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☆ Used car prices are finally falling. Here are 6 tips to help make sure you don't pay too much.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The website shared six tips to help buyers get the best value for money on their next used car. AdvertisementThe past few years have been rough for used-vehicle buyers due to higher prices, less inventory, and rising interest rates. But there seems to be at least a dim light at the end of the tunnel, according to Edmunds' latest Used Vehicle Report. In addition, new vehicle prices continue to rise, making used vehicles more appealing for shoppers on a smaller budget. With higher prices and interest rates, opting for a higher-mileage or older model will help get you to the monthly payment you want.

Persons: Edmunds, —, it's Organizations: Service, Associated Press

The Employee Retention Credit was intended to be a financial lifeline to small businesses struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic. Innovation Refunds — a consulting firm that focuses on the ERC — was one of the most visible advertisers during the tax credit's heyday. How Innovation Refunds worksOn its website, Innovation Refunds makes it clear it is not a tax professional. Innovation Refunds markets to clients, determines if they are viable candidates for the credit and then collects businesses' documentation. Some former employees said this could insulate Innovation Refunds from potential liability if ineligible businesses claimed the credit.

Persons: Danny Werfel, Andrew Kelly, Howard Makler, Ty Burrell, Burrell, Rob Domenico, Werfel, Tom Williams, Makler, Kate Rogers, Domenico, Slack, Jenn McCabe, Armanino Organizations: Companies, ERC, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, ERC —, CNBC, Reuters, CPA, Senate, Washington , D.C, CQ, Inc, Getty, LinkedIn, Justice Locations: New York, Washington ,, Des Moines

Consumers Credit Union Frequently Asked QuestionsHow long does Consumers Credit Union take to approve a loan? Consumers Credit Union TrustworthinessConsumers Credit Union is a Better Business Bureau-accredited business that has an A+ grade. Consumers Credit Union CompetitorsHow Consumers Credit Union compares Consumers Credit Union Auto LoanPenFed Auto LoanNavy Federal Auto Loans Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Borrowers who pay a one-time $5 membership fee to the Consumers Cooperative Association qualify for membership with Consumers Credit Union. Navy Federal's minimum rates are more competitive than Consumers Credit Union, but you'll need an excellent credit score to qualify for them.

Persons: You'll, hasn't, Ryan Wangman Organizations: Consumers Credit Union Auto Loan, Consumers Credit, Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union Auto, Consumers Cooperative Association, Consumers Cooperative Association ., Auto Loan, Auto, Social, Chevron, Consumers, Union, Auto Loan Navy Federal Auto Loans, . Navy, Navy, Department of Defense, Finance, Northwestern University, Boston Globe Locations: Chicago

My husband and I are looking at houses to buy, but we both have variable income. We then decided how much of that income we were comfortable devoting to a mortgage payment (including insurance and taxes). Equipped with our monthly payment number, we could play with the other variables in the housing equation: the mortgage rate, the home price, and our down payment. When toying with the numbers, we realized that a larger down payment dropped our monthly mortgage amount significantly. So we've decided to sell our two rental properties to have a larger down payment and a lower monthly payment.

Persons: We've, I've, wouldn't, We're, we've Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Paducah , Texas, Salt Lake City , Utah, Salt, Texas, Salt Lake

I had been saving to buy a house, but prices in Southern California have made that unlikely. I decided to stop focusing on trying to buy a house, which means I can put more toward retirement. I'm okay knowing I might be renting for life, as it means I can streamline my finances. Instead of using my HSA contributions toward health-related expenses, I'm investing my HSA funds. Now that I've nulled out savings to buy a home, my financial goals feel more streamlined.

Persons: I've, homeownership, Roth, it's, There's Organizations: Service, realtors Locations: Southern California, Wall, Silicon, Los Angeles

☆ Tesla to hand over Musk's emails to JPMorgan in lawsuit over 2018 tweet
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, July 19 (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N) will get to review some of Elon Musk's emails as it pursues a lawsuit against Tesla (TSLA.O) over a bond contract dispute that arose after Musk tweeted he might take his electric car company private. JPMorgan plans to depose Musk in December, Tesla lawyer Nathan Goralnik said at the hearing. JPMorgan sued Tesla for $162.2 million in November 2021, saying Tesla breached a 2014 contract related to stock warrants it sold to the bank, and which JPMorgan believes became more valuable because of Musk's tweet. Tesla countersued JPMorgan in January, accusing the bank of seeking a "windfall" when it re-priced the warrants. A federal jury in San Francisco in February found Musk and Tesla not liable for misleading investors with the tweet.

