Smart Borrower Blog

Archive for July, 2017

Millennials Treat Credit Cards Differently Than Their Parents

The millennial generation – those between the ages of 18 and 29 – have watched their parents financial habits, and are doing things differently in many cases, especially when it comes to credit cards. First of all, a majority (67%) of Millennials do not even have a credit card account. Perhaps that has something to […]

Mortgage Applications Jump as Rates Rest

A pause in mortgage interest rates may have helped push the volume of home loan applications higher in the latest week , according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The rise came mostly from refinance requests as home purchase application volume saw little change. The MBA’s seasonally adjusted Market Composite Index, a measure of […]

Small Business Borrowing Hits High As Economy Grows

Small business borrowing in the U.S. picked up in May rising to an 11-month high, according to new data, a good sign that demand is increasing and that small firms are feeling more confident about the economic environment. The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index, a measure of small business loan volume, increased to 137 […]

Market Changes Could Mean Looser Mortgage Standards

Those who have been locked out of the housing market may soon catch a break. With two significant changes taking place in the U.S. mortgage realm this month, millions of would-be borrowers may be able to qualify for financing. The first change involves credit scores. The three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion […]