By Chris Hewitt, The Minnesota Star Tribune (TNS)

We tend to think of Jane Austen as the first great female novelist, whose originality paved the way for creative descendants to dazzle critics and readers. “Jane Austen’s Bookshelf” contends that virtually every part of that sentence is wrong.

Rebecca Romney, the author and occasional “Pawn Stars” guest who wrote “Bookshelf,” is a fan of Austen. But her point in the book, subtitled “A Rare Book Collector’s Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend,” is that Austen didn’t spring out of the grassy fields of the English countryside as a fully formed bestseller machine. There are clues throughout her work that she read widely, not only enjoying many female novelists who preceded her but often name-checking them in her work and sometimes borrowing plots and character ideas.

“Bookshelf” does quite a few things at once and it mostly works. There are hints of memoir as Romney describes her life as a collector and dealer (which is what gets her on “Pawn Stars”). She shares a bit about hunting down rare titles and about why books are so important to her that she sometimes hoards key finds for herself, rather than adding them to the inventory of her own business. She’s a good storyteller, with a sharp instinct for the kinds of things that might interest the average bibliophile.

There also are mini-biographies of eight female writers of the 18th and 19th centuries. In some cases, they are writers we know Austen enjoyed, because she wrote about them in letters to her sister. In others, they are writers Romney suspects Austen would have read because their work was found in lending libraries the novelist frequented or was admired by people whose opinions Austen valued.

Fortunately, those eight women are compelling characters who were way ahead of their time. That’s true in terms of negotiating with publishers, in an era when the work of women usually appeared anonymously (as Austen’s did) or under a male pseudonym, and in living their lives. Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi, for instance, refused to obey conventions with regard to work or romance — her second marriage was to her kids’ music teacher, who was foreign, “lower class” and probably a smoke show.

In a development that will likely surprise no woman who has ever accomplished anything, Romney writes that Piozzi fell victim to a phenomenon that continues today. Much of the credit for her work was given to a man, specifically Samuel Johnson (who knew several of the women in the book, both championing and taking credit for their work): “Even when Johnson had nothing to do with a book, many of the descriptions tended to make Piozzi’s published works about him anyway.”

Readers who don’t find it delightful when Austen characters vent about having to dress up last year’s ballgown with this year’s ribbons probably won’t care much about “Bookshelf.” But Romney’s chatty, justifiably miffed book is a treasure chest for Austen fans, for whom comments like this, about writer Elizabeth Inchbald, will be as welcome as a jar of clotted cream at tea: “What I found was a writer who constantly elicited that rare reaction in readers: I kept laughing aloud at her genuinely funny jokes.”

Romney doesn’t gild the lily. She admits that a few of these 18th-century writers have not stood the test of time (she couldn’t get past the first couple chapters of one book). Which makes “Bookshelf” even more valuable for those who cherish Austen’s six novels and wish there were more to enjoy.

Jane Austen’s Bookshelf

By: Rebecca Romney

Publisher: Marysue Rucci Books, 454 pages, $29.99

©2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Patrick Clarke, TravelPulse

A welcome warm spell in the Northeast is a reminder that March is here and the official start of spring is just days away.

For many, that means making plans to break from the daily grind and warm up somewhere far from their office, home office, or school pickup line.

But travelers shouldn’t settle for just any old getaway in 2025. Plan spring break right and your next trip may just be the one that you never forget.

It turns out that the spring break trip of your dreams doesn’t have to be unattainable.

Here are two easy steps to ensure a blissful escape this time of year.

Work with a travel adviser

The best way to prevent your dream spring break getaway from turning into a nightmare is to book with a trusted travel adviser.

These travel professionals can not only guide you toward the ideal destination based on your personal preferences and suggest some off-the-beaten-path places to avoid the large crowds but help you craft the perfect itinerary.

An adviser is also by your side before during and after your trip, which means you have an advocate and immediate assistance in the event of an unexpected flight cancellation, trouble at check-in or anywhere else along the way.

In addition to time and stress, advisers save their clients money by putting their connections and access to sales and discounts to work.

Protect your trip with travel insurance

Regardless of how much you’re spending on your spring break getaway, it’s always wise to invest in travel insurance.

This protection typically costs about 5% to 10% of your total trip costs but provides invaluable peace of mind.

The right policy can not only reimburse you if your trip is canceled or impacted by something outside of your control but also pay for medical expenses if you fall victim to an emergency overseas or somewhere your health insurance plan won’t cover.

Travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth reveals that the travelers most likely to benefit are frequent travelers (who can purchase plans and multi-trip policies), adventurers, backpackers and students traveling abroad.

©2025 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By James Royal, Ph.D., Bankrate.com

It’s the dream of many to become a millionaire, and even those with just a little dough to start can achieve this goal with careful planning. While selecting the right investments is important, one other factor is still more important if you’re starting out with a relatively small nest egg: time.

Bankrate spoke with a wealth adviser to get her take on how to turn $1,000 into $1 million.

How to turn $1,000 into a million dollars

You can sum up the process of turning a thousand dollars into one million in three simple steps.

1. Let time work its magic

Even more than picking the right investment, time is the most important element in turning small money into big money. A few extra years of compounding your money can really have a huge impact on the total snowball you can roll up.

“Start investing as early as you can,” says Andrea Zoeller, wealth manager and partner at Merit Financial Advisors. “There are several studies that show an investor that starts early and saves often can end with a portfolio value larger than one who starts later in life.”

How powerful is starting now? Let’s use a simplified example, where you invest $1,000 each year to show the value of starting early.

—You start investing at age 22 and invest $1,000 annually with 10% annual returns. If you retire at age 62, you’ll have saved $40,000 over those 40 years, but that money would have compounded to more than $440,000, assuming no taxes.

—You start investing at age 32 and invest $1,000 annually with 10% annual returns. If you retire at age 62, you’ll have saved $30,000 over those 30 years, but that money would have compounded to more than $160,000, assuming no taxes.

“The money has been invested longer when someone starts earlier in life and will have more time to generate compounding interest in the lifetime compared to someone who didn’t start until later in life,” says Zoeller.

The tax laws favor investments, too. You won’t pay any taxes on your capital gains until you sell the investment, meaning you can compound your wealth for decades without the drag of taxes.

Does 10% sound like too high of a return? In fact, every investor can purchase an investment that’s returned about 10% on average over time.

2. Pick a strong investment

You might think that you need to trade in and out of the market with the very best investments to build a million dollars. Sure, it’s better to have the best investment, but you’ll do just fine over time with a consistent performer that delivers solid returns in most years.

The best solution? Invest in a low-cost index fund, says Zoeller.

A stock index fund provides the weighted average return of all its stock holdings. A fund based on the S&P 500 index, which includes hundreds of America’s top companies, has returned about 10% per year on average over long periods. These kinds of funds are accessible to anyone with a brokerage account, and you don’t need specialized expertise to purchase them.

Low-cost funds keep more money in your pocket and working for you, and you have many choices among them. The best S&P 500 index funds charge low fees — typically less than $10 annually for every $10,000 you have invested, and some even just $3 — so you invest in a solid index fund and enjoy strong returns over time at a low cost.

3. Hold on over time

It can be easy to overlook, but you are your own worst enemy when it comes to investing. That’s because you’ll sabotage your progress by doing things that you think are safe or smart. For example, it’s easy to sell when the market is rocky and the economy looks rough.

“Time in the market is more important than timing the market,” says Zoeller. “Missing out on the best positive days in the market because you are trying to time the market has shown to erode investor returns over time even when staying invested during down markets.”

So if you’re looking to achieve the returns of the index funds you’re invested in, you’ll want to stay invested. Plus, staying invested allows you to avoid paying capital gains taxes on your profits. If you sell a winner, you’re guaranteeing that your bankroll will decline in value.

“Be patient,” says Zoeller. “Building wealth is a marathon, not a race. It takes a lot of time and consistency.”

While our example uses $1,000 as a starting point, if you can add money to your portfolio over time — especially when the market falls — you can continue to earn attractive profits.

Other tips for building wealth

So that’s how you can turn $1,000 into a million — give yourself plenty of time, buy a strong index fund and then hold on. Here are some other tips for building wealth.

—Avoid selling after the market has gone down. “This is the No. 1 mistake that will erode your returns over time because there is no telling when you will get back into the market,” says Zoeller. “Oftentimes, by the time you get back in the market, it is after the recovery has happened, so you are consequently selling low and buying back at the top before possibly seeing another fall in the market.”

—Take advantage of tax-free accounts. If you’re investing for retirement, it makes sense to use a 401(k) plan or an IRA. Both accounts allow you to defer or avoid taxes on gains, allowing you to compound your money even faster. Your employer’s 401(k) plan may also pay you matching funds if you make a contribution, and it’s the easiest return you can ever make.

—Watch out for emotional decision-making. When the market becomes volatile, it can feel safe to sell first and ask questions later. “Be careful about making irrational decisions based on emotion or what other people are doing before understanding the meaning of what is happening in the markets,” says Zoeller. If you sell a winner, you’ll lock in taxes and you’ll slow your ability to compound your money.

—Work with a professional. Working with a financial adviser can yield a ton of benefits. “A professional can guide you through market volatility and educate you on how to make smart investing decisions and avoid the mistakes in investing,” says Zoeller.

You can find a financial adviser to consult in your area through Bankrate’s AdvisorMatch.

Bottom line

Time is your biggest ally when it comes to building wealth, but you can really help yourself out by finding a strong index fund and then holding on to it. You’ll also grow your wealth faster if you’re able to keep adding to your account each week or month and get more money working for you.

Editorial Disclaimer: All investors are advised to conduct their own independent research into investment strategies before making an investment decision. In addition, investors are advised that past investment product performance is no guarantee of future price appreciation.

©2025 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Anne Snabes, The Detroit News

Detroit — The regional water authority’s board bowed to public pressure Wednesday by reducing its proposed water rate hike, but it still increased the water and sewer rates more than it has done in its decade-long history.

The pressure was enough that Great Lakes Water Authority officials decreased the proposed water rate late at its meeting. The board unanimously approved a 5.9% hike for water and a 4.5% hike for the sewer part of its passage of the organization’s fiscal year 2026 and 2027 budgets.

The authority that serves 112 communities across eight counties in southeast Michigan originally proposed increasing its wholesale water rates by an average of 7.73% and sewer rates by an average of 5.39% for the 2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Last year, GLWA approved increases of 3.25% for water and 3% for wastewater services.

Dozens of Metro Detroit residents passionately pleaded with the six-member GLWA board against boosting the rates. They argued they were already besieged by rising prices for the basics of living, and this proposal would be a further burden.

“I implore you, the Great Lakes Water Authority: Stop doing these increases on these residents ― on people who are already financially strapped,” Detroit resident Rochella Stewart said on Zoom.

The meeting marked the first time that the regional authority could raise water and sewer rates above a 4% cap — known as the 4% promise — imposed when GLWA was formed in 2014 in the wake of Detroit’s bankruptcy filing in 2013.

The policy had resulted in hikes for fiscal year 2024 of 2.75% each for water and sewer services. But the 4% cap commitment ends June 30.

GLWA officials had justified the original increases as needed to finance long-overdue capital improvements and rapidly escalating costs of items like chemicals. As recently as 2023, authority officials said keeping the commitment to limit budget increases to 4% or below was “incredibly challenging.”

But Nicolette Bateson, GLWA’s chief financial officer and treasurer, presented rates during Wednesday’s public hearing that were lower than those originally proposed. She urged the board to raise water rates 6.5% and sewer rates 4.5%, a change that she indicated was made in the past two weeks after the initial proposal was publicized.

Bateson said Wednesday this is “a very difficult year.”

But residents, many from Detroit and some from other communities such as Highland Park and Livonia, spoke out even against the revised rate hike proposal, contending it was unaffordable.

Later in the meeting, after the hours of public comment had ended, Bateson proposed lowering the water increase further to 5.9%. The board then approved the final proposal.

Board Chairman Mark Miller, a representative of the state of Michigan, thanked the GLWA staff for “the long hours” they put into the budget.

“No one ever gets everything, but you try to find the common ground that’s palatable for most,” Miller said. “So I think we’re good here.”

Residents oppose rate hikes

The GLWA Board of Directors met on the 5th Floor Board Room of the Water Board Building at 735 Randolph Street in Detroit, but over 200 participants were also on the Zoom call for the meeting.

Stewart of Detroit said residents already are “financially strapped” with housing, utilities and gas costs. Another Detroiter, Tommy Airey, also opposed the proposed increases, arguing that residents shouldn’t even have to pay for the necessities of life.

“If you believe in love, compassion, truth, justice, you would not even dream of raising these rates. In fact, you would lower the rates so that water would be affordable ― in fact, free for every resident of this city,” Airey said.

GLWA officials said the proposed increases are needed to cover capital investments and maintenance that have been deferred for several years, along with corrosion controls in its water.

“It’s a transition from many years of low-inflation adjustments, and there’s some economic realities that we face,” Bateson said.

Several public commenters brought up the recent water main break in southwest Detroit. A 54-inch steel water transmission line owned by GLWA burst at 2 a.m. Feb. 17. More than 250 homes had either flooded basements or lost power, according to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s office. Repairs are expected to continue through the rest of next week, according to a GLWA release issued Wednesday.

“To increase water rates at a time when Detroiters have suffered flooded neighborhoods, which ultimately turn into ice prisons … ― most tragically in southwest Detroit ― is unfathomable,” said Tawana Petty.

Bateson referred to it “as a devastating event.” The region’s water infrastructure is aging, and the pipe that broke was nearly 100 years old, she said.

“Unfortunately, the water system is solely dependent on the end consumer to cover the cost — not our choice, not our wish,” Bateson said. “We spend a lot of time talking to policymakers, explaining to them that the critical assets that are vital to life that they can’t see need grants, low-cost loans, and to be able to allow us to do proactive measures” to try to prevent these catastrophes.

Bateson told The Detroit News that GLWA changed its proposed budget earlier this month because pension costs rose. GLWA also decided to lower the proposed rates ― making them 6.5% for water and 4.5% for sewer ― by revisiting how it manages its debt, she said.

Gary Brown, a GLWA board member and Detroit’s Sewerage and Water Department director, said at the meeting the rate hikes are “not as low as most people would want,” but he feels they “will fit the needs of affordability in the city of Detroit.”

Whether the proposed increases for the 2026 fiscal year will be passed on to the region’s residents is to be determined. GLWA charges cities and townships for water and sewage treatment, and then local governments set their own rates for customers.

Some mayors and township supervisors told The News before the meeting that they expect to raise rates for residents by less than GLWA’s originally proposed hikes. The Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority said it would have no choice but to pass the hikes on to its member communities in Oakland County, which include Berkley, Royal Oak and Ferndale.

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash said earlier this month the rate increases varied widely every year before the GLWA was created, sometimes going up to 12%. While the regional authority never raised rates by more than 4% over the past 10 years, Nash said he had concerns that the rates sometimes weren’t raised enough.

While those decisions were “good for ratepayers,” Nash said, they may not have been enough in the long run “to make sure you’re bringing enough money to do the capital projects … the maintenance projects where you’re making sure that everything works right, and then the operations.”

By Luke Ramseth, Tribune News Service

Stellantis NV said Wednesday its 2024 net profit fell sharply to $5.8 billion (5.5 billion euro), a 70% drop compared to 2023’s record high.

The results reflect a tumultuous year for the maker of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram and other brands that included poor sales across several key regions, cost cuts including layoffs, fights with unions and dealers, and the sudden departure of CEO Carlos Tavares in December.

Last year marked by far the lowest total profits that Stellantis has posted since the 2021 merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and French automaker Groupe PSA that created the current company, now the third-largest global carmaker in terms of total units.

And although there are indicators of a turnaround, Stellantis executives in an investor call acknowledged 2025 would not be a return to the double-digit profit margins of the prior few years, and significant performance improvements would not occur until the year’s second half.

John Elkann, Stellantis’ board chair, told investors Wednesday that 2024 was “a year we are not proud of,” a sentiment that was quickly echoed by Chief Financial Officer Doug Ostermann, who said it had been “a very rough year.”

The transatlantic company’s adjusted operating income fell 64% to $9 billion (8.6 billion euro), and its margin fell to 5.5% after being in the double digits and among the best in the industry over the prior three years.

Stellantis had told investors in September to expect significantly lower profit margins amid its rocky year — a warning that had caught some off guard, and quickly led to a leadership shakeup before Tavares’ eventual exit. The 5.5% figure aligned with the low end of that updated profit forecast.

Net revenues for 2024 decreased by 17%, to $164.7 billion (156.9 billion euro). And the company’s industrial free cash flows notably plummeted 147% to negative $6.3 billion (6 billion euro) — revealing significant cash burn that investors were also notified about last fall.

Stellantis shares were down close to 4% early Wednesday.

Yet there were at least some signs of a rebound late in the year. A major problem for the automaker in 2024, especially in the United States, had been bloated dealer inventory including older models that had prevented retailers from ordering more new product from the factory.

But Stellantis said by the end of December it had reduced those inventories year-over-year by 18% worldwide, and by 20% in the United States. U.S. dealer stock stood at 304,000 vehicles, below the company’s reduction target of 330,000 vehicles. And the automaker has also begun launching key new vehicles on its new flexible platforms, known as STLA Medium, STLA Large and Smart Car.

The automaker in its earnings statement provided 2025 guidance of positive net revenue growth, a return to positive cash flow, and adjusted profit margins in the “mid-single digits.”

“The future is brighter from where we were in 2024,” Elkann told investors, though he and Ostermann repeatedly acknowledged it would be a slower recovery process, and not to expect large correction in profits or market share this year.

In the carmaker’s profit-rich U.S. market, vehicle sales fell 15% overall in 2024, and 7% for the fourth quarter. But the automaker cut prices and offered deep incentives in the final weeks of the year, which helped pick up the sales pace and clear the glut of older cars off dealer lots.

Stellantis executives are optimistic that, beyond price reductions, several new vehicle offerings in 2025 can help lift sales. In the U.S., those new offerings will include a replacement SUV for the discontinued Jeep Cherokee, filling a key hole in that brand’s lineup; a gas version of the Dodge Charger muscle car; as well as refreshed and all-new Ram pickups that executives are optimistic will be popular with consumers.

But the rollouts and sales success of those vehicles and others could be complicated by sweeping tariffs promised by President Donald Trump and other potential changes to support for electric vehicles. Stellantis has multiple factories in both Canada and Mexico, countries that could face steep new tariffs under Trump as early as next week.

And as it navigates the policy uncertainty, Stellantis is still searching for its next CEO after Tavares left late last year. It formed a special committee to lead the effort led by Elkann. The company said Wednesday the search is “well underway” and pledged to have a replacement in place sometime in the first half of this year.

The carmaker proposed a dividend to shareholders of 71 cents (.68 euro) per share pending their approval.

Stellantis was the last of the Detroit Three automakers to report earnings. General Motors Co. in January posted net 2024 income of $6 billion, well down from 2023 thanks to costly changes to its China and robotaxi operations. And Ford Motor Co. earlier this month said its net income was up substantially last year, to $5.9 billion, beating expectations.

By Luke Ramseth, Tribune News Service

Employees of Stellantis NV represented by the United Auto Workers can expect to see profit sharing checks of $3,780, though some could be more and some less based on hours worked, the automaker said Wednesday.

There are about 38,800 workers eligible for the checks. The payout is a 73% decrease from last year’s $13,860, when about 38,000 employees were eligible.

The profit-sharing announcement is part of the automaker’s annual financial results released Wednesday, and is based on a 4.2% adjusted operating income margin last year in North America. That profit margin is down from 15.4% last year amid major challenges in the region that included a major decline in vehicle sales.

This year’s payouts will be paid on March 7, according to Stellantis.

The profit sharing was calculated based on Stellantis’ 2023 labor agreement with the UAW. Union-represented employees get $900 per 1% of profit margin in North America, based on how how many hours an employee worked last year. That means the final amount may differ depending on employee.

Tweaks to profit-sharing negotiated in the 2023 contract between Stellantis and the UAW included that workers who left the company after Dec. 31 but before profit-sharing checks are cut are still eligible to get the payout.

The union also negotiated a “performance sharing” payout for supplemental workers based on the profit-sharing formula, though far fewer supplemental workers are employed by Stellantis than when the contract was hashed out.

General Motors Co. in January announced record-sharing profit-sharing payouts of up to $14,500 to 48,000 eligible workers. Ford Motor Co., meanwhile, said it would pay bonuses of about $10,208 to its 57,000 eligible workers, just below the amount for 2023.

By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com

If you sell goods or services or rent property, and get paid through Venmo, PayPal, Cash App or another payment app, you may have been surprised by a Form 1099-K this year.

Here’s why you might be among the millions of taxpayers who got this form for the first time: If you received a total of $5,000 or more through a payment app in 2024, that company is now required to report that amount to you — and to the IRS.

The standard before 2024 was that a 1099-K had to be issued only if you received $20,000 or more and had more than 200 transactions. Now the threshold dollar amount is much lower, and there’s no minimum transaction requirement.

And that threshold amount is slated to drop even more, with even more people likely to receive 1099-Ks next year: The $5,000 reporting threshold for tax year 2024 drops to $2,500 for 2025 and then plummets to $600 for 2026 and beyond.