Persons: JPMorgan Chase, Elon, Musk, Ona Wang, Tesla, tweeting, Nathan Goralnik, Goralnik, Luc Cohen, Chizu Organizations: YORK, JPMorgan, Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, U.S, San Francisco, New York

Our experts answer readers' personal loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess personal loans). Here are the steps to take to get a personal loan:Insider's Featured Personal Loan Companies LightStream Personal LoanMarcus Personal LoanSoFi Personal Loan Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Fees 4.75/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Fees 4.25/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Fees 4/5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star Apply now On LightStream's website Apply now On Goldman Sachs' website Apply now On SoFi's website1. Understand the two main types of personal loansThere are two types of personal loans: secured and unsecured. Get your paperwork in orderOne of the most challenging parts of getting a personal loan is the amount of documentation required.

Persons: —, Gabe Krajicek, Krajicek, Priyanka Prakash, Goldman Sachs, it's, Tabitha Mazzara Organizations: Service, Bank of America, Citibank, MBANC Locations: Wells

☆ How to prequalify for a personal loan
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Jamie Johnson | Richard Richtmyer | Jamie Johnson Is A Kansas City-Based Personal Finance Writer Whose Work Has Been Featured On Several Of The Top Finance | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Our experts answer readers' personal loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess personal loans). What does it mean to prequalify for a personal loan? 4 steps to prequalify for a personal loanHere are the steps you'll take to get prequalified for a personal loan. See Insider's picks for the best personal loans for bad credit >>Prequalifying for a personal loan FAQSWhat is the difference between prequalification and preapproval for a personal loan? How long does it take to prequalify for a personal loan?

Persons: Prequalification, —, Andrew Latham, you'll, Latham, It's, They'll, Fiona, you've, You'll, Nathan Hoskin, it'll, it's Organizations: Service, Hoskin, Chevron

☆ Opinion | John Roberts Throws a Curveball
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Richard L. Hasen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

It’s possible that he had a change of heart, but it’s more likely that his institutionalist side kicked in. But as recently as last year, when Alabama sought a stay before the 2022 elections of the lower-court ruling the court just affirmed, Chief Justice Roberts suggested rethinking or tinkering with those precedents even as he opposed the stay. Since Congress passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965 and amended it in 1982, the Supreme Court has repeatedly weighed in on its scope and meaning. By 2013, however, the court held that Congress no longer had the power to require federal preapproval of voting changes. In Shelby County, Chief Justice Roberts declared that “history did not end in 1965” and that considerable improvement in the South made continued federal oversight unconstitutional.

Persons: Milligan, Justice Roberts, Kavanaugh, Justice Kavanaugh Organizations: Alabama, Supreme, statehouses Locations: Shelby County

Compare Third Federal Savings and Loan to Other Mortgage LendersThird Federal Savings and Loan vs. Carrington Mortgage ServicesCarrington Mortgage Services Types of mortgages Conforming, Smart Rate Adjustable Mortgage, jumbo, bridge loan, HELOC, home equity loan Types of mortgages Conforming, jumbo, FHA, USDA, VA, Carrington Flexible Advantage Standout feature Low Cost Mortgages Standout feature Carrington Flexible Advantage mortgage Compare rates Compare RatesCarrington Mortgage Services is our "best overall' lender for borrowers with low credit scores. How Third Federal Savings and Loan Mortgages WorkThird Federal Savings and Loan offers mortgages in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, DC. Is Third Federal Savings and Loan Mortgage Trustworthy? Third Federal Savings and Loan Mortgage FAQIs Third Federal Savings and Loan a safe bank? Yes, Third Federal Savings and Loan is a safe bank to get a mortgage from.

Persons: HELOC, Carrington, you'll, It's, Marc Stefanski, Grace, Molly Grace, Molly, mgrace, Read Organizations: Federal Savings, PMI, Loan, DC, Loan Mortgage, Cost Mortgage, Third Federal, Mortgage, Carrington Mortgage, FHA, USDA, Carrington, Mortgage Services, Guild Mortgage, Third Federal Savings, ARM, Federal, Better, BBB, preapproval, Financial Corporation, Finance, Insider, Rocket Companies Locations: Washington, Ohio, Florida, California , Colorado , Connecticut, Georgia , Illinois , Indiana , Kentucky, Maryland , Massachusetts , Missouri , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New York, North Carolina , Ohio , Oregon , Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, DC, VA, New York, Chevron

Find a lender that offers the type of mortgage you needNot every lender provides each type of mortgage. VA mortgage lenders . How to compare mortgage lenders at each stage of the processMortgage prequalificationMortgage prequalification is one of the first steps in the homebuying process. Mortgage loan estimateOnce you choose a home, you will apply for a mortgage and receive a loan estimate from a lender. Between the qualification, preapproval, and loan estimate, the loan estimate is the most detailed and official of the three.

