Debt

Mortgage Rates Climb for Fourth Straight Week as Easy Money Crackdown Begins Rates for home loans ticked up slightly, a reminder that the easy-money era for mortgages will likely have to end at some point. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.20% during the April 25 week, Freddie Mac said Thursday. That was up three basis points […]

Home Equity Loan Taxes: Watch Out, It’s a Whole New World Do you have a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC)? Homeowners often tap their home equity for some quick cash, using their property as collateral. But before doing so, you need to understand how this debt will be treated this tax season. With the recently […]

How Does Paying Off Your Mortgage Affect Your Credit Score? A mortgage is probably the largest debt you’ll ever have, and paying it off is a significant achievement. But credit bureaus like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion might not be as thrilled. “Paying off any debt will certainly affect your credit score, and your mortgage is […]

If you’re hoping to buy a house soon, one little number you’ll want to bring up to snuff is your credit score. Your credit score is a numerical summary of your credit report, a detailed document outlining how well you’ve paid off past debts—to your credit cards, college loans, and any place you owe money. […]

No Pay Stub? No Problem. Unconventional Mortgages Make a Comeback Aryanna Hering didn’t have pay stubs or tax forms to document her income when she shopped around for a mortgage last year—a problem that made it tough for her to get a loan. But the nursing student who works part time providing home care for […]