While the new reporting rules might be a shock to some freelancers or people with side hustles, technically the tax rules didn’t change: You were always supposed to report that income to the IRS.

What is the 1099-K?

The 1099-K form reports payments for goods and services received from credit cards, mobile payment apps, online marketplaces, auction sites, ride-hailing apps, crowdfunding sites and more. Form 1099-K must be sent to taxpayers by Jan. 31 of the following year. That is, you should have received your 1099-K for 2024 by the end of January 2025. (See the 2025 tax deadlines.)

If you sell goods or services, or rent out property, the money you earn is generally taxable income (which, don’t forget, you can reduce by your costs, including qualified business deductions). Even selling your own clothes or furniture could count as taxable income, the IRS says, if you earned a profit.

If, however, you’re using Venmo or another payment app to pay your friend back for dinner, or to send a birthday present to your sister, this money shouldn’t be reported on a 1099-K. If you do receive a 1099-K, you’ll want to check to make sure that only taxable income is included on the form. (See below for how to deal with incorrect 1099-Ks.)

The income threshold for Form 1099-K was lowered to $600 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. Prior to ARPA’s passage, only total payments of $20,000 or more, and more than 200 transactions, required a Form 1099-K.

During the debate over ARPA, tax pros and others expressed opposition to the lowered payment thresholds, with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants among those warning Congress that the lower threshold would lead to confusion and errors. Ultimately, the IRS postponed the new reporting requirements in 2022 and 2023, allowing more time for the payment apps, officially known as third-party settlement organizations, to conform.

New 1099-K reporting requirements

To give third-party settlement organizations more time to comply with 1099-K reporting requirements, in 2024 the IRS announced a phased-in approach to the reporting thresholds:

2023 and earlier: $20,000+ and 200+ transactions

2024: $5,000+

2025: $5,000+

2025: $2,500+

2026: $600+

Not all payment apps are alike

While taxpayers can expect Form 1099-Ks from PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App, Zelle won’t be included in that list.

“The Zelle platform directly transfers funds from one bank account to another, similar to a wire transfer. Thus, it never has custody of the funds, it simply moves money,” says Monica Houston, a certified public accountant in Brentwood, Calif.

Therefore, Zelle transactions are not subject to reporting requirements.

Who is likely to receive a 1099-K?

The Form 1099-K is issued to taxpayers who receive direct payments for selling goods or providing services. While the reporting income threshold is $5,000 for 2024, in some cases you may receive a Form 1099-K even if the dollar amount is below the reporting threshold.

Whether you receive a Form 1099-K or not, if you received taxable income from the sales of goods or services, you’ll need to report it on your tax return.

What if you get an incorrect 1099-K?

If you used a payment app to exchange money with friends and family, that exchange isn’t taxable, and you shouldn’t receive a Form 1099-K for those transactions.

If you do receive a 1099-K with these types of transactions reported, then you shouldn’t report these as taxable income. Instead, contact the issuer of the Form 1099-K, request that they remove these items from the form and reissue a corrected Form 1099-K. The IRS has instructions on how to handle this situation.

If you use payment apps for personal and business use, then it makes sense to have a solid accounting system to clearly distinguish between business and personal payments.

“I recommend using an Excel spreadsheet or consider using QuickBooks online to adopt a computerized accounting system,” Houston says. Taking these steps can ensure you report your income correctly on your income tax return.

How to report income reported on Form 1099-K

Form 1099-K reports various types of payments, which affect how you report your income on your Form 1040 and related forms and schedules. If you sold personal items, you will need to report them on your tax return. If the item was sold for a loss, you cannot deduct the loss from your taxes, but you can zero out the reported income. However, if you sold an item for a profit, you must report the profit, which is the amount received less your cost, as taxable income.

Whether you receive payments for goods sold, services provided or rental property, these must be reported on your tax return. Freelancers, gig workers and self-employed people generally report income on Schedule C of their income tax returns. Rent payments are reported on Schedule E.

Houston stresses the importance of staying abreast of the new tax law changes and encourages taxpayers to take an active part in the tax process. “I highly recommend that they enlist assistance from a qualified tax professional in the final preparation of their return especially if they are receiving a Form 1099-K. The return on investment is usually worth it in many ways,” Houston says.

©2025 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Anna Claire Vollers, Stateline.org

A push by Republican attorneys general in 17 states to strike down part of a federal law that protects disabled people from discrimination has prompted an outcry from advocates, parents and some local officials.

The GOP-led lawsuit targets certain protections for transgender people. But some experts warn it has the potential to weaken federal protections for all people with disabilities.

Texas GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the federal government in September over the Biden administration’s addition of a gender identity-related disorder to the disabilities protected under a section of a 1973 federal law.

Republican attorneys general from 16 other states joined the lawsuit: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.

But the AGs face a growing public backlash that stems from conflicting messages about what the lawsuit would actually do.

“The disability community is outraged and scared,” said Charlotte Cravins, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, attorney whose 1-year-old son has Down syndrome and is blind in one eye.

Cravins and other parents and advocates point to parts of the lawsuit in which the plaintiffs ask the court to find an entire section of the law unconstitutional. If the court agrees, they think it would allow schools, workplaces, hospitals and other entities to refuse to provide accommodations they’ve been required to provide for the past 50 years.

“It would affect so many people that every person in our state — really, in our country — should be concerned,” Cravins said. “If they can erase protections for disabled children, then who’s next?”

The provision in question, Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, prohibits entities that receive federal funding from discriminating based on disability. For example, the law prohibits hospitals from denying organ transplants to people because they have a disability. It requires schools to allow deaf students to use speech-to-text technology. The law covers a wide range of disabilities, including vision and hearing impairments, autism, diabetes, Down syndrome, dyslexia and ADHD.

Last May, the Biden administration issued a rule that added to the covered disabilities “gender dysphoria,” the psychological distress that people may experience when their gender identity doesn’t match their sex assigned at birth. Gender dysphoria is defined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

In recent days, national disability rights groups — including the American Council of the Blind, the National Down Syndrome Society, the National Association of the Deaf and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund— have encouraged the public to speak out, sparking a surge of activity on social media and calls to state lawmakers.

AGs respond

Despite the public backlash, some state AGs are digging in their heels.

Georgia Republican Attorney General Chris Carr insists the lawsuit wouldn’t affect existing disability protections. Instead, he said, it merely aims to reverse the Biden administration’s addition of gender dysphoria to the law’s protected disabilities.

“The constitutionality of 504 was never in question,” Carr said in a statement to Stateline. “We are fighting one woke policy added by Biden for virtue signaling.”

He said most Georgians don’t believe gender dysphoria should be treated as an eligible disability “as if it’s the same as Down syndrome or dyslexia or autism.”

Arkansas Republican Attorney General Tim Griffin issued a statement claiming that if the states win the lawsuit, “regulations would go back to what they were” before gender dysphoria was added to the law. He said that a ruling declaring Section 504 unconstitutional would only mean the federal government couldn’t revoke funding over a failure to comply with the part of the law protecting gender dysphoria.

But Erwin Chemerinsky, a constitutional law expert and the dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, wrote in an email that the lawsuit clearly asks the court to declare the entirety of Section 504 unconstitutional. He called the request “truly stunning.”

The lawsuit is currently on hold. Shortly after President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, the parties in the case agreed to pause litigation while the new administration reevaluates the federal government’s position. Status reports are due to a judge later this month. Some of the AGs involved in the lawsuit, including Georgia’s Carr and West Virginia Republican Attorney General J.B. McCuskey, have said they expect the Trump administration to reverse the Biden rule. That could cause the AGs’ lawsuit to be dropped.

Meanwhile, as public pressure escalates, some AGs are distancing themselves from the suit.

South Carolina Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson said in a statement that Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order stating that “it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female” resolved his concerns. “Our mission is complete,” Wilson said. Some advocates understood his statement to mean he might withdraw South Carolina from the lawsuit.

However, a spokesperson for his office told Stateline that South Carolina would not be withdrawing from the lawsuit, but would be filing a notice with the court to clarify that the state is not asking for Section 504 to be declared unconstitutional.

Utah Republican Attorney General Derek Brown said in a statement that Utah joined the lawsuit before he took office and that he doesn’t think Section 504 will be invalidated because “the Trump administration will soon withdraw the regulation” that added gender dysphoria to the list of disabilities.

The AGs argue that established federal law does not consider gender identity disorders to be disabilities. They say allowing the Biden rule to remain in place would let the government withhold federal funding from schools unless they allow transgender students to compete in sports or use locker rooms that match their gender identity.

Grassroots efforts

Cravins, the Louisiana attorney and mother, sent a letter to Louisiana Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill, asking her to drop Louisiana from the lawsuit.

Murrill issued a statement last week expressing support for people with disabilities and saying her office is “actively seeking a resolution with the Trump administration” to withdraw the Biden rule while keeping the law’s previous protections intact.

Cravins said her son depends on Section 504 protections to access specialized therapies, and will rely on those protections even more as he approaches school age. Section 504 will help ensure he receives access to vision-related support, therapy and other accommodations in school.

Cravins believes the AGs that signed onto the lawsuit aren’t being honest about its potential impact to protections for all people with disabilities.

“For them to say one thing and the lawsuit to say another, I can’t imagine it’s anything other than them being disingenuous with their constituents,” she said.

Ryan Renaud, a school board representative for one of the largest public school districts in Alabama, said a concerned parent who also is an attorney contacted him, after reading a story about Alabama Republican Attorney General Steve Marshall joining the lawsuit. More calls soon followed.

“We’ve been hearing from dozens of parents in the last couple of days,” Renaud told Stateline. Without Section 504 protections, he said, students could lose access to a wide range of accommodations, from classroom aides to extra time to take tests.

The impacts could extend beyond what most people think of when they think of special education, he said.

“This includes students with ADHD, heart disease, depression, visual impairment, diabetes,” Renaud said. “Accommodations that come with those health concerns also fall under 504 plan protection.

“When a student doesn’t have those accommodations, they become less secure in class and teachers are less able to manage their classrooms.”

He’s also worried that the funding from the U.S. Department of Education that helps pay for those accommodations could vanish if federal law no longer requires them. Trump has vowed to dismantle the agency.

“We spend on average $30 million a year or more on special education, and more than a quarter of that is provided by the federal government,” he said. “If [accommodations] aren’t federally protected and the Department of Education doesn’t have the authority to disburse the funds, we have to assume we’d have to pick up that slack through local or state funding.

“And it’s hard to believe Alabama would cough up tens or hundreds of millions of dollars to supplement these costs.”

Last year, the U.S. Department of Education reported that 1.6 million students with disabilities were served under Section 504 nationwide during the 2020-2021 school year.

