Month: August 2026

A Kia K5 parked outdoors as a driver faces a large remaining auto loan balance

Kia K5 Owner Says $37,440 in Payments Left Him Owing $28,275 on a $38,000 Car After High Interest and Negative Equity Grew

 Joshua Adkins  August 30, 2026

A TikTok creator says a costly repair decision turned into a deep upside-down auto loan that still has tens of thousands left to pay.

A family reviewing a promissory note and home purchase paperwork at a kitchen table

IRS-Published Family Loan Strategy Lets Parents Help Adult Children Buy Homes Without a Gift Tax Return When Annual Forgiveness Stays Under the Limit

 Joshua Adkins  August 30, 2026

A long-running intrafamily loan can work if the note is written, the rate meets IRS rules, and yearly forgiveness stays within the annual exclusion.

A house for sale sign in front of a suburban home

Higher Mortgage Rates Leave Most U.S. Home Markets Tilted Toward Buyers as Redfin Says Nearly Eight in Ten Major Metros Now Favor Shoppers

 Joshua Adkins  August 29, 2026

Redfin says buyers have regained leverage in most major metros even as mortgage rates stayed above earlier forecasts for 2026.

A row of houses with a for sale sign as mortgage rates stay above 6.5 percent

Mortgage Rates Hold Above 6.5% as Freddie Mac Reports 6.66% on the 30-Year Loan and Forecasts Point to More Pressure Into Late 2026

 Joshua Adkins  August 29, 2026

Freddie Mac’s latest reading shows borrowing costs edging higher again while bond yields and inflation concerns keep pressure on home loans.

A house key and mortgage paperwork beside a veteran home loan rate chart

VA Loan Rates Hold Near 6.29 Percent as CNBC Select Highlights Lenders for Veterans and Active-Duty Borrowers Seeking No Down Payment Options

 Joshua Adkins  August 29, 2026

Optimal Blue’s latest reading shows VA mortgage rates edging up, while CNBC Select points to lenders that stand out for service, rate, and online tools.

Deputies in body camera video confronting flames during an eviction attempt in an Oklahoma apartment

Oklahoma County Deputies Serving an Eviction Face Flames From a Homemade Flamethrower as Body Camera Video Shows an Improvised Device Inside Apartment

 Joshua Adkins  August 29, 2026

Sheriff’s office video shows deputies backing out after flames were directed at them and a suspicious device was found near the front door.

People learning about homebuyer assistance at a free Fort Worth fair

Free Fort Worth Homebuyer Fair Will Connect Families With up to $25,000 in Down Payment Help, Counseling and Renovated Homes in Carroll Park

 Joshua Adkins  August 29, 2026

City and Housing Channel are offering a free fair, homebuyer counseling and details on local assistance programs for eligible buyers.

A waterfront Nantucket home with weathered shingles and a high-end coastal setting

Nantucket Tops Lendingtree’s List of America’s Priciest Towns With a $1.6 Million Median Home Value as Seasonal Demand and Limited Supply Push Island Prices Higher

 Joshua Adkins  August 29, 2026

A LendingTree ranking shows small resort towns in the Northeast and the Rockies far outpacing typical home prices, with Nantucket at the top.

A for-sale home sign outside a suburban house as buyers wait for lower mortgage rates

Survey Finds Most Delayed Homebuyers Want Mortgage Rates to Reach 5% Before Buying, Even as Freddie Mac Put the Average at 6.66% on Aug. 27

 Joshua Adkins  August 28, 2026

Neighbors Bank said many prospective buyers are waiting for a lower rate, but some worry that delaying could mean facing more competition and higher prices later.

Apartment buildings with a notice about a proposed renter settlement

Houston Renters Who Lived in Certain Apartments From 2018 Through 2025 Could Be Eligible for a Share of a $359.9 Million Realpage Settlement

 Joshua Adkins  August 28, 2026

A court-authorized website says renters should check specific apartment addresses, gather lease and payment records, and file claims directly before the January 2027 deadline.