How to Find Your VantageScore 4.0 Credit Score
Mortgage lenders have long used three key FICO scores — 2, 4 and 5 — to determine home loan eligibility. Now, there are a couple of new score models on the block that could make it easier for people with certain types of debt or limited credit history to get a mortgage. Lenders can now […]
I’ve recently come into a lump sum and want to invest it. What should I do? – The Irish Times
Over the course of our How to Invest series, we have offered insights on many aspects of investing in different classes of assets, including the importance of diversification, the various taxes that apply and the pros and cons of different investment choices. To take a more practical tack, we have asked a series of experts […]
Iran War Increases Mortgage Rates. How To Find Low Rates
Just as mortgage rates fell below 6% at the end of February — a drop homebuyers awaited for four years — the war in Iran has pushed them back up again. Economists predict rates could fluctuate throughout the year if the fighting continues. Mortgage rates and the 10-year Treasury yield rose in lockstep with oil […]
What Is It and How Can It Save You Money?
Do you soothe your financial anxieties by watching money grow in a traditional savings account? So much so that you avoid putting that money anywhere else out of fear of making mistakes or poor investments? You’re not alone. Shane Walker, CEO of the banking app Qube Money, says he often hears this sentiment from clients. […]
How to Boost Your Savings For a Down Payment
President Donald Trump has floated that his administration can help ease the housing affordability crisis by creating portable mortgages, 50-year terms — and now funding down payments using your 401(k). On Friday, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told Fox Business that the administration is “going to allow people to take money out of their […]
Fed may make its first rate cut of 2025: How to benefit
The Federal Reserve is widely expected to lower its benchmark rate when it meets this week, despite the latest hotter-than-expected inflation data. The market is now pricing in a 96% chance of a 25 basis-point rate cut this month, according to the CME Fedwatch tool. “The betting is currently that the Fed will embark on rate cutting, […]
How to get the best mortgage rates as 30-year fixed nears 1-year low
The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage notched its biggest one-day drop in more than a year on Friday. Although mortgage rates are now at their lowest level since October, the average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage is still just around 6.29%, according to Mortgage News Daily — a big leap from the under […]
How to prepare for a mortgage refinance, according to experts
Sdi Productions | E+ | Getty Images Mortgage rates have declined in recent months, and with the potential for a Federal Reserve rate cut this fall, it’s smart for homeowners with high interest rates to start preparing for the opportunity to refinance, experts say. Last week, mortgage rates slightly edged higher. According to the Mortgage […]
How to price your home to sell in 2025
Lifestylevisuals | E+ | Getty Images Selling a house involves much more than just putting up a “for sale” sign. In addition to some key things to consider — like knowing market conditions, preparing your home for showings and deciding whether to work with a real estate agent — it’s important to get the right […]
How to make high interest rates work in your favor
That’s not good news for people borrowing money, but it’s a great time to have savings accounts, says Ted Rossman, chief credit card analyst at Bankrate. “The biggest benefit is for savers,” Rossman says. “You can still get over 5% on a totally liquid totally federally insured savings account. The top one-year certificates of deposit […]