Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

creditWhich debts you should settle before applying for a mortgage, what to glean from your free credit report, and why crowdfunding is no longer just for opening a new coffee shop.

The Right Way to Pay Off Debt to Get a Mortgage
Which debts you should pay off before trying to get a mortgage.

The Ten Commandments of Personal Finance
Ways to avoid financial confession.

4 things you don’t know about 529 plans
What you should know before withdrawing funds from the popular college savings program.

5 lessons from free credit score notices
Things to keep in mind while reviewing your free credit reports.

Crowdfunding for Student Loan Debt?
Could the Kickstarter method be used to paid down student loans?