Buying your first home? It’s a lot, we know. Start with the basics: know what you can afford, understand your loan options and shop around for the best rate. https://bit.ly/36E2EIe

Will mortgage rates drop by the end of the year? Bankrate’s latest survey of 18 leading economists signals a shift in the trajectory of the U.S. economy. From mortgage rate relief to labor market resilience, here is what the experts forecast for 2026. https://bit.ly/4tSmPak

Existing home sales slowed in March, down 3.6% as higher mortgage rates and low inventory weigh on the market. Activity isn’t zero—but with rates around 6.5%, buyers need to be strategic. Shopping around for a mortgage rate still matters.

The “starter home” didn’t disappear—it got harder to build. In many parts of the U.S., the path to building smaller, more affordable homes has narrowed over time. https://bit.ly/4teJzRG

Buying a home isn’t just about finding the right place. For many buyers, the hardest part is navigating the lending process. In today’s market, incentives and pressure can shape your decisions more than you expect. The key is knowing you have options. https://bit.ly/47rt500

Debt is reshaping the timeline to homeownership. One aspiring buyer told Bankrate her $169K in student loans and $14K in credit card debt have delayed plans to buy, marry and start a family. https://bit.ly/4rTDcSm

Mortgage payments get the spotlight, but HOA fees can quietly reshape your housing costs. Dues are rising, surprise assessments are more common and missed payments can put your home at risk. Bankrate’s Linda Bell explains: https://bit.ly/3NtACoi

Mortgage rates are already moving. The Federal Reserve held rates steady, but mortgage rates are reacting to inflation concerns and global uncertainty and have started to climb. https://bit.ly/4rHz206

Driving off the lot with a signed contract doesn’t always mean the deal is final. A practice called “yo-yo financing” allows some dealerships to unwind a car sale days or weeks later. Bankrate’s Andrew Pentis examines how the legal tactic can leave buyers exposed. https://bit.ly/3P2ZiEt

Predatory auto loans are often perfectly legal. A record number of drivers are upside down on their loans. Delinquencies are at a 15-year high. Repossessions have surged 43% since 2022. Before you finance, focus on the APR, not just the monthly payment. https://bit.ly/40Ibz3T

The "frozen" housing market is thawing. NAR reports Feb. home sales hit a 4.09M pace—beating expectations. Plus, Jan. numbers were revised UP to 4.02M. While sales are still -1.4% YoY, the winter slump wasn't as cold as feared.

Affordability proposals can sound simple. The real impact usually isn’t. From credit cards and mortgages to student loans and investing, we’re tracking Trump’s consumer finance proposals and breaking down what they could mean for household budgets and long-term costs. https://bit.ly/4kvxoMZ

Most couples don’t fully combine their finances. Just 38% of married or live-in couples say they completely merge their money, according to a new Bankrate survey. https://bit.ly/3ZlVlwB

44% of Americans say they have more emergency savings than credit card debt, according to a new Bankrate survey. But progress is slow: Just 21% say their savings grew over the past year, while nearly 3 in 10 still have more debt than savings. https://bit.ly/4qbVygF

Is financial infidelity as damaging as physical cheating? A new Bankrate survey found 43% of Americans say keeping money secrets from a partner is at least as bad. Nearly half of married/cohabitating couples are not sharing all of their financial details. https://bit.ly/3LEGpXf

NEWS: The Fed left interest rates unchanged at its first meeting of the year, pausing after three straight rate cuts as policymakers grow more cautious. Read more: https://bit.ly/3Z5h3Vu

Insuring a new teen driver now costs over $5,700 a year. Adding a 16-year-old could potentially more than double the average auto insurance premium for their parents and costs more than insurance for a driver with a past accident or DUI conviction. https://bit.ly/4rbEnwz

Years of high prices are still straining household finances. Just 30% of Americans say they could cover a $1,000 emergency from savings, and 54% say inflation is cutting into their ability to save, per new data from Bankrate. Full report: https://bit.ly/4sUXzAG

