Author

Andrew Tavin, Personal Finance Writer

Andrew Tavin is a personal finance writer who covers a wide-range of financial topics from home lending to personal loans. His work has been published across several personal finance sites, including Own Up, OppU, and Discover.

Tavin’s experience as a comedian lends an approachable and entertaining angle to his content, making his articles easy to understand and jargon-free. He has created educational and humorous content for a variety of media outlets such as BrainPOP and the National Retail Federation. His work has also been cited by Wikipedia, Crunchbase, and Hacker News.

Tavin is a Certified Financial Education Instructor through the National Financial Educators Council. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in TV Writing from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Articles by Andrew Tavin

First Home Loan

What Is A Condo Questionnaire and Do I Need One?

Want a condo? Your lender has some questions for the HOA

First Home Loan

What Documents Are Needed To Apply For A Mortgage?

Check out this ultimate mortgage checklist to help you prep for the purchase of your home.

Down Payments

What Is an Earnest Money Deposit?

In order to lock in your home purchase agreement, you will have to put down some cash up front; here’s a look at how much you may have to shell out.

Mortgage Comparison

What Type of Residence are You Trying to Buy? How Lenders Evaluate Occupancy Types

Your home’s floor plans may impact your mortgage plans

Mortgage Comparison

Fixed vs. Adjustable Rate Mortgages: Key Insights

Choosing between a fixed-rate or an adjustable-rate mortgage can be tough. Learn the facts about this important decision.

Mortgage Comparison

MIP vs PMI: Breaking Down Different Types of Mortgage Insurance

By understanding mortgage insurance requirements, you can reduce your monthly payments

Mortgage Comparison

What Are the Closing Costs of a VA Loan?

While you can’t avoid loan processing fees entirely, with proper planning VA borrowers can reduce their upfront costs

First Home Loan

How To Budget For A House

Figuring out how much mortgage you can afford can be difficult. Use this simple guide to learn how to budget for a house.

First Home Loan

What Do Mortgage Lenders Look For in a Borrower?

Here’s a mortgage roadmap to help you overcome unforeseen approval obstacles with your potential lender.

First Home Loan

Monthly Housing Expenses: The True Cost of Home Ownership

Understand the nuances of your monthly housing expenses; learn about mortgage payments, insurance, property taxes, and how to manage these costs effectively for a secure and comfortable living situation.