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☆ 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

☆ Real estate fees settlement created 'a new competitive ballgame,’ expert says. Here's what buyers, sellers need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

New rules on buying and selling homes are in play, now that a settlement from a class-action lawsuit has taken effect. At the time of listing a property, the home seller negotiated with the listing agent what the compensation would be for a buyer's agent, which appeared on the MLS. "Now, the buyer chooses how much the buyer's agent makes, the sellers choose how much the seller's agents make," Glenn Kelman, CEO of online real estate brokerage firm Redfin, told CNBC. Any confusion around the new practices among agents and consumers will likely be temporary, said Kerry Melcher, head of real estate at Opendoor. "Real estate agents are good at moving the market," she said.

Persons: brokerages, TikTok It's, Glenn Kelman, Kerry Melcher Organizations: National Association of Realtors, MLS, Finance, CNBC Locations: U.S, Opendoor

☆ It's not a great fall housing market, but this is 'as good as it gets,' economist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

While housing affordability remains a challenge for many buyers in the U.S., conditions are somewhat improving due to lower mortgage rates. Buyers need to earn $115,000 to afford the typical home in the U.S., according to a new report by Redfin, an online real estate brokerage firm. Both declines stem from lower mortgage rates, said Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin. "The only reason mortgage payments are down is because of the rate effect," Fairweather said. While housing overall continues to be unaffordable for most buyers, "this is as good as it gets," said Orphe Divounguy, senior economist at Zillow, as the market is generally seeing lower mortgage rates, more inventory and low buyer competition.

Persons: Redfin, Daryl Fairweather, Freddie Mac, Fairweather, Orphe Divounguy Organizations: Finance, Federal Reserve, Vanguard Locations: U.S

☆ You can't always refinance a mortgage to capitalize on lower rates: Here's when a lender may say 'no'
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Otherwise, your lender might not approve your mortgage refinance, experts say. A change in your financial situation, like a layoff or lower income, or higher debt, could mean you don't qualify. "Your mortgage rate and whether or not you get approved for a loan or refinance ... depends on you," said Channel. You refinanced recently Technically, there are no hard limits on how many times you can refinance your mortgage, Channel said. It may be in your best interest to only consider a mortgage refinance every few years, if your financial situation has changed or if rates are falling "really dramatically," Channel explained.

Persons: Cohn, haven't, refinanced, you've

☆ The Fed is poised for its first rate cut in years, but it may be too soon to refinance your mortgage
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Federal Reserve is poised to make its first interest rate cut in years on Wednesday. While mortgage rates are partly influenced by the Fed's policy, they are also tied to Treasury yields and the economy. Home loan rates have already started to come down in recent weeks, slightly induced in part by favorable economic data and indications the Fed could cut rates. As of Thursday, Sept. 12, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the U.S. was 6.20%, according to Freddie Mac data via the Fed. "It's almost impossible to figure out what mortgage rates are going to do from week to week or month to month," Ostrowski said.

Persons: Chen Zhao, Freddie Mac, Jeff Ostrowski, Ostrowski Organizations: Federal, CNBC, Treasury, Finance Locations: Redfin, U.S

☆ Here’s what ‘No Spend September’ is and how to know if you should participate
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Solstock | E+ | Getty Images'We fritter money away every single day'While you are still going to spend money on fixed essentials like a car payment or monthly rent, "No Spend September" is about being thoughtful in how you're spending money, said Francis, who is a member of CNBC's Financial Advisor Council. When it comes to her own finances, Szafarski believes September can also be a "good time to reset" because it's easy to spend money in the summer, she said. "Depriving yourself for long periods of time can create a boomerang effect of spending," Francis said. To that point, here's a guideline of how to benefit from No Spend September. "Are there things you're spending money on that you don't really need or you're not really using?"

