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☆ I'm buying a house in 2024. Here's why I'm sticking with a traditional fixed-rate mortgage despite the trendier options promising to save me money.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Despite enticing alternatives, a fixed-rate mortgage remains the best option for us. With mortgage interest rates still close to 7%, alternative mortgages like adjustable-rate loans and mortgages with shorter maturities are gaining in popularity. AdvertisementThe beauty of the fixed-rate mortgage is that it offers certainty in an uncertain world. Any gain somebody might get with a lower interest rate might be offset by paying more for the house. So, we will be sticking with a fixed-rate mortgage and shopping around for the best rate.

Persons: —, Sarah Alvarez, Alvarez, Brandon Bell, Freddie Mac Organizations: Service, William, Mortgage, Business, ARM, Treasury, Street Journal, FG, National Association of Realtors Locations: Austin , Texas

☆ Puerto Rican tax breaks are luring wealthy newcomers. A millennial says that's bad news for members of her generation with dreams of careers and homeownership.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Puerto Rico is becoming an increasingly popular destination for mainland Americans looking to relocate for tax purposes without giving up their US citizenship. Maridav/Getty ImagesBetween 2021 and 2022, about 27,000 individuals moved from the US mainland to Puerto Rico, according to data collected by the US Census Bureau . Related storiesIn 2021, the cost of living in Puerto Rico rose by 7%, the largest jump seen in 40 years. According to data from Realtor.com, the median home price in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in February was $950,000, up 37% in the past year. AdvertisementAccording to the Associated Press, there are now 25,000 short-term rentals in Puerto Rico, up from 1,000 in 2014.

Persons: —, Anna, Brock Pierce, Anna aren't, Adrián González Costa, Hurricane Maria, Puerto Ricans Organizations: Service, Puerto Ricans, Business, US Census Bureau, Federal Housing Finance Agency, San Juan, Puerto Rican Independence Party, San Juan Daily Star, Associated Press, AP Locations: Puerto Rico . Puerto Rico, Europe, Puerto Rico, Maridav, Puerto, Realtor.com, San Juan , Puerto Rico, Aguas Buenas, San Juan, San Juan ., AFP

The biggest monthly bills Americans pay each month are mortgage, rent, and auto loans. AdvertisementThe biggest monthly bills Americans pay each month are mortgage, rent, and auto loans, according to the report. The other most common bills include utilities, auto insurance, cable and internet, mobile phones, health insurance, life insurance, and home security. Of those monthly bills, utilities, mobile phones, and health insurance have jumped the most in the last five years. AdvertisementThe most common monthly bills are just part of the picture for manyThese bills are just one piece of the picture showing the current cost of living.

Persons: Lynnette, Cox Organizations: Census Bureau, Resilience, Business Locations: Doxo

Chef Will Coleman created the viral 6-to-1 shopping method on TikTok. The method is designed to simplify grocery shopping, saving time and money. AdvertisementA new grocery shopping method has gone viral on TikTok for promising to make the chore easier, faster, and cheaper. "This makes grocery shopping way easier, way cheaper, and you get in and get out, so you are not there all daylong," Coleman said on TikTok. AdvertisementThe 6-to-1 method looks like a smart plan and easy enough if you are cooking for one or two people.

Persons: Will Coleman, Coleman

☆ One way to help American homebuyers? Do what the Dutch do.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Cork Gaines | Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Dutch offer home mortgages with evolving interest rates that can automatically decrease over time. However, other countries are taking notice: The Dutch mortgage lender DMFCO recently began offering Dutch-style mortgages in the UK. AdvertisementBut there are some deeply entrenched features of the American mortgage system that make it unlikely we'll see widespread adoption of Dutch-style mortgages. AdvertisementAdditionally, mortgage interest rates in the US aren't determined by the loan-to-value ratio beyond a certain point. AdvertisementBut Cecela says he's interested to see what happens with the Dutch-style mortgages newly on offer in the UK.