©2025 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Max Reinhart, Tribune News Service

An Oakland County jury on Tuesday delivered a $106 million verdict against a Birmingham-based health and beauty business after six women who worked there sued, claiming the owner subjected them to frequent verbal and physical sexual advances including thrusting his hips into a massage table, making inappropriate remarks about his family members and using the company’s LinkedIn account to solicit European prostitutes.

The women, each named Jane Doe in the lawsuit filed in June 2024 in Oakland County Circuit Court, worked at Science Beauty Tech for owner Gary Raykhinshteyn between 2021 and 2023. Some were as young as 19 when they were hired, said Todd Flood, managing partner at Flood Law, who represented five of the plaintiffs.

“What these women had to endure in the workplace was nothing short of horrific,” Flood said. “Let this be a lesson for all those who abuse their position of power – you will be held accountable.”

Raykhinshteyn called the jury’s decision “completely insane” and said the allegations were lies.

“This is just unheard of,” he said of the $106 million verdict. “These women are telling the judge I put a gun to their head and asked them to rub my penis? There is no proof.”

Among the numerous allegations against Raykhinshteyn in the complaint, none involved a firearm.

Propositions on social media

While working as an office assistant, Jane Doe 1 discovered a message sent by Raykhinshteyn on the company’s Instagram page in which he claimed he would offer to let her perform fellatio on the recipient of the message, “but he couldn’t because the third party did not have any money,” according to the complaint.

Two of the women alleged that Raykhinshteyn would also use the company Instagram account to request nude photographs from other women and the company’s LinkedIn account to book appointments with prostitutes in Europe.

In a separate incident, Jane Doe 4, who worked as an office manager at SBT, said Raykhinshteyn brought her along with him to Florida for a business conference sometime while she worked there between November 2021 and March 2022. When they arrived, she alleged, she learned that he had only booked one room and that only he would be attending the conference, while she was to wait in the room.

During the trip he repeatedly requested sex from her and asked her to watch him masturbate. She said that at one point he wrapped himself around her, releasing her only after she repeatedly pleaded for him to stop.

Each of the plaintiffs said Raykhinshteyn had touched them either on the shoulders, back or buttocks and made inappropriate comments toward them.

Jane Doe 6, who only worked at SBT from January to February in 2023, said Raykhinshteyn requested she give him a massage using a specialty device used to promote blood circulation, lymphatic drainage and reduction of cellulite and wrinkles in patients. During the massage, she alleged, Raykhinshteyn moaned and appeared to have an erection while he was lying on his back and when he rolled onto his stomach he thrusted his hips into the table.

Two of the women said Raykhinshteyn prodded them to profess their attraction to him and, when they declined, he responded by insulting their intelligence, appearance and weight, according to the complaint.

The plaintiffs also said their boss made comments about their wardrobes, telling some of them to wear more revealing attire at work or for business meetings, and telling one not to wear leggings to work because he wouldn’t be able to control himself.

During a text exchange with two of the plaintiffs, Raykhinshteyn referred to potential hires as “victims,” the suit alleged.

The business owner also was accused of making inappropriate remarks regarding his family members. Jane Doe 6 said Raykhinshteyn told her that when his daughter gets married, her husband can have sex with her against her will because it’s not rape if the two are married. He also allegedly told her that when he has sex with his wife, sometimes she just “lays there” and “takes it like a good wife.”

Retaliation alleged

The woman said Raykhinshteyn retaliated against them after they refused his advances by making disparaging comments, revoking their free parking or failing to pay them once they quit for work already completed.

Flood said the jury found in favor of the women based on findings of employment discrimination, hostile work environment, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

“Testifying in open court and confronting their former employer required immense bravery, as they had to relive the trauma that marred what should have been an exciting start to their professional careers,” Flood Law said in a press release. “Collectively, they hope to prevent Mr. Raykhinshteyn from causing further harm to young women while empowering those in similar situations to find their voices.”

Raykhinshteyn said he plans to appeal the decision and will consider filing a malpractice suit against his attorney, Jonahtan M. Jones.

Jones did not return a call seeking comment.

By Henry Payne, Tribune News Service

January and the Detroit Auto Show fit like hand and a (winter) glove.

The show’s organizers said Wednesday it will be back next year from Jan. 14-25, solidifying itself as the first North American auto show on the calendar after a successful return this year. Like a mall, the Huntington Place showcase will again be anchored by Detroit automakers, The Gallery exhibit full of exotic cars, and Racing Day sponsored by the Detroit Grand Prix.

After a disjointed four years that saw multiple date changes and even cancellation due to the COVID pandemic, the Detroit Auto Show was back to its traditional January dates this year for the first time since 2019. Shedding its moniker as the North American International Auto Show as the auto industry has become less show-centric for vehicle reveals, the auto-palooza now carries the moniker Detroit Auto Show.

It attracted 275,000 people over 11 days this winter, well off its NAIAS peak of 800,000. The show boasted an economic impact of $370 million as it brought car fans into the city to kick off the new year.

Anne Snabes and Hannah Mackay, Tribune News Service

The Great Lakes Water Authority is considering adopting the highest water and sewer rate increases in its 10-year history as a 4% cap on higher prices ends this summer.

The authority that serves 112 communities across eight counties in southeast Michigan has proposed increasing its wholesale water rates by an average of 7.73% and 5.39% for sewer rates for the 2026 fiscal year, which begins July 1. The authority’s board of directors is slated to vote on these charges during its Feb. 26 meeting.

Great Lakes Water Authority officials say the increases are needed to cover capital investments and maintenance that have been deferred for several years, along with corrosion controls in its water.

But some local leaders said the raises are higher than they would have liked and come when residents are already struggling with higher costs because of inflation. Eric Griffin, general manager of the Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority, called the proposed water rate increase “significant.” SOCWA contracts with GLWA to provide water services to 13 communities, including Berkley, Southfield and Royal Oak.

“There’s significant infrastructure investments necessary, whether or not that requires a seven and a half percent increase this year — I’m not sure,” Griffin said. “I think there needs to be more justification of the 7.5%.”

Demeeko Williams, founder and chief director of Hydrate Detroit, a water-relief nonprofit organization, said it is the wrong time for rate increases.

“Why are we raising rates when people are struggling to keep jobs, opportunity and such?” Williams asked. “… People are already struggling. That adds on to our water bills. People can’t afford their water bills.”

Williams hopes water affordability will be a priority and said that GLWA, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, and water departments around the region need to be more conscious of their neighbors.

The increases are being weighed as a 10-year commitment the GLWA made when it was founded in 2014, called the 4% Promise, expires on June 30. As recently as 2023, the authority said that keeping the commitment to limit budget increases to 4% or below was “incredibly challenging.”

Last year, GLWA approved increases of 3.25% for water and 3% for wastewater services. The hikes were lower for fiscal year 2024 at 2.75% each for water and sewer services. The authority said rate adjustments for water have averaged 2.9% for water over the last nine years and 1.7% for sewer.

Whether the proposed increases will be passed on to residents is to be determined, though SOCWA says it’ll have no choice but to pass the hikes on to its member communities in Oakland County. GLWA charges cities and townships for water and sewage treatment, and then local governments set their own rates for customers. Some mayors and township supervisors said they expect to raise rates for residents by less than GLWA’s hikes.

Nicolette Bateson, GLWA’s chief financial officer and treasurer, said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of some chemicals and construction materials shot up.

“Looking at this charge increase does not come from us as an easy ask in any way, but we really feel it’s the right thing to do for the system,” she said, “because … we have deferred some maintenance, we have put off some capital projects, and it’s not necessarily responsible for us to continue to do that.”

The authority said it is also spending an estimated $6 million on corrosion controls in its water and is paying half of the cost of a multiyear flood mitigation study with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash recalled that rate increases varied widely every year before the GLWA was created, sometimes going up to 12%. While the GLWA never raised rates by more than 4% over the past 10 years, Nash had concerns that they sometimes weren’t raised enough.

“A few years, we were a little concerned that they didn’t raise it enough,” Nash said. “And that’s good for ratepayers, but in the long run, you have to make sure you’re bringing enough money to do the capital projects, … the maintenance projects where you’re making sure that everything works right, and then the operations.”

Nash thinks part of the more than 7% rate increase is making up for the lack of increases over the past 10 years.

“It’s tied to the projects they need to do to make sure that we have the infrastructure we need,” Nash said. “Old infrastructure is being replaced.”

GLWA explains the rate hikes

When the Great Lake Water Authority was created in 2014 in the wake of Detroit’s bankruptcy after the Detroit Department of Sewerage and Water essentially ran the regional system that had customers as far north as Flint, a memorandum of understanding restricted annual budget increases to 4% for its first 10 years of operation. Under the bankruptcy exit plan, Detroit’s water department agreed to lease its assets to the new authority.

Bateson, GLWA’s chief financial officer and treasurer, said the memorandum of understanding limited budget increases to 4%, but not necessarily sewer and water charges.

“But the theory is: if you’re keeping your budget under control, you’re also keeping charges under control,” she said.

The authority started seeing high-cost increases in 2022, including jumps in the price of steel and chlorine. The authority responded by leveraging its investment earnings and refinancing bonds.

“So we’ve done all of these things, but when you still see 55-80% increases … you know the math doesn’t add up,” she said. “And we’re facing continued increase in our infrastructure costs, particularly on the water system. We have a lot of large construction projects underway right now.”

GLWA is also spending money on its orthophosphate program. Public water systems commonly add phosphates to drinking water to prevent the release of toxic metals in the water, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Michelle Zdrodowski, chief public affairs officer for GLWA, said the authority doesn’t have lead in its pipes, but there is lead in some local communities’ pipes. She said GLWA has increased the amount of orthophosphate it puts into the water, which helps local communities protect their own systems and residents protect the pipes in their homes.

Bateson said GLWA has been talking with the communities it serves about rate increases for the last couple of years, so “it’s not a surprise.”

“But at the end of the day, nobody likes a charge increase,” she said. “We don’t like asking for a charge increase.”

GLWA said its annual water rate increases have averaged 2.9% in the nine years from 2018 to 2026, while the sewer service charges have risen an average of 1.7%. The lowest increase for water was 0.6% in 2020, while the authority cut sewer rates by 0.6% in 2022 and by 0.7% in 2018.

Nick Sheeran, a homeowner in Sterling Heights and an electrician, said that addressing deferred maintenance “makes sense.”

“I’d rather see money spent like that because there will be, especially with these construction projects ― it is putting people to work,” he said. “And that’s probably, in my opinion, the best way that you can spend the money, if you’re going to have to spend it.”

SOCWA responds to rate hikes

The Southeastern Oakland County Water Authority is the largest model contract customer of GLWA, representing about 14% of the utility’s revenue, said Griffin, SOCWA’s general manager.

