Articles

  • 1 week ago | experian.com | Emily Starbuck Gerson

    Quick AnswerVA loan requirements for 2025 include proving eligibility, using the home as a primary residence and likely paying an upfront funding fee. Mortgages with low interest rates remain hard to come by, and scraping together a sufficient down payment can be a challenge. For active service members and military veterans looking to buy a home, a U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) home purchase loan could be an excellent option.

  • 2 months ago | experian.com | Emily Starbuck Gerson

    To view important disclosures about the Experian Smart Money™ Digital Checking Account & Debit Card, visit experian.com/legal. The Experian Smart Money™ Debit Card is issued by Community Federal Savings Bank (CFSB), pursuant to a license from Mastercard International. Banking services provided by CFSB, Member FDIC. Experian is a Program Manager, not a bank. Editorial Policy: The information contained in Ask Experian is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice.

  • 2 months ago | experian.com | Emily Starbuck Gerson

    While turning 18 is a major milestone on the path toward financial independence, it's common to need some extra time and support from family in the form of insurance. Understanding this, auto insurers typically allow drivers to stay on their parents' car insurance as long as they live with them or attend college full time. Rules can vary, however. For example, you might have to drive a car your parents own to stay covered.

  • Jan 12, 2025 | experian.com | Emily Starbuck Gerson

    What to Do if You Get a Citation or Ticket When you receive a citation for a minor infraction, you typically have the option to admit guilt, pay a fine and be done with it. This can be advisable for more minor infractions, like nonmoving violations that don't require a court date. But don't ignore it: Failure to deal with the ticket and pay up can result in a suspended license.

  • Dec 18, 2024 | experian.com | Emily Starbuck Gerson

    If an employer opts-in, a 401(k) student loan match allows employees to receive 401(k) matches for making student loan payments rather than retirement contributions. If you left college or graduate school with a hefty student loan balance, you might struggle to find room to save for retirement each month after loan and bill payments. This might become easier now thanks to a legislative provision that's finally going into effect.