• February 16, 2025

3 ways to raise your credit when buying a home

Wells Fargo (WFC) executive director of mortgage sustainability Rulon Washington joins Wealth host Brad Smith to discuss the importance of credit in the homebuying process. "As consumers think about buying their first home, they must also think about the credit perspective," Washington states, emphasizing that improving your credit is "the best thing" individuals can do to prepare for homeownership. First, he recommends tracking your credit score and staying informed about factors that influence it using the many free tools available. Second, he stresses the importance of making on-time payments and avoiding major purchases before applying for a mortgage, as payment history is a primary factor that lenders evaluate. Finally, he advises keeping your oldest credit accounts open because the length of your credit history significantly impacts your overall credit score. Watch the full video above for further insights into costs to be aware of when purchasing a home. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Angel Smith

  • February 13, 2025

Mortgage rates tick lower, 30-year still hovers below 6.9%

US mortgage rates remain elevated over this past week, according to new data out from Freddie Mac, with the 30-year fixed rate mortgage slipping slightly to 6.87% while the 15-year moves up from 6.05% to 6.09%. Yahoo Finance senior housing reporter Claire Boston joins Wealth's Brad Smith in breaking down the latest mortgage data and how it relates to interest rates and the homebuying environment. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.

  • February 12, 2025

US housing market is not functional, expert says

HousingWire Lead analyst Logan Mohtashami joins Wealth! host Brad Smith to discuss how climate disasters impact the housing market through insurance availability challenges. Mohtashami explains that climate risks have created a concerning situation where certain parts of the United States may become effectively uninhabitable. He points out that due to the unavailability of insurance or mortgage products in high-risk regions, purchases would be limited to all-cash buyers. "That is not a functioning housing market," he emphasizes, highlighting how this situation could fundamentally alter the accessibility of housing in vulnerable areas. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Wealth here. This post was written by Angel Smith