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☆ How to optimize your holiday travel budget on 'Travel Tuesday'
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | Ana Teresa Solá Is A Personal Finance Reporter For Cnbc. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

If you still haven’t booked your holiday travel plans, take note: Prices tend to rise the closer you get to the days you’re looking to travel. To afford holiday trips, about 50% of respondents are cutting back on other expenses while 49% are picking up discounts and deals, according to the 2024 Holiday Travel Outlook by Hopper, a travel site. Some last-minute holiday travelers are leaning into so-called “Travel Tuesday” — or the Tuesday after Cyber Monday and Black Friday — which falls on Dec. 3 this year. As you shop, make sure to read the fine print in case discounts only apply for certain routes and days, Dengler explained. “I really encourage travelers to do that exploration now so that on Travel Deal Tuesday, they can be ready to actually book,” she said.

Persons: Hopper, —, ’ ”, Sally French, ”, Phil Dengler, Hayley Berg, Dengler, NerdWallet’s, “ They’re, you’ll, ” Dengler, you’re, Berg, “ Organizations: McKinsey and Company, Travel, Travel Deal, Black

☆ Gen Z, millennial retail investors are tapping into ETFs, report finds. Here are things to watch out for, expert say
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The survey polled 2,000 U.S. retail ETF investors in March. "The continued growth of retail investors investing in ETFs is certainly not going away," she said. watch nowMeanwhile, associated fees with ETFs tend to be much lower compared to mutual funds and other index funds. Index ETFs have a 0.44% average annual fee, half the 0.88% fee for index mutual funds, according to Morningstar. Similarly, active ETFs carry a 0.63% average fee, versus 1.02% for actively managed mutual funds, Morningstar data shows.

Persons: Oscar Wong, John Healy, Healy, He's, Young, Zers, Gen, Alison Hennessy, Hennessy, Tommy Lucas, Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo, Lucas Organizations: Nasdaq, millennials, Morningstar Locations: New York City, U.S, Orlando , Florida

☆ Workplace flexibility is helping Americans take longer trips this holiday season, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Americans are determined to travel this holiday season — and certain workarounds are helping them take those trips. This flexibility allows workers to take trips they might not otherwise, or stretch their trips for longer, according to the survey. The change in laptop luggers is "a pretty high jump. "The value to U.S. workers of being able to work from anywhere has clearly grown over the course of the great remote work experiment," she said. "People are willing to cut corners to save money, but they don't want to skip the trip entirely," said Ted Rossman, an industry analyst at Bankrate.

Persons: Gen Zers, Eileen Crowley, Julia Pollak, Ted Rossman Organizations: Deloitte, Finance, ZipRecruiter

☆ Mortgage rates may be stabilizing after the election. Here's what to expect into early 2025
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Don't expect 'huge swings' on mortgage ratesElection uncertainty contributed to an upward swing in mortgage rates during October. But now that we have a president-elect, mortgage rates are expected to gradually come down over time, Lautz said. Experts say that mortgage rates might head into a "bumpy" or "volatile" path over the next year. "Our expectation is that rates are going to be in the 6% range as we move into 2025," she said. For example, if you bought your home around this time last year, when mortgage rates peaked at around 8%, you might benefit from a mortgage refinance, Lautz said.

Persons: Freddie Mac, it's, Jessica Lautz, Lautz, Jerome Powell, Robert Dietz, Jessica Lautz Jessica Lautz, Jeff Ostrowski, Jacob Channel Organizations: Getty, Federal Reserve, National Association of Realtors, Treasury, Trump, Federal, CNBC Locations: U.S

In fact, some borrowers are still paying off debt from last year's purchases. To that point, 28% of shoppers who used credit cards have not paid off the presents they bought for their loved ones last year, according to a holiday spending report by NerdWallet. However, this is a slight improvement from 2023, when 31% of credit card users had still not paid off their balances from the year before. Although overall credit card balances were 6.9% higher at the end of the third quarter compared to a year earlier, that's a significant improvement from the 15% year-over-year jump from Q3 2022 to Q3 2023, TransUnion found. Recent wage gains have also played a role, according to Paul Siegfried, TransUnion's senior vice president and credit card business leader.