Nearly 90% of SOCWA’s budget goes toward GLWA costs, and Griffin said they will have no choice but to make its member communities pay more for water and sewer services, which will impact residents directly.

“I have no alternative but to pass that increase on to my communities, and they’re going to be forced to pass those increases to their residents,” Griffin said. “So the bottom line is … that is where the increase is going to hit, and 7.5% is a big increase.”

Jim Breuckman, the city manager of Pleasant Ridge, one of SOCWA’s member communities, was not surprised at the rate increases.

“Water systems are contending with secular declines in water usage, while infrastructure ages and requires costly maintenance and upkeep,” Breuckman said.

‘I hate to burden people further’

Ken Siver, the mayor of Southfield, which is part of SOCWA, said “nobody wants to pay more” and noted that for some people, the current rates “have been a challenge.” They have cut back on their water use.

“On the other hand, I know that it’s not the water ― it’s the system, and for years, the system … had been neglected,” he said.

Siver said his city used to have water main breaks “constantly,” but the city has been doing a major overhaul of its water mains. He said he is “kind of torn” about the GLWA rate increases.

“We have to invest, and at the same time, I hate to burden people further,” he said, “but … you just can’t keep ignoring the needs of the system.”

Rates to be determined

From Grosse Pointe Woods to Plymouth Township, several local officials said even though the wholesale rates are higher than they would’ve liked, they still have to set their own rates.

Grosse Pointe Woods Mayor Arthur Bryant said his community hasn’t increased rates in five years because it had built up surplus water and sewer funds. But he thinks the city will have to enact a raise this time.

“Nobody likes an increase,” he said. “I don’t personally like an increase because I have to pay the same thing everyone else does, but I think we’ll work our way through it OK.”

In Plymouth Township — which gets its water from GLWA, but it doesn’t use the authority’s sewer services; it instead uses Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority — Supervisor Charles Curmi said the amount that the township raises its water rates partly depends on the financial position of its water department.

“And it does not always reflect exactly what Great Lakes Water Authority has increased,” he said. For each of the last six years, Plymouth Township has either not raised rates or increased them by less than GLWA’s hikes.

By Jeff Ostrowski, Bankrate.com

The conventional wisdom about private mortgage insurance (PMI) has long been that borrowers should try to avoid it. PMI is a requirement for conventional mortgage borrowers who put down less than 20% on a home — and it’s just one more cost squeezing first-time homebuyers.

Yet, in recent years, private mortgage insurers have lowered their rates.

“I am a big fan of mortgage insurance — and it’s kind of a dirty word. When you talk to customers, they don’t tend to like it,” says Emanuel Santa-Donato, senior vice president at Tomo Mortgage. “But if you look at the actual cost of the mortgage insurance relative to being able to put down 3% or 5%, it is quite advantageous. That money could be used elsewhere.”

What is private mortgage insurance (PMI)?

PMI is a requirement for conventional mortgage borrowers who make a down payment of less than 20% on a home. Although the borrower pays for coverage, PMI protects not the borrower, but the lender. Should the borrower default, or stop paying, the loan, the lender receives a payout from the PMI carrier.

PMI is a temporary expense. By law, lenders are required to cancel it when your mortgage balance drops to 78% of your home’s original purchase value, or when you are halfway through your loan term, whichever comes first.

Even before this scheduled date, though, you can request that your lender remove PMI once you pay down your balance to 80% of your home’s original value. In that case, you’d need to pay for an appraisal or broker price opinion to establish value.

For years, homebuyers have been so opposed to paying PMI that they’ve jumped through hoops, such as getting piggyback loans. With this type of loan, a buyer makes a 10% down payment, then takes a second mortgage for the other 10% — avoiding PMI, but incurring additional closing costs, not to mention a mortgage rate a bit higher than the rate on the primary loan.

Does PMI cost less now?

Today, the average cost of private mortgage insurance is about 0.4% of the amount of the loan. If you were paying PMI on a $400,000 loan, for example, your premium would be $1,600 a year, or about $133 a month.

As recently as 2019, borrowers could expect to spend more than that: around 0.5%. In the same scenario, that’d be $2,000 a year, or $167 monthly.

The averages are just averages, of course. Your PMI rate is based on a variety of factors, including your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, even the dynamics of your local housing market. You’ll pay a higher premium if you put just 3% down, as opposed to putting down 10% or 15%, too. PMI is designed to protect your lender against the risk that you’ll default, and the more risk the mortgage insurer perceives, the higher your premium.

A recent study by the Urban Institute illustrates how widely the cost of PMI varies. For conventional borrowers who put down 3% and have credit scores below 680, PMI costs more than 1% of the amount of the loan on an annual basis. A borrower with a 3% down payment and a credit score of 760 or higher, however, pays less than 0.5%.

Why are PMI rates falling?

The private mortgage insurance industry is made up of half a dozen carriers, a roster that includes Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Co., Radian Group, National Mortgage Insurance and Arch Mortgage Insurance. Over the past decade, those companies have adjusted their pricing models to more accurately reflect the risk posed by each individual borrower.

“Ten years ago, there were these very formulaic rate cards that each of the PMI lenders gave to the lenders,” says Chris Grimes, senior director at Fitch Ratings. “Now there’s a very dynamic process with hundreds, if not thousands, of factors.”

The new approach allows PMI carriers to more closely match each borrower’s risk profile to the premium.

“Pricing is more granular than it’s been before, and that’s how you get more precise premiums,” says Carl Tyree, chief sales officer at Arch Mortgage Insurance.

Should you pay PMI?

With home prices at record highs, coming up with a 20% down payment simply isn’t an option for many homebuyers, especially first-time buyers.

If you have enough financial flexibility to choose between a 20% down payment and something lower, though, ask yourself: “What else can you do with the money? Do you want to take that extra equity and invest it?” Santa-Donato says.

Here are two hypotheticals facing the buyer of a $500,000 home:

—Make a 20% down payment of $100,000. Assuming a 30-year mortgage at 7%, your monthly loan payment would be $2,661.

—Make a 10% down payment of $50,000. Your loan amount would go up to $450,000, so your monthly payment would rise to $2,994. Assuming a PMI premium of 0.35%, you’d pay an extra $131 in monthly PMI costs, bringing the total payment to $3,125.

There’s no right or wrong answer. Keeping the extra $50,000 in the bank or in investments would cost you $464 a month — the difference in mortgage payment between the first and second scenario. From there, it’s a personal decision about how much you value liquidity.

Bottom line

PMI remains an extra expense, but rates have come down enough in recent years that borrowers no longer need to reflexively avoid it.

©2025 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Rachel Christian, Bankrate.com

Many people think $2 bills are rare, but in reality, there are millions still in circulation, and they continue to be printed. However, while most $2 bills are only worth their face value, certain ones can fetch thousands of dollars on the collector’s market.

This article will explore which $2 bills are worth the most, why they hold their value and how you can determine if your $2 bill is worth more than your next paycheck.

Which $2 bills are worth the most?

Not all $2 bills are valuable, but certain editions stand out due to their rarity, historical significance or printing errors. But similar to the most valuable coins, it’s extremely unlikely that you would ever come across these bills in your daily life. As you’ll see, bills printed in the 1800s tend to be the most valuable.

1862 and 1869 legal tender notes

The earliest $2 bills, issued in 1862 and 1869, feature a portrait of Alexander Hamilton (who was later replaced by Thomas Jefferson). These notes are highly sought after by collectors thanks to their historical importance and limited availability.

Depending on condition, these bills can be worth anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand.

1890 $2 Treasury Note

An 1890 $2 Treasury Note featuring General James McPherson is worth upwards of $4,500, according to U.S. Currency Auctions. However, it can fetch tens of thousands of dollars at auction, especially if it’s in perfect condition.

1928 red seal notes

The 1928 $2 bill was the first to feature Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello. Unlike later editions, it displayed a red seal rather than a green one. Collectors favor these notes because they were part of the earliest modern $2 bill series.

Circulated bills can fetch $5 to $175, but uncirculated bills in pristine condition can be worth several hundred dollars to over $1,000.

1953 and 1963 red seal notes

While not as valuable as older versions, these bills are still collectible. Depending on their condition, they can range from $5 to about $20.

1976 bicentennial $2 bills (with special serial numbers or stamps)

The 1976 $2 bill was released to celebrate the U.S. bicentennial, and while most of them are only worth face value, some with special serial numbers, misprints, stamps or star notes can be worth $20 to $900.

The rarest $2 bill from this year is known as a ladder note, which means its serial number is 12345678. These notes can be worth thousands of dollars at auctions.

Uncirculated vs. circulated $2 bills

The condition of a $2 bill significantly impacts its value. Collectors classify bills into two broad categories:

• Uncirculated: These bills have never been used in transactions, so they remain crisp, clean and free of folds or tears. Uncirculated bills are far more valuable (and rare, especially the older they are) than circulated ones. For example, an uncirculated 1928 red seal $2 bill could be worth over $1,000, while a circulated version may only be worth $5 to $175.
• Circulated: These bills have been used in everyday transactions and often show signs of wear and tear. While circulated $2 bills can still be valuable, they’re always worth less than their uncirculated counterparts.

In short, a bill in pristine condition will always fetch a higher price.

What’s the market for rare $2 bills?

The market for collectible $2 bills is quite active. Many $2 bills are traded via online marketplaces, including eBay, Heritage Auctions and currency dealer websites. However, if you’re looking to make money investing in collectibles, you can find more potentially profitable options elsewhere.

The demand for rare $2 bills means that sellers can often find buyers quickly, especially for well-preserved or unique bills. In general, older bills and bills with errors tend to sell the fastest and at the highest prices.

Looking for a more reliable way to make money? Check out Bankrate’s list of the 10 best investments.

How to sell valuable $2 bills

If you think you have a valuable $2 bill, here are the steps you need to take to determine its worth and find potential buyers.

• Identify the series and condition: Look at the series year and seal color. Take note of the bill’s condition (circulated vs. uncirculated).
• Research the value: Compare similar bills sold on eBay or currency auction sites, and consult a currency pricing guide. Heritage Auctions offers a helpful guide on how to evaluate the value of paper currency.
• Find a buyer: You can sell your $2 bill through online marketplaces like eBay or you can visit a coin and currency dealer. Another option is listing your bill with auction houses specializing in paper money. A financial advisor might be able to help you evaluate potential offers.
• Store your bill in a safe place: Keep uncirculated bills in protective sleeves, and avoid folding or handling the bill. Store in a cool, dry place to prevent the bill from getting damaged.

How many $2 bills are still in circulation?

Despite their perceived rarity, $2 bills are still shockingly common. According to the U.S. Treasury, there were over $3.2 billion worth of $2 bills in circulation as of December 2023. And that figure has been growing steadily each year for about two decades.

