AP Spotlight Homeowners turn to cash-out refinancing to take advantage of big gains in home equity ALEX VEIGA Associated Press Aug 17, 2025 Aug 17, 2025 Updated Feb 16, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Homeowners are cashing in on years of home equity gains, even as mortgage rates remain elevated.kAm%96 EC6?5 D6?E 42D9\@FE 9@>6 C67:?2?4:?8 24E:G:EJ E@ 2 ?62C=J E9C66\J62C 9:89 :? E96 pAC:=\yF?6 BF2CE6C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 52E2 7C@> 9@>6 =@2? 52E2 EC24<6C xrt |@CE8286 %649?@=@8J]k^AmkAmx? 2 42D9\@FE C67:?2?46[ 2 9@>6@H?6C E2<6D @FE 2 =@2? 7@C >@C6 E92? E96J @H6 @? E96:C >@CE8286 2?5 E96? A@4<6ED E96 5:776C6?46] %96 7F?5D 2C6 @7E6? FD65 E@ 4@?D@=:52E6 563E[ 7:?2?46 9@>6 :>AC@G6>6?E AC@;64ED 2?5 A2J 7@C 3:8\E:4<6E AFC492D6D]k^Am kAm%96 2G6C286 42D9\@FE C67:?2?46 :? E96 D64@?5 BF2CE6C C6DF=E65 :? E96 9@>6@H?6C AF==:?8 Shc[___ :? 9@>6 6BF:EJ[ :?4C62D:?8 E96:C >@?E9=J A2J>6?E 3J Sdh_] ~? 2G6C286[ E96J 2=D@ C2:D65 E96 :?E6C6DE C2E6 @? E96:C 9@>6 =@2? 3J `]cd A6C46?E286 A@:?ED[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6A@CE]k^Am People are also reading… Franklin County considers 7-cent real estate tax increase Rocky Mount man charged with killing his brother Chip Sullivan, golfer and instructor 'loved by so many,' dies at 61 Smith Mountain Lake saw increase in boating incidents and deaths in 2025 Kids invited to annual Cops and Bobbers event by Rocky Mount PD Franklin County proposes increasing real estate, meals taxes How to vote early in Franklin County for Virginia redistricting amendment The future of fishing at Smith Mountain Lake could hinge on this decision Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case Quadruple amputee cornhole player wanted for murder arrested in Albemarle County Virginia's proposed congressional districts and who is running | Special Report Roanoke police officer needlessly shot intellectually disabled man: lawsuit With election underway, court could have final say on redistricting | Special Report Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes repeats as champion of the grueling Iditarod sled dog race Lawmakers warn Martinsville Speedway could face future race losses amid industry pressure kAm%@ BF2=:7J 7@C 2 42D9\@FE C67:?2?46[ 9@>6@H?6CD >FDE 92G6 2E =62DE a_T 9@>6 6BF:EJ[ 92G6 @H?65 E96 9@>6 7@C 2E =62DE D:I >@?E9D 2?5 92G6 2E =62DE 2 ea_ 4C65:E D4@C6[ 2>@?8 @E96C 4C:E6C:2] q@CC@H6CD H9@ 8@E 2 42D9\@FE C67:?2?46 :? 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C6A2J>6?E E6C> 3J D6G6C2= J62CD]k^AmkAm%92E 42? 36 C:D<J[ 3642FD6 :7 2 3@CC@H6C 42?VE A2J 324< E96 =@2?[ E96J >2J ?@E 92G6 6?@F89 6BF:EJ =67E E@ 2G@:5 7@C64=@DFC6]k^AmkAm~7E6?[ 2 9@>6 6BF:EJ =:?6 @7 4C65:E[ @C wt{~r[ >2J 36 2 36EE6C @AE:@? 7@C 9@>6@H?6CD[ 2D E96J 86?6C2==J 4@>6 H:E9 =@H6C :?E6C6DE C2E6D 2?5 E96 3@CC@H6C :D?VE 8:G:?8 FA E96:C 6BF:EJ[ ;FDE 3@CC@H:?8 282:?DE :E]k^Am kAm$EF33@C?=J 9:89 >@CE8286 C2E6D 92G6 96=A65 <66A E96 &]$] 9@FD:?8 >2C<6E :? 2 D2=6D D=F>A D:?46 62C=J a_aa[ H96? C2E6D DE2CE65 E@ 4=:>3 7C@> E96 C@4<\3@EE@> =@HD E96J C624965 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4] w@>6 D2=6D D2?< =2DE J62C E@ E96:C =@H6DE =6G6= :? ?62C=J b_ J62CD]k^Am kAm%96 >2C<6E 92D C6>2:?65 :? 