Trillion-Dollar Companies: 10 Most Valuable Mega-Cap Stocks | Bankrate
Ten publicly traded companies currently have market caps of roughly $1 trillion or more. Here's what to know about the biggest mega-cap stocks.| Bankrate
5 Popular Investment Strategies For Beginners | Bankrate
When you start investing on your own, the world of investing may seem wide, often too wide. But you can simplify things with some time-tested strategies.| Bankrate
Best S&P 500 Stocks For Dividend Growth | Bankrate
Dividend stocks are one of the most popular ways to invest. Among the strongest dividend payers are the stocks in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.| Bankrate
Brian Baker, CFA | Bankrate.com - Compare mortgage, refinance, insurance, CD rates
Brian Baker covered investing and retirement for Bankrate. He is a CFA Charterholder and previously worked in equity research at a buyside investment firm. Baker is passionate about helping people make sense of complicated financial topics so that they can better plan for their financial futures.| Bankrate
What Are Sin Stocks? | Bankrate
Sin stocks are shares of companies that operate in industries often considered unethical or immoral, such as alcohol, tobacco and gambling.| Bankrate
Best ETFs For 2026 | Bankrate
With literally thousands of ETFs to choose from, where does an investor start? Below are some of the best ETFs by category, including some highly specialized funds.| Bankrate
Dayana Yochim | Bankrate.com - Compare mortgage, refinance, insurance, CD rates
Dayana Yochim is a former Bankrate investing writer with more than 25 years of experience as a financial journalist. Her factory-installed settings (common sense, skepticism, good humor) help her guide readers by bringing clarity to the murky world of money management.| Bankrate
Small-Cap Stocks Look Cheap – Is It A Good Time To Buy? | Bankrate
Small-cap stocks are trading at their largest discount to large-cap peers since the tech bubble. Is it time for investors to boost their small-cap exposure?| Bankrate
If You Invested $1,000 In Nvidia 10 Years Ago, Here’s How Much Money You’d Have Now | Bankrate
Nvidia’s stock has soared over the past decade. Here’s how much you’d have if you’d invested $1,000 in the chipmaker one, five or 10 years ago.| Bankrate
Investing In A Bear Market 2025 | Bankrate
Although bear markets can be concerning, they also provide opportunities to investors if you know where to look.| Bankrate
What Is The 4% Rule For Retirement Withdrawals? | Bankrate
The 4% Rule is the typical advice about how much a retiree should withdraw from their savings to live on each year.| Bankrate
How Much Are Wire Transfer Fees? | Bankrate
Wire transfer fees can be expensive. Find out typical fees at major banks and some ways to send money for less.| Bankrate
Rebecca Betterton | Bankrate.com - Compare mortgage, refinance, insurance, CD rates
Rebecca Betterton, a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠, is a writer for Bankrate who has been reporting on auto loans since 2021.| Bankrate
12 Most Popular Types Of Cryptocurrency | Bankrate
Bitcoin gets all the headlines when people talk about cryptocurrencies, but there are thousands of other options. Here's the top crypto by market cap.| Bankrate
Bitcoin's Price History With Charts From 2009 To 2025 | Bankrate
Bitcoin's price has been on a rollercoaster ride since it first debuted in January 2009, but the long-term trajectory has been ever higher.| Bankrate
Credit Card Reviews: Bankrate Editor’s Take & Full Analysis
Explore our list of over 160 reviews to find the right credit card for your financial goals and lifestyle. All offers are provided by our partners.| Bankrate
Survey: 48% Of Social Media Users Have Impulsively Purchased A Product Seen On Social Media | Bankrate
Wildly influential social media marketing led to Americans impulsively spending $71 billion over the last year on products seen on social media.| Bankrate
6 Things Your Home Inspector Is Looking For | Bankrate.com
Find out what a professional home inspector always looks for, and why.| Bankrate
Should I Make A Cash Offer On A House? | Bankrate
An all-cash offer eliminates the need for financing, which can make you much more appealing to a seller. Here's what you need to know.| Bankrate
What Does A Title Company Do? | Bankrate
In any real estate transaction, property rights must be transferred from the seller to the buyer. That’s where a title company comes in.| Bankrate
What You Should Know About Your Escrow Statement | Bankrate
If you own a house, you probably have an escrow (or impound) account with your lender. An escrow statement describes what's in that account.| Bankrate
Mortgage Lender Vs. Servicer: What’s The Difference? | Bankrate
Borrowers use the term "mortgage lender" to cover all parties involved in their loan, but often, the lender doesn't handle the whole process.| Bankrate
What Is a Closing Statement In Real Estate? | Bankrate
A closing statement itemizes all the buyer’s and seller’s costs in a real estate transaction, especially when a mortgage is involved.| Bankrate
What Is A Fixture In Real Estate? | Bankrate
