When you can’t refinance a mortgage to capitalize on lower rates

When you can’t refinance a mortgage to capitalize on lower rates

The Federal Reserve slashed interest rates by a half percentage point, or 50 basis points, on Wednesday, its first rate cut since March 2020. Even before the Fed rate cut, some homeowners had already taken advantage of recent declines in mortgage rates to refinance. Refinance activity increased to 46.7% of total applications during the week … Read more

China stimulus calls are growing louder, at home and abroad

China stimulus calls are growing louder, at home and abroad

Local residents with umbrellas walk out of a metro station in rain during morning rush hour on September 20, 2024 in Beijing, China.  China News Service | China News Service | Getty Images BEIJING — More economists are calling for China to stimulate growth, including those based inside the country. China should issue at least … Read more

Self-made millionaire built wealth living in an RV, found it ‘freeing’

Self-made millionaire built wealth living in an RV, found it ‘freeing’

In 2016, when I was 35, and my wife Courtney was 32, we sold our house, a 4 bed, 2 bath 1,600-square-foot Arizona home, moved into a 200-square-foot Airstream RV with our two dogs, and set up our new home in a KOA campground in Tucson.  It was the first of many big changes for … Read more

August home sales drop more than expected, as prices set a new record

August home sales drop more than expected, as prices set a new record

Sales of previously owned homes fell 2.5% in August from July, to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 3.86 million units, according to the National Association of Realtors. That is slightly lower than what analysts expected. Sales were 4.2% lower than August 2023. It marks three straight months of sales below the 4 million mark, … Read more

When to refinance your mortgage as the Federal Reserve cuts rates

When to refinance your mortgage as the Federal Reserve cuts rates

Andresr | E+ | Getty Images The Federal Reserve is poised to make its first interest rate cut in years on Wednesday. But homeowners shouldn’t bet on the move as an opportunity to immediately refinance their mortgage. That’s because “a lot of these rate cuts are already priced in,” Chen Zhao, the economic research lead … Read more

Frustrated millennials across the U.S. struggle to afford homes

Frustrated millennials across the U.S. struggle to afford homes

Kelcie Lesko and Tim Khalil remember the moment when they gave up on buying their first home. It was June 2023, when U.S. homebuyers were scrambling to beat out rising mortgage rates and snatch up what they could from a limited number of units on the market. Amid soaring house prices, many buyers made all-cash … Read more

Weekly mortgage demand surges as interest rates hit two-year low

Weekly mortgage demand surges as interest rates hit two-year low

A home with a “Sold” sign from a real estate company in North Patchogue, New York. Steve Pfost | Newsday | Getty Images Mortgage rates came down again last week, and with the expectation that they could fall further, mortgage demand suddenly jumped, especially for refinancing.  The Federal Reserve is expected to make its first … Read more

How I reached financial independence at 38 by investing in real estate

How I reached financial independence at 38 by investing in real estate

Shu Matsuo Post, 38, built a $2 million real estate portfolio, according to documents seen by CNBC Make It. Courtesy of Shu Matsuo Post The idea of financial independence can mean different things to different people, but one common way to define it is having enough money that you no longer need to rely on … Read more

Mortgage rates are dropping, but homes aren’t expected to get cheaper

Mortgage rates are dropping, but homes aren’t expected to get cheaper

Mortgage rates are falling, but that doesn’t guarantee homes will be more affordable in 2025. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped to 6.2% as of Thursday, down from a peak of 7.79% in May. For many buyers, that means saving hundreds on mortgage payments. But those savings are bringing buyers back into the market. … Read more

Montana hot housing market heats up critical Senate race

Montana hot housing market heats up critical Senate race

MISSOULA, Mont. — In a subdivision near the northern edge of town, a number of condos and duplexes have popped up in the past three years. It’s part of a larger effort, including new zoning laws, to help provide affordable housing to Montanans who have found themselves priced out of the market, said DJ Smith, … Read more