Articles by Shirley Pulawski

Shirley is a staff writer for MyBankTracker who covers personal finance trends, money habits, mortgages and foreclosures. Education: B.S. in Environmental Science from SUNY Empire State College.

What to Do if Your Credit Score is Not Good Enough for a Mortgage How to buy a home with a bad credit rating poor credit score or fair credit but too low to get a mortgage on a home. Steps to buy a house with bad credit What Average Credit Scores Needed for Your Loans? Photo of Shirley Pulawski Shirley Pulawski What Average Credit Scores Needed for Your Loans? Hopefully, you know your credit score and you've already checked your credit reports... Why Isn't the Discover Card Accepted Everywhere? Photo of Shirley Pulawski Shirley Pulawski Why Isn't the Discover Card Accepted Everywhere? Discover cards often aren't accepted everywhere due to higher transaction fees... Why You Shouldn't Ignore Calls From Your Bank: My Costly Mistake Learn what happens when your stolen debit card gets used 6 Critical Steps to Take Before Searching for a Mortgage When you're thinking about taking out a mortgage to buy a home, learn about the key steps to complete and ensure the approval of your application. 4 Necessary Considerations Before Buying a Vacation Property Photo of Shirley Pulawski Shirley Pulawski 4 Necessary Considerations Before Buying a Vacation Property If you’re considering the purchase of a vacation home or a second residence,... When Foreclosing Your Home Is an Option Photo of Shirley Pulawski Shirley Pulawski When Foreclosing Your Home Is an Option Many homeowners have homes worth significantly less than what they paid, greatly... How to Use Home Equity Loan to Buy a Second Home How to buy a second home or vacation property using equity from your first home; learn the advantages and disadvantages of using a home equity loan. What Are the Benefits of 20 Percent Down Payment on a Home Why you should make a down payment of 20 percent on a home purchase; how a big a down payment affects a home purchase. Buy a home with a bigger down payment. How Student Loan Debt Can Affect a Mortgage Application Photo of Shirley Pulawski Shirley Pulawski How Student Loan Debt Can Affect a Mortgage Application Could student loan debt be holding back many Americans from getting approved for a...