Category: Mortgages

Fannie and Freddie, the Big Mortgage Backers, Face Climate Risks

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac know increasing floods and wildfires are a problem. Dealing with them, however, would require trade-offs.
Mortgage Rates Fell, Then Rose. What Comes Next?

Many would-be home buyers are still hoping for mortgage rates to come down as the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates. How much they will fall is unclear.
Struggling With Debt? Bankruptcy Can Provide a Second Chance.

Many people who should consider filing for bankruptcy avoid doing so out of shame or fear it could ruin their credit. But it can provide much-needed relief.
What a Second Trump Term Could Mean for Your Money

Here’s what the president-elect has said he might do with your taxes, student loans, Social Security and more.
Why Bond Yields Are Rising After Trump’s Victory

Yields on government bonds — which underpin all kinds of borrowing in the economy — are rising. But the Fed is cutting rates. What gives?
If the Fed Is Cutting Rates, Why Are Mortgage Rates Rising?

The latest rise, to 6.79% for a 30-year mortgage, reflects bond market concern about President-elect Trump’s agenda. It extends an uptick in mortgage rates despite expected Federal Reserve rate cuts.
How Fed Rates Influence Credit Cards, Loans, Savings and More

Here’s how the central bank’s interest rate moves influence car loans, credit cards, mortgages, savings and student loans.
Foreclosures in China Soar, Threatening to Choke Off Bank Profits

When the housing market was flying high, mortgage defaults were almost nonexistent. But now the legal system is struggling to keep up with evictions.
Homeowners Tap Into Their Rising Home Equity

Balances on home equity lines of credit have risen along with home equity loans. Popular reasons for borrowing include home renovations and repairs and debt consolidation.
As Hurricanes Persist, Soaring Insurance Costs Hit Commercial Real Estate

Struggling landlords and developers are seeking leeway on coverage from their lenders — mostly in vain.
China Stocks Surge After Mortgage Curbs Are Removed

After seeing prices decline for years, Chinese officials have made a burst of policy changes aimed at making easier to buy homes.
China Cuts Interest Rates and Mortgage Down Payments

The country’s central bank also freed commercial banks to lend more money in a package of moves aimed at rekindling growth in a stagnant economy.