Author: Grace Thompson

Despite mortgage rates rising for the fourth consecutive week, mortgage demand increased last week after flatlining the previous week. The seasonally adjusted indicator from the Mortgage Bankers Association showed a 1.7% increase in total applications over the previous week. For 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances of $766,550 or less, the average contract interest rate went up from 6.86% to 6.90%, and points (including the origination fee) went up from 0.60 to 0.70 for loans with a 20% down payment. Since July, that was the highest level. Mortgage applications to buy a home increased by 2% over the week, but they were 1% less than they were a year earlier. Both conventional and FHA loans were the main drivers of purchase demand; FHA buy applications increased by 7%. ...

Target is already giving discounts on clothing, tech, holiday décor, and other items as Black Friday draws near. Additionally, you can save 50% off your first year of Target Circle 360 membership during this time. Throughout the year, I often cover Target sales and offers as an associate reporter for NBC Select. I looked through sales on well-known companies for this sale and put up some good ones I think you should be aware of. Every product has a high rating and is discounted by at least 20%. Note that stock availability can change at any time. Since more and more things will be on sale as Black Friday approaches, I'll also be updating this post. GO Ahead and SkipNBC Select offers the best early Black Friday Target deals, more early Black Friday Target sales, and reasons to trust them. ...

Passion, grace, and strength. Ashley, the stunning model and ballerina, had it all. Then she met Doug Benefield, the ideal mate. They were married 13 days later. However, their brief romance came to an end nearly as soon as it started. At sunset on September 27, 2020, a 911 call was received from Lakewood Ranch, a neighborhood close to Sarasota, Florida. The operator received a call from a neighbor who reported that Ashley had arrived at his house in a panic. She claimed that she shot Doug in self-defense when he attacked her. Manatee County Sheriff's Office Detective Dan Dickerman hurried to the scene. Doug was barely alive when he was taken to the hospital. Ashley was brought to the office of the sheriff. She was free to leave, though, and used her right to remain silent. Additionally, y...

Washington After being court-martialed for shooting a restrained Iraqi citizen, the former soldier was sentenced on Monday to more than four years in federal prison for attacking officers during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6. According to video evidence produced by prosecutors, Edward Richmond Jr. yelled, "We'll break you motherf---er!" as he struck officers with a baton inside the lower west tunnel heading into the Capitol, the scene of some of the greatest violence on January 6, 2021. This year, Richmond entered a guilty plea to a felony count of assaulting, resisting, or obstructing an officer with a deadly weapon, and was given a 51-month sentence in federal prison. After internet detectives recognized Richmond as the individual they dubbed Buff Lightyear, who was liste...

In an effort to encourage its staff and customers to spend more time outside, REI customarily closes on Black Friday. Nevertheless, a few weeks prior to one of the most popular shopping days of the year, the business usually holds an annual winter sale.Up to 30% off popular brands like Garmin, Saucony, and The North Face are available during the sale, which ends on November 25. Additionally, with the code WINTER24, REI members receive 20% off full-price items and an additional 20% off discounted items from REI Outlet. I regularly write about REI as an editor for NBC Select, so I know the ins and outs of the retailer's membership program and its top-selling items. I've included the top offers from the 10-day winter sale here for your convenience. BetterREI offers | Why should I trust NBC Se...

I spent six weeks last summer traveling to three different countries to attend four weddings and one bachelorette. I lost a number of tiny stuff, such as different bobby pins, lipstick tubes, socks, and—most importantly—time searching for them because I never got used to living out of my carry-on. I'll be using packing cubes to keep all of my necessities organized because my social calendar is just as hectic this summer. As the name suggests, packing cubes are compact, well-structured packs that slide into your suitcase and keep your belongings in order for a stress-free journey. We asked bloggers, packing enthusiasts, home organizers, and travel experts about their favorite packing cubes and other general packing advice in order to find out more about the best ones to buy. GO Ahead and Sk...

The release of the House Ethics Committee's findings on Matt Gaetz is being considered. It is anticipated that Comcast will announce a cable network spinoff. Additionally, Susan Smith, who gained notoriety for the murder of her boys thirty years ago, is eligible for parole. What to know today is as follows. House Ethics Committee weighs whether to release report about its Matt Gaetz investigation This afternoon, the House Ethics Committee will convene to decide whether to release a report on its investigation of former Representative Matt Gaetz, the man President-elect Donald Trump selected to lead the Justice Department. For the past three years, the bipartisan committee has been looking into allegations that Gaetz, who represented Florida, used illegal drugs and engaged in sexual ...

Significant infractions, including bacteria in toothpaste-making water and a black substance resembling mold, were found during an FDA inspection of a Tom's of Maine production facility. In a warning letter given to parent firm Colgate-Palmolive on November 5, the FDA described how, during a May inspection of a plant in Sanford, Maine, bacteria were discovered in water samples and completed toothpaste products. The letter was made public on Tuesday. In a statement released on Wednesday, Tom's of Maine stated that it is addressing the concerns brought up by the May inspection in collaboration with the FDA. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can lead to lung and blood infections, was found in several water samples between June 2021 and ...

When it comes to team principles, the National Hockey League is becoming more respected. According to CNBC's Official 2024 NHL Valuations, the average NHL team is valued at $1.92 billion, and recent agreements have revenue multiples that are comparable to those made in Major League Baseball. Why did the league rise to prominence? The league's 32 teams are virtually certain to be profitable thanks to steady revenue growth, a tight salary ceiling, and a revenue-sharing structure that applies to the whole league. The NHL reported that their hockey-related revenue for the 2023–24 season was $6.3 billion, an 8.6% increase over the previous season. The NHL reported that it made a record-breaking $250 million in national sponsorship money last season and $2.4 billion in regular-season gate receip...