Persons: TransUnion, Michele Raneri, Paul Siegfried, TransUnion's Organizations: Finance, TransUnion

Meanwhile, 28% of holiday shoppers still have not paid off the gifts they purchased for their loved ones last year, according to another holiday spending report by NerdWallet . Major retailers tend to heavily discount some of their products as the holiday season unfolds. Heading into the peak holiday shopping season, there are a few steps you can take to help maximize your cash. "Slow shopping encourages consumers to think through each potential purchase rather than jumping on impulse," Woroch said. "This allows you to be mindful about what you're buying, why you're buying and who you're buying for while also giving you time to save up, compare prices and look for coupons," Woroch added.

Persons: they'll, Adam Davis, Davis, Sara Rathner, Sofia Baig, Gen, Andrea Woroch, Woroch Organizations: NerdWallet, National Retail Federation, U.S, Wells, Wells Fargo Retail Finance, Morning Locations: Wells Fargo, Novi , Michigan

☆ Here's what the Trump presidency could mean for the housing market, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

President-elect Donald Trump wants to address housing affordability in the U.S. by fomenting the construction of new homes. "We're going to open up tracks of federal land for housing construction," Trump said during an Aug. 15 news conference. While building more homes is the simpler answer to address the housing issue in the country, other promises Trump has made could deter affordability efforts, experts say. He also claimed that he would pull down mortgage rates back to pandemic-era lows, although presidents do not control mortgage rates, experts say. Here's how some of Trump's policies could affect the housing market during his administration, according to experts:

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Jim Tobin, it's, Jacob Channel Organizations: National Association of Realtors, National Association of Home Builders, Finance, Federal Reserve, Social Security, LendingTree Locations: U.S

☆ Is the 'vibecession' here to stay? Here's what experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

While the Federal Reserve is still concerned about inflation, "we're seeing these signs of weakness in the labor market," Scanlon said. "This suggests that the labor market remains firm despite signs of weakening," J.P. Morgan noted. 'What the bond market is telling us'The stock market rallied after the presidential election results. That's what the bond market is telling us." Depending on what policies are enacted under Trump's second term, the inflation problem might get worse, experts say.

Persons: Brett House, Scanlon, There's, Mark Hamrick, J.P, Morgan, Hamrick, Trump Organizations: Columbia Business School, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, of Labor Statistics, BLS, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Treasury, Trump Locations: U.S, China

☆ Average age of first-time homebuyers is 38, an all-time high. Here's what that says about the real estate market
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

'The biggest issue of housing today'The housing shortage in the U.S. is "the biggest issue of housing today," said Orphe Divounguy, senior economist at Zillow. As of mid-2023, there's a housing shortage of 4 million homes, according to the NAR. Rent prices increased faster than tenants' wages during the pandemic. "We're seeing renters staying renters for longer because affordability has been so squeezed," he said. High rent prices not only affect your ability to save money to buy a home, it can affect your ability to pay down any existing debt, Lautz said.

Persons: homebuyer, Jessica Lautz, Orphe Divounguy, Jonathan Scott, Scott, Selma Hepp, Divounguy, Lautz Organizations: National Association of Realtors, NAR, HGTV, CNBC Locations: U.S

☆ The presidential election is prompting some Americans to 'doom spend,' report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesRetail therapy is thinly coating voters' anxieties from the presidential election — and their wallets know it. Follow: Election 2024 live updates: Trump and Harris await Presidential election results More than half, or 60%, of Americans surveyed are concerned with the state of the world and economy, more than they were a year ago. Top worries among doom spenders include the cost of living (55%), inflation (43%), and the presidential election (28%), the report found. As of June, 50% of cardholders carry a balance every month on their credit cards, a recent Bankrate survey found. About six out of every 10 people who have credit card debt have had it for at least a year, Bankrate found.