Persons: —, Lindsey Harn, Lindsey, Harn, Guy Cecala, Cecala, Melissa Cohn, Raveis, Cohn, he's Organizations: Service, Business, Lindsey Harn Group, Mortgage, Mortgage Finance, USA Locations: Netherlands, San Luis Obispo County , California, Europe

☆ Buying a new car could cost you $7,600 a year on top of the sticker price, nearly double a decade ago
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

EdmundsThe total cost of a new F-150 over five years, including the $36,400 additional costs on top of the $48,100 sticker price, is about $85,000. That would make the total cost of the car about $91,000, including the original purchase. EdmundsThe total cost for gas and hybrid Rav4s would be about $64,300 over five years, including the original purchase price of about $35,000. Both models also have much lower depreciation than the F-150 and the Model Y, dropping about $12,300 in value over five years. AdvertisementIt's important to consider the total cost of ownership when selecting a new vehicle, which can be thousands more out of your pocket every year.

Persons: —, That's, Edmunds Organizations: Service, Business, Ford, Toyota, Tesla Locations: Edmunds

☆ The credit card crisis is worse for millennials and Gen Zers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The credit card debt for young Americans has grown at a faster pace than other generations. AdvertisementAmericans are in the midst of a credit card crisis, and nobody is being hit harder than millennials and Gen Zers. The study examined the anonymized credit scores of 41 million customers and anonymized credit card balances for about 80 million people in March 2022 and February 2024. Credit scores are falling for young AmericansThe soaring credit card debt has coincided with falling credit scores for these younger groups of consumers. If that happens, credit card debt will likely keep growing, and credit scores for young Americans could keep dropping.

Persons: Gen Zers, —, Zers, Z, millennials —, Rich Franks, Franks, Gen Z, that's, OnePoll, millennials Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve Bank, Intuit Credit Karma, Intuit Credit, Forbes, MMI, Money Management Locations: millennials

The Biden administration has limited credit card late fees to $8, a 75% reduction. Federal Reserve BoardA study by the CFPB published in 2022 showed that credit card late fees are disproportionally collected from people in low-income neighborhoods. The Good Brigade/Getty ImagesReduced credit card late fees would also be worth about $414 million to the real estate industry. A drop in the bucket of credit card costsCredit card debt is now at record levels and interest rates on those cards have soared. Interest and other credit card fees cost consumers more than $1,100 a year and are still growing.

Persons: Biden, Vance Ginn, Jenny Thorvaldson, Thorvaldson Organizations: Consumer Financial, Business, IMPLAN, Biden, Federal Reserve Bank, Federal, Brigade, Centers for Disease Control, Money Management, MMI

☆ The one big thing keeping interest rates high
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Rekenthaler called shelter costs the "most relevant data point" in the most recent consumer price index inflation report. Meanwhile, James Bianco, president of Bianco Research, a financial markets research firm, told Business Insider, "Rising shelter costs will cause the Fed to hold off on cutting rates." Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesRent and shelter costs tend to lag behind the rest of the economy because rents are typically fixed for long periods. However, Gordon also said shelter costs can't be ignored because of how much it impacts overall inflation.

Persons: —, Jerome Powell, John Rekenthaler, Rekenthaler, Morningstar, James Bianco, Anna Moneymaker, Kevin Gordon, Charles Schwab, Gordon Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve Bank, Business, Morningstar, Fed, Bianco Research, Federal Reserve

☆ The Austin housing market just won't quit. It's an example of what's happening nationwide despite high prices and interest rates.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Austin's housing market is heating up again, despite recent forecasts that it would tank. Nationwide forecasts now predict a rise in home prices, despite still-high interest rates. AdvertisementJust when some people thought the Austin, Texas, housing market was going to crash, it's starting to heat up again. This sudden surge in Austin housing sales is a bit surprising. Despite high prices and interest rates, homebuyers are determinedIn 2022, Nicholas Gerli, the CEO of real estate data analytics firm Reventure Consulting, named Austin the No.

Persons: —, Austin isn't, Nicholas Gerli, Austin, Realtor.com, George Rose, Fannie Mae Organizations: Nationwide, Service, Business, Realty Austin, Reventure Consulting, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Federal Reserve Bank Locations: Austin , Texas, Austin

A February study from WalletHub examined the 100 largest US cities' levels of "financial distress." A February study from WalletHub, a personal finance company, examined the 100 largest US cities and calculated the level of "financial distress" for each. Interestingly, in an earlier WalletHub study that looked at financial distress at the state level, Arizona ranked just 16th least burdened. These cities' financial woes underscore the broader economic challenges, from unemployment to high living costs, that add stress to the residents' financial difficulties. How some cities are alleviating financial distressArizona's largest cities have become a model for financial stability in a post-pandemic economy, instituting policies designed to address recent financial hardships.