Credit card debt is sticking around longer. A new Bankrate survey finds 61% of cardholders with debt have carried it for at least a year, with emergency and everyday expenses driving balances. https://bit.ly/4sCWkWA

After years of high borrowing costs, some relief may be ahead. Bankrate’s 2026 Interest Rate Forecast expects the Fed to keep cutting rates next year, though uncertainty remains. See what it means for your money: https://bit.ly/49IqAI0

Rare relief for drivers: Gas prices have fallen below $3 a gallon for the first time in four years and are expected to stay low into 2026. Read the full Bankrate analysis: https://bit.ly/3L4ZD7U

Fewer Americans are feeling optimistic about their finances heading into 2026. Just one in three (34%) expect their situation to improve next year, down from 44% a year ago, according to a new Bankrate report. Read more: https://bit.ly/4pFYEu1

You turned to Bankrate for answers in 2025 — from the best rates to where to buy a home. We tracked your top reads of the year. Here are the receipts. https://bit.ly/4q0TtEI

NEWS: The Fed voted to cut interest rates for the third straight meeting despite intensifying divisions over how to manage an economy with both higher inflation and unemployment. More: https://bit.ly/48M1KoO

Homeownership has become a luxury in most major cities. A new Bankrate study finds the average household is priced out of 75% of the U.S. housing market, turning a dream into a luxury. See where affordable homes are hardest to find: https://bit.ly/3Kl7MF5

Fewer Americans plan to give holiday tips this year, but those who are planning to do so aren’t cutting back on dollar amounts. A new Bankrate survey finds median tip amounts are mostly flat or up across common service providers. https://bit.ly/4pciPiR

Higher earnings, not lower spending, are driving emergency savings growth this year. According to Bankrate’s new survey, about 1 in 5 Americans have more emergency savings now than at the start of 2025 — and rising income is cited as the biggest reason why. https://bit.ly/4oNrsjB

After decades of steady progress, the gender pay gap is once again widening for the first time in decades. Read Bankrate’s full analysis: https://t.co/SBKb3t1sQt https://t.co/pZd1FiFg1J

NEWS: The Fed cut interest rates again to keep the job market from weakening further, even as inflation stays high and the government shutdown drags on. https://www.bankrate.com/banking/federal-reserve/fed-rate-cut-october-2025/

52% of non-retired Americans say they expect to rely on Social Security for necessary expenses – but 76% worry their promised benefits won’t be paid upon retirement age. Bankrate’s latest survey shows growing concern about retirement security. www.bankrate.com/retirement/r...

Have you booked your holiday travel? According to a new Bankrate survey, just 21% of Americans plan to travel this holiday season, down from 27% in 2024. https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/news/holiday-spending-report/

Among aspiring homeowners, one in six (16%) have given up on purchasing a home in the past five years (i.e., since August 2020) because they could not find anything they liked or could afford, according to a new Bankrate survey. https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/home-buying-challenges-survey/

According to a new Bankrate survey, two-thirds of Americans (66%) who grew up with a strong financial education have successfully negotiated pay raises during their careers. www.bankrate.com/personal-fin...

The Fed is likely readying a third straight interest rate cut this afternoon. Bankrate’s experts are live blogging today’s decision and what it means for your finances: www.bankrate.com/banking/fede...

According to a new Bankrate survey, 44% of Americans expect their finances will get better in 2025, while 56% do not expect their finances to improve. bankrate.com/investing/fi...

The 2025 Bankrate Awards have arrived! 🎉 From top banks and financial advisors to credit cards, we’ve got everything you need. Check out our personal finance winners: bankrate.com/awards/

While more Americans are planning to tip this holiday season, dollar amounts are expected to remain relatively unchanged, according to a new Bankrate survey. www.bankrate.com/credit-cards...