Topic: Credit Services and Intermediation
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
-
Secured credit cards: Get beyond these Top 5 myths
Often derided as tools for consumers with horrible credit, secured credit cards can be a great credit-building tool. Here are five myths debunked to help you understand how to use secured credit cards to maximum advantage.
-
Credit card offers: five mysteries explained
Credit-card companies often say you are "pre-approved," "pre-screened," "pre-qualified," or "pre-selected" to receive their credit card. Here is a guide to sorting through credit-card offers:
-
Three best ways (and three worst ways) to finance holiday shopping
Consumers tend to rack up a lot of credit card debt during the fourth quarter, largely due to holiday expenses. This year, by one estimate, the average holiday shopper is on track to spend around $800. For many, that means financing, which remains a double-edged sword despite historically low interest rates and an array of new consumer protections. It can either save you a lot of money in interest and fees or trip you up with caveats buried in fine print that drastically inflate your expenses. Here are three of the best and three of the worst financing offers for holiday shoppers in 2012:
-
The Paul Ryan budget: your guide to what's in it
Rep. Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney's running mate, is best known for drawing up a series of spending-and-tax plans meant to challenge the Obama administration's policies from the right. But it's been some time since his latest budget, which Mr. Ryan terms a "path to prosperity," was released. Here's a primer on what's in it.
-
Top 10 cities where house prices are rising
House prices continue to fall nationwide, but here and there they’ve begun to turn up as Americans return to the housing market. Which 10 metropolitan areas have seen the biggest increase in the past year? The winners, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), include a state capital, a furniture-making center, and a resort that was once America’s foreclosure capital. Can you guess who they are?
All Content
-
Why federal budget deficit is falling faster than CBO expected
The federal budget deficit will shrink this year to $642 billion, the nonpartisan CBO said in a new estimate Tuesday. Just three months ago, it was forecasting a deficit of $845 billion.
-
Bank of America settles lawsuit; profits disappoint
Bank of America has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit brought against Countrywide Financial, its troubled mortgage lending arm. The settlement came as Bank of America announced its first quarter income, with profits soaring but failing to meet analysts' expectations.
-
Georgia firefighters rescued; gunman dead
A Georgia man who held four firefighters hostage on Wednesday died during the rescue effort. One of the firefighters was injured. The man took the hostages in an attempt to have his utility services restored. His home was in foreclosure.
-
Home prices rising, but troubles for housing market not over, poll says
Home prices notched their biggest year-over-year gains since before the recession. But tight credit and 'under water' mortgages constrain the market, a Christian Science Monitor poll finds.
-
Fannie Mae record profit: How long until it pays back bailout money?
Fannie Mae, the mortgage giant, made a record $17.2 billion in 2012. So far, it has paid back $36 billion of the $116 billion it received in a US bailout.
-
State of the Union 2013: A step forward on housing?
President Obama's State of the Union address included a proposal to extend refinancing to a wider section of homeowners, giving the economy a boost. But such proposals have languished before, so this time Mr. Obama may resort to executive action.
-
Secured credit cards: Get beyond these Top 5 myths
Often derided as tools for consumers with horrible credit, secured credit cards can be a great credit-building tool. Here are five myths debunked to help you understand how to use secured credit cards to maximum advantage.
-
Subprime loans are hot again. Unfortunately.
Subprime loans market is coming back
-
Americans now love 15-year fixed mortgages
Rates on a 15-year fixed mortgage are so low that many homeowners can afford the higher payment, which allows them to pay off their mortgage in 15 years instead of the standard 30.
-
The Monitor's View: Home truths in new mortgage rules
New regulations on home mortgages from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will raise ethical standards and lower risks. But they don't reduce government incentives that might create another housing bubble.
-
Credit card offers: five mysteries explained
Credit-card companies often say you are "pre-approved," "pre-screened," "pre-qualified," or "pre-selected" to receive their credit card. Here is a guide to sorting through credit-card offers:
-
AIG, saved by US bailout, now considers suing US government
AIG may join a lawsuit alleging that the terms of the US government bailout were unfair to investors, but such a move risks infuriating the taxpayers whose money saved it from ruin.
-
Stocks drag S&P 500 down from 5-year high
Stocks fell Monday with the S&P 500 dropping 4.58 points to close at 1,461.89. Bank stocks ended the day little changed.
-
Bank of America settles with Fannie Mae. $10B for risky home loans.
Bank of America has reached a settlement with Fannie Mae over questionable home loans the bank sold to the lender during the housing bubble. The $10 billion settlement from Bank of America will include a $3.6 billion payment to Fannie Mae and $6.75 billion in bought back loans.
-
Steve Jobs' superyacht can't leave Netherlands until payment spat resolved
Jobs collaborated on designing the 256-foot all-aluminum 'Venus,' which has a minimalist aesthetic, with French product designer Philippe Starck.
-
In Gear Despite easy credit, a decline in late car payments
Americans are keeping up with their car payments even as credit once again becomes easier to find, Read writes.
-
Three best ways (and three worst ways) to finance holiday shopping
Consumers tend to rack up a lot of credit card debt during the fourth quarter, largely due to holiday expenses. This year, by one estimate, the average holiday shopper is on track to spend around $800. For many, that means financing, which remains a double-edged sword despite historically low interest rates and an array of new consumer protections. It can either save you a lot of money in interest and fees or trip you up with caveats buried in fine print that drastically inflate your expenses. Here are three of the best and three of the worst financing offers for holiday shoppers in 2012:
-
The New Economy Impose a moratorium on debt collection lawsuits
Indebted Americans and the economy would be better off if the US put a temporary stop to lawsuits by third-party debt collectors.
-
Mortgage rates slip back toward record lows
Mortgage rates edge down this week to 3.39 percent for a 30-year loan. As mortgage rates have fallen this year to record lows, home sales and refinancings have picked up
-
The Monitor's View: Oh, the ease of blaming others in a crisis
When earthquake experts are sentenced for bad predictions and lenders accused of bad calls on mortgages, society needs a reminder that individuals are responsible for their actions.
-
Stocks down as weak earnings drag market lower
Stock prices dropped Friday after the release of poor corporate earning reports from Microsoft, General Electric and McDonald's. All 10 industry groups in the S&P 500 fell, led by materials and technology stocks.
-
Mortgage rates rise from last week's record lows
Mortgage rates in the US rose to an average 3.39 percent last week, up from 3.36 percent. Last week's 30-year mortgage rates were the lowest since long-term mortgages began in the 1950s.
-
Wells Fargo sued by US for mortgage fraud
Wells Fargo has been sued by the federal government for hundreds of millions in damages in lawsuit accusing the nation's largest mortgage lender of misrepresenting the quality of thousands of loans in order to be eligible for federal loan insurance. Wells Fargo denies the allegations.
-
Wal-Mart launches prepaid card with American Express
Wal-Mart Stores and American Express are teaming up on a reloadable prepaid card for shoppers. Called Bluebird, the card will be available online and in Wal-Mart stores next week.
-
Saving Money Major banks settle with homeowners. Are you entitled?
If your home loan is serviced by one of the five major lenders – including Bank of America and Wells Fargo – you may be entitled to a share of one of the largest civil settlements in history.
Become part of the Monitor community