A fixture in a home is a feature or item that is permanently attached or affixed to the property, either the house itself or the grounds.| Bankrate
Can A Seller Back Out Of A Real Estate Contract? | Bankrate
Backing out of a signed contract possible, but it can have costly consequences. Here are tips on how to do it right.| Bankrate
What Is A Settlement Statement In Real Estate? | Bankrate
The document that used to be called a settlement statement has evolved over time into what is now known as a closing disclosure.| Bankrate
Finding A Real Estate Agent To Sell Your Home | Bankrate
Whether you’ve sold a home before or it’s your first rodeo, a knowledgeable listing agent can provide vital assistance.| Bankrate
How To Calculate The Square Feet Of A House | Bankrate
Knowing a home's square footage helps you better assess its value, among other things. Learn how to calculate it correctly.| Bankrate
Buyer's Remorse For Homebuyers, And How To Avoid It | Bankrate
Buyer's remorse is common, even when the purchase you regret is as major as a home. Here's what causes it, and how to avoid it.| Bankrate
What Is The 28/36 Rule For Home Affordability? | Bankrate
The 28/36 rule is a home-affordability guideline mortgage lenders often use to determine how big of a purchase you can reasonably afford.| Bankrate
What Is ‘House Poor’ And How Can I Avoid It? | Bankrate
With debt on the rise, how does buying a house you can’t afford impact you long-term? And will doing so make you house poor?| Bankrate
What Credit Score Do You Need To Buy A House? | Bankrate
There's no one magic number. But your credit score plays a major part in qualifying for a mortgage, as well as the rate you'll get.| Bankrate
Renting Vs. Buying A House: Which Is Right For You? | Bankrate
Should you buy a home? Or is it better to keep renting? Here are all the pros and cons of each, plus key questions to ask.| Bankrate
How To Choose A Good Neighborhood | Bankrate
Instead of fixating on the perfect house, focus on finding a good neighborhood. Here's how to narrow down your options.| Bankrate
High Insurance Rates Make Homebuying Harder | Bankrate
Buying a home is already expensive enough. Rising homeowners insurance rates are making matters worse for many would-be buyers.| Bankrate
Buying A House During A Recession | Bankrate
If the country is headed toward a recession, how might that affect the housing market for buyers? Find out what the experts think.| Bankrate
How To Check Your Credit Score | Bankrate
Your credit score is an important part of your financial life. How can you check your credit score? And why is it important to do this?| Bankrate
Debt to Income Ratio Calculator | Bankrate
Use this calculator to compute your personal debt-to-income ratio, a figure as important as your credit score which provides a snapshot of your overall financial health.| Bankrate
What Is A Good Credit Utilization Ratio? | Bankrate
It’s critical to keep your credit utilization ratio low, but how low is often a mystery to consumers. Here's how the ratio works.| Bankrate
How To Protect Yourself From Mortgage Escrow Fraud | Bankrate
Cyber crooks hijacking escrow deposits from homebuyers is exploding. Here's how to detect a scam before you become a victim.| Bankrate
Home Inspection Checklist For Buyers: What To Know | Bankrate
A professional home inspection is your chance to uncover any major problems before buying the home. Here's what to look for.| Bankrate
Common Real Estate Contingencies And What They Mean | Bankrate
Contingencies allow one or both parties to legally back out of a real estate contract if certain specified conditions are not met.| Bankrate
Real Estate Resources | Bankrate
Find current real estate industry data and expert analysis of the housing marketplace.| Bankrate
Gift Tax: 2025 Limit, How It Works And Who Has To Pay | Bankrate
The gift tax imposes a tax on large presents of money or property. But few people owe gift taxes, thanks to the annual and lifetime exemptions.| Bankrate
Estate Tax: Tax Rates, How It Works And Who Pays | Bankrate
If you leave behind assets when you die, your estate may owe taxes. But the exemption amount in 2025 is so large that most U.S. taxpayers don't have to worry.| Bankrate
What Are Seller Concessions In Real Estate? | Bankrate
Many buyers focus on the price of a home, but there are other costs as well. Seller concessions may help with covering these.| Bankrate
Average Closing Costs By State In 2025 | Bankrate
Which areas have the highest and lowest average closing costs? Find out the most and least expensive states in the U.S.| Bankrate
Origination Fee For Mortgage | Bankrate
A mortgage origination fee is one of many fees a mortgage lender can charge for allowing you to finance your home purchase.| Bankrate
How To Compare Mortgage Offers | Bankrate
Before choosing a mortgage offer, shop around for lenders and compare rates. Comparing mortgage offers can save you thousands.| Bankrate
How To Compare Mortgage Loan Estimates | Bankrate
A loan estimate is a standard, three-page document from a lender containing details about a mortgage. Here’s what you need to know.| Bankrate
Down Payment Assistance Programs | Bankrate
