Home Equity Rates Rose Five Weeks Straight. Pick the Right Way to Borrow.
Posted Friday October 16, 2026 in Mortgage
If you own a home and need cash for a remodel, a tuition bill, or high-interest debt, you have three main ways to borrow against your equity: a home equity line of credit (HELOC), a fixed-rate home equity loan, or a cash-out refinance. This fall, the choice between them matters more than usual, because the…
Your Appraisal Is Changing. Budget About $65 More and a Little Extra Time.
Posted Friday October 9, 2026 in Mortgage
If you are buying a home or refinancing this fall, one line on your Loan Estimate may look a little different than friends who closed last year. Your appraisal fee may run about $65 higher in many markets, and the schedule can stretch a bit while the industry switches to a new report format. That…
You May Have Two Credit Scores That Matter for Your Mortgage
Posted Friday October 2, 2026 in Mortgage
For years, shopping for a home loan meant asking one question about credit: what is my score? That still matters. But after a September change at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, many conventional borrowers now face a second question that can change what the loan costs. On September 9, 2026, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac…
Two-Thirds of Builders Are Offering Incentives. Know What You Are Buying.
Posted Friday September 25, 2026 in Real Estate
In September, two out of three U.S. home builders said they were using sales incentives to move houses, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. That share rose to 66% from 63% in August, the highest reading since last December. Separately, 38% of builders reported cutting prices, with the average reduction holding at 6%…