Current mortgage rates are up and higher than they were seven days ago and in early 2025, when the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage reached above 7%. Even though Federal Reserve policy doesn’t directly impact today’s mortgage rates, they have been easing since the Fed began cutting rates in late 2024.

The average rate for a 15-year fixed mortgage is 5.97%, which is an increase of 0.12% from the same time last week. You could get a lower mortgage interest rate by making a higher down payment, improving your credit score or buying mortgage points.

Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) allow homeowners to tap into the value of their homes. A home equity loan is a fixed-rate, lump-sum loan that allows homeowners to borrow up to 85% of their home's value and pay that amount back in monthly installments.

NYT ‘Connections’ Hints and Answers Today, Monday, July 14 first appeared on Parade on Jul 14, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared. "I don't want to get sicker."

Today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram and Answers for Monday, July 14 originally appeared on Parade. Move over, Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword—there's a new NYT word game in town! The New York Times's recent game, "Strands," is becoming more and more popular as another daily activity fans can find on the NYT website and app.

Here's today's Wordle answer, plus a look at spoiler-free hints and past solutions. These clues will help you solve The New York Times' popular puzzle game, Wordle, every day.