Down payment assistance programs can help you buy a home sooner. Here’s how to find one and what you’ll need to qualify.| Bankrate
What Is A Debt-To-Income Ratio For A Mortgage? | Bankrate
When it comes to getting approved, your debt-to-income ratio for a mortgage matters. We explain why, and how to calculate your number.| Bankrate
What Is A Down Payment? How Does It Work? | Bankrate
A home down payment is the part of a home’s purchase price that you pay upfront. It does not come from a mortgage lender via a loan.| Bankrate
Conventional Loans: Everything You Need To Know | Bankrate
From terms to qualifications, here is everything you need to know about conventional loans — the most common type of mortgage.| Bankrate
Current Mortgage Rates: Compare Today's Rates | Bankrate
Compare personalized mortgage and refinance rates today from our national marketplace of lenders to find the best current rate for your financial situation.| Bankrate
Mortgage Calculator | Bankrate
Use our free mortgage calculator to estimate your monthly mortgage payments. Account for interest rates and break down payments in an easy to use amortization schedule.| Bankrate
What Is a Mortgage Broker and How Do They Help Homebuyers? | Bankrate
Working with a mortgage broker can have many benefits to help homebuyers find a loan. But there are caveats to working with them, too.| Bankrate
No-Closing-Cost Refinance: Is It Right For You? | Bankrate
With a no-closing-cost refinance, you don’t have to pay closing costs upfront. But it could be more expensive long term.| Bankrate
How To Compare Lenders As A First-Time Homebuyer | Bankrate
As a first-time homebuyer, finding the right mortgage lender can be a bit overwhelming. Here's how to compare lenders.| Bankrate
What Is The Mortgage Loan Origination Process? | Bankrate
It can be time-consuming and sometimes stressful to go through the mortgage loan origination process, so preparation is key.| Bankrate
Amortization Calculator | Bankrate
Amortization is paying off a debt over time in equal installments. Part of each payment goes toward the loan principal, and part goes toward interest.| Bankrate
What Is The Rule Of 55 And How Does It Work? | Bankrate
The rule of 55 can benefit workers with an employer-sponsored retirement account such as a 401(k) who are looking to retire early or need access to the funds if they’ve lost their job near the end of their career.| Bankrate
What is the Fair Housing Act? | Bankrate
The 1968 Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the housing industry, protecting those buying, selling, renting, financing or insuring homes.| Bankrate
Should I Sell My House For Cash? Pros And Cons | Bankrate
A cash buyer can purchase your home outright, without the need for a mortgage loan. Here are the pros and cons of selling a house for cash.| Bankrate
What Is An Escalation Clause | Bankrate
In a bidding war for a house, an escalation clause, also known as an escalator clause, automatically raises your offer. Find out how they work and when to use one.| Bankrate
Should I Take A Cash Offer On My House? | Bankrate
What makes a cash home offer better — or worse — than one from a buyer who is financing with a traditional mortgage?| Bankrate
Do You Have To Put 20 Percent Down On A House? | Bankrate
Traditional wisdom says a down payment is 20 percent of a home’s price. But it’s possible to pay much less.| Bankrate
Prequalified Vs. Preapproved: What’s The Difference? | Bankrate
What’s the difference between being prequalified vs. preapproved for a mortgage? Bankrate explains how the status differs.| Bankrate
What Does PITI Mean On A Mortgage? | Bankrate
PITI on a mortgage stands for principal, interest, taxes and insurance, all of which help make up your monthly payment.| Bankrate
Hidden Homeownership Costs Hit $21,000 A Year In 2025 | Bankrate
Owning a home costs over $21,000 a year in hidden expenses, according to a new Bankrate study. Here’s a breakdown of homeownership expenses across the U.S.| Bankrate
What Is A Counter Offer In Real Estate? | Bankrate
Counter-offers are a key part of a real estate transaction's negotiation process. Here’s what buyers and sellers need to know.| Bankrate
Selling A Home - Tips & Advice | Bankrate.com
Get tips and advice on how to make the home selling process as smooth as possible.| Bankrate
What Is A Seller’s Market? | Bankrate
As the name implies, a seller’s market favors sellers over buyers. Learn all the ins and outs of a seller’s market in real estate.| Bankrate
What Is A Pre-Listing Inspection? | Bankrate
While it can be beneficial for a seller to do, a pre-listing inspection isn’t always necessary. Here’s what to know about this special type of home inspection.| Bankrate
What Is iBuying And How Does It Work? | Bankrate
Yes, you can sell your house faster online than you could with a real estate agent. But should you? Here are the pros and cons.| Bankrate
How To Sell A House By Owner: A Step-By-Step Guide | Bankrate
Want to sell your house without paying a Realtor? It's possible, but it's a whole lot of work. Here's everything you need to know.| Bankrate
How Much Does It Cost To Stage A House? | Bankrate
When you’re selling your home, professional staging can help it look its best. But how much does it cost, and is it worth the price?| Bankrate
