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

How Much You Need to Earn in Every State to Afford a House

11 hours 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.
Mortgage payment calculator: See how much you'd spend each month

1 week ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

One of the most challenging parts of starting the homebuying process is figuring out how much you can afford . With CNBC Select's mortgage payment calculator, you can see how various factors — including home price, loan term, interest rate, down payment and even the state you live in — will change the size of your monthly housing payment.
How to Get Out of a Car Lease

1 week ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

There are a number of ways to get out of a car loan. But if you're leasing your vehicle, the options are somewhat different. CNBC Select walks through four ways you can end your lease before the contract is up. 1. Return the carThe simplest way to get out of a car lease is to just return the car to the dealer. You'll have to pay an early termination fee, however, usually a set dollar amount plus the difference between the balance on your lease and the car's market value.
Should I Use a Home Equity Loan to Pay Off My Credit Card Debt?

3 weeks ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) have lower interest rates than credit cards. That can lead some homeowners to use them to pay down large credit card bills. But this method isn't foolproof: Most notably, you're trading an unsecured debt for a secured one that uses your home as collateral. If you fail to make on-time payments, your lender could force you into foreclosure.
Best Credit Union Mortgage Lenders of April 2025

3 weeks ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

Nonprofit financial institutions owned by their members, credit unions can be a better avenue to pursue a home loan than a traditional bank or other lender. They often boast lower-than-average rates, discounted fees, multiple down payment assistance options and more personalized service. Some credit unions are only available to select groups, like members of the U.S. armed forces. But many others are open to just about anyone.
How to refinance your mortgage when you have bad credit

1 month ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

Your credit score gives lenders a sense of how likely you are to make regular, on-time mortgage payments. So, it's a critical part of the approval process for mortgage refinancing. Typically, homeowners need at least a 620 FICO score to refinance. But if you don't meet this threshold, you still have options. Below, CNBC Select outlines how to refinance with less-than-perfect credit.
The 10 Largest VA Mortgage Lenders

1 month ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

VA loansare zero-down mortgages for active service members and veterans that are insured by the Department of Veterans Affairs and funded by private lenders. Created in 1944, the VA loan program has aided more than 24 million families achieve homeownership with flexible qualifications, lower rates, no down payment and no private mortgage insurance. No big banks were among the top 10 originators of VA loans in 2024, according to CNBC Select analysis of data from the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Expecting a Tax Refund? Here's How to Use It to Buy a House

1 month ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

Filing your taxes could help you reach your goal of homeownership if you're expecting a refund. As of March 7, 2025, the average federal tax refund is $3,324, or $3,379 if you set up direct deposit. If you received that much (or more), you could be well on your way to a down payment. Rocket Mortgage's RocketONE+ mortgage only requires 1% down. If you get $3,379 back from Uncle Sam, that's a 1% down payment on a home that's listed for $337,900. In most of the U.S., $338,000 can get you a lot of house.
How to buy a house with a low income

1 month ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

Housing prices remain at historic highs, as homebuyers face elevated mortgage rates, an ongoing housing shortage and stagnant incomes that aren't keeping up with rising costs. The national median list price for a home at the end of 2024 was $419,200, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, up almost $100,000 from the first quarter of 2020. That's kept the dream of homeownership out of reach for many Americans.
5 tips for for buying a home in a high-rate environment

1 month ago | cnbc.com | Kelsey Neubauer

If you're in the market to buy a house, don't expect mortgage rates to drop anytime soon. "In the near term, rates are going to be stuck near 7%," said Jonathan Miller, CEO of Miller Samuel Real Estate Appraisers and Consultants. "If they fall, we're talking about straddling 6% — not the 3% or 4% we saw during the pandemic."And waiting to buy could cost you more in the long run, Miller told CNBC Select, since the persistent housing inventory shortage is just pushing up prices.