FICO Score Changes: A Boost For Risky Borrowers?

Fair Isaac is changing his game. And that has some financial experts worried. The nation’s premier credit scoring agency, the Fair Isaac Company, has come to an agreement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to change the way credit scores are calculated....

Low Rates and High Standards: Stalemate for Housing?

In the wake of the Federal Reserve’s new announcement that they’ll be keeping their massive securities buyup on track for now, things look rosier for global trading – and for consumer markets at home. But even as the Fed’s decision is being welcomed for its intended...

Social Media Tools: A Game Changer for Investors

Social media has forever changed how people do business. From the early days of personal blogs and Facebook accounts for chatting with family and friends, social media sites ranging from the obvious old standbys like Twitter and Facebook to more specialized...

Fannie and Freddie Tweak the Numbers For Profit’s Sake

In the nearly five years since the nations historic housing collapse, megalenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have gone from bankruptcy and government bailout to posting record profits. But as Washington policy makers ponder their future, a new report from the two...

Cash for Real Estate May Not Be a Bargain

Even as housing prices are continuing to rise around the country, some houses are going up for sale for unimaginably low prices – $1,000, $500 and even a dollar. But even those stunt prices don’t alter the fact that paying cash for a quick buy on a cheap property may...

Fewer First Time Buyers Affect the Housing Recovery

By many indications, the hosing recovery is still on the upswing. Mortgage rates remain on the low side and homes are available in most markets. So why aren’t first time buyers taking the plunge into homeownership? The answer, according to a new report from RE...

5 Ways to Protect Your Money Online

Doing business online – even sensitive financial operations – is quick and easy, though far from safe. Cyber crime costs about $100 billion worldwide each year, and ven the most internet-savvy investor can become a victim of internet scammers and hackers. But a few...

For Some Landlords, Vacant is the New Rented

As consumer advocates push for expanded tenant’s rights laws, landlords are wondering where their protections have gone. As a recent op-ed column in The New York Times reveals, the  landlord presiding over an entirely legal eviction can end up vulnerable to a host of...

What’s Behind the Lending Slowdown?

Interest rates are still low, the housing market is rebounding, and employment stats are better – so why are loan approval rates down and fewer applications being processed? Financial experts point to a combination of factors stemming from the freewheeling days of the...

Applying for Credit Can Damage Your Credit

According to the arcane rules of credit scoring, being in debt makes you a better candidate for more debt and paying off your debt hurts your borrowing power. Now another irony of the credit system undermines the efforts of applicants to qualify for mortgages and...