Persons: Mario Tama, —, Gen Zers, Harris, Rossman, Bankrate, NerdWallet, Z, Alev Organizations: Getty, Intuit Credit Karma, Trump, Karma, Shoppers, Federal Reserve Bank of New, millennials, Fed Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

☆ Gen Z, millennials are using AI for personal finance advice, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-04 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A new report by Experian found that 67% of polled Gen Zers and 62% of surveyed millennials are using artificial intelligence to help with their personal finances. Users say that generative AI tools like ChatGPT have helped in areas including saving and budgeting (60%), investment planning (48%) and credit score improvement (48%). The Gen Z respondents were ages 18 to 27 while millennials were ages 28 to 43. According to data Experian provided to CNBC, 98% of Gen Z adults and 98% of millennials had a positive experience with the software. While using generative AI can help as a first step to drawing up a budget or figuring out how to increase your credit score, always verify the information through external resources, experts say.

Persons: Experian, Gen Zers, Christina Roman, millennials, Xers Organizations: Finance, CNBC

☆ Halloween kicks off a season of home insurance risks. Here's what homeowners need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Solstock | E+ | Getty ImagesWith all the festivities that happen around Halloween and the trick-or-treaters ... think about the safety of the pathways and the accessibility of your home. Make sure the pathways are clear and "everything is very well lit," she said. "We recommend that you use LED lights or battery lights instead of live candles for safety reasons," said Orbann. Secure your pets and belongingsIf you have a pet, make sure they're secured on Halloween, both to protect trick-or-treaters and the pet as well, said Orbann. "If the dog isn't trained and there's a loss or an injury, that's going to increase your liability insurance tremendously," Worters said.

Persons: Angi Orbann, you've, Orbann, Worters, who's, Loretta Worters, they're, that's Organizations: Travelers Insurance, Insurance, Institute Locations: Turkey

☆ 'Inflation is like a regressive tax,' economist says — only one group can 'easily afford' holiday spending this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

About half, or 52%, of shoppers with incomes of $100,000 or more believe they can "easily afford" holiday expenses in 2024, according to Morning Consult, a survey research firm. To that point, 33% of those who earn $50,000 to $99,900 said they can afford holiday spending. Meanwhile, 18% of respondents who earn below $50,000 annually can sustain the costs, the report found. "Inflation is like a regressive tax," said Sofia Baig, economist at Morning Consult. "It hurts lower income people more than higher income people because it takes out a larger chunk of their wallet."

Persons: Roth, Sofia Baig Organizations: Finance, Morning Locations: U.S

☆ Buying a home is 'a way to increase your net worth over time,' top-ranked advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In the second quarter of 2024, U.S. homeowners with mortgages had a net homeowner equity of over $17.6 trillion, according to CoreLogic. It's also generally considered a path to build wealth and increase your net worth , financial experts say. It's a way to increase your net worth over time. Homeowners can start to see their equity and net worth increase within five to 10 years. Homeownership allows you to increase your net worth because you can build equity through mortgage payments, which increases your asset value over time as the property appreciates in value, experts say.

Persons: It's, Steven LaRosa, Freddie Mac Organizations: Edgemoor Investment, Urban Institute Locations: Bethesda , Maryland

☆ This is ‘the biggest difference’ in today’s housing market, according to the Property Brothers
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

watch nowMany factors make it hard to buy a home today, but the one that makes "the biggest difference" in today's market is the housing shortage, Property Brother Drew Scott said at CNBC's Your Money event on Thursday. "I don't think people realize this shortage of housing that we have affects everything," added his brother Jonathan Scott. Why there's a housing shortageAs of mid-2023, there's a housing shortage of 4 million homes, according to the National Association of Realtors. While there have been recent signs of improvement for housing supply, it's not enough to solve the underlying constraint in the U.S. housing market. 'It's ok if you wait a few years'The Property Brothers Drew Scott (L) and Jonathan Scott.

Persons: Drew Scott, Jonathan Scott, Jonathan, Jason Davis Organizations: Census, Federal Reserve, CNBC, National Association of Realtors, Construction, Getty Locations: U.S

☆ 4 ways to make your home down payment savings grow, according to top-ranked advisers
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-23 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | Ana Teresa Solá Is A Personal Finance Reporter For Cnbc. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

High-yield savings accountsA high-yield savings account earns a higher-than-average interest rate compared with traditional savings accounts, helping your money grow faster. “High-yield savings accounts [are] great if you’re going to be buying in the next year,” Williams said. Money market fundsA money market fund generally has a slightly higher yield than a HYSA, said Dennehy. Some of the highest-yielding retail money market funds are nearly 5% as of Oct. 23, according to Crane Data. Still, money market funds are considered low risk and are intended not to lose value, according to Vanguard.

