Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways Mortgages make up the highest percentage of household debt nationwide, with the average American owing $258,214. Millennials have the highest average mortgage debt at $320,027,…

A new tax break is available this filing season for taxpayers who have car loans on vehicles that meet certain specifications. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which was passed through Congress by Republicans using the reconciliation process and signed into law last year by President Donald Trump, included a provision…

Homebuyers often focus on home prices and mortgage rates when thinking about affordability. But for millions of homeowners, another housing cost is creeping higher and quietly reshaping the math: homeowners association (HOA) fees.  Once considered a small maintenance expense, HOA dues are increasingly acting like a shadow mortgage. This mandatory,…

When people begin searching for help with credit card debt, they often come across a wide range of options labeled “debt relief.” Debt settlement companies, consolidation loans, balance transfers, auto title loans, credit repair services, and bankruptcy are frequently presented as potential debt relief options. However, these alternatives work in…

Mirian Fuentes has big plans for her future.  The 30-year-old Mexican-American has been dating her partner, Andres, since 2024, and knew early on that he was “the one.” The couple dreams of getting married, starting a family and buying a home — a key step toward building generational wealth as…