While they’re less common than other denominations, $2 bills are still being printed. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing printed around 128 million new $2 bills in fiscal year 2023 alone.

While receiving a $2 bill in change at the gas station or grocery store might feel rare, they’re still considered legal tender, and banks can still distribute them upon request. However, due to their lower demand in everyday life, many people mistakenly believe they’ve been discontinued.

Bottom line

The $2 bill may not be a common sight in everyday transactions, but certain editions are worth far more than their face value. Whether you have an 1890 bill worth thousands or a 1976 bicentennial bill with a special serial number, it’s worth checking to see if you own a hidden gem.

However, while there’s always a chance, don’t count on your $2 bill turning out to be a valuable alternative investment. If you’re looking for more reliable ways to grow your wealth, consider consulting with a financial advisor.

©2025 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Michelle Andrews, KFF Health News

One August afternoon in 2023, Angela Martin’s cousin called with alarming news. Martin’s 74-year-old aunt had been mauled by four dogs while out for a walk near her home in rural Purlear, North Carolina. She was bleeding heavily from bites on both legs and her right arm, where she’d tried to protect her face and neck. An ambulance was on its way.

“Tell them she’s on Eliquis!” said Martin, a nurse who lived an hour’s drive away in Winston-Salem. She knew the blood thinner could lead to life-threatening blood loss.

When the ambulance arrived, the medics evaluated Martin’s aunt and then did something few emergency medical services crews do: They gave her a blood transfusion to replace what she’d lost, stabilizing her sinking blood pressure.

The ambulance took her to the local high school, and from there a medical helicopter flew her to the nearest trauma center, in Winston-Salem. She needed more units of blood in the helicopter and at the hospital but eventually recovered fully.

“The whole situation would have been different if they hadn’t given her blood right away,” Martin said. “She very well might have died.”

More than 60,000 people in the U.S. bleed to death every year from traumatic events like car crashes or gunshot wounds, or other emergencies, including those related to pregnancy or gastrointestinal hemorrhaging. It’s a leading cause of preventable death after a traumatic event.

But many of those people likely wouldn’t have died if they had received a blood transfusion promptly, trauma specialists say. At a news conference last fall, members of the American College of Surgeons estimated that 10,000 lives could be saved annually if more patients received blood before they arrived at the hospital.

“I don’t think that people understand that ambulances don’t carry blood,” said Jeffrey Kerby, who is chair of the ACS Committee on Trauma and directs trauma and acute care surgery at the University of Alabama-Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine. “They just assume they have it.”

Of the more than 11,000 EMS agencies in the U.S. that provide ground transport to acute care hospitals, only about 1% carry blood, according to a 2024 study.

The term “blood deserts” generally refers to a problem in rural areas where the nearest trauma center is dozens of miles away. But heavy traffic and other factors in suburban and urban areas can turn those areas into blood deserts, too. In recent years, several EMS agencies throughout the country have established “pre-hospital blood programs” aimed at getting blood to injured people who might not survive the ambulance ride to the trauma center.

With blood loss, every minute counts. Blood helps move oxygen and nutrients to cells and keeps organs working. If the volume gets too low, it can no longer perform those essential functions.

If someone is catastrophically injured, sometimes nothing can save them. But in many serious bleeding situations, if emergency personnel can provide blood within 30 minutes, “it’s the best chance of survival for those patients,” said Leo Reardon, the Field Transfusion Paramedic Program director for the Canton, Massachusetts, fire department. “They’re in the early stages of shock where the blood will make the most difference.”

There are several roadblocks that prevent EMS agencies from providing blood. Several states don’t allow emergency services personnel to administer blood before they arrive at the hospital, said John Holcomb, a professor in the division of trauma and acute care surgery at UAB’s Heersink School.

“It’s mostly tradition,” Holcomb said. “They say: ‘It’s dangerous. You’re not qualified.’ But both of those things are not true.”

On the battlefields in the Middle East, operators of military medical facilities would maintain that only nurses and doctors could do blood transfusions, said Randall Schaefer, a U.S. Army trauma nurse who was deployed there and now consults with states on implementing pre-hospital blood programs.

But in combat situations, “we didn’t have that luxury,” Schaefer said. Medical staff sometimes relied on medics who carried units of blood in their backpacks. “Medics can absolutely make the right decisions about doing blood transfusions,” she said.

A quick response made a difference: Soldiers who received blood within minutes of being injured were four times as likely to survive, according to military research.

Civilian emergency services are now incorporating lessons learned by the military into their own operations.

But they face another significant hurdle: compensation. Ambulance service payments are based on how far vehicles travel and the level of services they provide, with some adjustments. But the fee schedule doesn’t cover blood products. If EMS responders carry blood on calls, it’s usually low-titer O whole blood, which is generally safe for anyone to receive, or blood components — liquid plasma and packed red blood cells. These products can cost from $80 to $600 on average, according to Schaefer’s study. And payments don’t cover the blood coolers, fluid warming equipment, and other gear needed to provide blood at the scene.

On Jan. 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began counting any administration of blood during ambulance pre-hospital transport as an “advanced life support, level 2” (ALS2) service, which will boost payment in some cases.

The higher reimbursement is welcome, but it’s not enough to cover the cost of providing blood to a patient, which can run to more than $1,000, Schaefer said. Agencies that run these programs are paying for them out of their own operating budgets or using grants or other sources.

Blood deserts exist in rural and urban areas. Last August, Herby Joseph was walking down the stairs at his cousin’s house in Brockton, Massachusetts, when he slipped and fell. The glass plate he was carrying shattered and sliced through the blood vessels in his right hand.

“I saw a flood of blood and called my cousin to call 911,” Joseph, 37, remembered.

The ambulance team arrived in just a few minutes, evaluated him, and called in the Canton-based Field Transfusion Paramedic Program team, which began administering a blood transfusion shortly thereafter. The program serves 30 towns in the Boston area. Since the transfusion program began last March, the team has responded to more than 40 calls, many of them related to car accidents along the ring of interstate highways surrounding the area, Reardon said.

Brockton has a Level 3 trauma center, but Joseph’s injuries required more intensive care. Boston Medical Center, the Level 1 trauma center where the EMS team was taking Joseph, is about 23 miles from Brockton, and depending on traffic it can take more than a half hour to get there.

Joseph was given more blood at the medical center, where he remained for nearly a week. He eventually underwent three surgeries to repair his hand and has now returned to his warehouse job.

Although Boston has several Level 1 trauma centers, the region south of the city is pretty much a trauma desert, said Crisanto Torres, one of the trauma surgeons who cared for Joseph.

Boston Medical Center partners with the Canton Fire Department to operate the field transfusion program. It’s an important service, Torres said.

“You can’t just put up a new Level 1 trauma center,” he said. “This is one way to blunt the inequity in access to care. It buys patients time.”

©2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Karla Marie Sanford, Los Angeles Times

I’ve always been a nervous flier. The second I take my assigned seat in a plane, I pull my headphones over my ears and glue my eyes shut in an attempt to drown out the sound of a plane taking off.

The tactic usually works, but with the recent fatal midflight collision at Reagan National Airport followed by an air ambulance crash in Philadelphia and a fiery plane engine evacuation in Houston, my anxiety has been off the charts.

Research shows that up to 40% of the population reports some degree of flight anxiety. Given the recent string of incidents, experts say it’s understandable that those with flight anxiety would feel more on edge than usual.

“The odds of something happening don’t matter as much to the anxious brain,” said Andrea Bonior, a teaching professor in Georgetown University’s department of psychology. “The anxious brain is drawn in by the horrific stakes of something.”

So how should you approach your next flight? Here are five tips to ease your mind before takeoff.

1. Know the facts

Despite recent headlines, the old adage “you have a greater chance of dying in the car on the way to the airport than on a flight from the airport” remains true (even if it is crass). Commercial airliners are the safest plane for passengers, aviation experts told The Times. Unlike for smaller aircraft, pilots must achieve the highest certification, an airline transport pilot certification, to command commercial planes, said Thomas Anthony, the director of the USC Aviation Safety and Security Program. Plus, all commercial aircraft are routinely inspected and maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration and fly within a regulated air traffic control system.

A pilot’s biggest fear is a midair collision, said Martin O’Loughlin, the president and chief operating officer of Cornerstone Aviation, an FAA-authorized flight school in Utah. But he said it’s important to remember that midair collisions make such big news, in part, because they’re extremely rare.

“In almost every case, the design of the airspace and the rules that the FAA uses to design arrivals and departures is very, very good,” said O’Loughlin, while acknowledging that more planes flying than ever before and fewer air traffic controllers has put a strain on the industry.

“It’s really hard to build an impenetrable wall against our fears, but you don’t have to latch onto those fears and dwell on them either,” he added.

2. Visualize

Just as a star athlete visualizes their performance before game time, envisioning your flight — potential turbulence and all — can help ease your anxiety before the journey has even begun.

Be honest with yourself about whether you are a catastrophizer or someone who can roll with the punches, said Steven Siegel, the chair of the department of psychiatry and the behavioral sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. If you’re the former, going into the plane expecting how you might feel in a seatbelt-sign-on situation can deflate your anxiety and help you be less hard on yourself when you do feel anxious, said Bonior. Plus, it can be harder to mitigate anxiety in the heat of the anxious moment.

In addition to visualizing, you can plan to bring soothing aides such as fidget spinners or essential oils. You can also download audio meditations or mantras to get you through the flight. Some free options include Healthy Minds Program and, for younger people, the Smiling Mind.

3. Slow your thoughts

Anxiety may be experienced as a partially physiological pathway, said Lauren Ng, an assistant professor of clinical psychology at UCLA. For example, thoughts lead to physiological responses such as trembling hands. That can then lead to behaviors such as avoidance. Which is then how you arrive at feelings like fear.

To disrupt the first part of this pathway, try to halt the hamster wheel in your head. Then, if you’re a logical person, you can remind yourself of the facts. Ask yourself: What is the actual thought driving this fear? Is this thought accurate?

If logic is less your thing, turn to mindfulness, which is the practice of being aware of your thoughts and then letting them pass on. Mindfulness can look like meditation or prayer depending on the person. The idea is to accept that the fear is there but to not ruminate over, or attach to, it.

4. Label your emotions

A 2018 study of people with flight anxiety found that labeling their emotions lowered their anxiety. Instead of letting a wave of panic wash over you, put your feelings into words. If you’re struggling to articulate your emotions, I’ve found a feelings wheel to be a helpful tool.

You can take labeling your emotions a step further by decentering yourself, said Emiliana Simon-Thomas, the science director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. To put distance between yourself and what you’re feeling, refer to the situation in the third person. For example, if your name is Jane Doe and your heartbeat is racing, you can say to yourself “Jane is feeling really worried right now.”

