Consumers may not have to shell out for hefty overdraft penalties after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a new rule that aims to significantly curtail banks’ ability to charge customers these fees. “The CFPB is cracking down on these excessive junk fees,” agency director Rohit Chopra said Thursday in a statement accompanying the rule […]

Is it a good time to buy a house? For some buyers, and in some markets, it might be. For others, the wait may take a while longer. According to a recent report from Realtor.com, improving conditions — specifically, a larger number of homes for sale — make the current market the best buying opportunity for those […]

With limited inventory and mortgage rates hovering above 7 percent, prospective homebuyers continue to face a bleak landscape in much of the country. New data from real estate site Zillow, though, shows more than a dozen bright spots. Its most recent market report highlights 13 metropolitan areas where the scales are tipped in buyers’ favor. […]

A handful of the nation’s best colleges are racing to boost financial aid to incoming students from families with limited means. On Wednesday alone, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Texas and Carnegie Mellon University announced more generous tuition-free financial aid programs that would, in some cases, completely eliminate the cost of attendance for low- and moderate-income students. […]

Homeownership is a big part of the American dream. For many hopeful buyers, that dream is coming true much later in life than expected. According to a recent report from National Association of Realtors, the median age of homebuyers is 56, a seven-year jump from 2023 and a record high in the 43 years the NAR has […]

Nothing says Thanksgiving like turkey. And if it’s free? Even better. Ahead of the holiday, several grocery chains, including Giant and Albertsons, are running turkey giveaways. In most cases, the turkeys are free only if you spend a qualifying amount at the store before the Thanksgiving deadline. Similarly, some major supermarkets—like Aldi and Walmart—are promoting […]

Throughout history, gold and other precious metals have maintained their status as fixtures in the ever-evolving global financial markets. Investors often turn to gold because of its historical role as a hedge against economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Unlike some other asset classes, gold serves as a store of value, retaining its value and purchasing power […]

As taxpayers and businesses make decisions about where to live and where to set up shop, state tax codes are often a major consideration. But given the complexity of state laws, comparing those differences isn’t always so easy. A new ranking of states’ tax competitiveness by the Tax Foundation, a think tank, aims to simplify […]