Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate When Jessica Lee bought her townhome in Nashville, Tennessee, the builder offered 5% in closing costs if she’d borrow from their preferred lender. The 28-year-old financial analyst felt if she didn’t use the lender, she wouldn’t get the house. “If the builder is offering it, it’d…
Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate The Federal Reserve doesn’t set mortgage rates outright, but its decisions do play a role in the percentages lenders offer would-be homeowners. And even if the Fed keeps its benchmark rate unchanged, mortgage rates can still fluctuate. Here’s how the Fed’s monetary policy…
PM Images/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Credit unions are not-for-profit, member-owned institutions that commonly offer savings accounts with above-average rates, low minimum deposit requirements and low (or no) fees. While some credit unions restrict membership to those of a certain location or occupation, others make it easy for anyone to…
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways Mortgages make up the highest percentage of household debt nationwide, with the average American owing $258,214. Millennials have the highest average mortgage debt at $320,027, with Gen X close behind at $286,574. The District of Columbia, California and Hawaii have…
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Last year, on the day before Tax Day, my mom was scheduled to fly into Philadelphia International Airport to stay…
The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
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Ariel Skelley / Getty Images Key takeaways Interest rates on federal student loans are set on July 1 each year for loans disbursed from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. Borrowers with existing federal student loans will not see any changes when…
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Try to Offer Advice or Support Instead of Criticism While younger generations are often criticized for their lack of financial literacy, getting into…
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For fintech startups, the first five years of the decade have been a roller-coaster ride. At the outset, companies were awash in easy…
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When people hear the phrase debt management program, there’s often confusion, hesitation, or even fear attached to it. As a credit counselor, I see this every day. Many individuals know they’re overwhelmed by debt, but they don’t fully understand what their options are or what credit counseling actually does. I…
President Donald Trump offered two new proposals this week aimed at the stubbornly complex issue of home affordability. Trump on Wednesday said he would move to ban institutional buyers from the housing market. Then on Thursday, he proposed a mortgage bond program aimed at lowering mortgage rates. Will either achieve…
If you’re renting for the long term, you’re not alone. A recent report found that 33% of Canadians rent their homes. While renting used to be seen as a temporary situation or a step towards owning a home, for many people long-term renting has become the status quo. Renting your…
A retirement budget compares expected income with planned expenses to see whether spending fits within available income. This process begins by listing income sources and savings and estimating how much they can provide each year. To show how a retirement budget works, let’s break down an example of a retirement…
Luxury cars come with a higher price tag, but many drivers don’t realize that the same features that make these cars feel special can also bump up their insurance costs. Leather seats, powerful engines, and high-tech safety features are all expensive to repair or replace after an accident, and insurers…
Getting a DUI in Michigan can have lasting and costly consequences. Beyond fines and legal trouble, drivers will see their insurance rates increase when their policies renew — some drivers may even get dropped by their carrier. Average rate data from Quadrant Information Services shows that Michigan car insurance rates…
F.J. Jimenez/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Virginia drivers used to be able to circumvent minimum insurance coverage by paying a $500 uninsured motor vehicle (UMV) fee. However, this is no longer the case. Drivers are now mandated by law to carry a certain amount of bodily injury liability…
Cherdchanok Treevanchai/Getty Images Key takeaways Home insurance typically covers foundation issues caused by covered perils, such as fire and severe weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes. Exclusions to coverage may include wear and tear, neglect, faulty construction and settling or expansion of soil. It is important for homeowners to maintain…
Andriy Onufriyenko/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways Credit card networks and issuers perform two distinct roles, though both can issue credit cards. Credit card issuers are responsible for card details, rates, fees and perks. Credit card networks may play a role in available card…
Bond prices have been volatile in recent years as the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to combat high inflation, but with rate cuts paused for now, investors may still be able to take advantage of attractive yields in short-term bonds. Here’s what you should know about short-term bond funds and…
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