Persons: Francis, Szafarski, Francis said Organizations: CNBC's

☆ When to book holiday travel this fall: 'That window of low prices is brief,' economist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-14 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

If you want — or need — to travel this holiday season, start planning now because the ideal time to book Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's travel is fast approaching. "The most important thing is for travelers to continue to think about planning now and booking in October," said Hayley Berg, lead economist at travel site Hopper. "That window of low prices is brief, but it can really pay off." Whenever you decide to confirm your reservations, keep in mind that traveling during the holiday season can be fraught with complications, said Sally French, a travel expert at NerdWallet. "The holidays are a difficult time to travel because not only are you dealing with what's likely to be tougher holiday weather, but also working with bigger crowds," said French.

Persons: Hayley Berg, Hopper, Berg, Sally French Organizations: Finance

☆ Homeowners may be 'overconfident in their retirement readiness,’ economist says. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Owning a home makes some people feel more confident about their prospects for retirement — but that may be misguided, some experts say. Of those who said they were ahead or on schedule, 42% cite an early start in retirement savings helped them get ahead. The survey polled 6,657 adults, including 2,603 retired adults and 4,054 adult workers, in August. "Homeowners are actually more likely to be overconfident in their retirement readiness," Chen said. "There's a lot of misconception in terms of how people assess whether they are ahead or not in retirement."

Persons: SurveyMonkey, Angie Chen, Chen, Winnie Sun Organizations: Finance, Center for Retirement Research, Boston College, Homeowners, Sun Group Wealth Partners Locations: Irvine , California

☆ Here's how to know if your college kid actually needs 'dorm insurance'
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Terry Vine | Getty ImagesHow dorm insurance compares to other optionsColleges and universities will often partner with different insurers to offer dorm insurance, Worters said. If parents decide to take on a dorm insurance policy, it would be billed separately from the room and board, said Worters. watch nowWhether you sign up for dorm insurance or not, your child's dorm possessions will likely be covered under your home insurance plan, according to experts. But keep in mind that dorm-specific insurance policies tend to have lower deductibles than home insurance policies, Worters said. The home insurance policy will often stretch over, so long as the kid lives in a dorm, she said.

Persons: Terry Vine, Worters, McClanahan Organizations: CNBC, Council, National Association of Insurance

The average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 6.35% on August 29 from 6.46% a week ago, the lowest mortgage rates have been in 15 months, according to Freddie Mac. "I bought a house when [the mortgage rate] was 15% and then I refinanced." "No bank is ever going to give you a true no closing cost loan at the lowest possible rate. And buying with the goal of refinancing is always taking a gamble on mortgage rates, which comes with a certain amount of risk. Even though recent declines in mortgage rates may gain steam as the Fed lowers its benchmark rate, lower mortgage rates could also boost homebuying demand, which would push prices higher.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Jacob Channel, Dottie Herman, Douglas Elliman, I've, Melissa Cohn, William Raveis, Banks, Cohn, Keith Gumbinger, Michael Krowe, Krowe Organizations: Brigade, Getty, Federal, LendingTree, Fed, William Raveis Mortgage, HSH.com, Edelman Locations: New York

☆ A 'man-made disaster' could make it trickier to buy or sell a home in some areas this fall, real estate expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-26 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

That's because the National Flood Insurance Program — the government-sponsored public insurance program that is the largest flood insurer in the U.S. — needs to be reauthorized by Sept. 30 to continue to issue new policies or increase coverage on existing policies. "There are very few private insurers that offer any type of flood insurance," said Daniel Schwarcz, a professor of law at the University of Minnesota Law School who focuses on insurance law and regulation. In that report, from 2011, it estimated a one-month NFIP lapse could affect about 40,000 closings. "There is no need to take the risk that the flood insurance program will lapse when you could close ahead of Sept. Then in 2021, FEMA implemented Risk Rating 2.0, a new pricing system that would accurately reflect the cost of an area's risk.

