Troy Segal
New York
Culture/lifestyle writer & editor, specializing in the arts, dining, travel, and personal finance
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Articles by Troy Segal
Futures Industry Association (FIA): Meaning, History, Mission
The Futures Industry Association (FIA) is a global organization for futures, options, and listed derivatives markets. FIA’s membership includes firms from over 50 countries, including clearing firms, exchanges, and technology vendors. The FIA supports open, transparent, and competitive markets and promotes high standards of professional conduct.
Closing on a house: What to expect
During the closing process, your lender will request additional documentation to verify your sources of income, current debt levels, or even your employment history, particularly if there are any gaps. Respond to these requests quickly to avoid potential closing delays. Avoid opening any new credit accounts, making large purchases or changing jobs during this period.
Dressed To Chill: Why Thomas Pink's French Cuff Shirt Is Classic Yet Cool
Last Christmas, I gave my husband Ron a pair of vintage silver cuff links that he had long craved, and I had long searched for. Now that the quest was over, there was just one problem: He needed a shirt to wear them with. Not a tuxedo shirt, just an ordinary dress shirt that sported French cuffs. So when a representative of British shirtmaker Thomas Pink offered us a sample shirt for review, it seemed providential.
Buttonwood Agreement: What it is, History, Signers
Key Takeaways Signed by 24 stockbrokers and merchants on Wall Street, the Buttonwood Agreement created the foundation for the New York Stock Exchange. The rules established under the Buttonwood Agreement were based on existing European trading systems of the time. The signers agreed to trade only with each other and set a commission fee. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. What Is the Buttonwood Agreement?
I’m a picky coffee person. Would the single-serve Bruvi Brewer satisfy me?
It was after dinner, and I went to brew myself a little digestif. I’d been using the Bruvi for a couple of days, and the water tank was about one-third full: plenty for one serving, I thought. I arranged the cup, put in the pod, pulled the handle and hit the start button. But the machine wouldn’t work. Instead, it began to chime. And continued to do so, sounding increasingly impatient each time. (OK, I may have been imagining that.) Certainly, I was getting pretty impatient.
I’m picky about my coffee. Here’s why, for my money, Capresso’s CoffeeTEAM PRO maker/grinder brews the best cup.
I’m a really picky person when it comes to coffee. I like it strong but not too strong (a robust medium roast). I like it with a dash of milk (preferably whole or 2%). And most of all, I like it freshly ground. I’ve tried many a machine in my quest for the perfect cup. Here’s why and how the Capresso CoffeeTEAM PRO Plus Coffee Maker/Grinder — which, as the name implies, pulverizes beans into powder and then brews a pot — pushes all my buttons. Easy to operate. Has a variety of settings/features.
I've Subscribed to HelloFresh for 9 Years Now. Here's Why I Think It's the Best Meal Kit Service Around
Tired of takeout? No time to grocery shop? Like to cook — or at least, learn how to? If you’d say yes to any of the above, I have one word for you: HelloFresh. This meal-kit plan offers a compromise in dinner prep, charting a course between ready-made and do-it-all-from-scratch. My spouse and I have been HelloFresh fans for nearly nine years now. Here’s how it works, and why it works for us.
No need to knead: Galaxy Dessert Classic Croissants offer fresh-baked taste without the fuss
A newly baked croissant is a taste of heaven on earth. But — you’re thinking — isn’t such a treat hard to come by, unless you live next to an artisanal bakery or happen to be a master manipulator of breadstuffs yourself? Au contraire. There’s another option: buying frozen croissant dough, pre-shaped into the familiar crescent form, but uncooked. All you have to do is set it out in advance and then cook it. It’ll taste fresh-baked — because it will be.
HELOC rates drop to lowest level since March, as Fed cuts rates for the first time in 2025 Original
Image by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate A split decision for home equity rates, as the Federal Reserve delivered an expected quarter-point interest rate cut, the first rate reduction this year. The average rate on a $30,000 home equity line of credit fell five basis points to 8.05 percent, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. Meanwhile, the average rate on the benchmark 5-year $30,000 home equity loan climbed five basis points to 8.28 percent.
First-Lien Vs. Second-Lien Loans: Key Differences Original
Image by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate Table of contents What’s the difference between first-lien and second-lien loans? How do you get a second-lien loan? Significance of second liens Key Takeaways In real estate, first-lien loans (primary mortgages) let you finance a home purchase, while second-lien loans (home equity loans or HELOCs) let you tap your home’s value for cash. The holder of the first-lien loan has repayment priority if a borrower defaults on their debt or goes bankrupt.