In addition to labeling your emotions, experts say it can be helpful to disclose them. That’s right, chat with your seatmate. If you’re someone who tends to catastrophize, learning that someone is not feeling the same way as you can help give you some perspective, said Siegel. But the simple act of interacting with another human rather than bottling up your fears can also bring a much-needed reprieve.

5. Unclench

Anxiety, and anxious thoughts, can manifest physically as sweaty palms or jittery thighs. If reminding yourself that airplanes are generally safe doesn’t comfort you, you can ease your mind by targeting the physiological aspects of panic, said Ng. Work in reverse to relax your body. A good place to start might be by loosening the grip of your hands from your armrests.

Breath work is also a great way to calm the body, experts said. Simon-Thomas said there are tons of methods to choose from but to always prioritize breathing out longer than you breathe in, which is proven to send the body into a parasympathetic state. You can also practice self-compassion, she said, which is the practice of relating to your own difficult moments in a nurturing way. A firm, stable touch on your chest or shoulder can lend itself to physiological calm.

Finally, you can lean into a book, movie or game. Think of them less as distractions and more as activities that bring you joy.

An important step in the quest to lessen anxiety is to stop fighting it, said Alissa Jerud, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Jerud likens this exposure practice to running: When you first start, your muscles will ache a lot and you might feel depleted. But if you stay consistent, you will be able to run longer distances, faster.

“Likewise, the stronger your muscles become for sitting with anxiety and the uncertainty that fuels it, the more confident you will likely feel in your ability to tolerate both anxiety and uncertainty,” she said.

Over time, flying could feel as natural for you as taking a quick walk to the corner store.

©2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Jeff Ostrowski, Bankrate.com

For borrowers in today’s expensive housing market, getting approved for a mortgage can be a challenge. Mortgage rates have soared from pandemic-era lows, home values are near record highs and home price appreciation is outpacing wage growth.

All of that means there’s no guarantee a lender will approve your mortgage application. Here’s a look at how lenders decide to extend credit, and some common reasons why mortgage applications get rejected.

How does mortgage underwriting work?

Mortgage underwriting is the process of verifying and analyzing the financial information you provide your lender — all with the goal of giving you an answer of yes, no or maybe. As part of the application, you hand over bank statements, W-2s and other tax documents, recent pay stubs and any additional documentation the lender requires.

Dispense with any stereotypes about the old days of lending or the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life”, when a banker determined your creditworthiness by the firmness of your handshake and the crispness of your shirt. In most cases, a loan officer or mortgage broker will collect your information and submit it to an underwriting software system. Loans that will be sold to Fannie Mae, for example, use Desktop Underwriter (DU), while loans sold to Freddie Mac leverage Loan Product Advisor (LPA).

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government-sponsored enterprises that interface with lenders to keep the mortgage market stable. Between them, they buy or back about two-thirds of all U.S. home loans.

Systems like DU and LPA don’t allow for much in the way of human judgment. The software determines whether you’re either approved, rejected or asked for additional information.

Such automated underwriting, as it’s officially called, is the norm nowadays — part of the reforms to the mortgage financing world developed after the 2007–09 mortgage meltdown and subsequent financial crisis. “Prior to the crisis, there was more leeway,” says Bill Banfield, chief business officer at Rocket Mortgage. “Now, most of that subjectivity is gone.”

There are many reasons — from your income to the type of property you’re buying — that you could see your mortgage declined by underwriter software. And if it does, there may be little the human loan officers can do about it.

Keep in mind: Beyond your approval or denial, the main thing the lender decides during underwriting is your mortgage’s interest rate. They also use underwriting to determine how much to charge you in fees.

Reasons for mortgage denial

“There are a thousand potential questions Fannie (or Freddie) could return,” says David Aach, chief operating officer at Blue Sage Solutions, a mortgage technology firm. “That’s the nightmare of the underwriting process.” Here are some of the more common reasons underwriters reject mortgages.

1. You have credit issues

Your credit score is the single most important factor in determining your mortgage rate – and whether you get approved at all. Generally, the best deals go to borrowers with credit scores of 740 or above, and ones in the “good” range — 670 to 739 — are the most desirable.

You can qualify for some types of mortgages with much lower scores than others. For instance, VA loans are generally available to borrowers with scores of 620 or above, while loans backed by the FHA can go to those with scores as low as 500.

Before applying for a mortgage, check your credit score and credit report and dispute any errors. If your credit score is low, work on boosting it before you apply (for example, you could ask a card company to increase your credit line, which automatically lowers your credit utilization ratio). If you have a qualifying credit score, make sure you don’t do anything during the mortgage process to cause it to drop, like miss a payment, max out a credit card or apply for some other new loan.

If you don’t have a credit score at all, some lenders do have alternative credit scoring methods, such as analyzing your bank deposits. In fact, in January 2025, Fannie Mae released a new update to DU in support of “increasing access to credit for populations such as those with limited or no credit histories.”

2. You have an income shortfall

Your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio — the portion of your gross (pre-tax) monthly income spent on repaying regular obligations — signals to lenders whether you’re in a position to take on an additional major debt. If your DTI is too high, you may be rejected for a mortgage. Most lenders require a DTI of less than 43%. Some will go up to 50% if you have factors to offset that higher DTI, like a big savings account.

Aim for your payment obligations to make up about one-third of your income: A DTI around 36% is the ideal, qualifying you for better loan terms. If you owe a lot in student loans, car loans or credit card balances, work on bringing those balances down before applying for a mortgage.

Also, think about the length of the loan: The longer its term, the more affordable its monthly payments. So, opting for a 30-year mortgage might lower your chances of getting your mortgage declined by underwriter software. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll pay more in interest over the loan’s lifespan, compared to shorter-term loans.

On the income side, issues often emerge when the mortgage applicant is self-employed. The software is geared to W-2s — the wage-and-tax-statement from an employer — and might flag your file when you use alternative ways to prove your income. It might also cause an issue if your income stream is irregular, even if your earnings are high.

Also, business owners often maximize write-offs and expenses when doing their taxes — but that common practice flummoxes the underwriting models. “Self-employed people know what they make, but they don’t know what an underwriter is looking for,” says Tom Hutchens, president at Angel Oak, a lender specializing in non-qualified mortgage (QM) loans (mortgages outside the conventional criteria). “They might be fully approved, but then an underwriter looks at the tax returns” and sees that “$10,000 a month might become $5,000 a month in income.” The lower amount upsets the software, which then dings the applicant.

3. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is too high

Lenders also look at how much of a mortgage you want vis-à-vis the value of the home you’re buying — something called the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio.

The bigger your down payment, the less you borrow, and the lower your LTV. For instance, if you’re buying a $400,000 house with a down payment of $80,000, your LTV is a comfortable 80%. But if you’re putting down $20,000 and financing the remaining $380,000, the LTV is up to 95%. (While there’s no single perfect LTV percentage, lenders usually like to see it around or below 80% — for conventional loans, anyway.)

Low down payments are one of the big reasons for mortgage denial. The higher your LTV, the higher the likelihood that your loan will be flagged for follow-up questions, or rejected altogether. If you feel you need help lowering your LTV, look into down payment assistance — every state has these programs, especially for first-time buyers — to increase the amount of cash you can bring to the deal.

4. You’re trying to finance an out-of-favor property

Not all homes are created equal, as far as lenders are concerned. The traditional, detached single-family residence still rules, and alternatives can confound.

Condos are one particularly tough type of home to finance. In response to the June 2021 collapse of an oceanfront tower near Miami, Fannie and Freddie rolled out new rules covering condo loans. The giant mortgage market-makers have decided not to finance some buildings that have low reserves, need repairs or are facing lawsuits. Critics say the stricter reviews are causing condo sales to fall apart, even in buildings with no structural issues.

Manufactured homes also can be challenging to finance. And if appraisers or inspectors find a structural flaw or other issue with the home itself, that also can slow the approval, or even kill it.

5. Something recently changed in your financial life

The lending process prizes financial stability and predictability (remember what we said about income, above). Unfortunately, a recent job change or period of unemployment can throw a wrench in your approval. A short employment history or interruption in earnings sends warning signals to the software, too.

Unusual activity in your bank account can be another issue, even if it grows your cash reserves. Large, unusual deposits might indicate you borrowed money for your down payment — which you may need to repay along with your mortgage. If you got money from relatives to help you buy a house, make sure to submit a gift letter as part of your application.

6. You don’t meet the loan program’s requirements

Different types of loans come with different specifications.

If you want to get an FHA-insured loan, for example, your house can’t exceed the loan limit applicable to the location. In 2025, that is $524,225 in most areas. The house also needs to pass a special type of appraisal that looks at the property’s condition. The specifics put in the place by the FHA add more potential reasons for mortgage denial.

Similarly, loans backed by the VA and the USDA have their own unique requirements.

On top of all of this, lenders generally have their own proprietary guidelines. Failing to meet any of them can lead to your mortgage application being denied.

7. You’re missing information on your application

Make sure to fill out the mortgage application in its entirety. If it’s incomplete, the underwriting software might discard your application, resulting in an automated rejection.

How to get a mortgage after your application is denied

Take heart: If you are denied a mortgage, all is not lost. There are workarounds to many of these issues.

If you have a unique income situation, such as owning a business with unsteady cash flow, you might apply for a non-QM mortgage. These loans come with more flexible credit criteria and income requirements than conventional loans, making them ideal for those who don’t fit within the standard borrower box.

If your credit score or LTV was the problem, you can also consider loans backed by the FHA or VA. Their terms are more generous, geared toward borrowers with lower credit scores or little cash for down payments.

Manual underwriting

The vast majority of conforming loans — those eligible to be bought by Fannie and Freddie — are decided via automatic underwriting. It’s fast, cheap and takes bias out of the process. But some loans are still reviewed by a human. Lenders often do manual underwriting when an application would likely be denied through an automated system, or if the borrower has some unusual circumstances but is otherwise qualified.

Certain types of mortgages, like jumbo loans and non-QM loans, are more likely to be manually underwritten. But you can request it for any mortgage, if you believe your particular situation will not be fully understood by the software. Be prepared to supply additional paperwork — financial statements reaching farther back, for example — and for a longer process. Bear in mind that, even with a manual underwriter, your loan still has to conform to specific requirements.

Bottom line

The mortgage application process can be full of surprises — with a key one being that an automated underwriting system often decides your approval or denial. The key reasons underwriters reject mortgages often involve credit score issues, income shortfalls, high LTV ratios, property type or recent changes in your financial situation. But the software doesn’t necessarily have to have the last word.

Find out why your application was denied, and then seek remedies. You can explore alternatives to conventional conforming loans, or request manual underwriting (a review by a human underwriter), for example. Any of these may provide a pathway to homeownership.

FAQs

How long do underwriters take to approve a mortgage?