How Much Do You Keep From A Home Sale? | Bankrate
You may not pocket as much money as you think when you sell your home. Here are common costs that eat into home sellers' net proceeds.| Bankrate
Documents Needed To Sell A House | Bankrate
A lot of paperwork is involved in a home sale beyond just the contract. Here's a checklist of all the documents sellers need.| Bankrate
Closing Costs When Selling A House | Bankrate
The buyer may be the one footing the bill for the purchase of a home, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any seller closing costs.| Bankrate
Capital Gains Tax On Real Estate And Selling Your Home | Bankrate
When you sell your home, you may be subject to a tax on the profits you make. Here's how capital gains tax on real estate works.| Bankrate
Price Per Square Foot: How And Why To Use It | Bankrate
Price per square foot can be a useful comparison tool for helping to determine a home’s value. But it's a tricky concept.| Bankrate
What Is The MLS, And How Does It Work? | Bankrate
Most real estate markets have an MLS, or Multiple Listing Service, that compiles the homes for sale in that area. Here’s everything you need to know.| Bankrate
Is The Housing Market Going To Crash? | Bankrate
The market has certainly been volatile. But prices remain at record levels, and experts agree that there will be no housing market crash.| Bankrate
Buying A Condo Offers Homeownership For Less | Bankrate
Feeling the home-affordability crunch? Buying a condo can make you a homeowner for less. Here are pros, cons and tips.| Bankrate
How To Know When To Lower The Price On Your House | Bankrate
How long should your house be on the market before you reduce the price? Here's how to tell, including signs your price may be too high.| Bankrate
How Much House Can I Afford Calculator | Bankrate
Calculate how much house you can afford with our home affordability calculator. Factor in income, monthly debt and more to better understand your ideal loan amount.| Bankrate
Home Prices Are Falling In These Formerly Hot Markets | Bankrate
Price reductions. Sparsely attended open houses. Homes languishing on the market. Why are prices now dropping in these formerly hot areas?| Bankrate
Questions To Ask A Realtor When Buying A House | Bankrate
The real estate market can be hard to navigate. Here are 12 of the most crucial questions to ask a Realtor when buying a house.| Bankrate
Best Time Of Year To Buy A House | Bankrate
Spring and summer are the traditional peak seasons for real estate. But you might get a better deal, with less competition, in winter.| Bankrate
Latest Inflation Statistics: The Prices Rising And Falling Most | Bankrate
Since February 2020, consumer prices have jumped 24.3 percent, a Bankrate analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows.| Bankrate
What Is Home Appreciation In Real Estate? | Bankrate
The housing market’s astronomical gains the past few years made increasing your home’s value relatively easy.| Bankrate
Bankrate: Healthier wallet, happier you
Use Bankrate.com's free tools, expert analysis, and award-winning content to make smarter financial decisions. Explore personal finance topics including credit cards, investments, identity protection, auto loans, retirement, credit reports, and so much more.| Bankrate
The 70 Percent Rule In House Flipping | Bankrate
This real estate guideline helps flippers determine how much they can spend on a property and still make money.| Bankrate
Liz Weston, CFP® | Bankrate.com - Compare mortgage, refinance, insurance, CD rates
Liz Weston is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, award-winning journalist and the author of five books about money, including the "The 10 Commandments of Money," "There Are No Dumb Questions About Money" and "Your Credit Score."| Bankrate
Andrea Coombes, CFP® | Bankrate.com - Compare mortgage, refinance, insurance, CD rates
Andrea Coombes, a Bankrate editor, translates complex personal finance topics into understandable language that helps people live their best financial lives. She’s a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and over the past 25 years has worked as a financial coach, personal finance writer and editor and volunteer tax preparer. Her work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, MarketWatch and many newspapers nationwide. She's been interviewed on local and national TV and radio, inclu...| Bankrate
Should I Waive A Home Inspection? | Bankrate
Non-contingent offers are appealing to sellers, especially in a hot market. But is waiving the inspection contingency a good idea?| Bankrate
What Is Mortgage Escrow? | Bankrate
While you’ve likely heard the word, you still might be wondering: “What is mortgage escrow?” Here's what you need to know as a homebuyer.| Bankrate
What Is A Purchase Agreement? | Bankrate
They're more than just "agreements" — these legally binding contracts spell out the final terms of your real estate transaction.| Bankrate
Should I Buy a House? 8 Signs You're Ready | Bankrate
Asking yourself, "Am I ready to buy a house?" Here are eight signs you're ready to stop renting and become a homeowner.| Bankrate