2024

This week the Federal Reserve did follow through with its much-anticipated interest rate reduction as expected by many Wall Street analysts. On September 18, 2024, the central bank approved a fifty-basis rate cut, marking its first reduction since the pandemic, and the largest single rate cut in 16 years. In response, mortgage rates started declining ahead of the Fed's decision, giving a boost to the...

Vetted by HousingWire  |  Our editors independently review the products we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Here’s our complete guide to sending and receiving real estate referrals and earning more money this year. We’ll break down everything you need to know about real estate referral fees, including how they work, typical referral fee rates, how to draft and...

CMG Home Loans, the retail lending division of CMG Financial, has its eyes on growing its dedicated reverse mortgage segment. In addition to recently making a key operations hire in an effort to expand its capacity to originate and fund loans, market conditions — including an expanding Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) for Purchase market — present a unique opportunity for the company. In this...

Republican members of the U.S. Senate have introduced new legislation designed to expand the oversight of federal housing programs, make changes to loan officer compensation for the origination of small-dollar mortgages, and create additional counseling requirements for homebuyers. The Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act is spearheaded by key Republican members of the Senate...

Elder financial exploitation (EFE) is a common form of elder abuse that impacts as much as 10% of older Americans each year. But to better combat its growing commonality, more information is needed — particularly for vulnerable communities — according to senior advocacy organization AARP. “While financial exploitation can occur in any community, gaps in data exist in understanding the impact on...

The Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate on Wednesday by 50 basis points (bps) to a range of 4.75% to 5%, turning an important corner in the central bank’s fight against inflation. The cut is the first since March 2020 after the Fed raised interest rates to a 23-year high point to cool the economy and quell inflation.  With both inflation and the labor market cooling, economists and...

This old-fashioned laundry product is the secret to bright white clothing and linens. Getty Images / Cris Cantón When it comes to laundry products, new stain-treating and odor-eliminating products tend to get all the attention. But it can be worth revisiting vintage housekeeping formulas and methods that have fallen out of fashion—like laundry bluing. Laundry bluing is a product that is used...

These gifts won’t go “out of style.” Better Homes & Gardens / Brian Kopinski Taylor Swift is a music and pop culture icon, and these last couple of years have catapulted her to even more success thanks to her new albums and the international Eras Tour that has over 150 tour dates. Some fans, referred to as Swifties, remember where they were when “Tim McGraw” was released in 2006...

Find outdoor strings lights, pillow covers, area rugs, and more—all under $200. Better Homes & Gardens / Amazon As the summer heat fades and the crisp air of autumn sets in, fall is the perfect time to wine away an evening on the porch. And if you haven’t already, start thinking about how to dress it up for the season. Hence we chatted with Jessie-Sierra Ross, a seasonal entertaining...

Find out when to cut back irises to keep these perennials healthy and looking their best. Robert Cardillo Blooming after early spring flowers such as tulips and daffodils fade, irises steal the show both in the garden and in a vase for weeks each spring. But when to cut back irises? After their colorful flowers wither, or should you wait until fall, or even until after winter? This guide explains...