Author: Jordan

In 2025, the median down payment for first-time homebuyers was 10%, according to the National Association of Realtors, the highest in nearly four decades. For some borrowers, though, 10% — or even 5% — is still too high a hurdle. Fortunately, there are many options if you have little or no money to put down — from government-backed FHA and VA loans to generous down payment assistance grants.CNBC Select picked the best lenders for low- or no-down-payment mortgages across various categories. For more on how we made our selections, see our methodology.Best mortgage lenders for low and no down paymentsTalk to…

For FTBs, rates will reduce by up to 0.20% across 2-, 3- and 5-year fixed deals up to 95% loan-to-value (LTV).  The Intermediary  ·  https://theintermediary.co.uk/2026/06/nationwide-cuts-fixed-mortgage-rates-for-ftbs-home-movers-and-remortgages/ Nationwide will cut rates across its fixed mortgage range from tomorrow, 16th June, with reductions of up to 0.28% for first-time buyers (FTBs), home movers and people remortgaging.  The lowest rate is now 4.29% for new and existing customers looking to move home. For FTBs, rates will reduce by up to 0.20% across 2-, 3- and 5-year fixed deals up to 95% loan-to-value (LTV).  This includes a 5-year fixed rate at 90% LTV with no…

TradingKey – Driven by the resonance of multiple strong bullish factors, memory chip giant Micron Technology ( MU) saw an explosive rally in today’s pre-market trading, with the stock price soaring over 8% to $1,061. The immediate catalyst for this stellar performance is the recent series of intensive and significant upward revisions to the company’s valuation expectations by several top-tier Wall Street investment banks.TD Cowen hiked its price target for Micron Technology from $660 to $1,500, more than doubling it. This was followed by RBC Capital Markets, which significantly raised its price target from $525 to $1,200.Furthermore, Aletheia Capital joined…

The London Bullion Market Association is considering moving its morning gold auction to an earlier time to accommodate traders in Asia. The potential shift would be “to reflect and to allow price discovery within the Asian time frame,” LBMA chief executive officer Ruth Crowell said on Monday. This is “something that I know the market has asked for for many years, but I think it comes at the right time,” she told the Asia-Pacific Precious Metal Conference in Singapore. Crowell did not specify a new time or times under consideration, or say when the possible change might occur. The LBMA…

BW FILE PHOTO UNION Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) recorded the biggest Visa credit payment volume in the country in 2025, driven by increasing preference for cashless payments. This also came as its credit cards in-force reached two million earlier this year, supported by digital onboarding and simplified application processes, it said in a statement on Monday. “As more Filipinos become mindful on how they manage their budgets, this recognition highlights the growing importance of secure and flexible payment options in daily life,” UnionBank Head of Cards and Loans Mukul Sukhani said. The bank said their clients are using their…

Tradingkey – On June 15, both major crude oil futures came under pressure as the Strait of Hormuz is expected to reopen following a preliminary ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran. As of press time, Brent crude futures fell 5.29% to $82.71, while WTI crude futures dropped 5.43% to $78.82, hitting a new low since March.It should be noted that free passage through the Strait of Hormuz is not permanent. According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, citing people familiar with the matter, this interim agreement only establishes a 60-day period of free passage. After expiration, Iran will charge fees…

12:01 AM, 6th February 2026, 4 months ago Buy to let lenders are sharpening pricing and criteria as landlords brace for a surge in refinancing activity in 2026. The Mortgage Lender has reduced selected five-year fixed rate standard BTL products by 5bps. The move is timed to coincide with what many expect to be one of the busiest remortgage cycles in recent years. That’s because UK Finance is forecasting around 1.8 million fixed-rate mortgages will mature this year, including the investment sector. That volume is pushing borrowers to review far more than a single deal, prompting deeper analysis of leverage,…

Bill Ackman is one of the most followed investment managers in the world — and with good reason. As the manager of Pershing Square’s (PS +4.59%) assets, he’s led the hedge fund to produce a compound annual return of nearly 16% since 2004, handily outperforming the S&P 500 in that time. What also makes Ackman attractive is that he holds a highly concentrated portfolio of stocks, and he’s more than willing to discuss his thoughts on each of Pershing Square’s investments. While Ackman hasn’t disclosed the exact holdings of his new fund, Pershing Square USA, disclosures for assets held by…

The Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady at its policy meeting this week — the first helmed by new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh — doing little to ease the affordability concerns plaguing many U.S. households.President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the central bank previously indicated he would consider cutting rates, but with the current inflation rate roughly double the Federal Reserve’s 2% long-term target, the central bank may be more likely to consider hiking rates, experts say. That would put Warsh in opposition to Trump, who has said that rates should be sharply lower. Fed funds futures indicate virtually no chance…

Charlotte area communities have set new property tax rates to take effect in less than three weeks, and many property owners will soon be paying more.Many area counties, including Mecklenburg, passed budgets for the new fiscal year that starts July 1 with no property tax increases.But the city of Charlotte and two Mecklenburg towns approved property tax increases in their fiscal year 2027 budgets. That means most property tax owners in Mecklenburg County will still see bigger tax bills.A couple of towns in surrounding counties also approved tax increases.Mecklenburg County’s sales tax rate is also scheduled to increase July 1…