HELOC Rates Fall Back, Loans Inch Up Original
Last week’s HELOC spike was short-lived. The average rate on a $30,000 home equity line of credit fell 80 basis points to 8.10 percent, back to the level it was two weeks prior, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. The rise and fall largely reflects a major lender in the field ending, and then resuming, its low introductory rates.
Are All Those Home Equity Mail Offers Legit? Original
“Unlock the value that’s sitting in your home!” “Open a line of credit, get the money you need fast!” “Tap into your hard-earned equity for renovations, debt consolidation, or whatever you need!” If you’re a homeowner like me, your mailbox has probably been flooded with postcards and letters from lenders of late, with similar breathless statements. Each one promises you access to funds through a home equity line of credit (HELOC), home equity loan or cash-out refinance.
Home Equity News: This Week's Roundup Original
The top stories in home equity, mortgages and real estate Like many lenders, Chase stopped offering home equity lines of credit five years ago, as the pandemic ramped up. But now the big bank is back, hoping to cash in on the growing numbers of folks seeking to tap their home’s value. How does its new HELOC compare to others in the field? You may not realize it, but if you’ve got some home equity built up, you might be able to use it to help buy a second place.
What Being Equity Rich Means For Homeowners Original
Home values have consistently hit record highs in recent years, which has created a surge in more equity-rich homeowners. To be considered “equity rich”, a property’s outstanding mortgage balance should be less than half of its market value. Being equity rich makes it easier to get financing, like HELOCs and home equity loans, and on better terms. Owning a home has long been considered one of the best pathways to building wealth.
Home Equity Loan Rates Hold At 2025 Lows Original
Very mixed movements on the home equity financing scene in the latest week. The average rate on a $30,000 home equity line of credit (HELOC) skyrocketed 80 basis points to 8.90 percent, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders — though the increase reflects a particularly large lender ending its low introductory rate offers rather than any economic news or upsets.
Coming Home: Chase Launches A New HELOC
Back in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic exploded, creating “a good amount of economic uncertainty in both the housing market and more broadly,” recalls Chase Home Lending Consumer Direct Executive Erik Schmitt. With everything from jobs to property values to interest rates up in the air, big banks like Chase and Wells Fargo responded by pausing their home equity lines of credit (HELOCS). Fast-forward five years to today. Home values and home equity stakes have soared to record highs.
Home Equity Loan Rates Fall To Lowest Rates of 2025 Original
Both HELOCs and home equity loans took a step down in the latest week. The average rate on a $30,000 home equity line of credit (HELOC) dropped two basis points to 8.10 percent, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. The average rate on the benchmark 5-year $30,000 home equity loan fell one basis point to 8.22 percent — a low for the year.
What If Your Home Equity Lender Stops Lending? Original
If your lender stops offering HELOCs or home equity loans, rest assured: The original terms of your loan or credit line stay the same. What might change are the logistics, like where you send your payments (to a new servicer or lender). It’s especially important to keep paying on time, even though you’re usually allowed a grace period for late or misdirected payments. In early July 2025, Discover Home Loans announced it wasn’t loaning anymore.
Home Equity News: This Week's Roundup Original
The top stories in home equity, mortgages and real estate Existing-home sales remained sluggish in the month of July, even as the median home price hit a record of $422,400 — the highest ever for that month. Properties are staying on the market longer, too. Could it be that buyers’ affordability challenges are literally coming home to roost? Since 2020, home equity stakes have skyrocketed for most Americans, but some regions are cashing in more than others.
Single Black Women Rewrite Homeownership Rules Original
Drazen Zigic / Getty images Kayla Kimber had a clear goal: Own a home by the time she was 35 years old – partner or no partner. Two years ago, it was looking tough. In 2023, she was 32, still single and living in her studio apartment with rising rent. She had a car payment to manage, and her savings weren’t where they needed to be. Undaunted, Kimber focused on boosting her income with a full-time and part-time job and earnestly tackled her debt.
Home Equity Rates Stay Still And Low
Not much movement with home equity rates in the latest week. The average rate on a $30,000 home equity line of credit (HELOC) was unchanged, holding at 8.12 percent, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. The average rate on the benchmark 5-year $30,000 home equity loan also remained unchanged at 8.23 percent — the lowest level we’ve seen this year — though rates on longer-term loans did decrease slightly.