PenFed Auto Loans Frequently Asked QuestionsIs PenFed good for auto loans? What credit score is needed for a PenFed auto loan? PenFed Auto Loans CompetitorsHow PenFed compares PenFed Auto LoanNavy Federal Auto LoansPNC Auto Loans Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. How we rate auto loansWe rate all auto loan products in our reviews and guides on a 1-5 scale. See our ratings methodology for auto loans »Ryan Wangman, CEPF Loans Reporter Ryan Wangman is a reporter at Personal Finance Insider reporting on personal loans, student loans, student loan refinancing, debt consolidation, auto loans, RV loans, and boat loans.

Students with a limited credit history are unlikely to be approved for the best credit cards, and even some student credit cards require good to excellent credit. Step is a secured credit card that has a dynamic credit limit that is attached to the bank account balance -- it operates like a debit card but it is a credit card, which is what enables the unique credit building feature. Best Credit Cards for Students With No Credit of 2023Methodology: How we chose the best credit cards for students with no creditInsider's credit cards team looked at dozens of student credit cards, secured credit cards, and starter credit cards and narrowed down the list by choosing only those that students with limited or no credit have a good chance of qualifying for. Credit Cards for Students With No Credit Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Which credit card is best for students with no credit? US Bank Altitude Go Secured Credit Card ReviewBest for Students Under 18Step Secured Visa CardWhile credit card accounts are only available to those aged 18 and over, the Step Secured Visa Card offers a solution for students looking to build credit who haven't yet reached legal adulthood.

☆ How to Get a Mortgage
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +15 min

“Houses cost more than the money invested to purchase them,” says Brian Rugg, chief credit officer at mortgage lender loanDepot. Research mortgage loan types and lendersThere are two basic categories of mortgage: private and government backed. “Look at customer reviews from past borrowers,” says Alex Shekhtman, a mortgage broker and founder of LBC Mortgage in New York. “Mortgage lenders use appraisals to protect their investment in the home,” says Liz Lopez, a real-estate agent at RelatedISG Realty. Since mortgage payments are made in arrears—meaning you pay on the first of the month for the previous month’s charges—you won’t owe a mortgage payment until the start of the second month following your closing date.

☆ Buying a home is only going to get harder this spring as hopeful house hunters get thwarted by fewer options and still-high prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Alcynna Lloyd | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But buyers won't have many homes to pick from, which can lead to competition that keeps prices high. Owners are reluctant to sell because they would have to give up locked-in low mortgage rates. Considering growing expectations that the Federal Reserve will stop, or even reverse, its benchmark rate hikes this year, mortgage rates may fall further in the weeks to come. Owners happy with their homes and low, locked-in mortgage rates, aren't moving much. More competition, or demand, for a smaller number of homes, or supply, usually keeps prices high.

☆ Don't bother writing a 'love letter' to home sellers. They're a waste of time and someone could get screwed.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Aj Latrace | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Moved by the note, dubbed a "love letter" in real-estate parlance, Byington decided to sell the house to her. Elizabeth Scire's "Barbie House" love letter to the seller. EtsyLove letters risk discriminationDeeply personal and emotionally written love letters, however, open sellers and their agents up to legal risks. In a 2020 blog post, the National Association of Realtors said love letters would be more accurately described as "liability letters." In September 2021, Oregon became the first state to enact a law that banned the practice of writing or sharing real-estate love letters during the homebuying process.

Our experts answer readers' personal loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess personal loans). As Marcus is no longer accepting new loan applications as a result of its decision to shutter its personal loan business, Marcus is best for existing customers who already have a loan with the company. Marcus Personal Loan DetailsMarcus personal loan amounts range from $3,500 to $40,000 and can be repaid over three to six years, depending on the agreement you strike with the lender. Currently, Marcus is accepting personal loan applications by invitation only, so it is significantly harder to get a Marcus personal loan than in the past. How Marcus Personal Loans Compare Side-by-side snapshot Marcus Personal LoanSoFi Personal LoanLightStream Personal Loan Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

☆ Charlie Munger says the U.S. should follow in China's footsteps and ban cryptocurrencies
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charlie Munger urged the U.S. government to ban cryptocurrencies like China, saying a lack of regulation enabled wretched excess and a gambling mentality. Munger, along with his business partner, Warren Buffett, have been longtime cryptocurrency skeptics, contending they are not tangible or productive assets. Second, from the early 1700s, the English Parliament banned all public trading in new common stocks and kept this ban in place for about 100 years, Munger said. "What should the U.S. do after a ban of cryptocurrencies is in place? Well, one more action might make sense: Thank the Chinese communist leader for his splendid example of uncommon sense," Munger said.

