u/burningbirdsrp

Still working through the HELOC. I had to contact the processor because of requests that made no sense (IRS forms when we live off retirement income, etc).

The app has gone to whatever is the loan approval process. We estimated our home value at 317,300 based on county appraisal, which is the only thing we have approaching an 'appraisal'. Real estate AVMs range from 308,000 to 328,000. It came back with an AVM of 311,945. We're cool with this, we're only tapping about 43% of our equity and this wouldn't make a difference in interest rate.

But Navy Federal stated because of this, they want to do an exterior inspection.

Stuff like this just annoys me with the company. For one, a few thousand off? And we're only tapping about 43% of available equity. For another, part of our home equity loan is for a new roof, as ours was patched from Helene. It's a solid roof, but needs replacement because well, it looks ugly patched, and there was granule loss from the repair crew crawling on the shingles. I'm concerned now that a sloppy drive by is going to tank the home value because of it.

Why on earth would a company demand an in-person appraisal because you're about 4000 off on your guesstimate? Especially when you're going with a low CLTV?

I've had the Titan Plus Luxe for about two months, and it's not working out. The problem with the edge support being poor hit me right away but I learned to drag myself into the bed (the platform frame is a bit high). But I'm having real issues now with pressure support.

It seemed decent at first, but now, it feels worse. I've developed lower swollen legs and other issues seemingly from poor pressure support. No, I didn't have these until I got this mattress.

I am heavy, (5'11" 290 pounds), but this mattress is designed for heavier people. It does feel like the springs are holding up, but the memory foam is questionable. My back support is great, but the pressure on my legs, shoulders, hips, and even heels, is painful.

I hate having to return it, but I'm afraid it's just not working out. And putting on a topper when I'm already having an issue with the height of the bed isn't feasible.

So, I'm looking for a new mattress that has the firm support of this mattress, but must, must have better pressure relief. I'm desperate for better pressure relief, and edge support. I'm tired of trying to drag myself into bed because the edge doesn't hold up.

Suggestions?

I bought my Ozlos December 2024. After two of the updates last year, bluetooth failed in my left ear bud. Ozlo was kind enough to replace it, but a scant four months later, the bud will no longer support bluetooth more than a few inches from the base.

I did NOT update with the last update. No, this was an issue with the bud. When I put it in, there was a loud crackle, and that was it.

Ozlo sounds still work. And I can leave the left bud in the case and get bluetooth in the right bud, which I did last night.

So now, I'm left with less than ideal options.

The sale is still going on for new Ozlos, but it's still a hefty price. I could try buying a replacement bud, again but I'm pretty sure these are refurbished and considering how fast it died, probably not a great option. I won't spend $75.00 on a bud that dies in four months.

Not interested in Anker. I've read about the problems they've had and I won't sleep with that bulky thing in my ear.

I could stick with the built-in sounds, but Ozlo never has matched Bose when it comes to the quality of sleep sounds. I find them irritating.

Or I could put a speaker by the bed, turn up the sound, and bag using any kind of sleep buds.

Sigh. I really miss my Bose sleep buds.

This is a shout out to the folks who recommended the Alex Verdus books by Benedict Jacka during the last huge sale.

I now own the entire series and the books are a delight. I don't think I've yet discovered a more perfect pairing of book and narrator then these books and the narrator, Gildart Jackson.

The writing is excellent, the stories and characters engaging, but that narration really brings it all together.

I'm assuming this post will be deleted, but it needs to be said:

This is not a neutral group, where you can discuss HELOCs openly. This is a group where companies can sell people HELOCs. Because of it, you're not going to get the best advice.

I posted recently on issues I had with companies portraying home equity loans as HELOCs, specially Achieve...a company that seems to be frequently mentioned in comments to this subreddit.

It was deleted by the moderator.

There are other subreddits that actually are neutral where you can get better advice. Now, I'm out before I'm banned.

Looking at HELOCs now and have run into companies 'offering' HELOCs, but they're really Home Equity loans masquerading as HELOCs.

Chase does this by offering a HELOC but you have to immediately withdraw 80% of the HELOC. So, for all intents and purposes, it's really a home equity loan. However, they do allow an interest only payment period, so, technically, they are a HELOC.

Achieve, which an unusual number of people in this forum seem to promote, doesn't even offer the interest only payment period. I checked yesterday, and how it works with Achieve is you basically get a home equity loan with a fixed rate, but they give you all the money up front. Then the suggestion is to 'pay' all that money back, and for the next five years you can draw that sum as needed.

But you're not paying interest only at this point, you're paying interest and principal...ie, it's a home equity loan.

Checking online the difference between a HELOC and a HELON is

HELOC - flexible ongoing borrowing during draw period

HELOAN - money, up front, all at once

HELOC - interest only period

HELOAN - nope

HELOC - variable interest rate (though there is some flexibility with this with some companies)

HELOAN - fixed

There are some other differences, but these are key. So, from my understanding, Achieve is a HELOAN, not a HELOC?

Am I missing something?

Update: I did find this from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - a PDF describing the differences between financial options. And evidently, the interest-only payment during the draw period is NOT standard for HELOCs. Common, but not standard.

However, flexible accessing of funds during a draw period vs getting the funds as a lump sum upfront is a major difference between HELOCs and HELOANs.

https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_heloc-brochure.pdf

After the last update, my Ozlos are working perfectly. I am happy.

And now, every night when I access the Ozlo app, you're pushing me to do an update for a BETA release of a sleep pattern functionality I DON'T WANT!

A BETA release.

The problem with you all, is the engineers may have come over from Bose, but you didn't bring over any customer support people to realize that this is not something you want to do.

I do not remember at any time signing up for a beta release.