National average rates for second mortgage home equity loans and lines of credit are near their lowest levels in more than three years. You can access the equity in your home at these very favorable rates. HELOC and home equity loan rates: Friday, February 27, 2026 The average HELOC rate is 7.23%, according to real estate analytics firm Curinos. The national average rate on a home equity loan is 7.44%. Rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value r ...

Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation (NYSE:CHMI) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 25, 2026 05:00 PM ET Speaker5Thank you for standing by, and welcome to Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation's fourth quarter, 2025 earnings conference call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. After the speaker presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session. To ask a question during the session, you will need to press *11 on your telephone. To remove yourself from the queue, you may ...

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Certificates of deposit do not trend on social media because they do not come with a trading thesis and they do not offer upside surprises. You hand over cash, you wait, and you get paid. In early 2026, that boring trade-off is exactly the point. CDs are one of the cleanest ways to lock in a known return at a moment when interest rates are still relatively high but no longer guaranteed to stay there. Th ...

Money market accounts (MMAs) can be a great place to store your cash if you're looking for a relatively high interest rate along with liquidity and flexibility. Unlike traditional savings accounts, MMAs typically offer better returns, and they may also provide check-writing privileges and debit card access. This makes these accounts ideal for holding long-term savings that you want to grow over time, but can still access when needed for certain purchases or bills. Find out which banks have the best MMA rat ...

Core Insights - Home equity lines of credit (HELOC) and home equity loans are currently offering some of the lowest interest rates in years, providing homeowners with an opportunity to unlock the value in their homes without selling or refinancing their primary mortgage [1] Interest Rates - The average adjustable rate for HELOCs is 7.23%, while the national average fixed rate for home equity loans is 7.44%, based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio of less than 70% [2] - HELOC interest rates differ from primary mortgage rates, being based on an index rate plus a margin, with the current prime rate at 6.75% [5] - The best HELOC lenders are offering rates as low as 5.99% for introductory periods, which will convert to adjustable rates after one year [8] Benefits of HELOC and Home Equity Loans - A HELOC allows homeowners to draw from an approved line of credit as needed, while a home equity loan provides a lump sum [3] - Homeowners with low primary mortgage rates can benefit from obtaining a HELOC or home equity loan without losing their favorable mortgage rate, allowing them to use the cash for various purposes [11] Lender Flexibility and Comparison - Lenders have flexibility in pricing second mortgage products, making it essential for borrowers to shop around for the best rates based on their credit score and debt levels [6] - The best home equity loan lenders may be easier to find due to the fixed rate lasting throughout the repayment period, simplifying the borrowing process [9] Monthly Payments and Loan Structure - For a $50,000 home equity line of credit at a 7.25% interest rate, the monthly payment during the 10-year draw period would be approximately $302, but this rate is variable and may increase during the repayment period [12]

Core Insights - Money market accounts (MMAs) are highlighted as a favorable option for storing cash due to their relatively high interest rates and liquidity [1] - The article discusses the historical fluctuations in MMA rates, particularly in relation to the Federal Reserve's interest rate changes [3][4][5][6] Group 1: Current Trends in Money Market Accounts - Despite a recent decline in rates, some MMAs still offer over 4% APY, making them competitive compared to traditional savings accounts [3][11] - The Federal Reserve's aggressive interest rate hikes starting in 2022 have led to historically high deposit rates, with many MMAs offering rates of 4% or higher by late 2023 [6][7] Group 2: Historical Context - Following the 2008 financial crisis, MMA rates were extremely low, typically ranging from 0.10% to 0.50% due to the Fed's near-zero federal funds rate [4] - The COVID-19 pandemic caused another sharp decline in MMA rates as the Fed cut rates to combat economic fallout [5] Group 3: Considerations for Choosing MMAs - When selecting a money market account, factors such as minimum balance requirements, fees, and withdrawal limits are crucial for determining overall value [8][9] - Many MMAs require a significant minimum balance, often $5,000 or more, to earn the highest advertised rates, while some accounts offer competitive rates without such restrictions [9] Group 4: Insurance and Safety - It is essential to ensure that the chosen money market account is insured by the FDIC or NCUA, which protects deposits up to $250,000 per institution, per depositor [10]

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve has cut the federal funds rate three times in 2025, leading to a decline in deposit account rates, making it crucial for savers to seek high-yield savings accounts to maximize interest earnings [1][5] Group 1: Savings Account Rates - High-yield savings accounts can offer interest rates as high as 4% APY, significantly above the national average [2][3] - As of February 23, 2026, the highest savings account rate available is 4% APY, provided by SoFi and Valley Bank Direct [3] - The national average savings account rate is currently just 0.39%, while 1-year CDs average 1.61% [5] Group 2: Online Banks vs Traditional Banks - Most top savings rates are offered by online banks, which have lower overhead costs and can provide higher rates and lower fees to customers [4] - Despite recent rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, traditional savings accounts and CDs are still offering some of the highest interest rates seen in over a decade [4] Group 3: Choosing the Right Savings Account - It is essential for consumers to compare rates and account features from various financial institutions to secure the best deal [6] - Factors to consider include minimum balance requirements, customer service, ATM access, digital banking tools, and the financial stability of the institution [7] - Ensuring that the savings account is insured by the FDIC or NCUA is critical for protecting deposits [7]

Bitcoin's sharp pullback on Monday triggered a flurry of liquidations across crypto markets, wiping out over $470 million in leveraged positions. The leading cryptocurrency fell roughly 4.6% from $67,600 to $64,435 in less than two hours during early Asian trading, according to CoinGecko data. The sudden collapse has resulted in over $505 million in liquidated positions across all assets over the past 24 hours, per CoinGlass data, with Bitcoin accounting for $232 million and Ethereum for $126 million. B ...

Gold (GC=F) April futures opened at $5,015 per troy ounce on Friday, 0.4% higher than Thursday’s closing price of $4,997.40. The gold price rose above $5,050 in early trading. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are fueling gold demand, even as short-term interest-rate reductions look less probable. The U.S. has sent two aircraft carriers and other combat equipment to the Middle East, while Iran recently ran annual military drills with Russia. On Thursday, President Trump warned that “bad things will hap ...

Core Insights - Money market accounts (MMAs) offer higher interest rates compared to traditional savings accounts, providing liquidity and flexibility for long-term savings [1][3] - The national average interest rate for MMAs is currently 0.39%, while the best rates exceed 4% APY, similar to high-yield savings accounts [3][13] - Historical trends show that MMA rates have fluctuated significantly due to changes in the Federal Reserve's target interest rate, with rates dropping to as low as 0.10% to 0.50% during economic downturns [4][5][6] Interest Rate Trends - Following the 2008 financial crisis, MMA rates were kept low to stimulate the economy, but began to rise gradually as the economy improved [5][6] - The COVID-19 pandemic caused another decline in MMA rates as the Fed cut rates to near zero [6] - Starting in 2022, aggressive interest rate hikes by the Fed led to historically high MMA rates, with many accounts offering rates of 4.00% or higher by late 2023 [7] - Rates remain high by historical standards but have been trending downward following Fed rate cuts in late 2024 and 2025 [8] Considerations for Choosing MMAs - When selecting a money market account, factors beyond interest rates, such as minimum balance requirements, fees, and withdrawal limits, should be considered [9][10] - Some MMAs require a high minimum balance to earn the highest advertised rates, while others may charge monthly maintenance fees [10] - It is crucial to ensure that the chosen account is insured by the FDIC or NCUA, which guarantees deposits up to $250,000 per institution, per depositor [11]