Category: Home Buying

A for sale sign in front of a suburban home as mortgage rates rise

Mortgage Rates Hit Highest Level Since June 2025 as Oil Prices Jump After New Middle East Fighting Pushes Bond Yields Higher Nationwide

 Joshua Adkins  September 1, 2026

The 30-year fixed average rose to 6.87% Monday, its highest reading in more than a year, as war-related oil gains fed through to borrowing costs.

A couple reviewing bills and investment account statements on a kitchen table

Detroit Family Faces $10,000 HOA Bill and Possible Foreclosure After Brother-In-Law Misses Fees on Condos, Forcing Woman to Consider Selling $50,000 in Stocks

 Joshua Adkins  August 31, 2026

A Michigan couple says they may have to tap brokerage savings after a cosigned condo loan left them responsible for overdue association fees.

A house key resting on a mortgage application form beside a calculator

Freddie Mac Says Average 30 Year Mortgage Rate Rose to 6.66 Percent, Back Near a Four Week High as Treasury Yields Stay Elevated

 Joshua Adkins  August 31, 2026

Borrowing costs moved higher again this week, keeping home loans close to their recent peak and leaving U.S. sales stuck in a long slump.

People meet with housing counselors at a Milwaukee NACA homebuyer event

Milwaukee Homebuyers Turn to NACA Weekend Event as Typical Home Price Sits Near $228,500 and Some Families Seek Mortgages Without Down Payments

 Joshua Adkins  August 31, 2026

Prospective buyers at a Milwaukee housing workshop moved through counseling, document uploads and mortgage screening as NACA highlighted its no down payment program.

A first-time homebuyer reviews paperwork and mortgage costs with a calculator on a table

First-Time Homebuyers Face Closing Costs, Taxes, Insurance and Utility Bills That Can Add Thousands Before and After Closing, Freddie Mac and Ownwell Say

 Joshua Adkins  August 31, 2026

Experts say the biggest surprise costs often show up in the paperwork before closing and in monthly bills after move-in.

Calculator and house keys beside a mortgage rate chart

Zillow Mortgage Rates Rise for Buyers on Sunday as the 30 Year Fixed Climbs to 6.55 Percent and the 15 Year Moves up to 5.91 Percent Nationwide

 Joshua Adkins  August 31, 2026

National average purchase rates ticked higher week over week, while refinance rates were mixed across fixed and adjustable terms.

Homeowners reviewing mortgage paperwork to compare refinancing options and home equity loans

Charleston Mortgage Broker Says Homeowners Weighing Refinancing Should Compare Current Rates, Debt Goals and Closing Costs Before Choosing Between a HELOC or Cash Out Option

 Joshua Adkins  August 30, 2026

A South Carolina lender says the choice often comes down to the borrower’s existing mortgage rate, the purpose of the funds and how long the money will be needed.

A prospective homebuyer reviews mortgage rate listings while a house sits for sale in the background

Homebuyers Nationwide Are Pausing House Hunts for Lower Mortgage Rates as a Neighbors Bank Poll Finds 72% on Hold and 41% Already Regretting the Wait

 Joshua Adkins  August 30, 2026

A survey of 1,000 potential buyers suggests many shoppers are chasing rate levels that forecasters do not expect to return soon.

A couple discussing whether to use a settlement payment to pay off their home mortgage

After a $1.1 Million Injury Settlement, a Married Couple’s Mortgage Debate Raises Questions About Shared Bills and Separate Money in Household Planning

 Joshua Adkins  August 30, 2026

A settlement from a car accident left one spouse weighing whether to use the money for the couple’s home loan or keep it separate.

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.