Which Is Better: $50K HELOC Or $50K Credit Card? Original
If you’ve got a big, five-figure expense coming up – maybe a home renovation or a medical bill – you may be staring down two options: a HELOC (home equity line of credit) and a high-end credit card. Both are types of revolving, or open-ended credit, meaning you can borrow funds from them, pay back, and borrow again – at a variable interest rate.
Home Equity Rates Drop As Fed Cut Hopes Rise Original
Shaking off their early-summer paralysis, home equity interest rates declined again, across the board this week. The average rate on a $30,000 home equity line of credit (HELOC) fell one basis point to 8.12 percent, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. Meanwhile, the average rate on a $30,000 home equity loan dropped two basis points to 8.23 percent. The drop comes even as more investors are betting on a general interest rate cut next month.
States Where Home Equity's Grown The Most And Least Original
Nearly every corner of the country has experienced a surge in home equity since 2020, but homeowners in certain states have experienced more gains than others. West Virginia registered the largest percentage increase in average home equity, rising 450%, while Washington D.C. had the sharpest decline in average home equity, dropping 38%. Southern and Midwestern states have generally seen the greatest average home equity growth, while Western states have posted some of the least.
Home Equity News: This Week's Roundup Original
The top stories in home equity, mortgages and real estate With equity stakes soaring, some longtime homeowners — especially those in high-cost real estate markets — are finding they could face capital gains taxes if they sell. This “hidden home equity tax” is real, though it affects far fewer people than some hysterical headlines suggest. We debunk the myths and explain how to deal, should you be one of those likely to get a tax bite.
Who's Afraid Of The Hidden Home Equity Tax? Original
More homesellers may incur a capital gains tax on their proceeds, the National Association of REALORS warns, due to the dizzying rise in home equity stakes over the last few years – and no changes to exemption limits. Even with the increase, though, it’s unlikely that more than 10–15 percent of sellers would realize a profit over $500,000, which would trigger the tax (for married couples filing jointly).
HELOC Rates Plunge To Lowest Level Since May Original
Something we haven’t seen in months: a drop for HELOC rates — and a big one to boot. The average rate on a $30,000 home equity line of credit (HELOC) fell 13 basis points to 8.13 percent, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. Meanwhile, the average rate on a $30,000 home equity loan was unchanged for the third week in a row, holding at 8.25 percent.
Home Equity News: This Week's Roundup Original
The top stories in home equity, mortgages and real estate Another month, another record for home prices. They just keep rising, with the median price climbing to an all-time high of $435,300 in June. However, sales retreated: Even though listings are slowly increasing, low inventory — along with elevated mortgage rates — are making it hard for buyers. What’s next for the housing market? It all depends on where mortgage rates and the economy go from here.
The Racial Gap In Building And Borrowing Home Equity Original
Illustration by Bankrate As a Bankrate senior writer, I spend a lot of time diving into all things home equity. And lately, there’s been a lot to focus on. In the fourth quarter of 2024, homeowner equity averaged an eye-popping $35 trillion, courtesy of a 60 percent increase in home values since 2019, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS). That adds up to approximately $400,000 per homeowner, among the highest equity levels we’ve ever seen.
HELOCs And Home Equity Loan Rates Down This Week Original
A novelty: movement in HELOCs and home equity loans in the latest week. The average rate on a $30,000 home equity line of credit (HELOC) not only changed but fell for the first time in more than a month, dropping one basis point to 8.26 percent, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. Meanwhile, the average rate on the $30,000 home equity loan tumbled three basis points to 8.25 percent.
Best HELOC Lenders In July 2025
Written by Updated on Jul 22, 2025 Remaining mortgage balance Credit score Rates will vary based on your credit score. Loan terms 5 year 10 year 15 year 20 year 30 year Home equity loan A loan that lets you borrow against the value of your home, with funds delivered as a lump sum. Home equity line of credit (HELOC) A variable or fixed-rate line of credit based on your home value that you can continually borrow from and pay back over a set time frame.
HELOC rates stay flat, while home equity loan rates rise a bit
High summer’s heat may be making home equity rates sleepy. The average rate on a $30,000 home equity line of credit (HELOC) was unchanged at 8.27 percent for the fifth straight week, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders. The average rate on the $30,000 home equity loan barely stirred, moving two basis points up to 8.28 percent. Since June of this year, average rates of HELOCs and home equity loans have been hovering in the same range — and are almost identical.
HELOC rates stay flat, while home equity loan rates rise a bit
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HELOC rates stay flat, while home equity loan rates rise a bit
HELOC rates stay flat, while home equity loan rates rise a bit by Troy Segal Wed, July 16th 2025 at 11:34 AM Image by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate Share
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