit Accounts: 5 Tips to Build Your Savings

Deposit Accounts: Understanding Checking Accounts

Property Taxes and Mortgage Deductions: Owning a Home in Tax Season

Deposit Accounts: Types of CDs

Deposit Accounts: Understanding Money Market Accounts

Deposit Accounts: Understanding Certificates of Deposit

Deposit Accounts: Understanding Savings Accounts

Deposit Accounts: Types of Savings Accounts

Automotive Loans: Trading in a Car

Bankruptcy: The Truth Behind the Myths and Misconceptions

Automotive Loans: What Laws Protect Car Buyers?

Automotive Loans: Trade In or Sell a Car?

Automotive Loans: Is Zero Percent Financing Really Possible?

Automotive Loans: Determining a Down Payment

Automotive Loans: The Truth About "Add-Ons"

Automotive Loans: Top 5 Mistakes When Buying a Car

Automotive Loans: Refinancing

Automotive Loans: Shopping Online

Beyond Home Insurance: Creating a Disaster Plan

Automotive Loans: Dealer Incentives to Buy

Automotive Loans: Car Buying Incentives

Automotive Loans: Should You Buy New or Used?

Automotive Loans: What to Know About Interest Rates

Automotive Loans: Negotiating a Loan with a Dealer

Automotive Loans: How Much Car Can You Afford?

Automotive Loans: Understanding Typical Loan Language

Natural Disasters: Making Effective Home Insurance Claims for Recovery

Automotive Loans: Types of Financing

Automotive Loans: Buying Vs Leasing

Automotive Loans: Applying for a Car Loan

Understanding Credit Cards: Credit Card Rewards Programs

Understanding Credit Cards: Top Credit Card Mistakes

Understanding Credit Cards: Credit Card Penalties

Natural Disasters: Does Your Homeowners Insurance Cover You?

Understanding Credit Cards: How are Credit Cards Processed?

Understanding Credit Cards: How To Read a Credit Card Statement

Understanding Credit Cards: What are Your Rights as a Credit Card Holder?

Understanding Credit Cards: Credit Card Fees

Understanding Credit Cards: What are Balance Transfers?

Understanding Credit Cards: Finance Charges Explained

Understanding Credit Cards: Choosing a Card

Understanding Credit Cards: Do's and Don'ts

Understanding Credit Cards: Managing Interest

Union Now: The Changing Picture of Credit Unions and the Banking Industry

Understanding Credit Cards: How to Qualify for Credit Cards

Understanding Credit Cards: Types of Credit Accounts

Understanding Credit Cards: The Credit Bureaus

Understanding Credit Cards: Who Uses Credit Scores?

Understanding Credit Cards: Top 5 Credit Score Myths

Understanding Credit Cards: Building Credit for Newbies

Understanding Credit Cards: The 5 Components of a Credit Score

The Paradox of Credit: The Secrets of Good Credit that Defy Logic

Understanding Credit Cards: Checking Your Credit

Understanding Credit Cards: What is Credit?

Understanding Mortgages: Working with a Real Estate Lawyer

Understanding Mortgages: Working with a Mortgage Broker

Understanding Mortgages: Working with a Real Estate Agent

Understanding Mortgages: Making an Offer

Understanding Mortgages: Sell or Rent?

Understanding Mortgages: Buy or Rent?

The Rise and Fall of Interest Rates: How Interest Rates are Determined

Understanding Mortgages: What is Market Value?

Understanding Mortgages: What are Assessments?

Understanding Mortgages: Property Taxes

Mortgage Fraud: An In-Depth Look at a Hot Topic

Understanding Mortgages: Selling Your Condo

Understanding Mortgages: Selling Your House

Understanding Mortgages: Buying an Investment Property

Understanding Mortgages: Buying a Condo

Understanding Mortgages: The Formulas of Mortgage Approval

Robo-Signing: A Deeper Look at Continuing Fraud

Understanding Mortgages: How to Get a Mortgage

Understanding Mortgages: Where to Get a Mortgage

Understanding Mortgages: Mortgage Paperwork

Understanding Mortgages: Buying a Foreclosed Property

Understanding Mortgages: What is Interest?

Reverse Mortgages Today: A Specialized Product in a Recovering Market

Understanding Mortgages: What is Underwriting?

Understanding Mortgages: What is a Credit Score?

Understanding Mortgages: What are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?

Understanding Mortgages: What is Refinancing?

Understanding Mortgages: What is Equity?

Understanding Mortgages: What is Closing?

Understanding Mortgages: What are FHA Loans?

Understanding Mortgages: What is Pre-Approval?

Making Home Affordable: How are Federal Mortgage Assistance Programs Faring?

Understanding Mortgages: What is Delinquency?

Understanding Mortgages: What is Foreclosure?

Understanding Mortgages: What is a Short Sale?

Understanding Mortgages: What is Private Mortgage Insurance?

Understanding Mortgages: What is Escrow?

