In our ongoing series of lending factors that affect interest rates, let’s (finally) talk about credit scores and related risk factors. I say “finally” because to many people, the credit score is the be-all, end-all of borrowing. And it is true that credit scores and related risk factors are important, but not always in the way people think. … Read More »
Happy New Year! We briefly interrupt our “lenders and rates” series to bring you the 2025 version of Fletch Predicts. Another year is in the books. I like doing these posts as it’s fun to look back and see where I was right and wrong. My hit rate isn’t bad at all! Let’s start with sports. I hit… Read More »
As I mentioned in my last blog, I will be doing a series detailing how lenders arrive at an interest rate. But before I get into the posts outlining different pieces of the rate puzzle, I do want to point out that there is a big misconception regarding rates. The misconception is the lowest rate is everything. And… Read More »
When the federal reserve began raising interest rates in 2022 – a conventional response amid broader economic pressures from government overspending and surging energy costs, I predicted that there would be many rate increases, and in revisiting the topic every few months afterwards, I predicted higher rates would last a long time. Not to pat myself on the… Read More »
I’ve been writing about bank loan restrictions and clauses for a few weeks now. We went over blanket liens and compensating balances, and now we’re going to talk about maybe the scariest one of all: annual requalification. If you thought the bank saying “yes” when they gave you the loan was the end of them looking at your… Read More »