Persons: ”, Ryan Dennehy, it’s, Shaun Williams, Dennehy, there’s, Jeffrey Hanson, “, ” Williams Organizations: California Financial Advisors, CNBC, Census, Federal Reserve, Paragon Capital Management, National Association of Realtors, PMI, Mortgage, Treasury, U.S ., Traphagen Financial, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, Vanguard, Securities Investor Protection Corp Locations: California, San Ramon , California, Denver, Oradell , New Jersey, Denver , Colorado

☆ Do real estate agents have to disclose if someone died in a house? Here's how to find out
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Harrison Beacher real estate agent and managing partner at Coalition Properties Group in Washington, D.C. States such as Georgia do not require real estate agents or sellers to disclose upfront if the home was the site of a death. Nearly three-quarters, 72%, of potential homebuyers said they would buy a "haunted" house for a lower price, according to a new report by Real Estate Witch, a data site owned by Clever Real Estate. In some states, real estate agents need to provide truthful information upon a buyer's request, or at the very least, point you toward the right direction to find out. Besides the real estate agent, neighbors can give you first-hand experience of the area, as well as information about the previous homeowners.

Persons: Matt Champlin, Harrison Beacher, Zers, I'm, homebuyers, Daryl Fairweather, Fairweather, Beacher, Leno, Rosemary LaBianca, Charles Manson's, Zak Bagans, Connie Vavra, Theresa Payton Organizations: National Association of Realtors, NAR, Coalition Properties Group, Washington , D.C, Finance, Real, White House Locations: Washington ,, California, Alaska, Dakota, New York, Georgia, Elgin , Illinois

☆ Buying a home? Here are some key steps to consider from top-ranked advisors
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Therefore, if you are looking to buy a home, there are certain steps you should take to prepare for the purchase, according to several advisors ranked in CNBC's 2024 Financial Advisor 100 List. 23 on the 2024 CNBC FA 100 list. 61 on the 2024 CNBC FA 100 list. 7 on the 2024 CNBC FA 100 list. 38 on the 2024 CNBC FA 100 list.

Persons: you'll, It's, Brian Brady, Stephen Cohn, Ron Brock, Shaun Williams, Ryan D, Dennehy, Bankrate, Realtor.com, Steven LaRosa, Williams, Angi, Brady, it's, Cohn Organizations: Obermeyer, Investment, CNBC, Sage Financial Group, Brock Investment, Paragon Capital Management, California Financial Advisors, Edgemoor Investment Locations: Aspen , Colorado, West Conshohocken , Pennsylvania, Indianapolis , Indiana, Denver , Colorado, California, San Ramon , California, Bethesda , Maryland, Florida

Their employment rate is also slightly lower than women in their early 20s. "This smaller share reflects the fact that, within marriages, mothers are still more likely than fathers to specialize in child care," the Fed noted. Today, 26% of mothers are stay-at-home parents, compared with just 7% of fathers, according to a separate Pew study from August. Mothers working full time and year-round outside the home rarely recoup the lost wages, which add up to $20,000 a year, on average. Working moms are making just 71 cents for every dollar paid to fathers, according to an analysis of Census data by the National Women's Law Center.

Persons: Kelly Shue Organizations: Federal Reserve, Pew Research Center, Yale School of Management, CNBC's, National Women's Law

☆ How a homeowners insurance provision can help with living expenses after a natural disaster
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

If your home is temporarily uninhabitable after a natural disaster, a provision in your homeowners or renters insurance policy may help you with new lodging and other living expenses. Insured losses from Hurricane Milton could range from $30 billion to $60 billion, per Morningstar DBRS. Homeowners and renters affected by a natural disaster can ask about so-called "loss of use" or "additional living expenses" coverage from their insurance providers, experts say. The provision is meant to help cover reasonable living expenses if your home is not suitable to live in as a result of a covered peril such as a hurricane, fire or burst pipe. "I don't know of any homeowners policy that doesn't have it already there," said Karl Susman, president and principal insurance agent of Susman Insurance Services, Inc. in Los Angeles.

