Increased fees are sneaking into the overall cost of most mortgages. But given the ultralow interest rates these days, it’s likely few borrowers will notice. Mortgage rates are clinging near record lows, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaging 3.95% for the week ended Feb. 23, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly survey of rates for conventional mortgages. Still, consumers should pay attention to any fee increases because...

The financially savvy are truly different from the rest of us. Know why? They get to use the tax code to their advantage in ways most other folks can’t or don’t or won’t. They are borrowing against the equity in their homes at low rates and then investing the money in tax-deferred accounts, according to the co-authors of a new study, “Financial Sophistication and Housing Leverage among Older Households,”...

Many people say it’s the kitchen and bathrooms that really sell a home. Buyers prefer that both are clean and in move-in condition. They want to unpack their dishes and glassware as well as their toiletry bag and feel comfortable in their new home right away. Here’s 3 quick and easy touch-ups you can make before you start showing your home to potential buyers: Paint the kitchen cabinets. If your cabinets are a but dated, you...