Paychecks on Pause: Lessons Everyone Can Learn From the Shutdown
Millions of Americans live paycheck to paycheck — and when that paycheck suddenly stops, the financial impact can be immediate and overwhelming. Whether due to a layoff, furlough, or unexpected event like a government shutdown, losing your income means figuring out how to pay for the essentials: food, housing, transportation, and childcare. Today, nearly 3 […]
Surreal Estate: How Hauntings Affect Home Sales
You step into an open house for a beautiful old Victorian on a quiet, tree-lined street. The wraparound porch is inviting, the woodwork is stunning — but then you feel a sudden chill and notice the chandelier flickering. Is it faulty wiring… or something paranormal? It’s natural to wonder whether a property’s spooky reputation might […]
Mortgage Rates Today, Thursday, October 23: Finally Below 6%
Editorial Note: CreditVana may receive compensation from third-party advertisers, but this does not influence our editors’ opinions or recommendations. Our content is based on independent analysis and accurate as of publication. Mortgage rates continued their slide this week, breaking below 6% for the first time in over a year.According to data from Zillow, the average […]
I Asked Real Buyers: How Hard Is It to Find a House Right Now?
If you’re a homebuyer who’s been watching and waiting, this fall may finally tilt the odds in your favor. According to housing market data, listings are climbing, mortgage rates are dipping, and October could bring even lower rates if the Federal Reserve makes a widely expected rate cut. Economists at Realtor.com have even dubbed October […]
Mortgage Rates Today, Friday, October 3: Lower as Economic Concerns Mount
Good news for homebuyers and homeowners: mortgage rates just dropped, and it could be your chance to lock in a lower rate before things shift again. The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 6.19% APR today, according to data from Zillow provided to NerdWallet. That’s a drop of 8 basis points from […]
Federal Reserve cuts interest rates: What’s next for credit cards, auto loans, mortgages
After over a year of holding steady, the Federal Reserve finally cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point — and while the move was widely expected, it still marks a shift in economic policy that could impact everything from your credit card APR to your mortgage rate. If you’re wondering what this means for […]
Credit Scores Fall For The Second Year In A Row As More Borrowers Miss Payments
For the second year running, the national average credit score has dropped, according to FICO, the company behind one of the most widely used credit scoring models in the U.S. The average score now sits at 715, down from 717 in 2024 and 718 in 2023. FICO scores range from 300 to 850, and while […]
The Fed Cut Rates. Will It Help the Housing Market?
On September 17, the Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by 0.25%, a move that financial markets had been expecting for some time. But it’s not just Wall Street that’s paying attention—so are millions of Americans hoping for relief from high mortgage rates. If you’re thinking about buying a home or refinancing your current […]
How to get a mortgage rate under 6% this September
Mortgage rates have been a hot topic for homebuyers and refinancers alike, especially as we’ve seen them bounce around in recent years. After spiking to historic highs in 2023, mortgage rates seemed to cool down toward the end of last year. Now, with potential rate cuts looming and the broader economic landscape showing signs of […]
How Home Sellers Can Get Great Real Estate Photos
You’ve probably scrolled through online real estate listings and found yourself laughing at the awkwardly taken photos—like blurry shots with fingers over the lens or odd bathroom photos featuring toenail fungus remover. But every once in a while, you come across a listing with photos that truly stand out—photos that make you stop and want […]
