Smart Borrower Blog

Archive for January, 2019

Credit Card and Mortgage Delinquencies Rise in Latest Quarter

While still well below historical averages, several categories of consumer credit delinquencies rose in the 2018 third quarter, including credit cards and home equity loans. According to data from the American Bankers Association, delinquencies increased in six of the 11 categories tracked in the ABA Consumer Credit Delinquency Bulletin. The composite ratio – a measure […]

Falling Interest Rates Spur Mortgage Application Rebound

The number of U.S. mortgage applications soared in the latest week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, a result of a sharp drop in long-term interest rates. The MBA’s Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage application volume – rose 23.5% on an unadjusted basis during the week ended Jan. 4, 2019. “Mortgage rates […]

Monthly Car Loan Payments Reach Record High

Consumers are paying more and more for their cars each month, according to data from Experian Automotive, and auto lenders are starting to feel the risks of those higher payments. The average monthly loan payment for a new-vehicle rose to an all-time high of $530 in the 2018 third quarter, a 6% increase from the […]