2 D=F>A E9:D J62C[ 2?5 H9:=6 AC:46D 92G6 <6AE C:D:?8 ?2E:@?2==J[ E96 C2E6 @7 8C@HE9 92D 366? D=@H:?8 @C 72==:?8 :? >2?J >6EC@ 2C62D[ :?4=F5:?8 pE=2?E2[ pFDE:? 2?5 %2>A2[ u=@C:52]k^AmkAm%96 D=@H6C A246 @7 9@>6 AC:46 2AAC64:2E:@?[ 6DA64:2==J 7@C 9@>6D :? $F?36=E 2?5 (6DE6C? >2C<6ED[ 92G6 =65 E@ 9@>6 6BF:EJ 8C@HE9 D=@H:?8 3J :ED =@H6DE C2E6 :? EH@ J62CD[ xrt D2:5]k^Am kAmpD 2 C6DF=E[ E2AA23=6 6BF:EJ 92D 5C@AA65 3J 2E =62DE dT :? ?62C=J @?6\BF2CE6C @7 &]$] >2C<6ED] p?5 23@FE `T @7 9@>6@H?6CD H:E9 2 >@CE8286[ @C C@F89=J dec[___ 3@CC@H6CD[ ?@H @H6 >@C6 E92? E96:C 9@>6D 2C6 H@CE9[ xrt D2:5]k^Am Business The vast majority of US adults are stressed about grocery costs, poll finds CORA LEWIS and LINLEY SANDERS Associated Press Business What to know if you're at risk of having your wages garnished over student loan debt CORA LEWIS Associated Press Business Millionaires multiply across the US, but most find it's not all mansions and Champagne MATT SEDENSKY Associated Press 0 comments The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Trump administration releases list of 68 jobs covered by ‘no tax on tips.’ Do you qualify? Here’s a look at the 68 jobs covered by “no tax on tips,” which the Treasury Department breaks down into eight distinct categories. How the Fed's rate cut impacts mortgage rates Hoping that mortgage rates will keep dropping following the Federal Reserve's first rate cut since last year? Don't bank on it. Watch Now: Related Video A1 Minute! March 28, 2025: Week in Virginia | A1 Minute A1 Minute March 25, 2026: Inspired by February's Buddhist Walk for Peace, Louisa Christians plan their own A1 Minute March 25, 2026: Inspired by February's Buddhist Walk for Peace, Louisa Christians plan their own A1 Minute! March 25, 2026: Ram’s sports investment; Dr. Winn moves onto Philadelphia; Cannabis laws may change A1 Minute! 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Business The vast majority of US adults are stressed about grocery costs, poll finds CORA LEWIS and LINLEY SANDERS Associated Press
Business What to know if you're at risk of having your wages garnished over student loan debt CORA LEWIS Associated Press
Business Millionaires multiply across the US, but most find it's not all mansions and Champagne MATT SEDENSKY Associated Press
Trump administration releases list of 68 jobs covered by ‘no tax on tips.’ Do you qualify? Here’s a look at the 68 jobs covered by “no tax on tips,” which the Treasury Department breaks down into eight distinct categories.
How the Fed's rate cut impacts mortgage rates Hoping that mortgage rates will keep dropping following the Federal Reserve's first rate cut since last year? Don't bank on it.
A1 Minute March 25, 2026: Inspired by February's Buddhist Walk for Peace, Louisa Christians plan their own
A1 Minute March 25, 2026: Inspired by February's Buddhist Walk for Peace, Louisa Christians plan their own
A1 Minute! March 25, 2026: Ram’s sports investment; Dr. Winn moves onto Philadelphia; Cannabis laws may change
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A1 Minute! March 23, 2026: Economic forecast; Lego construction continues; CarMax Park dining guide | A1 Minute
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