Alaya Linton

Alaya Linton is a freelance writer for LendingTree, specializing in personal finance, mortgages, debt payoff and intentional spending.

Also a speaker and financial coach, Alaya has over eight years of experience writing personal finance content and helping individuals take control of their money. She has published hundreds of articles across publications, including LendingTree, thebalance.com, GOBankingRates, CNN Underscored and AARP.

In a former life, Alaya was a clothing designer and entered the world of personal finance after being inspired by her journey of overcoming more than $74,000 of debt. Alaya’s passionate about making financial topics relatable, accessible and understandable to consumers who may feel overwhelmed, intimidated or hopeless about money as she once did.

Specialties

• Mortgages
• Personal finance
• Debt payoff
• Intentional spending

Achievements

• 8+ years of writing personal finance content
• Plutus Awards Finalist, Best New Personal Finance Blog (2016)

Education

• Associate of Science (A.S.), Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale

Alaya’s thoughts on mortgages

“Buying a home for the first time is an exciting adventure, but emotions can often cloud judgment. My first home purchase ultimately ended in a short sale, partly because I didn’t fully understand my mortgage terms. That hard lesson taught me the importance of self-education during the home-buying process. Today, I’m passionate about making mortgages and personal finance understandable and approachable for everyday consumers.”