Dr. Lauren Rosales-Shepard
About the author:
Dr. Lauren Rosales-Shepard is Unison’s content writer. She has a PhD in English from the University of Iowa, and after several years of teaching rhetoric and composition as a college professor, she joined Unison in 2022 to bring her writing and research skills to the realm of fintech in real estate.
Posts composed by Dr. Lauren Rosales-Shepard
Homeownership
APR vs Monthly Payments
If you're in the market for a loan, you do research and shop around. In doing so, you continuously encounter interest...
Home Buying
Report on Credit Card Debt
According to the Federal Reserve, 82% of adults in the United States had at least one credit card in 2022. But, credi...
Homeownership
How to Pay for Home Improvements
Recently decide to renovate your home, but not sure how to pay for the home improvements? From traditional methods li...
Homeownership
7 Ways to Use Home Equity to Build Wealth
Homeownership allows you to build equity over time both as you pay down your mortgage, and property values appreciate...
Tips
9 Options for Consolidating Debt
Debt consolidation is a financial strategy in which one combines multiple high-interest debts into a single, more man...
Homeownership
Introducing the Unison Equity Sharing Home Loan
At Unison, we’re fond of saying that we “pioneered” the equity sharing agreement, an innovative product that took not...
Tips
Ways to Use Home Equity for Retirement Income
Homeowners preparing for retirement could be sitting on a sizable, untapped financial asset—your home equity. If you'...
Alternative Ways to Get Equity Out of Your Home
Tapping into your home equity is a great way to access funds for immediate financial needs. While selling your home i...
Homeownership
Cash-Out Refinance Pros & Cons
A cash-out refinance is a mortgage refinancing solution that allows homeowners to replace their existing mortgage wit...
Coping With an Empty Nest
If your child is making the transition to college this year, you yourself may be anticipating a transition of your o...
Reverse Mortgage Pros and Cons
A reverse mortgage is a type of home loan that allows homeowners over the age of 62 to convert a portion of their hom...
Unison Remodeling Survey Sweepstakes | Official Rules
These are the official rules that govern the 2023 Unison Remodeling Survey Sweepstakes.
What Should I Know About HELOCs?
The home remains the largest asset for most of us, and is one of the most straightforward ways to grow wealth. But it...
Climate Change, Natural Disasters, & Home Values: an Overview
When we see natural disasters on the news, we see numbers–property damages, loss of life, displaced peoples. What are...
CPI Update: Entering 2023
Stay up to date on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) with this series of monthly updates from Unison's Quantitative Port...
CPI Update: December 2022
Stay up to date on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) with this series of monthly updates from Unison's Quantitative Port...
COVID and the Rise of the At-Home Workout
Over two years into the “COVID Era,” this trilogy of blog posts considers the effects of the pandemic on particular a...
The COVID Baby Boom that Wasn’t, & the Rise of the Multigenerational Household
Over two years into the “COVID Era,” this trilogy of blog posts considers the effects of the pandemic on particular a...
Homeownership
COVID and the Work from Home 'Revolution': Part Two
Over two years into the “COVID Era,” this trilogy of blog posts considers the effects of the pandemic on particular a...
Homeownership
COVID and the Work from Home ‘Revolution’: Part One
Over two years into the “COVID Era,” this trilogy of blog posts considers the effects of the pandemic on particular a...
Homeownership
Women & Homeownership: An Overview
More women own homes now than ever, but that’s not the whole story. This blog outlines inequalities for women relativ...
Homeownership
Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and the Homeownership Race Gap
Asian American & Pacific Islanders are often excluded from conversations on housing inequality & the homeownership ra...
Homeownership
The Current and Future State of Homeownership in America
What is the current and future state of homeownership? A look at home appreciation and depreciation, the impact of in...
Tips
How to Increase Your Credit Score
Your credit scores are determined by several factors, including payment history and credit utilization. Here are some...
Tips
How Does Climate Change Impact Your Housing Value?
Rising temperatures, extreme weather, and rising sea levels can impact your home’s prices. Here are simple tips to he...
Tips
Should I Renovate My House, or Move?
If your current home isn’t your dream home, you may wonder if you should renovate it, or sell it and move. Here are s...
Unison Process
Ending the Agreement
Ready to bring our partnership to an end? There are four ways in which your Unison Agreement can come to a close.
Unison Process
During Your Home Equity Sharing Agreement
Unison home equity sharing agreements are best-suited to long-term use cases, allowing you to make your house a home,...
Unison Process
Putting Your Home Equity to Work
Congratulations! Once you’ve accepted your offer and received your funds, it’s time to put your equity to work – from...
Unison Process
Applying for an Equity Sharing Agreement
Start your Unison journey with our seamless, straightforward application process. Discover how much cash you can unlo...
