Katherine Watt

6 days ago | cnet.com | Katherine Watt |Alix Langone

Why You Can Trust CNET Money Money Money Article updated on Apr 18, 2025 If you're planning on tapping into your home equity, our list of competitive HELOC rates can help you find the best deal. Andrea Rugg/Getty Images A home equity line of credit (HELOC) gives homeowners with at least 15% to 20% equity access to flexible financing. You can tap into that credit line for expenses such as home renovations or to consolidate debt.

6 days ago | cnet.com | Katherine Watt

Money Mortgages Article updated on Apr 18, 2025 A few major mortgage rates increased. Here's what to expect if you're in the market for a home loan. Photo by John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images Check out CNET Money's weekly mortgage rate forecast for a more in-depth look at what’s next for Fed rate cuts, labor data and inflation. Mortgage rate volatility is nothing new, but today's housing market is particularly unpredictable.

6 days ago | cnet.com | Katherine Watt

Money Mortgages Article updated on Apr 18, 2025 Several benchmark refinance rates have dropped. Refinance rates change daily, but experts say rates could inch down in the coming months. Getty Images Mortgage refinance rates have been moderating in response to rising layoffs and worries about a potential economic downturn. Despite the recent dip in rates, experts don’t expect another refinancing boom like in 2020 and 2021, when mortgage rates dropped to historic lows.

1 week ago | cnet.com | Katherine Watt

If you’re planning to buy a house, you’re probably considering what type of mortgage to take out. For most homebuyers, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is the go-to option. That’s because it makes monthly payments more manageable by stretching them out over three decades, and it provides the peace of mind of a fixed interest rate. However, while a longer repayment period means your monthly costs will be lower, you’ll end up paying more in interest overall than with a 15-year or 10-year loan.

1 week ago | cnet.com | Katherine Watt

Check out CNET Money's weekly mortgage rate forecast for a more in-depth look at what’s next for Fed rate cuts, labor data and inflation. Mortgage rate volatility is nothing new, but today's housing market is particularly unpredictable. Lingering inflation, threats of a global trade war and mounting recession fears have driven mortgage rates up and down over the past several weeks. The average interest rate for a standard 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.90% today, up 0.10% over the last week.