Browsed by
Category: Uncategorized

Average US long-term mortgage rate barely budges, holding near 6%

Average US long-term mortgage rate barely budges, holding near 6%

Comments 0 Comment

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate barely budged this week, staying close to 6% as the spring home-buying season nears.

Related Articles

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate edged up to 6.11%, essentially flat compared to last week when it was 6.1%, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the rate averaged 6.89%.

This is the latest increase since the average rate eased three weeks ago to 6.06%, its lowest level in more than three years.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also ticked up this week. That average rate inched up to 5.5% from 5.49% last week. A year ago, it was at 6.05%, Freddie Mac said. read more

Big Tech and dour data on the US job market hit Wall Street as bitcoin tumbles

Big Tech and dour data on the US job market hit Wall Street as bitcoin tumbles

Comments 0 Comment

By STAN CHOE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Sharp drops for big technology companies are yanking the U.S. stock market lower on Thursday, while prices for bitcoin, silver and gold weaken. Yields are also sinking in the bond market following discouraging news on the U.S. job market.

Related Articles

The S&P 500 fell 0.7% and is heading toward its sixth loss in the seven days since it set an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 338 points, or 0.7%, as of 1:04 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.8% lower.

Alphabet was one of the heaviest weights on the market and dropped 2.7%, even though the parent company of Google, YouTube and other businesses reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Investors focused instead on how much Alphabet is spending on artificial-intelligence technology and questioned whether it will all prove worth it. read more

Asked on Reddit: My parents ruined my credit. How can I fix it?

Asked on Reddit: My parents ruined my credit. How can I fix it?

Comments 0 Comment

By Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet

A Redditor recently asked how to recover after their parents did a number on their credit score.

Related Articles

The original poster shared that while on break from college, they discovered a letter from a collection agency addressed to them. It referenced an unfamiliar unpaid account.

They soon learned their parents had taken out multiple credit cards in their name without permission to help cover household expenses. Their parents had allegedly charged thousands of dollars in debt, left it unpaid, and now the collections agencies were calling. read more

US applications for jobless benefits jump by 22,000 to 231,000 last week, the most in 2 months

US applications for jobless benefits jump by 22,000 to 231,000 last week, the most in 2 months

Comments 0 Comment

By MATT OTT, AP Business Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits jumped last week but remains in the same historically low range of the past few years.

Related Articles

Applications for jobless aid for the week ending Jan. 31 rose by 22,000 to 231,000 from the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s significantly more than the 211,000 new applications that analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet had forecast.

Applications for unemployment benefits are seen as representative of U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market. read more

Ask a real estate pro: My landlord is ignoring a damp spot on my wall. What should I do?

Ask a real estate pro: My landlord is ignoring a damp spot on my wall. What should I do?

Comments 0 Comment

Q: In the apartment I rent, I recently noticed a damp spot on the wall near the ceiling. It was a little discolored, and I mentioned it to my landlord. Who thanked me but did nothing. The spot is now larger and changing color. I’m concerned about mold, and my landlord doesn’t seem to be taking any action. Is there anything I should be doing? — Anton

A: You should be concerned about a damp spot on your wall, especially if it spreads or discolors. While it might not be dangerous, it could be. At the very least, it is unsightly. While it is frustrating that your landlord has not taken the issue seriously, there are steps you can take to address it effectively. Your health and safety should always come first. Mold is not inevitable just because you have a damp spot. Still, because it can cause respiratory issues, allergies, and other health problems, you should take this seriously.

As with any legal or housing issue, document everything. Take clear photos of the damp spot, capturing its size and progression. If your phone has a setting to automatically record the date and time on each photo, ensure it is enabled. Keep a detailed written record of your interactions with your landlord, including their responses and any lack thereof. When you speak with them in person or by phone, follow up with an email to confirm the discussion and maintain a written record to prevent misunderstandings later. Always communicate professionally, being polite but firm, and do not get upset even if things do not go the way you want them to. read more