Tips
Easy DIY Ways to Go Green in Your Home
Eco-friendly home improvements can save you money, improve your quality of life, and boost the value of your home. Wi...
Tips
How to Take Advantage of Your Soaring Home Value
Equity-rich, cash-poor – it's a more common situation now than ever before. With property values skyrocketing, many h...
Tips
Protect Your Best Investment with These Home Maintenance Tips
For most Americans, our homes are our single largest investment. Keeping up with routine home maintenance protects yo...
Tips
What Is Mortgage Refinancing & How Does Refinancing Work?
The mortgage refinance process can be intimidating, and making mistakes can cost you thousands and undermine your fin...
Unison Culture
Winning Together, Meet Unison’s Home Partnership Team
The success of your homeownership journey largely depends on the company you keep. Having Unison by your side can hel...
Unison Culture
Director of the Home Partnership Team speaks about the "Unison Difference"
Join the Unison team on this episode of the Weaver: Beyond the Numbers Real Estate Podcast to discuss Unison’s unique...
Homeownership
How to Use Home Equity for Home Improvements
Your home is a major investment, but it's also one in which you live, work, and make memories. Using home equity to m...
Homeownership
#NewYearNewPortfolio: How to Freshen Up Your Finances
A new year is a new opportunity to take a holistic look at your finances, investments, and risks, and consider where ...
Tips
How to Navigate Retirement During the Pandemic
"2020 is “the year everything changed” - and for many, retirement falls into this bucket. From reconsidering, to reti...
Home Buying
Are NYC Residents Fleeing to the Suburbs?
In the age of COVID-19, with circumstances transforming cities everywhere, many experts are wondering – are NYCers fl...
Home Buying
Renovation Tips: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Thinking of renovating your space or moving to a more suitable home all together? Both options are considerable inves...
Tips
Do I Actually Need Fire Insurance?
The answer likely varies depending on your location and situation, but with the risk of wildfires becoming increasing...
Home Buying
How Does the Underwriting Process Work?
Mortgage underwriting is usually the make-or-break phase of a home purchase, and while it can seem simple, it's impor...
Tips
How to Get PMI Removed from Your Mortgage
PMI is typically required for sub-20% down mortgages, but once you're in, is there a way out? Read on for some strate...
Home Buying
What is Private Mortgage Insurance?
Also known as PMI, it's a form of insurance homeowners may have to carry, typically when they've entered a mortgage a...
Tips
How to Increase Your Home Value Through Renovations
You likely have an idea of what home improvements you want for you, but have you considered which renovations impact ...
Home Buying
Home Buying Guide: All the Major Steps of Buying a House
The process isn't always clean and linear, but being able to anticipate next steps will help you navigate one of the ...
Tips
What is a Piggyback Loan?
A piggyback loan is a second loan issued to a homebuyer, alongside a typical mortgage. Whether it's right for you lik...
Home Buying
How Does an Earnest Money Deposit Work?
"Earnest money" is a deposit to the seller that indicates the buyer's intent to purchase a home. Read on to learn abo...
Home Buying
What is the Ideal Debt-to-Income Ratio to Buy a Home?
In the world of lending, "DTI" is one of the crucial tools used to measure your financial health. It's important to u...
Tips
How Many Mortgage Quotes Do You Really Need?
Mortgages are stressful, and it can be tempting to just want to get it over with, but doing your homework can have a ...
Tips
Retirement Planning, Putting Home Equity to Work for You
The retirement landscape is changing every day, and traditional methods of funding it are beginning to fall away. We ...
Homeownership
What Every Homeowner Should Know
In a rapidly changing landscape, it can be difficult to keep up as a homeowner. Check out our "State of the American ...
Tips
Ways to Get Out of Debt & Tips for Debt Management
It's one thing to spend less and save more. But when it comes to finding the perfect balance between paying off debt ...
Home Buying
A Berkeley Behavioral Economist’s Advice for Homebuyers
Terrence Odean, professor of finance at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, shares his suggestions for avoiding co...
Tips
How to Help Your Kids' Finances (Without Draining Yours)
It's important to look at long-term benefits instead of short-term solutions, and seek out a financial plan to help y...
Home Buying
How to Make Sense of Down Payments When Purchasing a Home
While 20% is often the goal, many first-time homebuyers make signifcantly smaller down payments. With that can come c...
Tips
How to Mind the Parental Spend Gap
Being a woman is expensive. Between the pay gap and the costs of motherhood... but what about the parental spending gap?
Unison Culture
Unison brings awareness to the challenges facing communities in the bay area with 'The Welcome Tower'
Commissioned by Unison and designed by local artists, the Welcome Tower is intended to celebrate San Francisco's hist...
