SoFi Blog

When you’re in the home-buying game, especially in hot markets, you’ll discover a process that is both multi-layered and time-consuming—and, at the end of the day, designed to take you from writing an offer to holding the keys in your hand. Understanding each part, your role in it, and how to maximize your participation in each part will save you time and money, and keep you ahead of the game.

We use tech for just about everything these days. If the need exists, as they say, “there’s an app for that”—whether it’s food delivery, laundry service, or borrowing a car.

So for the complicated process that is searching for your first home, it’s no surprise that a few innovators are giving it a tech upgrade. Apps and online tools simplify the more labor-intensive parts of house hunting, from learning real estate lingo and weighing mortgage options to finding new listings and investigating neighborhoods.

Here’s a tour of some of the most useful house-hunting websites and real estate apps to use on the path to buying your dream home.

It’s no secret that the average doctor is saddled with tons of student loan debt when starting practice. In fact, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the average doctor graduates medical school with $190,000 in student loans—6x the national average.

Having a strategy to quickly and efficiently pay down your student loans is critical to long-term financial success, so we’ve put together a few personal finance tips and tricks for doctors to help them pay down student loans faster in 2017. These tips are relevant to all doctors, regardless of specialty or income.

Equities have stumbled over the past several days and interest rates have fallen alongside the dollar. The main impetus for the move was a failed attempt by the new administration and Republican members of the House of Representatives to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.

Because home prices are expected to continue to slowly rise in many parts of the country, it makes sense that most homeowners would desire to stay put rather than upsize to a new house. Although the grass might look a little greener elsewhere, it’s possible to add value to your current home—even if you’re on a budget.

So,whether you have the cash saved up for home investment, or you are looking to borrow for your next home project, consider these five budget-friendly enhancements: