Unsightly concrete kitchen countertops, what can I do with them?

I recently moved into a home with concrete countertops. Unfortunately, the previous owners had renters who did nothing to maintain the counters. Now, they are "stained" and unsightly. I've scrubbed and scoured, and nothing will remove the spots. They're also a horrid tint of red, but I can live with weird color. What I can't stand is that anyone who comes into my home will think I'm lax at cleaning the kitchen and won't want to eat! :p I clean them; they just won't show it.

I called our local counter makers, who said they would only be willing to rip out the old and install new. Frankly, with a fresh mortgage, there is NO way I can afford this. I thought they might be able to just fit something over it, but they said no. Any suggestions besides covering every inch with attractive cutting boards and cloths? LOL

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How much will pulling my credit hurt the score?

Two months ago I tried to purchase an house but my credit was about 12 points below. The lender told me what to do and I've done most of it. There were wrong items on there they were deleted and I've paid my credit cards down and I'm anxious to see where my credit stands now. I was using credit karma to monitor my credit but its showing my credit isn't moving at all now but they're trying to offer me cards. I've had my credit pulled a couple times when I bought a car which was in the win down period and for the mortgage should I pull it or let the lender do a rapid score and how long should I wait?

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Have a 2nd mortgage that is putting deferred on the loan even though I pay monthly? Is this legal?

Have a 2nd mortgage that is putting deferred on the loan even though I pay monthly? Is this legal?

Read more: Have a 2nd mortgage that is putting deferred on the loan even though I pay monthly? Is this legal?

Credit score/new car options?

I will be buying a new car within the next two months; I have paid off my credit card debts, precious auto loans, and have been paying student loans and all bills on time for years, but my credit score ranges from 687 (Equifax) to 654 (Transunion). This is up from the lower 620 range from when I had a higher balance on cards, but not where I had hoped it would be carrying less than 30% balance. Anyway, I have enough to purchase the new Prius I want outright; I could pay for it in cash, but my hopes were to get a three year loan, and pay it off in that time frame to continually build my credit. My concern is that with my current credit score, I will be relegated to a high interest rate and end up paying much more in interest. Is that interest worth the bump in the credit score I might receive for the 3 year loan, as I imagine a larger down payment would be necessary (again, not an issue fortunately) and would it be a smarter long term move to still finance the car? My longer plan is to then purchase a house with the improved credit score after the car is paid off and my credit bounces back from that payoff, as 650s will not secure a realistic mortgage rate for me.

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What's better, save to buy a house or move out now and rent a flat?

I am 21 and ready to move out but my parents say that it's better to save up for a house rather than rent a flat because all my money will go to someone else. They let me have a choice of my own. They're not pressurising me to do somehting I don't want to do.

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Canceling life insurance set up through mortgage advice bureau?

Last year in September me and my ex partner set up life insurance through mortgage advice bureau (third party seller )when choosing a mortgage with them. This meant they would waiver a £200 fee for setting up the mortgage and all was good.
Last month me and my partner split and I could not afford the monthly payments on the life insurance anymore as I was now having to run two homes until I was bought out of my mortgage. After cancelling my direct debit for the life insurance I was contacted by mortgage advice bureau who said pru protect (the insurance company) had changed them £900 as I had cancelled my insurance and the mortgage advice burea want me to pay them £900 which was taken from them. How is this possible? After looking through the underwriting on pru protects website it states I can cancel anytime and my cover will stop. It says nothing about a cancelation charge. Why does mortgage advice bureau feel they can charge me £900 when I'm in my right to cancel? Any ideas or am I missing something? As you can understand this is the last thing I need when sorting out a break up/selling a house and going to work.

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Personal: have you had a gambling addiction?

Maybe you're going through one now or have a naughty past in gambling at casinos w/ slots, poker, blackjack, etc. And if so you have my condolences-
But I have always thought, "how can one be so brave and what draws them to the decision to press their luck?"
Any stories shared would be very intriguing to me- thanks!

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Suggestions on how I can afford a child on a budget?

My husband and I recently found out I'm expecting, and he FREAKED out because of financial reasons. As of right now, we're actually in no serious financial debt. We both have stable income jobs (He's in the Navy, I work with Mortgage loans) but the issue is, about 2 months after the baby will be born, he's actually discharging from the Navy. I will still be on maternity leave at that time as well. So we're a bit baffled as to how we can afford to live and support a child during that point in our lives.

We're currently stationed in San Diego, but my mom owns a house in Virginia and plans on giving it to us for only $350 a month. I was thinking of maybe selling my new car if we decide to move back to Virginia, since driving with a newborn sounds like a nightmare. And I figured maybe I could ask a few people I've met for their hand-me-downs from their children. I was wondering how your family may have budgeted during this time? It's a bit different for us, since at some point we'll both be out of work:/

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Filed bankruptcy. Is it worth keeping the house?

The house is under water. Owe $15,000 more then it's worth. The house also needs roof repairs. It will cost me $5,000-$7,000. And it won't add to the value, of the house. It may take 5-10yrs to get the house value above what I owe. But even after my other debt is gone, I an still barely making ends meet. I asked my mortgage company to do the HARP loan, to lower my interest rate. But they lost my papers twice, and I ended up filing for bankruptcy. But now I can walk away, save the $10,000. And start over. My question is, I would be willing to stay, and borrow, to repair the house, if I got a refi, so I would have a chance I could make it. But with the loan as high as it is, and the repairs, I just will not last more then a year. And I would loss the house anyways. So do you think I can suggest to the bank to refi, or just stop paying the mortgage and walk away. I am already at a $25,000 loss. To add another $15,000. And lose the house does not make sense. I am willing to take the risk, but not if the bank, who got me in this mess anyways, is not willing to help. What's your opinion?

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How to refinance a mortgage to someone else's name?

Is it possible to transfer/refinance a mortgage under my wife's name to her parents?

My wife has a mortgage under her name for a property that her parents bought and have title to. My wife is only on the mortgage and doesn't make any payments, nor does she claim the property tax or mortgage interest on her taxes. Basically, my in laws bought the house using my wife's name on the mortgage and then transferred title to themselves a year later.

It's valued at $211k and the loan is at $242k. My wife signed off on all the documents, so there was no forgery or anything like that. Because my wife has this other mortgage under her name already it's making it very difficult for us to refinance OUR OWN MORTGAGE. I'm trying to find a way to either have the parents assume the mortgage, which is difficult since it's upside down right now, or some how refinance the loan to the parents name and get my wife off it completely.

I'm really pissed that her parents would do this to her and screw up my family's life. This was all done prior to me meeting my wife. I have no doubt that they lied on all the paperwork when obtaining the loan because she was probably making $20k/year when they financed the loan for $300k sometime around 2007-2008. It's also my wife's fault for agreeing to it, but as a father myself, I would NEVER do that to my kids so I can try to make a buck by flipping a house.

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