Persons: Jaret Seiberg, Cowen, Jeremy Porter, Daniel Schwarcz, Cowen's, Yanjun Liao, Liao, Schwarcz, Foundation's Porter, Porter Organizations: Getty, Federal Reserve, National Flood Insurance, Federal Emergency Management Agency, First Street Foundation, University of Minnesota Law School, National Association of Realtors, FEMA, Resources Locations: U.S, New York, Washington ,

☆ This woman made up to $110,000 a year as a nanny for the ultra-rich. Here's what she learned from the job
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

In Kiser's final year as a nanny during the pandemic, she estimates she took home about $110,000. CNBC spoke with Kiser about some of the financial lessons she learned during her time as a nanny, and why she ultimately left the role. Stephanie Kiser: I read "The Nanny Diaries" when I started my first job. SK: A contract as a nanny is important because there's no human resources; there's no laws protecting you. It seems like nannying work can have a low barrier to entry, with salary growth potential, but then there are all these other risks.

Persons: Stefanie Kiser, Jillian Rahn, Stefanie Kiser Stephanie Kiser, Tim Walz, Kiser, Scarlett Johansson, James Devaney, Ana Teresa Solá, Stephanie Kiser, nannying, I'm, Nannies, nannies, they've, who've, There's, weren't Organizations: Upward Mobility, Mercedes, Hamptons, Finance, CNBC, Upper, Wireimage, Getty, SK, New, Domestic, ATS, Pew Research Center Locations: New York City, America, New York City , New York, United States, New York

☆ Designer 'dupes' go mainstream as shoppers choose affordability over luxury. 'It just makes more financial sense,' expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Jessica Dickler Ana Teresa Solá | Jessica Dickler | Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

From leggings to lip gloss, there's a dupe for almost any brand-name product. Buying a knockoff used to be a consumer's dirty little secret, largely because a "fake" was considered inferior to the real thing, not to mention the economic cost and intellectual property rights infringement. But brand imitators, also known as dupes — short for duplicates — have elbowed their way into the mainstream and are now even cool. "It's not a direct knockoff, it's kind of revising something that's very chic from a designer world into a more accessible product," Walker said. Even when consumers can get the real thing, nearly 33% of adults intentionally purchased a dupe of a premium product at some point, according to a report by Morning Consult.

Persons: Sara Walker, Walker, Ellyn Briggs Organizations: Finance, Morning Locations: Los Angeles

☆ Home equity is 'not like bread,' expert says — 'It won't go stale.' Here's when it makes sense to tap it
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Using home equity is "certainly a less expensive borrowing option than resorting to personal loans or credit cards," McBride said. As of August 7, the current average home equity loan interest rate is 8.59%, according to Bankrate. The average HELOC interest rate is 9.37%. To compare, the average personal loan interest rate is 12.38% , Bankrate found. The average credit card interest rate stands at 24.92%, according to LendingTree.

Persons: Iuliia, McBride, Bankrate, Houzz, Jessica Lautz, We've Organizations: Houzz, National Association of Realtors, NAR Locations: U.S

Democratic vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (L), and Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance (R-OH). Child tax creditMinnesota's new child tax credit is unusual in its narrowness, but it is the most generous in the nation for low-income households. However, a permanent federal child tax credit expansion could be difficult, particularly amid a divided Congress and increasing concerns over the federal budget deficit. Despite the failed procedural vote, Crapo voiced openness to negotiating a "child tax credit solution that a majority of Republicans can support." Vance was not present for the Senate vote, but has expressed support for the child tax credit.

Persons: Tim Walz, Sen, JD Vance, Walz, Vance, Cowen, Seiberg, Jared Walczak, Mike Crapo, Crapo, Vance's Organizations: Democratic, Minnesota, Republican, Getty, Convention, Senate, U.S, Tax, Republicans, Senate Finance Committee, Democrats, Yale Law School Locations: Harris, Idaho, U.S

☆ Connie Chiume, ‘Black Panther’ actress, dead at 72
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-07 | by ( Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Connie Chiume, the veteran South African actress who starred in the 2018 Marvel movie “Black Panther,” has died aged 72. In a brief announcement on Instagram on Tuesday, they said: “The Chiume family regrets to inform you of the passing of the International Acclaimed award winning actress Connie Chiume. “Connie Chiume 72, passed on at Garden City Hospital today on the 6th August 2024. The family will communicate further details.”Chiume, who played tribal leader Zawavari in both “Black Panther” and its 2022 sequel, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” was a household name in her native South Africa. Paying tribute to her on X, the South African government posted: “Our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of multi-award winning and legendary actress Connie Chiume.

