Here's how much you need to make to afford a $400,000 house today We walk you through how to calculate your DTI, what the 28/36 rule is, and why all this matters.

How much house you can afford depends not only on income, but also factors such as DTI ratio, down payment amount, and the mortgage rate you're offered. In this @fortune.com piece we walk you through some calculations that can help you determine your target price range when you start home shopping.

D.C.’s housing market is stable for now, despite what you’ve seen on social media tied to Trump cuts to the federal workforce It may be too soon to know how much the Trump and Musk-led workforce cuts could change what it looks like to live in Washington, D.C.

You might have read posts alluding to a spike in home sales around Washington, D.C. tied to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE team reducing the federal workforce. But @fortune.com checked with REALTORS watching the numbers—and they said they've just seen normal market fluctuations so far.

Saving money is the hottest Valentine’s Day gift of 2025, according to a Trustpilot survey Splurging on gifts is out and saving toward long-term financial goals together is in, according to Trustpilot’s Valentine’s Day survey.

“It’s absolutely possible that less spending on gifts, flowers, and experiences doesn’t indicate less romance—but rather a realignment of values in couples at every age,” says Dana Bodine at Trustpilot.

Here’s what Erika Kullberg, the lawyer who “reads the fine print so you don’t have to,” has to say about managing your money in 2025 Personal finance guru Erika Kullberg offers advice ranging from why you need an emergency fund to good reasons to avoid Buy Now, Pay Later plans.

Here's what Erika Kullberg, an attorney and personal finance influencer known for her tagline "I read the fine print so you don't have to," tells @fortune.com about the top money mistakes she sees members of Gen Z making—and how Americans can manage their finances more effectively in 2025:

Typically it’s impossible or a very bad idea to pay your mortgage with plastic. But two credit card startups want to reward you for mortgage payments A new credit card startup is offering consumers a way to earn cash-back rewards on their mortgage payments—and a second fintech might join them.

Paying your mortgage with a credit card is usually either impossible or a bad idea. But two credit card startups want to give you a way to earn points on your mortgage payment. Read more details in this @fortune.com piece:

Are Millennials the reason single-family home rents are off the charts? A new Zillow report looks at the numbers Single-family home rents are climbing faster than rents for multifamily units, according to recent Zillow data.

Millennials are starting to need more space, but an unaffordable housing market is pushing some to rent rather than buy—and single-family home rental prices are now skyrocketing due to demand, a Zillow report finds. We analyze the situation in this @fortune.com piece.

2024 new home sales hit their highest pace in three years. Does that mean lower home prices are around the corner? In 2024, new home sales climbed to their highest levels since 2021. More new homes could help ease price growth, providing needed relief to the U.S. housing market.

New home sales in 2024 hit their highest level since 2021, according to data released by the United States Census Bureau. In this @fortune.com piece, we take a look at what that might mean for homebuyers in 2025.

Buffalo and Indianapolis top Zillow’s 2025 ranking of the hottest housing markets in the U.S. Did your city make the list? Zillow’s 2025 survey found that while housing prices in these markets remain affordable, supply is tight, making for stiff competition.

Buffalo and Indianapolis will be the hottest housing markets of 2025, according to Zillow’s latest forecast. In this @fortune.com piece we take a look at what that means for homebuyers in these markets.

Manhattan housing inventory drops 17%, according to report Despite low active inventory, prospective NYC homebuyers who can manage it may want to jump into the market before prices increase further.

Manhattan just saw a huge drop in housing inventory. That means it might be a smart time to buy. We take a look at why in this @fortune.com piece:

The best savings account bonuses of February 2025 Savers can earn up to $525 with qualifying activity on new savings accounts, but it’s not always worth it.

If you already have an emergency fund built up, Wells Fargo is offering $525 to new savers. But if you qualify for that reward, you might be better off getting a $900 bonus from Chase by opening both a savings AND checking account. This is a great one to take advantage of!

How the Federal Reserve impacts mortgage rates The federal funds rate and mortgage interest rates are often expected to move together, but they haven’t lately. Here’s why.

Why are mortgage rates still so high? There’s something more important than Fed policy at work. See our analysis in this @fortune.com piece:

How high rates and high prices are contributing to low existing home sales Many homeowners are locked in where they’re at, even if they’d like to sell, due to sub-5% rates on their current mortgages.