Unison Culture
Community Collaboration: Real-Life "Cribs"
We missed "Cribs", and we know you did too, so we made our own! Get to know some of our Unison HomeOwners and learn m...
Unison Culture
Unison Dream Home Contest Winners
Our Dream Home Contest is a wrap! And the winner is...
Tips
What Do I Do When Interest Rates Drop?
Interest rates are always in the news. But what does "up" or "down" mean for you? Depending on your situation, there ...
Tips
Is Owning Always Better Than Renting?
Owning a home is part of the American dream, but as it gets more and more difficult, it's natural to wonder if it's r...
Home Buying
What Every First-Time Buyer Needs to Know
Buying your first home is almost as intimidating as it is exciting. Check out our glossary of essential homebuyer ter...
Homeownership
How to Access Your Home's Equity without Adding Debt
Home equity is incredibly valuable, but often inaccessible without taking on increased debt. Many homeowners in equit...
Homeownership
How to Manage Risk and Volatility as a Home Owner
Many homeowners don't think about their home as part of their portfolio. But in many cases, it's not just part – it's...
Unison Culture
What Is Unison?
Welcome to Unison. We believe that with a partner in home ownership, you can go further than you can alone. Together,...
Unison Culture
Unison is Expanding Into Eight New States
Unison are proud to partner with homeowners across the country, and we're excited to announce that we're expanding in...
Are Shared Equity Mortgages a Good Idea?
Home equity sharing is picking up steam, offering a different way for buyers to get into homes, or free up cash to fu...
Unison Process
How Does an Option Contract Work?
Unison agreements are structured as option contracts, which allows you to sell us a future option for cash today. But...
Unison Culture
Where Does Unison Receive Its Funds?
Housing is a huge market, but it's difficult for investors to put their money in homes without owning them outright. ...
Tips
Best Alternatives to a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
Short answer? Yes! A HELOC is not necessarily a bad thing, and can be right for people in a certain situation. But it...
Tips
How Does a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Work?
A HELOC may be an affordable and convenient way to access a line of credit. But it’s not the right solution for every...
Tips
Can You Trust Zillow's Home Values?
The "Zestimate" is a bit of a secret sauce, which Zillow will admit is not always perfect. But it's a valuable tool n...
Tips
How Much Does PMI Cost?
If you're planning on putting less than 20% down, you'll likely need to anticipate paying for PMI. But how much of a ...
Tips
Everything You Need to Know About Reverse Mortgages
Reverse mortgages can be complicated and may not be right for everyone. Below, we explain how a reverse mortgage work...
Tips
Which 10% Down Payment Mortgage Is Best?
Good news? You don’t have to save a full 20% before you get a mortgage. Here are some options for hopeful homebuyers ...
Tips
How Long Does It Take to Get a Cash-Out Refinance?
Cash-Out Refinancing is more popular than ever. The process of getting approved tends to be faster than a HELOC, but ...
Home Buying
Do You Really Need to Put 20% Down?
While a 20% down payment is typically the gold standard, it may not always be financially feasible. Read on to weigh ...
Tips
Everything You Need to Know About Late Mortgage Payments
Due dates get missed – it's just part of life! But it's important not to make a habit of missing these deadlines, esp...
Home Buying
Home Buying Options to Avoid PMI & Save on Down Payments
20% down is considered the gold standard for mortgages, and while it's possible to pay less, 10% down mortgages often...
Tips
How to Get a "No PMI" Mortgage Loan
PMI adds an additional monthly payment to your budget, but you may be able to avoid it completely. Read on for the ea...
Tips
How Much Interest Will I Pay on My Mortgage?
It's easy to focus on the list price of a home, while ignoring the amount of interest that will likely accrue over th...
Testimonials
This Family Found the Perfect Home For Their Budget With Unison
Trevor and Lindsay found the perfect home, but it was right on the edge of their budget. Could they afford it without...
Testimonials
This Creative Couple Created Financial Security with Unison
Leslie and John weren't sure about their next move – between debt, renovations, and bills. With a home equity sharing...
Homeowner Removed the Weight of Frustrating Debt with Home Equity
Ed needed to pay down overwhelming debt, but was cautious about taking on debt to pay off debt. He found Unison and d...
Testimonials
This Tech Worker Became a Pizza Boss with Unison
Rick went from selling software to Fortune 1000 companies to slingin' pizza. Thanks in part to a Unison equity sharin...
Testimonials
This Couple Stopped Searching and Started Living with Unison
Up against home-flippers and speculators in a fierce LA market, the white picket fence wasn't looking at all likely. ...
Tips
How Long Does It Take to Get a HELOC?
If you're looking into a HELOC, there's probably a bit of a time crunch to get funds freed up. While a HELOC can move...