Persons: Connie Chiume, ”, ” Chiume, Zawavari, “ Sola, Connie 💔 “ Organizations: CNN, South, Marvel, International, Garden City Hospital Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, ”, Israel, Greece, ife

☆ Now is the time to 'buy things on sale' in the stock market, advisor says. Here's what to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

"What would you buy that you know that your household would need for the future?" "That could be like paper towels, it could be toilet paper, it could be things that you know that you're going to need long term." It's smart to adopt a similar mindset when the stock market pulls back as it did Monday, said Sun, who is also a member of the CNBC Financial Advisor Council. "When the stock market pulls back at these levels, these are great opportunities to invest in core names or a quality portfolio that you always wanted," she said. "It's better to buy things on sale than to buy at full price."

Persons: Winnie Sun, Sun, Roth Organizations: Sun Group Wealth Partners, CNBC, Finance, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Dow Locations: Irvine , California

☆ This labor data trend is a 'warning sign,' economist says. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The unemployment rate jumped in July, and there is a detail in the data that has alarmed some economists. So-called marginally attached workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are those who are available to work and want a job, but have not searched for a job in the four weeks preceding the survey. Bustamante assessed marginally attached workers plus unemployed workers as a group, which the BLS refers to as U-6. "That's a warning sign" for the labor market, he said. It is a sign that people want a job, but are having a hard time finding a job, he said.

Persons: Alí Bustamante, Bustamante, Kamala Harris, Nick Bunker Organizations: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Worker Power, Economic Security, Roosevelt Institute, Finance, North Locations: New York City, North America

☆ How to cut your wedding guest list, according to experts: It's 'the No. 1 way to save money'
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

1 way to save money on your wedding is to cut the guest count," Shane McMurray, CEO and co-founder of The Wedding Report, recently told CNBC. "What we saw was that the pandemic gave people permission to have a tiny wedding," Miller said. In 2023, the average guest list was 134, The Wedding Report found. Here are ways experts suggest reducing your wedding guest list without cutting ties with family and friends in the process:1. Choosing a more intimate venue with a smaller capacity can help you maintain a solid guest list limit, experts say.

Persons: Victor Dyomin, Shane McMurray, Lauren Miller, Miller, Jessica Bishop, that's, Shannon Tarrant, Tarrant, Bishop, We're, Shannon Underwood, Underwood Organizations: CNBC, Washington , D.C, Finance, Wedding Merchants Business Academy Locations: Washington ,, Baltimore , Maryland, Florida, Orlando , Florida

☆ The labor market's soft landing 'is in danger,' economist says. Here's where jobs are still growing
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Tom Merton | Ojo Images | Getty ImagesJob seekers have been sour on the job market for a while now — and with good reason. "The soft landing in the U.S. labor market is in danger," Nick Bunker, Economic Research Director for North America for Indeed Hiring Lab, wrote in a statement on Friday. "Yellow flags had started to pop up in the labor market data over the past few months, but now the flags are turning red," Bunker said. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate increased to 4.3%, the highest since October 2021. To pivot, assess 'transferrable skills'Because the labor market is weakening, it might be hard for workers to find opportunities in their preferred industries, Bustamante noted.