Persons: WalletHub, Gilbert, Chandler, Cassandra Happe, Christian Petersen, Happe Organizations: Arizona, Four Arizona, U.S . Census, Administrative, U.S ., Google, Scottsdale, Glendale, Business, Getty Locations: Chicago, Houston, New York, Arizona's, Four, U.S, Boise , Idaho, Arizona, Glendale, Scottsdale, Glendale , Arizona, Angeles, Dallas

☆ Here's how much it costs to go to the 10 biggest colleges in the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Cork Gaines | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The cost includes the average price of tuition, fees, books, and supplies, as well as living costs at the school. Cost for public schools represents in-state students, the Department of Education said. Looking just at in-state tuition and required fees, the average among the 10 largest schools, which includes a private school, was about $12,400. For the nine public schools among this group, this average was around $11,250. The out-of-state tuition and required fees for those nine schools averages around $20,000 higher, at around $31,300.

Organizations: US Department of Education, Department of Education, Business Locations: What's, Florida

☆ Americans could save up to $300 a month on their mortgages if interest rates drop as expected in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Homeowners who recently purchased properties with interest rates as high as 8% face much higher monthly mortgage payments than those seen a few years ago. Of course, interest rates will not return to 3% anytime soon, but homeowners don't need rates to drop much to see a big difference in their bank accounts. Homeowners with high-interest mortgage loans are expected to quickly refinance when rates drop. While mortgage interest rates started to fall in late 2023, they were above 7% for much of the year, peaking near 8% in October, and recently climbed back above 7%. Win McNamee/Getty ImagesWhenever cuts happen, a drop in rates would save existing and new homeowners money each month.

Persons: —, Michele Raneri, Raneri, Eric Audras, Raphael Bostic, Jerome Powell, Win McNamee Organizations: Service, Business, TransUnion, Atlanta Fed, CNN, . Federal Reserve Locations: TransUnion

For my family, the perception shift can be attributed to the rise in our monthly app subscriptions. Specifically, what felt like an endless supply of monthly app subscriptions that didn't exist in the 2000s. As a family, we had about 20 apps and streaming services with subscriptions that made it easy to forget how much we were spending each month. A 2022 study showed consumers underestimated app subscription costs by $133 a month. Here are the six steps we used to get out of subscription hell and cut our expenses by about $190 a month.

US consumers are struggling with soaring credit card debt and rising interest rates. Credit card debt is now at record levels, and interest rates on those cards have soared. AdvertisementOf that total debt, credit card balances are growing the fastest. While this could create a parallel between today's credit card crisis and the mortgage crisis of 15 years ago, there are a few important differences today. AdvertisementStill, the rise in credit card debt and delinquencies could point to cracks in the strength of Americans' spending power.

Persons: Thomas Nitzsche, Gen Z, millennials, Nitzsche, Ginger Chambless, Chambless Organizations: Business, Money Management, MMI, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Federal, JPMorgan Chase, Federal Reserve, Adobe Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Wells Fargo

☆ Young people are flocking to Florida. It's boosting the state's economy, but living there comes with hidden costs.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Florida, which has long attracted new residents thanks to its beaches and absence of state income tax, is getting an economic boost driven by young Americans seeking new opportunities. AdvertisementYoung people are driving Florida's economic strength. Getty ImagesFlorida's economy is growing thanks to the newcomersFlorida's population surge is driving the state's robust economy and demand for housing. The Sunshine State's economy is projected by Wells Fargo to expand in 2024, propelled by a robust job market. Thanks to the more damaging weather, Floridians paid more for home insurance in 2023 and the second-most for car insurance compared with other states.