Most personal loan lenders give you up to five years to repay the balance. CNBC Select rounded up six of the best personal loan lenders that offer longer loan terms. Not all personal loan lenders allow co-applicants but SoFi does — especially for those who are DACA recipients. A long-term personal loan is simply a personal loan that offers a longer amount of time to repay the loan balance. Common personal loan definitions you should knowHere are some common personal loan terms you need to know before applying.

The bottom line: Pentagon Federal Credit Union is a solid choice for conventional, FHA, or VA mortgages thanks to its competitive rates. Pentagon Federal Credit Union vs. Navy Federal mortgagesPenFed Credit Union Navy Federal Credit Union Types of home loans Conforming, jumbo, FHA, VA, HELOC Types of home loans Conforming, jumbo, VA Standout feature Power Buyer certification Standout feature Alternative credit data Get Started Compare RatesPenFed and Navy Federal Credit Union are both solid options if you want a lender that emphasizes services and products for military members or families. How Pentagon Federal Credit Union mortgages workPenFed is featured in our best banks and credit unions for military members and their families guide. Is Pentagon Federal Credit Union trustworthy? Pentagon Federal Credit Union mortgage FAQWhat credit score do PenFed mortgages use?

To determine the best debt consolidation loan offers for bad credit, Select compared dozens of lenders by credit score requirements, interest rates, fees, repayment terms and other factors. The best debt consolidation loans for bad creditBest overall: AchieveAchieve Best for people without a credit history: UpstartUpstart Best for flexible repayment terms: UpgradeUpgrade Best for fast approval: LendingPointLendingPoint Best for low origination fees: AvantSubscribe to the Select Newsletter! Most debt consolidation loans for bad credit can charge interest of up to 36%, but Achieve's highest interest rate is considerably lower. It's possible to qualify for a debt consolidation loan with bad credit (a credit score of under 670). Our methodologyTo determine which debt consolidation loans are the best for consumers with bad credit, Select analyzed dozens of U.S. personal loans offered by both online and brick-and-mortar banks, including large credit unions.

Proptech customers, employees, and investors said they went from delighted to disillusioned. Proptech investors eager to capture these trends pumped $32 billion into the industry in 2021. As markets deteriorated, disillusionment set in among proptech customers, investors, and employees. Some customers say they were disappointed buying homes via proptech startupsReal-estate startups like Divvy Homes and Better launched under the auspices of helping customers afford quality homes. Investors in proptech firms are taking financial hitsYou don't need to ask proptech investors whether they're disappointed in the sector's performance — just look at share prices.

The Department of Veterans Affairs doesn't set a minimum credit score for VA loans, but lenders typically do. VA loan borrowers need to meet minimum service requirements set by the VA, as well as minimum credit requirements set by their lender. VA lenders that accept low credit scoresAs you prepare to apply for a mortgage, look for lenders that have low minimum credit score requirements or are willing to work with borrowers who have rocky credit histories. If you currently have no credit score, you may be able to use non-traditional credit with certain lenders to prove your creditworthiness. Lowering your credit card balances will also decrease your credit utilization ratio, which can increase your credit score.

Pros Check mark icon A check mark. If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards customer, you can get discounts Check mark icon A check mark. Pros Check mark icon A check mark. Advanced tool for seeing personalized rates and payments Check mark icon A check mark. Variety of home loans, including a specialized buydown loan or I CAN loan Check mark icon A check mark.

You must be eligible to join Navy Federal Credit Union to get a mortgage Dash icon A dash. How Navy Federal Credit Union worksYou can get a mortgage through Navy Federal if you are an active military member, veteran, family member of someone affiliated with the military, or Department of Defense civilian. Is Navy Federal Credit Union trustworthy? The Better Business Bureau gives Navy Federal Credit Union an NR, or "No Rating," because it is responding to customer complaints that had already been resolved. Navy Federal Credit Union FAQIs Navy Federal good for a mortgage?

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