For many buyers, especially first-time homeowners, coming up with the down payment can feel like the biggest hurdle to purchasing a home. The good news is that many loan programs allow gift funds to help cover some or all of the down payment and sometimes even closing costs. Gift funds can be a powe

The confetti has been swept up. The jerseys are folded (or dramatically thrown in the back of the closet). The grill has had a week to cool off. And just like that… football season is over. The Seattle Seahawks won the big dance. Congratulations to them. But here’s the beautiful thing about sports—a

San Francisco during Super Bowl week is electric. The city hums differently. Athletes move through hotel lobbies. Former players sit on panels with the calm confidence of men who have already carried the weight of a stadium. Cameras flash. Agents negotiate quietly in corners. Everyone is somebody. A