Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways Semi-truck loan timelines range from 24 hours to up to 90 days, depending on the lender and loan type Banks and credit unions tend to take longer to fund semi-truck loans than online or direct lenders Check eligibility requirements and…
Buying a home is an expensive process, and one of the most significant expenses you’ll pay is often your real estate agent‘s commission. When you consider the fact that each agent involved in a transaction typically earns 2.5 to 3 percent of the home’s sale price, the total cost of…
Key takeaways Applying for preapproval can help you know how much you can afford and negotiate at the dealership. The higher your credit score is, the lower your interest rates may be. Lenders offer competitive terms to borrowers with good to excellent credit. Have a budget in mind and know…
Andrei Medvedev/Shutterstock Key takeaways A pocket listing is a home for sale that isn’t publicly listed on the multiple listing service (MLS). Sellers can work with agents to let them know they prefer to keep their home quiet and only make it available to serious buyers. Some agents love pocket…
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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 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…
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Level 2: Discover the Fastest Way to Pay Off Debt With Rules and Challenges When looking for the fastest way to pay off…
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Apple, FedEx and Oracle all got loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. But rules and red tape keep many banks from making…
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Robb Sommerfeld used a popular business credit card to help manage finances at National Center for Craftmanship (NCC), a nonprofit where he serves as an executive director — until the bank suddenly closed the account. The sudden account closure put Sommerfeld and his organization in a tough spot, as the…
Whether you’re self-employed or a salaried employee, you’re responsible for paying taxes on your income. And the U.S. tax system is “pay as you go,” which means you owe taxes throughout the year — not just at tax time. Salaried and hourly employees — that is, anyone who receives a…
You’ve spent much of your working life building up your 401(k) and then along comes a market downturn to threaten your retirement plans. What can you do to ensure your portfolio stays protected? “We believe the key thing to do is to keep your 401(k) funds invested. If you take…
Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate The best HELOC or home equity loan, most folks would say, is the one that costs the least. But low cost is not just about a competitive interest rate. Upfront fees, closing costs and ongoing charges can add up to a significant chunk of…
Tony Anderson/Getty Images Mortgage rates could stay within a narrow range for the remainder of 2025, according to a poll by Bankrate, making it harder for homebuyers and homeowners with higher rates to time their choices to buy or refinance. The quarterly poll, which asks experts for their expectations on…
“I’m just a bill. Yes, I’m only a bill. And I’m sitting here on Capitol Hill. Well, it’s a long, long journey to the capital city. It’s a long, long wait while I’m sitting in committee, but I know I’ll be a law someday. At least I hope and pray…
Key takeaways A housing market recession or weakness could spur lenders to change the original terms of a HELOC (home equity line of credit) in a way that they can’t with mortgages. A serious dip in home values can cause lenders to lower your credit line or freeze it —…
The Nasdaq stock exchange contains some of the most attractive investments on the stock market, including quickly growing tech names. Investors can own them all by purchasing a Nasdaq index fund, making it easy to own such bellwethers as the Magnificent 7 stocks. But a variety of such funds exist,…
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that…
Stocks plummeted to start 2025, egged on by a slowing economy and U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs on major trading partners. Both the S&P 500 stock index and the tech-heavy Nasdaq index entered bear market territory, meaning they declined by 20 percent or more from a recent high.…
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