Persons: —, Wells, Sean Pavone, Wells Fargo, Taylor Tyson, Miami —, Policygenius, Hurricane Ian, Matias J, Forbes, Michael Bordenaro Organizations: Service, Smart Asset, " Employers, Wells, —, Census, SEC, Miami, Miami Herald, Tribune, Getty Locations: Florida, Florida . Florida, Tampa , Florida, Wells, — New York , California, New Jersey, California, New York, Florida — Jacksonville, Tampa, Hurricane, Miami, St, Petersburg

☆ College football teams are dropping millions on state-of-the-art locker rooms. Here are some of the most jaw-dropping upgrades.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . It is no secret that big-time college football teams make a lot of money for their schools. Some of the excess is being pumped into the facilities — and they're starting to look more like luxury resorts. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, NCAA, Department of Education, Business

Becoming a resident of Puerto Rico isn't hard but involves strict rules to get the tax breaks. Sean Flynn, a semi-retired IT consultant, moved to Humacao, Puerto Rico, in 2021 from Austin. If you want to take advantage of the tax breaks in Puerto Rico, you can't leave your children back on the mainland. Ricky Santana, Founder and Managing Partner of Colectivo Group, a firm that helps mainlanders move to Puerto Rico. Moving to Puerto Rico can give some Americans the best of two great worlds — financial incentives in an island paradise.

Persons: Sean Pavone, Hurricane Maria, Sean Flynn, Flynn, Mark Rubens, Ricky Santana, mainlanders, Puerto Ricans Organizations: of Columbia, IRS, Puerto, Colectivo, Congress, Puerto Rico Locations: Puerto Rico, San Juan, Miami, Puerto Rican, San Juan , Puerto Rico, Humacao , Puerto Rico, Austin, Texas, Puerto, United States

☆ TaylorMade appears to be giving Tiger Woods the one thing Nike never did — and it's ended one of the most lucrative sports-endorsement deals in history
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

On Tuesday, Tiger Woods and golf equipment and apparel maker TaylorMade announced an expanded partnership with a new golf accessory line called "Sun Day Red." TaylorMade CEO David Abeles even suggested during the press conference that this is Woods' company and they are just there for support. Tiger Woods is seen in apparel featuring the Sun Day Red logo. Tiger Woods' new Sun Day Red logo. Business Insider reached out to TaylorMade, Nike, and representatives for Woods.

Persons: —, Tiger Woods, TaylorMade, Woods, Forbes, Josh Gerben, Gerben, Tiger, Tyrone Walker, David Rumsey, David Abeles, Abeles, Ben Jared, Jon Rahm, Michael Jordan, Serena Willams, LeBron James, Rory McIlroy, Jamie Squire, Keyur Khamar, Djansezian Organizations: Service, PGA, Nike, Business, Hunt & Hunt Lawyers, Sun, Ventures, TaylorMade Lifestyle Ventures, Taylor, Inc, Front, Callaway, Gatorade, Woods Locations: Los Angeles, TaylorMade, Australia, San Clemente , California, Carlsbad, Woods

☆ The Super Bowl's 15 highest-paid players and coaches
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers are set to compete in Super Bowl LVIII. Both teams invested heavily in their rosters, with the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes being the highest-paid player. AdvertisementThe Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers will face off Sunday in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. However, even before that, both teams handed out enormous contracts to their top players and head coaches, aiming to build rosters that could contend for a Super Bowl. While the Chiefs have the most expensive player in the big game, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes making $45 million annually, the 49ers have the next three highest-paid players.

Persons: Patrick Mahomes, — Organizations: Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Chiefs, 49ers, Service, Business Locations: Las Vegas

☆ The big business of the Super Bowl, from competing advertisers to the ultrawealthy networking
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In today's big story, we're looking at the big business of the Super Bowl, from advertisers to the ultraweal thy . Developing and filming a Super Bowl ad typically runs 50% to 60% more than a regular one. AdvertisementFor some first-time Super Bowl advertisers, the commercial is a jumping-off point for a bigger campaign, writes BI’s Lauren Johnson. The Super Bowl is also a calendar staple for the ultrawealthy, writes BI’s Madeline Berg. A record 68 million Americans are projected to bet $23.1 billion on the Super Bowl, according to the American Gaming Association.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Patrick Smith, Emily Stewart, that’s, Ryan Joe, Lara O’Reilly, Ryan, BI’s Lauren Johnson, RYU, BI’s Madeline Berg, Elon Musk, Rupert Murdoch —, VistaJet, BI’s Taylor Rains, Grace Kay, it’s, BI’s Juliana Kaplan, Cork Gaines, Usher, David Rosenberg, Quants, Getty, David Butow Here’s, Tesla, Sissie Hsiao, Bard, Gemini, Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, Lucas Jackson, Dan DeFrancesco, Hallam Bullock, Jordan Parker Erb, George Glover Organizations: Business, Service, ign, Super, Elon, Private, American Gaming Association, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, Renaissance Technologies, Man, AHL, UBS, Google, Reuters, Merchants, Conference, PepsiCo Locations: Sun Valley, YOLO, New York, London

