Kelsey Neubauer

New York

Personal Finance Reporter at CNBC Select

Reporter @CNBCSelect • previously @BusinessInsider, @Bisnow, @vtdigger• @columbiajourn Stabile and UVM alumna • she/her • email me: [email protected]

Articles

The 5 Best Alternatives to a Reverse Mortgage

4 weeks ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

If you're an older homeowner looking for an infusion of cash, a reverse mortgage could seem like a no-brainer. there is no minimum credit score requirement and — as long as you stay current with your insurance premiums, home repairs and property taxes — no payments is due until you sell the house, stop living there full-time or pass away.
The Best Places in America to Buy a House on a $125,000 Salary

4 weeks ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

If you want as many options as possible when house hunting, don't sleep on Ohio. The Buckeye State is home to the five areas with the most affordable homes for Americans making $125,000, according to the 2025 Housing Affordability and Supply Report from the National Association of Realtors and Realtor.com. The South was well represented in the top 10, too, including cities in Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina and Texas.
Global Entry: What It Is, How to Apply

1 month ago | cnbc.com | Alexandria White |Kelsey Neubauer

Global Entry helps U.S. travelers avoid long lines at customs. Find out how it works, who's eligible and how to get around the application fee.
Should I Use Home Equity To Pay For My Kid's College?

1 month ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

College comes with a hefty price tag. If you own your home, you may be considering funding your child's education with a or a instead of taking out student loans. But should you? There are upsides to tapping into your home equity for higher education, but serious downsides, as well.
Longbridge Financial Reverse Mortgage

1 month ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

Founded in 2012, online lender Longbridge Financial is the third-largest provider of reverse mortgages in the U.S. As of February 2025, it's approved more than $94 million in loans. Longbridge stands out for its lower rates and robust digital presence, which includes a reverse mortgage calculator and an easy-to-use servicing portal. Longbridge is a particularly good option for high-value homes: The Longbridge Platinum offering a line of credit of up to $4 million.
Figure HELOC review: Access funds in five days

1 month ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

Founded in 2018 by SoFi's Mike Cagney, fin-tech startup Figure is one of the largest providers of home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) in the U.S, with more than $14 billion lent to over 200,000 households. We love Figure's speed and efficiency: Customers can get approved in as little as five minutes and get funding in as few as five days. Figure also offers virtual closings in states where it's allowed.
How Much House Can I Afford With a $100,000 Salary?

1 month ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

Hitting a six-figure salary is a major career benchmark in the U.S., but $100,000 doesn't buy what it used to. In fact, it won't pay for a median-priced three-bedroom home in 34 states. If your household income is $100,000, here's how to figure out the price range you should stick to when house hunting. Start with the 30% ruleAccording to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, your housing expenses should be no more than 30% of your gross monthly income.
How To Get A Mortgage When You're Self-Employed

1 month ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

Sole proprietors, independent contractors, partners in a business, gig workers or those who own a business part-time are all considered self-employed, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Generally, anyone who brings in income by doing work that's not documented on a W2, is considered self-employed. Most borrowers want to see that you've been self-employed for at least two years before they consider you for a mortgage.
Your Rent Payments Can Earn You Up to $5,000 Toward a Rocket Mortgage Home Loan

2 months ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

If you rent, it may feel like you'll never save enough to buy a home. But a new program from Rocket Mortgage is rewarding renters with up to $5,000 to make the dream of homeownership a reality Launched in February, the RocketRentRewards program provides renters with a credit worth 10% of their final year of rent payments that they can put toward closing costs on a Rocket Mortgage home loan. A monthly rent of $1,800, for example, would net you a $2,160 credit.
How Much You Need to Earn in Every State to Afford a House

2 months ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

Thanks to elevated mortgage rates and a housing shortage, homebuying is more expensive than ever. In fact, you'd need to earn six figures to afford a median-priced home in all but 15 states, according to a new report from real estate platform Realtor.com. The site's affordability analysis also revealed that, in nearly half the country, an average four-person household doesn't bring home enough to afford monthly mortgage payments on a median-priced three-bedroom house.