Guides

Short explainers. We cite the Fed and Freddie Mac. We do not tell you what to do with your money.

September 16, 2026: what the hike did to household bills
The first funds-rate increase since 2023, translated onto a $320,000 loan.
How the federal funds rate works
Overnight bank money. Not your mortgage. Not your card.
How a Fed move hits mortgages
The 30-year is priced off longer Treasuries. It often moves before the vote.
How a Fed move hits credit cards
Variable APRs usually follow prime, which usually follows the Fed.
How to read an FOMC statement
A short document. A few lines actually change.
What 25 basis points does to a $320,000 mortgage
One quarter point, in dollars per month and over 30 years.
What APR actually is
The yearly cost of borrowed money, with fees folded in on some loans.
Inflation versus a paycheck
Prices rising 3.7% is not the same as a 3.7% raise.
HELOC vs. cash-out refinance
A second line of credit versus replacing the first mortgage.
Extra to the mortgage versus a savings account
Guaranteed interest you stop paying versus a rate the bank can change.