As you pay down your mortgage, you’re gaining flexibility and options. Here are a few ideas to maximize your new found equity:

Cash in Some Equity: If you’re considering renovations, taking a vacation, paying down high interest loans, or even starting a business, you might want to tap into the equity of your home. With rates at historic lows, bumping your principal balance up a little will allow you to borrow inexpensively and indulge other areas of your life.

Save Over Time: By refinancing your current balance from a 30-year term to 15-years, you can get a lower interest rate AND take thousands of dollars off the life of your loan. Your monthly payment might rise slightly, but you’ll be amazed at the long-term savings.

Shorten your Stay: Thinking of staying in your home longer than you’d originally planned? Consider refinancing into another ARM (for shorter extensions) or a 30-year mortgage (for longer-term plans).

Stay a little longer: If you need to leave your home sooner than expected, you can refinance into a shorter-term ARM and save big on your mortgage.

Rates are at historic lows! Now is a great time to discuss new ways to utilize your equity and maximize your best investment!

It’s that time again!  Email your answer to the brainteaser below, and you’ll be entered in our drawing to win a Gourmet Gift Basket! The winner will be drawn on August 15th!

Question:  Each of the clues make up a type of flower, for example “small container + to allow” would be “vial + let”, or “violet.”

Can you figure out these five?
1.  An implement + Flesh around mouth
2.  Foppish + A large carnivorous wildcat
3.  To wed + A soft yellow element
4.  A false statement + Be deficient in
5.  Indicates an alternative + Child

Email your response to contests@perlmortgage.com!

CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR FAVORITE HOME APPLIANCES
We looked high, low, and even underwater to find gadgets that will give your home an extra kick.

Bath: Erasable Shower Tablet
The Shower Note Tablet serves those who brainstorm while bathing. Jot down ideas and inspired moments using the waterproof crayons (included in the package). The suction cups will protect the bathroom walls from an invasion of nails.
$18, etravelergear.com

Bed: Ecotones Duet Sleep Sound Machine
City living? Snoring? Noisy neighbors? No problem! This sound machine features ten high-quality natural sound recordings that create the most realistic and natural sleep environment possible.
$125, amazon.com

Pet: Fish School
Host your own underwater pet show! The R2 Fish School is a complete training system that includes everything you need to teach your fish amazing tricks. Teach your fish to play fetch, shoot hoops, swim the slalom, do the limbo and more!
$30, r2fishschool.com

Home Office: tLight
The fashionable tLight illuminates your desk while recharging small electronics and cutting down on cord clutter. It includes an iPhone dock, a jack powerful enough to power up your laptop, and a USB port.
$89, tlight.cc/en/

Kitchen: Mini Donut Factory
This donut maker is designed to bake a half-dozen donuts in about 4 minutes. Complete with a recipe book, it’s compatible with any store-bought donut mix. Extra health bonus: these donuts are baked, not fried!
$20, thinkgeek.com

Patio: Steven Raichlen LumaTongs
Is it done yet? Innovative, ultimate locking tongs feature two LED bulbs attached to a handle that’ll light-up the food on the grill wherever you point. The plastic light case is detachable for easy cleaning, and the tongs are dishwasher safe.
$20, surlatable.com

1. Remember: If you’re vacationing this summer, make sure to set your bills to auto-pay so that you don’t get hit with any lates!

2. Reshape: Doing some shopping? Try to spread purchases across various cards to show you’ve maintained good credit health across several lines.

3. Resist: Don’t apply for a store credit card unless it’s really *worth it*.

4. Recap: Make a list of all the credit cards you’ve opened. Should anything ever go missing or mysteriously show-up on your card, it’s helpful to have a go-to place for all your info. If you keep the file on your computer, make sure it’s locked and password protected.

5. Re-evaluate: If some of your cards carry balances, call the creditor to find lower interest rate options. If unsuccessful, consider transferring your balance to a different card with a better repayment plan.

Award-winning Aqua’s undulating exterior has quickly become a shining star in Chicago’s architecture. Floor-to-ceiling windows encompassing condominiums, rental units and a full hotel expose sweeping views of Chicago with incomparable views of Lake Michigan, Millennium Park, Navy Pier and more. You’ve probably seen this icon in the news or even on a stroll in Grant Park. Here’s a peek inside this masterpiece!

Photo by VHT Photography

Photo by VHT Photography

Photo by VHT Photography