Understanding Mortgages: Mortgage Terms

Understanding Mortgages: Types of Mortgages

Housing Statistics: Keeping Tabs on Housing Market Figures

Sources for Statistics: The Main Reporting Agencies for Housing Market Figures

Dissecting Delinquencies: What the Decline in Delinquencies Means for the Housing Market

New Bank Failures Announced: Total for 2012 Reaches 31

Shadow Inventory Fades: Home Prices Poised for Growth

Foreclosures and Home Sales: A Bigger Piece of the Pie

Mortgage Fees: Sticker Shock Explained

Home prices, interest rates create perfect storm: Homes more affordable than ever

Principal Reduction: New Programs, More Controversy

Health Insurance: Filing a Claim

Health Insurance: Riders to Expand, Limit, or Exclude Coverage

Condo Insurance: Staying Covered while Saving Money

Condo Insurance: What's Covered, What's Not

Condo Insurance: Frequently Asked

Health Insurance: How Are Rates Determined?

Health Insurance: Types and Definitions

Life Insurance: Providing for Long-Term Care

Life Insurance: Additional Coverage with Riders

Life Insurance: Filing a Claim

Life Insurance: Finding the Best Rates

Life Insurance Explained: Types and Coverage

Home Insurance: How are Insurance Quotes Determined?

Homeowners Insurance: Filing a Claim

Homeowners Insurance: The Special Policy for Condo Owners

Homeowners Insurance: Finding the Best Quotes

Beyond Homeowners Insurance: Coverage for Renters

Home Insurance Costs on the Rise, Coverage Options Decrease

What Home Owners Insurance Do You Need? Tips for the Best Coverage

Managing Auto Insurance: What to Do After an Accident

Home Insurance Quotes: Types of Home Owners Insurance

Filing a Car Insurance Claim: Steps to Follow in Case of an Accident

Shopping Prep: What You'll Need to Obtain Car Insurance Quotes

Auto Insurance Quotes and Policies: Commonly Used Terms

Researching Car Insurance Quotes: How to Pick the Best Deductible

Understanding Your Auto Insurance Quotes: The 7 Types of Car Insurance

Car Insurance Quotes Demystified: What Factors Determine Rates

Car Insurance Quotes: Discovering the Best Deals

Fannie and Freddie Resist Reducing Principals: Report Suggests Pilot Program

ABA Survey: Little Change in Mortgage Activity from 2010 to 2011

Homeless Vets Get a New "Lease" on Life: HUD Provides Funding for Housing

New FHA Rule May Reduce Borrowing, Hurt Housing Market

Housing Figures Post a New Low; Economic Figures Show Growth

Pilot "Mortgage to Lease" Program offers New Option to Foreclosure

Deadline for First-Time Buyer Tax Credit Nears; Homeowners Encouraged to Act Sooner Rather than Later

Hard-Hit Americans Now Have More Options for Retirement Savings

Credit Card Rules Begin to Change; Issuers Slash and Burn

New Rules for Fannie Mae Loans

Mortgage Websites Reviews

Refinance Program Expands, Covers More Borrowers in Trouble

Foreclosures Rise, along with Borrowers Helped by Refinance Program

Financial Overhaul: The Obama Administration's Plan

Foreclosure Prevention Plan Expands

Sales Up, But Foreclosures Hit Record Highs

New Legislation Builds Federal Power to Prosecute Mortgage Fraud

Record Low Mortgages and New Programs: Hope for Homeowners

Jumbo Mortgage Loans on the Rise

Interest Rates Finally Stay Put?

Fed Pumps $1.2 Trillion Into U.S. Financial System

New Data on Delinquencies and Foreclosures, and New Details on the Obama Mortgage Plan

Home Prices Fall as Delinquencies Rise

Obama's New Mortgage Bailout Plan

Foreclosures Rise, Congressman Calls for Moratorium

Refinancing Booms, But Can it Last?

Sales Plummet, but Housing Supply Numbers Indicate Hope

Forensic Review: A Tactic to Fight Off Foreclosure

New FHA Program Launches: Details, and How to Apply

Lost in Translatin: What Does the Fannie and Freddie News Mean for You?

Global Outlook: Recession Fears Expand Beyond the U.S.

FHA Changes Mean Better Option for Many Homeowners

Prices Rise and Credit Contracts: Is the Recession Here?

Unemployment Spikes, Fed Keeps Interest Rate Level

Housing and Economic News: A Roundup

Jumbo Loans Get Little Help from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Burgeoning Inflation, Bigger Fed Powers, Better Lender Response: A Market Report

