Key takeaways If you believe there is an erroneous or fraudulent charge on your credit card, you have the right to dispute the charge and potentially have it removed from your statement. The Fair Credit Billing Act allows you to dispute a charge within 60 days of when it appears…
Key takeaways Under current law, you do not have to be a U.S. citizen to buy a home in the U.S. The vast majority of non-resident buyers come from Canada, China, Mexico and India. Many mortgage lenders offer conventional and FHA home loans to non-U.S. citizens. You don’t have to…
Key takeaways Having good credit helps you get better rates on mortgages, car loans and other debt products, and may affect your ability to rent an apartment or sign up for utilities and other services. To build good credit, you need to use your credit — but you don’t want…
Westend61/Getty Images: Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways You can refinance a second mortgage on its own fairly easily. Refinancing first and second mortgages together requires you to meet certain requirements but it is possible. Refinancing your primary mortgage while keeping a second mortgage requires resubordination. Refinancing a second mortgage…
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While there has been much conversation on not buying from companies with poor diversity, little has been said about investing…
Lifestyle inflation occurs when your expenses increase as you earn more income. It can start subtly—dining at pricier restaurants, upgrading…
Chime, the largest digital bank in America, grew its revenue to $1.7 billion in 2024, an increase of roughly 30%…
Technology has transformed some parts of the daunting homebuying process–making it easier to search and compare properties online, to prepare…
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Key takeaways Late spring and early summer are generally considered the best times to sell a house. According to Fannie Mae’s most recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index, nearly two-thirds of people feel that now is a good time to sell. While home prices are high…
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NBC / Contributor / Getty Images This is part 1 of 2 of Bankrate’s ’90s era lessons miniseries. Stay tuned later this month…
Banking
Apple, FedEx and Oracle all got loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. But rules and red tape keep many banks from making…
Credit Cards
Key takeaways Adding authorized users to your business credit card account can make it easier for you to complete purchases and earn rewards…
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Key takeaways It is possible to upgrade from a secured credit card to an unsecured one after building up credit, but it may require finding a new unsecured card if the current issuer does not have conversion options. History of on-time payments, a fair credit score and a low…
Key takeaways Running a small business can be expensive, whether you’re facing initial startup costs, pricey equipment purchases or simple day-to-day operating expenses. Small business credit cards and small business loans can help fund capital and operating expenses, but it’s important to choose the product that’s right for…
Key takeaways With an eligible Chase credit card, you can earn boosted rewards when you redeem for statement credits toward select purchases made in the last 90 days. Depending on the card, categories include travel, charities, groceries, gas and annual membership fees. Expiration dates vary by card and category, so…
Key takeaways Cashback Monitor offers a snapshot of earning rates across dozens of shopping portals, so you can easily see which site offers the most cash back, points or miles. You can customize the Cashback Monitor site to show your preferred shopping portals and other features, but you need to…
Key takeaways The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel credit card with a $395 annual fee. However, you can recoup the annual fee if you take advantage of card benefits — like the up to $300 in statement credits for booking travel through Capital One…
Key Takeaways Striking the right balance between your checking and savings accounts can help your money grow. Checking accounts are ideal for managing daily expenses, while savings accounts are best for long-term financial goals. Allocate your funds based on monthly expenses and savings goals. Economic anxiety likely has you thinking…
Key Takeaways High-yield savings accounts can help protect your money’s purchasing power by earning returns that outpace inflation. Shopping around for competitive yields, particularly at online banks, can earn you several times more interest than traditional bank accounts. The difference between high- and low-yield accounts can amount to hundreds of…
Key takeaways Congressional Republicans are considering closing the federal Direct PLUS Loan program in an effort to limit federal loan borrowing. Canceling this program could have many downstream effects, including increased reliance on private student loans for grad students and parents of undergrads. Student loan borrowers still have many options…
Key takeaways Fixed expenses remain constant within a budget, while variable expenses may change regularly. Examples of fixed expenses include rent or mortgage payments, while variable expenses can include things like groceries or entertainment. Budgeting for both fixed and variable expenses is important, and the 50/30/20 rule can…
Photography by Getty Images; Illustration by Bankrate My husband and I have owned our first home for a full year. In that year, we sharpened our painting skills, became frequent shoppers at The Home Depot and discovered just how much goes into owning a home versus renting an apartment. One…
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