☆ The Super Bowl menu has changed. Here's what people are buying and how much they're spending.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In total, American households are expected to spend a total of around $86 on average for their Super Bowl necessities. The National Restaurant Association said that Super Bowl food habits are shifting a little this year. For example, Kennedy said that women, by a sprawling margin, view chips and salsa as Super Bowl must-haves and feel similarly about nachos. While Super Bowl ticket prices have fallen a bit heading up to the Super Bowl, they opened on the day after the AFC and NFC Championship games at some of the highest levels in history. They are predicting a record TV audience for this year's Super Bowl because of her impact.

Persons: —, “, ” Sean Kennedy, Taylor Swift, Kennedy, it’s, Swift, David Steinberg, Clark Hunt Organizations: Service, Super, National Retail Federation, Business, National Restaurant Association, Super Bowl, of Commerce, Seton Hall, Poll, AFC, NFC, Zeta Global, CNBC, Chiefs, Bowl LIV, 49ers

☆ The US is now buying more from Mexico than China for the first time in 20 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewNew data released Wednesday by the Commerce Department showed that in 2023, Mexico was the leading source of goods imported to the US — ahead of China for the first time in over 20 years. Mexico surpassing China as America's top trade partner signals a significant shift in global commerce dynamics. Chinese imports fell 20% in the same time period, to $427.2 billion, just slightly above Canada. Additionally, the value of Chinese imports remained above the value of Mexican imports from 2002 until this most recent data. More than a third of US imports — valued over $3 trillion — come from Mexico, China, and Canada.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, HECTOR VIVAS, Biden, CLAUDIO CRUZ, Tesla, JULIO CESAR AGUILAR Organizations: Service, Commerce Department, Business, Trump, New York Times, Foreign, Investment, Automobiles, Getty Images, Bloomberg Locations: Mexico, China, Canada, Trade, South Korea, India, Vietnam, United States, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Getty Images Mexico, Nuevo León

☆ Moving to Puerto Rico comes with lifestyle perks and tax breaks. Trade-offs include healthcare, schools, and furniture.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Americans are moving to Puerto Rico for the climate, adventure, and tax breaks. Newcomers to Puerto Rico told Business Insider they've had difficulty navigating the complexities of healthcare, education, and even buying goods like furniture. From 2021 through 2022, about 27,000 people moved to Puerto Rico from the US states, according to data collected by the US Census Bureau. Lindsey noted that if somebody expressed interest in moving to Puerto Rico, she would first ask them about their health. "You must understand that in Puerto Rico, it's going to be a little laid back," he said.

Persons: —, they've, it's, Ricky Santana, Santana, Jessica Peterson, Sarah Lindsey, Sean Flynn, Hurricane Maria, Lindsey, Flynn, Kimberly Sue Walker Organizations: Service, Puerto Rico, Colectivo, US Census Bureau, Puerto Ricans, Getty, Hurricane, Collectivo Locations: Puerto Rico, Puerto, Caribbean, Miami, Dorado, San Juan, San Juan ., Humacao , Puerto Rico, Austin, New York, American, Dorado , Puerto Rico

☆ Hosting the Super Bowl could be a $1 billion jackpot for these 4 cities
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The estimated economic impact of recent Super Bowls in host cities has surged to over $1 billion. AdvertisementThe Super Bowl is heading to Sin City for the first time, and a lot of money is coming with it. The city typically sees about $300 million in gross economic impact during Super Bowl weekends. But this isn't the first time a Super Bowl has brought billions to a host city. According to Applied Analysis, this year's Super Bowl is expected to create 6,433 new jobs and $282 million in salaries and wages.

Persons: —, Jeremy Aguero, Aguero Organizations: Vegas, Service, Las, Las Vegas Convention, Visitors Authority, Business, Super, Arizona State University Locations: Sin City, Las Vegas, Vegas, Glendale , Arizona

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