It depends on the lender, the tools they use and how good you were at providing the required information. On average, it takes about 44 days to close a new-purchase mortgage.

How worried should I be about underwriting?

Not very. Take steps before you approach lenders — like paying down other debts and improving your credit score — and you should feel confident when applying. If you’re still nervous, you can explore prequalification before you seek preapproval. This is a less stringent process that can give you an idea of where you stand.

What are some things I should not do during underwriting?

To avoid a mortgage declined by underwriter teams, do two things. First, don’t make any financial changes. Keep paying your bills on time and don’t open any new loans or lines of credits. Second, stay responsive. The lender might ask for additional information. If you don’t provide it in a timely manner, it can lead to denial.

©2025 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Eight former Michigan players have been invited to the upcoming NFL Combine ahead of the NFL Draft in late April.

The invitees are defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, edge Josaiah Stewart, running backs Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings, tight end Colston Loveland, offensive lineman Myles Hinton and defensive back Will Johnson.

The combine is Feb. 27-March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Draft is April 24-26 in Green Bay.

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network recently released his list of his top 50 prospects, and Michigan is well-represented. He considers Graham, a consensus All-America, the No. 4 prospect with Loveland at No. 7. Johnson is No. 12, Grant is No. 18 and Stewart No. 46. On ESPN’s Mel Kiper’s most recent Big Board, he has three Michigan players among the top 25 — Graham at No. 3, Johnson at No. 9 and Loveland at No. 13.

By DONALD WOOD, TravelPulse

New data from AAA Travel projects that almost 20 million people will take an ocean cruise this year.

According to AAA, 19 million Americans are expected to hit the open seas in 2025, a 4.5% increase over last year, when 18.2 million U.S. citizens went on cruise vacations. This year is expected to be the third straight year of record passenger volume.

Data showed that cruise demand growth has exceeded hotel demand growth in the last two years, with 2025 totals projected to surpass 2019 numbers by 34%.

“What we’re witnessing in the cruise industry is nothing short of amazing, but it’s no surprise,” AAA Travel Vice President Stacey Barber said. “There’s a reason most first-time cruise passengers become repeat cruisers. Cruise vacations offer something for everyone, no matter their age.”

“And because most of the vacation is already paid for, travelers can focus on enjoying themselves and making lifelong memories with loved ones,” Barber continued.

Of the Americans taking a cruise this year, 72% are heading to the Caribbean, 6% are taking Alaska voyages, and 5% will sail in the Mediterranean. Data showed that shorter Caribbean cruises are rising in popularity, with 18% of itineraries to the region being two to five days.

As for the busiest ports, Miami, Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale top the list based on embarkation and debarkation.

©2025 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Sarah Boden, KFF Health News

More than 80 domestic cats, among many other types of mammals, have been confirmed to have had bird flu since 2022 — generally barn cats that lived on dairy farms, as well as feral cats and pets that spend time outdoors and likely caught it by hunting diseased rodents or wild birds.

Now, a small but growing number of house cats have gotten sick from H5N1, the bird flu strain driving the current U.S. outbreak, after eating raw food or drinking unpasteurized milk. Some of those cats died.

The strain of bird flu currently circulating has not adapted to efficiently spread among people. And there have been no known cases of cat-to-human transmission during the current outbreak of H5N1.

Still, there’s always been the risk that cats, which are arguably only semi-domesticated, could bring home a disease from a midnight prowl.

“Companion animals, and especially cats, are 100% a public health risk in terms of the risk of zoonotic transmission to people,” said virologist Angela Rasmussen, who studies disease progression in emerging viruses at the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization.

This is because we snuggle with and sleep in bed with our cats. When we’re not looking, cats drink from our water glasses and walk on kitchen counters. So, cat owners should be aware of the ongoing spread of bird flu. “By reducing the risk to your cats, you reduce the risk to yourself,” Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen doesn’t think pet owners should be afraid their cats will give them bird flu but said taking precautions is good for pets, and for public health.

Signs of bird flu in cats include runny nose and discharge around the eyes, explained Michael Q. Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

H5N1 also causes neurological problems like dizziness and seizures, which are symptoms of rabies, too. Rabies is almost always fatal, and it poses a threat to human health, so any animal suspected of having the viral disease must be euthanized. Bailey encourages people to ensure pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations.

Veterinarian Jane Sykes, who specializes in infectious diseases in cats and dogs at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, said people should not assume it’s bird flu if their cat is sick — even if their animal spends time outdoors or eats a raw diet. Upper-respiratory illnesses are common in cats, while H5N1 is “still pretty rare.”

Sykes gives her indoor cat, Freckles, regular kibble exclusively. She told NPR and KFF Health News she has no concerns about Freckles getting H5N1 because the heating process of making dry or canned pet food kills viruses.

More cases in cats, more risk to humans

Some people feed their pets raw meat or unpasteurized milk because they think it’s a more nutritious or natural diet. The American Veterinary Medical Association’s website discourages this due to foodborne pathogens like salmonella and listeria, and now the highly pathogenic H5N1.

By keeping pets healthy, veterinarians play an essential role in protecting humans from zoonotic diseases. The American Veterinary Medical Association says the risk of H5N1 spilling over from a pet to a person is “considered extremely low, but not zero.”

State and local public health agencies, including those in Los Angeles County and Washington state, have issued similar warnings against raw food diets for pets.

Concerns for human health are partly why the FDA announced last month it is now requiring cat and dog food companies to update their safety plans to protect against bird flu.

This came after the Oregon Department of Agriculture discovered a cat that was “strictly an indoor cat” had contracted H5N1 and died after consuming a frozen turkey product made by the raw pet food brand Northwest Naturals. It stated that “tests confirmed a genetic match between the virus in the raw and frozen pet food and the infected cat.”

Northwest Naturals voluntarily recalled that batch of its frozen turkey-based product. The company told KFF Health News and NPR that the recall involved “a small product run” and that it has concerns about the accuracy of the Oregon Agriculture Department’s testing.

Los Angeles County’s public health department said five cats from two households tested positive for bird flu after drinking unpasteurized raw milk from the Raw Farm dairy in California’s Central Valley.

Raw Farm voluntarily recalled its milk and cream after retail products tested positive for H5N1, but it denies any food safety issues, calling the concern “a political issue.”

Veterinarians also warn pet owners not to allow cats unsupervised time outside as there’s the risk of them getting H5N1 by interacting with other animals that might carry the disease.

“This is a very scary virus, given that it can infect so many different host species,” said Bruce Kornreich, director of Cornell University’s Feline Health Center.

At least one instance of a cat infecting a person with bird flu occurred in 2016. As NPR reported, a veterinarian in New York City caught the virus after having close contact with infected cats. The vet experienced mild symptoms and quickly recovered.

In that case, the strain of bird flu was H7N2, not the H5N1 that is now circulating in the U.S.

H7N2 is a very different type of virus, Sykes explained. But she said it shows that cat-to-human transmission of avian influenza is theoretically possible.

There isn’t a lot of research on transmission of bird flu from companion animals like cats or dogs to humans, though Rasmussen agreed it’s definitely a concern: The more infections you have in animals, “the more your luck is potentially going to run out.”

Most people who have caught H5N1 are agricultural workers who had direct contact with infected poultry or cattle. Of at least 67 confirmed human cases of H5N1 in the U.S., there’s been one fatality in an immunocompromised person who had contact with birds.

In general, zoonotic disease researchers want more H5N1 surveillance in companion animals of all types. Even if the human death toll of H5N1 remains relatively low, it remains a public health risk.

Chances for mutation

Part of the concern with this H5N1 outbreak is that bird flu viruses change. Just a few mutations could make this strain adept at spreading between people. And the more people who catch H5N1, the more likely it would adapt to be more efficient, said Suresh Kuchipudi, a virologist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, where he researches zoonotic diseases. Kuchipudi has studied H5N1 in cats.

Another concern is something called reassortment. If an animal or person is infected with two viruses at once, the viruses can trade genetic material, creating something new. This is common in influenza, so virologists are on the lookout for a case in which the bird flu reassorts to make a virus that’s far more contagious, and potentially more virulent.

Virologist Rasmussen is way more worried about this happening in pigs. Human respiratory physiology is more like that of swines than felines. So far, the current outbreak of H5N1 has not reached commercial hog operations. Rasmussen hopes it stays that way.

Kuchipudi said that reassortments are relatively rare events, but the outcome is completely unpredictable. Sometimes the results are benign, though it was likely a reassortment that involved an avian virus that led to the 1918 flu pandemic, which killed an estimated 50 million people. In the century since, virologists have established a global surveillance network to monitor influenza viruses. Scientists say continued investment in this network is key to preparing for and hopefully preventing another pandemic.

Winter is “reassortment season” because of all the influenza viruses circulating, Rasmussen said. A reassortment in cats could technically be possible since these pets occasionally get seasonal flu, but it’s highly unlikely. Rather, Rasmussen said, it’s more likely that a cat would pass H5N1 to a human who already has seasonal flu, and then a reassortment happens in the sick person. While the risk isn’t zero, Rasmussen doubts this will happen. It would depend on how ill the human was, and how much virus they’re exposed to from their cat.

“Unless the cat is really shedding a ton of virus, and you’re kind of making out with the cat, I think it would be hard,” she said.

Rasmussen and Kuchipudi caution there isn’t enough research to know for sure how much virus cats shed, or even how they shed the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was poised to release a new study about H5N1 in cats, but that was delayed when the Trump administration paused the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. That investigation, revealed through emails obtained by KFF Health News in a public records request, found that house cats likely got bird flu from dairy workers.

Scientists and public health agencies should question previously held assumptions about bird flu, Kuchipudi urged. He noted that 20 years ago nobody would have predicted that bird flu would infect dairy cattle the way it is now.

Dogs seem to fare better

The FDA says other domesticated animals, including dogs, can get bird flu infections. There are no confirmed cases of H5N1 among dogs in the U.S., though in other countries they have died from the virus.

There’s some disagreement and an overall lack of research on whether cat biology makes them more susceptible to H5N1 than other mammals, including humans, pigs, or dogs.

But cat behaviors, such as their love of dairy and predation of wild birds, put them at higher risk, Kuchipudi said. Also, living in groups might play a role as there are more feral cat colonies in the U.S. than packs of stray dogs.

There’s very little people can do about the H5N1 circulating in wild birds. As Rasmussen explained, “It’s flying around in the skies. It’s migrating north and south with the seasons.”

But she said there’s a lot people can do to keep the virus out of their homes.

That includes limiting a pet’s exposure to H5N1 by not feeding them raw food or unpasteurized milk, and trying to keep them from interacting with animals like rodents and wild birds that could be infected with the virus.

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This article is from a partnership that includes NPR and KFF Health News.

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