A complicated U.S. economy. Stubborn inflation and a jobless boom. Unprecedented conflict with the president. Personnel changes, and a new Fed chair. Federal Reserve officials are no stranger to difficult economic moments, but the upcoming year could prove to be more dramatic than usual for the U.S. central bank —…

Key takeaways Mortgage recasting lets you reduce your mortgage payments and total interest paid over the life of the loan by making a lump sum toward your loan principal. When you recast a mortgage, your interest rate and loan term stay the same. Recasting a mortgage is often easier and…

Westend61/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways FHA 203(k) loans provide funding to finance both a home’s purchase and the cost of repairing it. This type of loan, which you can obtain from an FHA-approved lender, is reserved for borrowers who intend to live in the home, not house-flippers or…

Key takeaways If your annual income is less than the standard deduction, you likely aren’t required to file a tax return. But exceptions apply to self-employed people, taxpayers who file as married filing separately and others. The standard deduction for the 2025 tax year, for tax returns filed in 2026,…