Author: Press Room

Despite recent decreases in mortgage rates, buying a home is expected to become more expensive amid economic uncertainty, according to an analysis by Realtor.com.  The average interest rate on a 30-year-fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 6.42% for the week ending March 23, a 0.18% decline from the previous week, according to Fredie Mac data. That rate is the lowest in more than a month, Realtor.com reported. “It’s a small reprieve and much-needed break for homebuyers, but don’t look for it to last,” Realtor.com said in its analysis. “When the Fed raises rates, mortgage rates usually rise in kind.” The Federal Reserve raised…

SoFi Bank N.A. is attempting to halt the Biden administration’s pause on federal student loan payments.  The private bank argues that the moratorium has no legal basis and has cost the bank. In a federal lawsuit filed Friday in Washington, D.C., SoFi asked a federal judge to overturn the latest extension of the pause.  Student loan payments were first halted under President Trump’s administration and the hold has been extended eight times over three years.  Ticker Security Last Change Change % SOFI SOFI TECHNOLOGIES 5.75 +0.01 +0.17% STUDENT LOAN REFINANCE INTEREST RATES EDGE UP FOR BOTH 5- AND 10-YEAR LOANS”We have…

Some consumers spending money for Valentine’s Day anticipate doing so for their other half might rack up credit card debt for them, according to a LendingTree survey. Twenty-seven percent of consumers in a relationship with intentions to make purchases for the romantic holiday said they expect they “may take on credit card debt,” the LendingTree survey released Monday found. Of that figure, 20% said “maybe,” while 7% said “yes.”AMERICANS PLAN TO INCREASE VALENTINE’S DAY SPENDING DESPITE SQUEEZED BUDGETS Nearly three-quarters, on the other hand, do not foresee doing so for Valentine’s Day, according to the survey. LendingTree said the amount…

Our goal here at Credible Operations, Inc., NMLS Number 1681276, referred to as “Credible” below, is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we do promote products from our partner lenders who compensate us for our services, all opinions are our own. When you have debt with mounting interest charges, it can be easy to get tunnel vision. In many cases, paying off your debt should be your top priority. But being so focused on debt payoff can sometimes make it harder to meet other important financial goals, like building an emergency savings…

The surprise output cut by OPEC and its allies sent oil prices rallying — and analysts say major oil importers like India, Japan and South Korea will feel the most pain if prices hit $100 per barrel, as some have predicted.On Sunday, OPEC+ announced a production cut of 1.16 million barrels per day, in a move that oil markets were not expecting.”It’s a tax on every oil importing economy,” said Pavel Molchanov, managing director of private investment bank Raymond James.”It’s not the U.S. that would feel the most pain from $100 oil, it would be the countries that have no domestic petroleum resources:…

More than a decade after a U.S. mortgage meltdown threatened to destroy the international financial system, a “Big Short” investor once again sees financial disaster brewing in the real estate market.Dave Burt, CEO of investment research firm DeltaTerra Capital which aims to help clients manage climate risk, was one of the few skeptics who recognized the housing market was on the brink of collapse in 2007.He helped two of the protagonists of Michael Lewis’ bestselling book “The Big Short” bet against the mortgage market in the lead-up to the 2008 global financial crisis. As it turned out, they were right…

Starbucks is betting big on olive oil infused coffee, hoping customers will be enticed by the anomaly and the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil. “It is one of the biggest launches we’ve had in decades,” Brady Brewer, Starbucks’ chief marketing officer, told CNN. Former CEO Howard Schultz added in an interview with Poppy Harlow that it will “transform the coffee industry,” and be “a very profitable new addition to the company.” But what the company may not have taken into account: Some customers say it’s making them have to run to the bathroom. “Half the team tried it…

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The Japanese government may push to adopt non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in the sports industry.Nikkei reported that Tokyo could move after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party Web3 “Digital Society Promotion” team issues a white paper on the matter.The white paper is yet to be published, but sources appear to have discussed the matter in detail with the media outlet.The white paper, Nikkei explained, will seek to clarify the regulatory picture for NFT-issuing firms and their potential sporting partners.How Could Japan Use NFTs in Sport – And What Are The Problems?The Web3 team has noted that “fantasy sports” are “gaining popularity overseas”…

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