Foreclosures Hit Record Highs

Fed Makes Last Interest Rate Cut in Series to Stimulate Economy

Existing Home Sales Decline Again

Economic Reports Profile Sputtering Economy

Senate Passes Contentious Housing Package; Bush Offers Own Plan

Bernanke Talks Recession; Groups Oppose Treasury Plan

Consumer Confidence Lowest Since 2003

California Counties Get New FHA Mortgage Limits

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Tighten Appraisal Standards

Legislators Scramble to Save Battered Economy

Cleveland Sues Countrywide, Wells Fargo.... Over Subprime Mess

Fed Proposes Crackdown on Lenders and Lending Practices

The Fed's Impact on the Economy

Bush Announces Limited Subprime Interest Rate Freeze

Multi-Family Properties: Investing and Financing

The Secondary Mortgage Market — Power Behind the Scenes

Mortgage Market: Subprime Mortgage Reports Show Increasing Troubles

Mortgage Market Woes: Bankruptcy Code Changes Could Help Avoid Foreclosures

Mortgage Market Woes: Latest Market Victims

Mortgage Market Woes: Consumer Confidence and Home Sales Fall

Mortgage Market Woes: FHA Secure Passed by House

Mortgage Market Woes: Fed Cuts Interest Rate

Mortgage Market Woes: Top Metro Areas Hit by Subprime Loans

Mortgage Market Woes: Job Losses Point to Potential Recession

Mortgage Market Woes: Foreclosures and Defaults Up in Q2 of 2007

Mortgage Market Woes: Bush Administration Steps In

Mortgage Market Woes: How Did We Get Here? Part II

Mortgage Market Woes: How Did We Get Here?

Mortgage Woes: Action from the Fed

Mortgage Market Woes: Countrywide Stumbles

Mortgage Market Woes: The Fed's Response

Mortgage Market Woes: American Home Mortgage Implodes

Mortgage Market Woes: Credit Crunch

Government-Sponsored Enterprises: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Today, Part 2

Government-Sponsored Enterprises: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Today

Government-Sponsored Enterprises: The Relatives

Government-Sponsored Enterprises: Freddie Mac and Scandal

Government-Sponsored Enterprises: Fannie Mae's Work to House America

Government-Sponsored Enterprises: An Introduction to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Money Management: Creating a Budget, Part 3

Money Management: Creating a Budget, Part 2

Money Management: Creating a Budget, Part 1

Money Management: Why Budget?

Commercial Real Estate: Mortgage Process

Commercial Real Estate: Mortgage Types

Commercial Real Estate: Mortgage In's and Out's

Commercial Real Estate: Terms

Commercial Real Estate: The Basics

Economic Reports: Mortgages

Economic Reports: Unemployment Rate

Economic Reports: Consumer Price Index

Best-Selling Vehicles: Honda CR-V

Best-Selling Vehicles: Nissan Altima

Best-Selling Vehicles: Chevrolet Impala

Best-Selling Vehicles: Honda Civic

Best-Selling Vehicles: Toyota Corolla

Auto Insurance: How Much to Buy?

Auto Insurance — Terms and Descriptions Explained

Auto Insurance: Steps to Filing a Claim

Subprime Meltdown: Homestay Program Announced for Homeowner Help

Auto Insurance — The Best Plan for You

Auto Insurance — An Overview of Types

Best-Selling Vehicles: Honda Accord

Best-Selling Vehicles: Dodge Ram

Best-Selling Vehicles: Toyota Camry

Best-Selling Vehicles: Chevrolet Silverado

Best-Selling Vehicles: Ford F-Series

Best-Selling Vehicles: Smart Moves and Practical Decisions

Foreclosure: An Investment Opportunity?

Foreclosure: Process and Types

Foreclosure: Avoid Losing Your Home

Paying for College: The Process Demystified

Tax Breaks for College Savings and Payments

Paying for College: 5 Common Misconceptions

College: Worth Every Penny?

Subprime Mortgage Market Collapse: A Primer

Travel Websites: Traveling with Unique Needs

Travel Websites: The Inside Track

Travel Websites: Reservations and Accommodation Sites

Travel Websites: The Industry, and the Inspiration

Buying a Car: Standard and Extended Warranties

Car Buying: Financing Background and Steps

Leasing a Car: Two Types of Leases - Closed & Open

Buying a Used Car: Two Options

Buying a Car: 5 Steps to Find the Perfect Deal

Buying a Car: 5 Steps to Find the Perfect Vehicle

Buying vs. Leasing Cars: A Comparison

Refinancing: Four Mistakes to Avoid

Refinancing: Three Common Types of Refinancings

Refinancing: Know the Process, and the Closing Costs

Refinancing: Five Reasons to Rework your Mortgage

CDs - Investment Strategies

Shopping for a CD

Certificates of Deposit (CDs): Options

Refinancing Your California Home

Home Equity Loans: Paychecks From Your Home

Home Equity Loan Shopping: Tips and Types

Tussle Over Tesla: Two Controversies Bring Electric Cars into Question

The New Frontier: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars

Electric vs. Hybrid

Five Drawbacks of Electric Cars

Misconceptions about Electric Cars

The Return of Electric Cars: How An Old Favorite Made a Comeback

Electric Car Safety

Driving an Electric Car

Top 5 Reasons to Buy an Electric Car

Electric Cars: Is it Right for You?

Electric Cars: Buying Considerations

Electric Cars: Top 5 Things to Know

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A frequent contributor to ERATE® since 2006, Amy Lillard is a freelance writer specializing in turning complex information into useful tips and tricks for readers. For questions or topic suggestions, contact Amy at [email protected].