Persons: Morningstar, Karl Susman, Shannon Martin Organizations: Susman Insurance, Inc, Finance Locations: Hurricane, Hurricane Milton, Los Angeles

☆ 33% of homeowners would hire a 'questionable' contractor to save money, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

To lower costs, 1 in 3 homeowners are willing to hire a contractor with holes in their resume. About 33% of surveyed homeowners say they'd consider hiring a contractor with a questionable reputation to save money, according to a new report by Clever Real Estate, a housing data site. Generally, homeowners say reputation is the most important factor when hiring a contractor (25%), followed by experience (23%), cost (19%), personal recommendations (13%), availability (11%) and estimated project timeline (10%). As homeowners juggle insurance claims and recovery efforts from back-to-back storm aftermaths, one thing to keep in mind is who to hire as a contractor. Ask for reviews and references "The first thing you want to do is check [the contractor's] reputation," said Hicks.

Persons: Visoot, Clever, Milton, Worters, Hicks, Dunaway, Seale, they'd

☆ Here are key steps to file a homeowners insurance claim after a natural disaster, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"You'll eventually have to schedule with the insurance company to actually review and inspect the damage." "Then you can call the insurance company, take pictures of the damage and [move] items into safer locations," Martin said. Make a log of damagesDuring your call, provide your insurance company with some initial details, like if your roof blew off or several windows broke, said Porter. Materials purchased to protect the home before the natural disaster — for example, plywood to cover windows — are oftentimes not covered. You also want to keep a record of receipts when you start working with contractors to rebuild from the damage, experts say.

Persons: David Hester, Hurricane Helene, Chandan Khanna, Porter, You'll, Bankrate.com's Martin, Martin, it's, Daniel Schwarcz, Schwarcz Organizations: Afp, Getty, University of Minnesota Law, Materials Locations: Horseshoe Beach , Florida

☆ There's a 'hidden truth about American-style capitalism' that investors need to know, Josh Brown says
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-06 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Josh Brown Photo: Duncan HillJosh Brown once had this idea that in order to be a financial advisor, you needed to be buttoned up and fit a particular mold. Throughout his new book, "You Weren’t Supposed To See That: Secrets Every Investor Should Know," Brown encourages investors to look beyond the surface level of financial advice you see in traditional and social media. "The hidden truth about American-style capitalism is that if everybody is good all at once, the whole thing breaks down. Gen Z doesn't need financial planning advice. 'Gen Z doesn't need financial planning advice'

Persons: Josh Brown, Duncan Hill Josh Brown, Brown, Joshua Brown, Ana Teresa Solá, James Moock, Gen, They're, they've, X, Let's Organizations: CNBC, Ritholtz Wealth Management, Finance, New York Stock Exchange, ATS Locations: New York City

☆ Here are the pros and cons of renting versus owning a home in those retirement years
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

However, many are renting in their retirement years. Most older adults, those at least 65 years old, own their homes, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. Renting in retirement years can be a positive because older people can avoid costly maintenance associated with the upkeep of a home. "Renting often offers more amenities, less maintenance, more accessibility," said Jennifer Molinsky, director of the housing an aging society program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies. And unlike younger renters, adult renters in retirement years could be especially vulnerable to rent hikes because they are on fixed income, experts say.

Persons: Jennifer Molinsky, Roth, Lazetta Rainey Braxton, Braxton Organizations: Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University, Finance, CNBC Locations: U.S

"The trend was inevitable," said Teresa Ghilarducci, professor of economics at The New School for Social Research in New York. "The lack of affordable childcare may be playing a role," according to Richard Fry, a senior researcher at Pew. "The childcare crisis, which was simmering prior to the pandemic, has come to a boil," according to a KPMG analysis. A study by the Pew Research Center found that men who are not college-educated leave the workforce at higher rates than men who are. "When you don't get rewarded for working, you work less," Fry said.

Persons: Teresa Ghilarducci, Richard Fry, —, Pew's Fry, Fry Organizations: Federal Reserve, The New School for Social Research, Pew Research Center, Pew, KPMG Locations: New York

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