Higher interest rates played out on stocks, cryptocurrency and commodities such as oil over the past few years. But now that the Federal Reserve has been lowering short-term rates, what can investors expect from here, and how long will the shifting rate environment impact markets?

After lowering interest rates by 25 basis points at its December...Read more

Joint bank accounts allow couples to manage budgets together, monitor spending and save for shared goals. But they aren’t right for every couple. And you don’t have to go with an all-or-nothing approach, either. You can have a joint account without merging all your finances.

Here’s what you should consider before deciding whether a joint...Read more

A leading consumer group is proposing a policyholder rights initiative that would require insurers to offer coverage to California homeowners who fireproof their homes — or lose the right to sell home or auto insurance in the state for five years.

The Insurance Policyholder Bill of Rights was filed with state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta’s office ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — When Eric Itakura listed his Mountain View condo last year, he hoped to save some money on commissions.

The rules over how agents’ fees are set had recently been rewritten as part of a landmark settlement reached between the National Association of Realtors and a group of home sellers. For decades, sellers typically paid ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — For decades, home sellers typically covered both their own agent’s commission and the fee for the buyer’s broker, a structure that left little room for negotiation. But a recent legal settlement has shaken up that system, opening the door for buyers and sellers to haggle over who pays what — and how much.

In the Bay ...Read more

Higher interest rates played out on stocks, cryptocurrency and commodities such as oil over the past few years. But now that the Federal Reserve has been lowering short-term rates, what can investors expect from here, and how long will the shifting rate environment impact markets?

After lowering interest rates by 25 basis points at its December...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- Growing up in a small town outside of Cleveland, Tyler Piña was fascinated by Los Angeles and the glamour of Hollywood.

"My dad grew up out here, and it's where my parents met," says the 33-year-old screenwriter and Emmy Award-winning director of "Next Level With Lauren Goode." "I remember looking at old Polaroids of them in the...Read more

Baltimore is aiming to reduce its thousands of vacant properties by offering grant funds to those who are interested in fixing them up.

Mayor Brandon Scott, a Democrat, announced the “first round” of City-Wide Affordable Housing TIF Funds last week. The initiative is part of a $3 billion plan over 15 years from the two-term mayor that aims ...Read more

It's a sunny, September day in SeaTac, Washington, and three kids are playing in the courtyard of Connection Angle Lake, a new 130-unit affordable housing project roughly 50 feet from the last stop on Sound Transit's 1 Line.

Inside, the studios, one-bedroom and multi-bedroom apartments look fresh with stainless steel appliances and views that ...Read more

GURNEE, Illinois — Gurnee Mills, a mall located in a northern exurb of Chicago, recently announced a new slate of stores and businesses coming to the mall in the near future, a sign of its “thriving” health, according to shopping center representatives.

It’s a far cry from reports that came out about the mall leading up to the pandemic,...Read more

Nearly everyone thinks the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this week. That sentiment has translated to falling mortgage rates. Last week, the average 30-year fixed rate dropped to 6.38%, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. Rates haven’t been this low in nearly a year.

“These lower rates reflect growing market ...Read more

Artifical intelligence (AI) is likely to reshape our lives in as big a way as the internet did in the 1990s and smartphones did in the 2000s (scary or exciting as that may be). That means changes to your regular life and your banking life, too. You’re likely encountering AI in your financial life already, with or without knowing it.

Banks ...Read more

When their working days eventually come to an end, many retirees will think about the best place to spend their golden years. Not all states treat retirement income — such as pension payouts or distributions from 401(k) plans and IRAs — the same way, which makes state and local taxes a key consideration for anyone expecting to be on a fixed ...Read more

A report recently released by real estate company Redfin makes a startling claim: San Francisco's housing costs have returned to "normal."

The City by the Bay, consistently ranked as one of the most expensive in the U.S., has seen signs that the housing market is leveling out: Home-price growth is slowing and mortgage rates are starting to fall...Read more

The bust last month of members of an alleged organized retail theft ring in California that Home Depot said was the largest in its history was the result of a corporate investigation years in the making.

In an exclusive interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a Home Depot official detailed how the company tracked the alleged members, ...Read more

The rule of 55 can benefit workers who have an employer-sponsored retirement account such as a 401(k) and are looking to retire early or need access to the funds if they’ve lost their job near the end of their career. It can be a lifeline for workers who need cash flow and lack other viable alternatives.

Here’s how the rule of 55 works and ...Read more