I Have a Lot of Equity in My Home and Still Can’t Get a Loan Until It Sells. Here’s What I’d Do.
Equity isn’t cash, and it can’t get you past a lender’s income test. Here’s how to bridge a home sale, and what bankruptcy can and can’t protect.
Housing
Foreclosures Just Hit a 6-Year High — The Federal Safety Net Is Shrinking at the Worst Possible Time (May 2026)
Foreclosures just hit a 6-year high as insurance and property taxes squeeze homeowners. The FHA safety net is shrinking. Here is what is really happening and what to do if you are behind on your mortgage.
Queens Just Had More Foreclosures Than Every Other NYC Borough Combined. Here’s What That Actually Means.
Queens had 167 foreclosures in Q1 2026 — more than Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island combined. What that number means for every middle-class homeowner.
The CareCredit Deferred Interest Trap: How ‘No Interest’ Becomes a 32.99% Surprise
CareCredit’s ‘no interest if paid in full’ isn’t 0% APR — it’s deferred interest at 32.99%. Miss the deadline by even $1 and you get hit with all the accrued interest at once.
Stuck in a House You Can’t Afford? Here Are Your Real Options
Stuck in a house you can’t afford? Before you drain retirement savings to keep it, read this — sometimes walking away is the smarter move.
Splitting Bills With Roommates: Myth vs Reality
Quick Answer: When splitting bills with roommates, the key is establishing clear boundaries about shared versus individual expenses upfront rather than splitting everything equally. Roommates should negotiate what household items and costs will be communal before moving in together to avoid future conflicts and maintain a healthy living relationship. Living with roommates can be both …
Muslim Rent Rules: When They Help and Hurt
Quick Answer: Muslim tenants who don’t pay rent aren’t following Islamic teachings, as Islam considers debt fulfillment a serious obligation regardless of the creditor’s religion. Landlords should pursue legal remedies through state law rather than assume religious motivations, since written lease agreements remain legally binding. Question: Dear Steve, I am a landlord whose Muslim tenants …
Your Rent: What It Means and What to Do
Quick Answer: Rising rent costs relative to income means people are spending more hours working to afford housing than they spend sleeping in their homes. The trend of decreasing wages combined with increasing rental prices forces workers to dedicate disproportionate time to earning rent money. People are making less but paying more overall in rent. …
FTC Wins $5.2M Over Fake Rentals, Free Credit Scam
Quick Answer: The FTC won a $5.2 million judgment against Credit Bureau Center and owner Michael Brown for using fake Craigslist rental ads to trick consumers into “free” credit reports that enrolled them in $29.94 monthly monitoring services without their knowledge.A federal judge has ordered Credit Bureau Center, LLC and its owner, Michael Brown, to …
Old Lease Debt: When It Helps and When It Hurts
Quick Answer: Old lease debt can balloon from legitimate charges plus interest and fees, as shown when an $800 apartment debt grew to $2,000 over four years. Debtors can request an accounting of charges or attempt to settle for less, but forgiven debt may create tax liability.Question:Dear Steve,I owed an apartment complex $800 in 2012. …