Persons: Tom Merton, Nick Bunker, Bunker, Nonfarm payrolls, Alí Bustamante, Julia Pollak, Pollak, NEETS, Bustamante Organizations: Economic, North, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Worker Power, Economic Security, Roosevelt Institute, ZipRecruiter, Health, Finance Locations: U.S, North America, New York City

Elijah Nouvelage | Afp | Getty ImagesHow the LIFT Act could look todaySince the LIFT Act was first proposed in 2018, the cost of living has only skyrocketed, hitting working-class Americans especially hard. However, funding such a tax credit now could be tough amid growing concerns over the federal budget deficit. The advantage of the LIFT tax credit, said D'Acunto, is that it doesn't create the same market distortions the rent cap would ignite. Child tax credit is a 'huge priority' for DemocratsLIFT was first proposed years before Congress temporarily expanded the child tax credit during the Covid-19 pandemic, which could now be a bigger priority, experts say. Harris described the child tax credit changes as one of the "most important" and "most impactful" parts of the legislation in a 2021 speech.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Elijah Nouvelage, Tomas Philipson, Joe Biden's, Laura Veldkamp, Harris, Donald Trump, Francesco D'Acunto, Biden, Karl Widerquist, Jacob Channel Organizations: Democratic, Afp, Getty, White House Council, Economic Advisers, CNBC, Columbia University Business School, Georgetown University, D'Acunto, Federal, Plus, American Rescue Plan, Columbia University, . Census Locations: Atlanta , Georgia, Atlanta

☆ Housing affordability is 'moving in the right direction,' economist says. Here's what to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A slight decrease in mortgage rates in the month of June definitely helped buyers, said Yun. Housing affordability is improving ever so modestly, but it is moving in the right direction. While there's still an affordability challenge broadly, conditions are "moving towards a more neutral market," Orphe Divounguy, a senior economist at Zillow. Total housing inventory registered at the end of June was 1.32 million units, up 3.1% from May and 23.4% from a year ago, according to NAR. Competition is easing fastest in the South, where all major southern markets except Dallas and Raleigh are either neutral or buyer-friendly, according to the June 2024 Zillow Housing Market Report.

Persons: Yun, Freddie Mac, Lawrence Yun, Chen Zhao, there's, Selma Hepp Organizations: Sdi, CNBC, Investors, National Association of Realtors, Zillow Locations: Redfin, Dallas, Raleigh

☆ The first Fed interest rate cut in years is on the horizon. Here's what homeowners, buyers need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Valentinrussanov | E+ | Getty ImagesThe Federal Reserve is poised to make the first interest rate cut in years this fall, which can influence mortgage rates to go down. To that point, people in the market to buy a home have been eagerly waiting for the Fed to cut rates. The Fed is meeting this week, but experts say it seems more likely that the first rate cut will come in September. That would be the first rate cut since 2020 in the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. While mortgage rates are fixed and mostly tied to Treasury yields and the economy, they are partly influenced by the Fed's policy.

Persons: Chen Zhao, Freddie Mac, Refinance, it's, Zhao, Selma Hepp, Hepp, Jacob Channel, there's Organizations: Fed, Treasury, Mortgage, Association, Finance Locations: Redfin

☆ Defining a buyer's market 'is always a bit tricky,' real estate expert says: 4 signs to monitor
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Despite those headwinds, some indicators show the housing market is shifting away from a seller's market. That doesn't mean it's a buyer's market — yet: "The term buyer's market is always a bit tricky to work with," said Chen Zhao, the economic research lead at Redfin, an online real estate brokerage firm. There are "rules of thumb" to define a buyer's market, like having more than four months of supply, she said. "We're still nationwide somewhat in a seller's market, not a buyer's market yet," he said. Here are four signs that can help you recognize if the housing market in your area is more in buyers' favor: 1.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Chen Zhao, Zhao, they're, We're, Daryl Fairweather, Redfin, Julie Zubiate, Selma Hepp, Sellers Organizations: National Association of Realtors, NAR, Federal, Zillow, CNBC, Finance, Sdi, San Francisco Bay Area Locations: U.S, Redfin, San Francisco Bay

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