by Brian Ziemer | Feb 17, 2026 | Home Equity
Quick answer: Home equity borrowing, such as a HELOC or home equity loan, may carry a much lower interest rate than a credit card because your home secures it. On a $30,000 balance at 20%, you would pay about $6,000 a year in interest. Moving that balance to a...
by Brian Ziemer | Feb 2, 2026 | Buying a Home
Quick answer: Seller concessions (also called seller-paid closing costs) are contributions a seller makes toward a buyer’s closing costs or prepaid expenses. The maximum depends on the loan: conventional 3%, 6% or 9% depending on down payment, FHA 6%, VA 4% on certain...
by Brian Ziemer | Jan 17, 2026 | Refinancing & Rates
Quick answer: Mortgage rates move mainly with the bond market, especially the 10-Year Treasury yield, which responds to inflation, economic growth, Fed policy and global events. Demand for mortgage-backed securities also matters. Your own rate depends on your credit...
by Brian Ziemer | Jan 1, 2026 | Refinancing & Rates
Quick answer: The Fed does not set mortgage rates. It sets a short-term rate that moves Prime, HELOCs and credit cards quickly, while 30-year fixed mortgage rates follow longer-term yields such as the 10-Year Treasury. Fed decisions and signals can influence those...
by Brian Ziemer | Dec 16, 2025 | Refinancing & Rates
Quick answer: A Fed rate cut does not guarantee lower mortgage rates. The Fed controls a short-term rate, while 30-year mortgage rates follow longer-term yields such as the 10-Year Treasury. After 1.75 points of Fed cuts since September 2024, the 30-year rate was...
