Finances are consistently a top concern for many Americans, with “saving money” ranking among their primary common goals. This year, Americans are more concerned than ever due to the uncertainty created by high inflation, rising interest rates, lack of income growth and dwindling savings. According to investment research site YCharts, the U.S. personal savings rate…
The 2024 NCAA DI women’s basketball tournament is complete, and South Carolina took down Iowa 87-75 to complete an undefeated season.
In today’s housing climate, many individuals and families are contemplating the transition from renting an apartment to owning a house. Here’s a guide to help navigate this significant life change.
Whether you own or rent the place you call home, ensuring that it’s energy efficient can help you save money, increase your comfort and contribute to improved indoor air quality. It’s also better for the planet.
February is the month of love and one of the most popular times of year for couples to get engaged. According to a recent study, 36% of respondents said Valentine’s Day is the most romantic day to propose. If you’re about to get married or just walked down the aisle, here are five things to…
By: d-mars.com News Provider A recent report from the Texas branch of the National Association of Realtors has highlighted Texas as a prime location for international investors looking to purchase single-family real estate. The report reveals that between April 2022 and March 2023, international investors contributed over $4.3 billion to the Texas real estate market,…
By: d-mars.com News Provider Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent A new study shows that after some progress, the number of deaths and years of possible life lost among America’s Black population stopped going down and then started going up again. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) said their results show…
By: d-mars.com News Provider StatePoint Figuring out how much home you can afford is one of the most important questions you’ll need to answer before you begin house hunting. But as home prices and interest rates have increased in the past few years, you may be wondering how your buying power has changed. To get…
Black Knight is a data and analytics company that drives innovation in the mortgage lending and servicing in real estate industries. The data and analytics division of Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE: BKI) released its latest Mortgage Monitor report, based on the company’s industry-leading mortgage, real estate and public records data sets. A modest rise in…
Tighten the purse strings. Balance the budget. Cut back. There are many ways to say it, but the current economy has millions of Americans doing the same thing: struggling to make ends meet. Wouldn’t it be nice to alleviate the financial pressure? For some people, this means asking for help. Four in 10 people have…
The Social Security Administration implemented their highest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in four decades earlier this year. This annual COLA is based on increases in the Consumer Price Index as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means former workers receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits saw an increase of 8.7% in their…
Owning a home has long been an aspiration for many people across America, and one of the most effective ways to build generational wealth. Yet, due to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rising interest rates, and housing affordability concerns, including the lack of affordable housing supply, homeownership may seem out of reach for…
By Chuck Bishop, Head of Diverse Segments for Wells Fargo Home Lending Despite ongoing challenges due to the pandemic, Black Americans joined the many homebuyers looking for a space to call their own during the past year. But even against that backdrop, the homeownership gap for the Black community remains significant, and concerns remain about…
More veterans are taking advantage of an important benefit for service members: A Veterans Affairs (VA) loan. According to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 1.4 million VA loans were taken out in 2021, a 15.6% increase from the previous year. However, there are still many veterans who are not using this…
Vice President Kamala Harris used her time at Freedman’s Bank Forum to announce new public and private-sector efforts to advance racial equity. Harris said the administration recognizes the continued difficulty that Black-owned businesses have in finding funding. She acknowledged that they routinely are the first to suffer during an economic downturn. Among a slate of…
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted nearly every aspect of people’s lives and, as it turns out, it also impacted their feelings about financial security and life insurance. In a national survey commissioned by Erie Insurance: • Two-thirds of respondents (66%) said the pandemic made them more concerned about their financial security than they were before. •…
Owning a home has long been an aspiration for many people across America, and one of the most effective ways to build generational wealth. Yet, due to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rising interest rates, and housing affordability concerns, including the lack of affordable housing supply, homeownership may seem out of reach for…
By Contributing Writer Marla Lewis, President of the Houston Black Real Estate Association Whew. The buyer and seller both signed the contract, so that’s it, right? The house is sold, and everyone moves on. Not so fast. There’s still a long way to go. Unfortunately, sometimes real estate transactions that start out smoothly can unravel…
Life insurance is for people of all ages, not just parents and grandparents. While life insurance needs vary by age and stage of life, it’s a good idea to invest in a life insurance plan while you’re young. If you’re in your 20s and 30s, life insurance may not seem necessary, but it’s a useful…
Fewer households throughout the Greater Houston area could afford to purchase the median-priced home in the first quarter of 2022, as home prices and mortgage interest rates climbed. Homebuyers in the Houston Area need 26.9 percent more income than they did a year ago to afford the median-priced home, according to the newly launched Houston…