Existing home sales in 2024 hit their lowest level since Val Kilmer was Batman. What does this mean for homebuyers? We break it down in this @fortune.com article:

Why is the capital gains tax making the U.S. housing crisis worse? The capital gains tax exclusion for primary residences has remained unchanged since 1997 even as home values have climbed dramatically upward.

Home values have skyrocketed, but the capital gains tax exclusion hasn't been updated since it was put in place in 1997. In this @fortune.com piece, we dive into how that's becoming an issue for a growing number of homeowners.

Renters need to watch out for hidden junk fees The FTC and the State of Colorado recently sued a prominent property management company, alleging hidden fees added on top of the advertised monthly rent.

Junk fees can be a costly problem for renters. In this @fortune.com story, we break down what you should watch out for before signing a new lease—and what some of the options are that you might have available if you realize you're being overcharged after you've already signed.

If you’re struggling due to the LA wildfires, you might be able to request mortgage forbearance. Here’s how Chase and Bank of America have both announced avenues where homeowners impacted by the California wildfires can request mortgage relief.

If you've been impacted by the California wildfires and are worried about making your next mortgage payment as you figure out what's next, you might be able to request relief. In this @fortune.com piece we explain resources available through Chase, Bank of America, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac.

When should you refinance your mortgage? Should you refinance your mortgage in 2025? For most American homeowners, the answer is probably not.

Should you refinance your mortgage in 2025? For many homeowners, the answer is probably "no." About 80% of outstanding home loans as of Sept. 2024 had interest rates below 5%, according to CoreLogic. But, there are a few cases where you might decide to refi. Read more in this @fortune.com piece.

What is Project Pan? Why is it taking over social media? Project pan encourages mindful consumption of makeup, challenging the culture of overconsumption along the way.

I've been seeing Project Pan videos all over my social feeds and it got me to thinking about how to apply it to your finances. fortune.com/article/what...

The best checking account bonuses of January 2025 Here are the best checking account bonuses of January 2025. Savers who are up to the challenge can earn up to $1,550 by stacking rewards—but it’s not easy.

You may be lured in by "free money" when you open new bank accounts, but there are some risks you should be aware of. Here are some tips to help you maximize rewards.

Swamped by mortgage spam calls? Here’s how to opt out The mortgage industry’s use of “trigger leads” might be swamping your phone with spam calls. Here’s how you can opt out.

If you're getting ready to apply for a home loan, you need to know about mortgage trigger leads. In this piece for @fortune.com I take a look at the controversy surrounding trigger leads and explain how you can opt out.

Delta's balancing act: Premium seats vs. credit card perks 88% first-class seats sold + Amex spending at 1% of GDP = A loyalty program crossroads for Delta Air Lines.

Two Delta stats from investor day have been on my mind:
1. Delta Amex spend rivals 1% of U.S. GDP.
2. 88% of first-class seats are now sold.
That means that a whole lot of SkyMiles are chasing a very limited set of premium cabin award tickets.
fortune.com/article/delt...

Going through a divorce? Here’s what to know about how to handle a shared home and mortgage We’ll explain several common options for handling a shared home and mortgage debt after a divorce.

Navigating a divorce in 2025? In this @fortune.com piece we explain five ways you might handle a home with a shared mortgage during a divorce—selling the home, assuming the mortgage, refinancing, keeping the loan, or trading the home for a different asset.

Experian in hot water: CFPB alleges 'sham' credit report Investigations Is your credit report accurate? The CFPB says Experian may not be properly investigating errors.

The most interesting thing about the CFPB suing Experian to me: I put a call on my FB feed out for someone who had interacted with Experian and got a horror story within five minutes and three others by the end of the day. Watch this space. fortune.com/article/cfpb...

How to build an emergency fund in 5 easy steps Setting aside a few months’ worth of expenses may not be as difficult as you think.

Nearly 40% of Americans wouldn't be able to pay for a $400 emergency in cash, potentially pushing them deeper and deeper into credit card debt.

If you feel like building an emergency fund is an impossible task, I've broken it down into 5 simple steps for you. Check it out: