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If you inherit a house with a mortgage, there is a lot to think about. Should you keep the house and take over mortgage payments? Should you sell it? Let’s look at all your options.

Hang on to the House

If you decide you want to keep the house, you’ll also have to make the mortgage payments that come with it. This is a good option if you like the home and the current mortgage payments will fit into your budget.

“Many choose this option if they decide they want to move into the home, if it has sentimental value, or if the value of the home is expected to appreciate over time,” says Adam Rosenblum, attorney at Rosenblum Law.

As soon as you decide to keep the house, you’ll want to reach out to the lender handling the mortgage and ask about taking over the home’s existing mortgage.

“Once you have been approved, continue making monthly mortgage payments and pay for taxes, insurance, and upkeep on the home,” Rosenblum says. “You will then need to work with the lender or servicer to assume the loan and transfer the home’s deed to your name. You may also be able to refinance the home if you want to lower payments or remove other heirs from the title.”

Sell the House

Deciding to sell an inherited house is another option. The money from the sale may cover the remainder of the home’s mortgage. Any money left over after that can be used however you wish. Don’t forget about taxes.

“Any excess money made from the house can be kept by the homeowner or distributed to other heirs,” Rosenblum says. “Many choose this option if they cannot afford to keep the house, but note that you may also need to pay taxes on money made from the sale.”

Before you sell an inherited home, you’ll want to assess the value of the home by getting an appraisal.

“If you choose to sell the house, you should get the property appraised to determine its market value, which can be done with the help of your lender or by contacting a licensed appraiser,” Rosenblum says. “If you decide the value of the home is worth selling it, you should then work with a licensed real estate agent to list the home.”

Rent Out the House

Keeping the house and opening the house up to a tenant is another means of covering a home’s mortgage payments and making some additional cash each month.

“If you choose to keep the home but wish to also make some extra income from it, you can rent it out to someone else, which can also cover the mortgage payments,” Rosenblum says.

Becoming a landlord may be a way to make additional money from an inherited house, but there is much to consider.

“If you choose to rent the home, you should ensure compliance with any rental restrictions in your state, prepare the home, screen tenants, draft a lease agreement, and manage the property yourself or hire a property management company,” Rosenblum says.

Stop Payments on the House

You can choose to let an inherited house go into foreclosure, but it will hurt your credit rating to do so. Think carefully about choosing this option.

“If the mortgage exceeds the home’s value, or if you no longer wish to keep the home in any capacity, foreclosure is an option,” Rosenblum says. “However, we generally do not recommend foreclosure as a good option, as it can severely damage your credit score and make obtaining future loans more difficult.”

The Bottom Line

When you inherit a house with a mortgage, you have four key options to consider:

• You can keep the house, take over its mortgage payments, and have the deed transferred into your name.
• You can sell the house, and pay off the home’s mortgage with the proceeds of the sale.
• You can keep the house and rent it out to a tenant. Ideally, the tenant’s monthly rent check would cover the home’s mortgage plus some additional cash.
• You can let the home fall into foreclosure. This option may be tempting to do if the home’s mortgage is worth more than its current value, but it will damage your credit.

Global stocks are rebounding Tuesday as some investors take advantage of recent massive losses, even as China threatened to hit back further if President Donald Trump hikes U.S. import tariffs by an additional 50%.

U.S. stock indexes are poised for a positive start, with Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rising 2%, S&P 500 futures gaining 1.5%, and Nasdaq futures 1.3% higher.  

The Stoxx Europe 600 index is up about 1.5%, though still down more than 10% in the past week.

In Asia, the Nikkei closed up 6% after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business that he expected Japan to get priority in trade talks “just because they came forward very quickly.” Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, where the biggest Chinese companies are listed, rose 1.5% as China said it would “fight to the end” if Trump increases his tariffs again.  

In a note Tuesday, Morgan Stanley said it expects Trump’s reciprocal tariffs to go into effect but thinks “there is scope for some rates to be negotiated lower into year end.” The investment bank downwardly revised its outlook for the U.S. economy for “even slower growth and a sharp firming of inflation.”

Traders expect multiple rate cuts from the Federal Reserve this year. What if there aren’t any?

The possibility was raised Monday by Larry Fink, CEO of asset manager BlackRock, during an interview at the Economic Club of New York. In the interview, Fink suggested that the latest Trump tariffs could inflame inflation, requiring higher rates to cool things off. 

“This notion that the Federal Reserve’s gonna … ease four times this year, I see zero chance of that,” Fink said, according to a Bloomberg video of the event. “I’m much more worried that we could have elevated inflation that’s gonna bring rates up much higher than they are today.”

The U.S. central bank in mid-March kept its benchmark rate unchanged at a range of 4.25% to 4.5%. Futures traders assume a range of as low as 3.25% to 3.5% as of the Fed’s December meeting, implying as many as four quarter-percentage-point cuts, according to the CME’s FedWatch tool; the odds of the rate remaining unchanged by then, or even rising, barely register.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Friday said “It’s not clear to me at this time what the appropriate path for monetary policy will be,” during an appearance that came two days after President Donald Trump issued trade policy guidance—in short, a new set of global tariffs—that have roiled markets. (Read Investopedia’s live coverage of Monday’s trading here.)

Fink in the Monday interview said the economy “is weakening as we speak.” Most CEOs he speaks with, Fink said, “would say we are probably in a recession right now.”

Many Wall Street economists have lately lifted their perceived odds of a recession.

Consumer price increases likely slowed in March due to cheaper gas, but forecasters don’t expect the low inflation to survive President Donald Trump’s tariff spree.

A Bureau of Labor Statistics report on the Consumer Price Index Thursday is likely to show the inflation gauge rose 2.5% over the last 12 months in March, down from a 2.8% annual increase in February, according to a survey of economists by Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal. That would be the lowest annual inflation rate since September, as falling energy prices helped out household budgets.

If the report matches expectations, it would suggest that the post-pandemic burst of inflation is continuing to fade. However, beyond March, the outlook largely depends on President Donald Trump’s sweeping array of tariffs announced over the last few weeks.

Tariffs on cars, steel, aluminum, and goods imported from most countries in the world were due to kick in in April, and economists expect import taxes will push up the prices of many consumer products in the coming months.

The tariffs may already be influencing consumer prices. Economists are watching for signs of a 20% tariff on Chinese products, imposed in March, to show up in the CPI figures. On top of that, auto prices may have been driven higher after shoppers flocked to dealerships to get ahead of the tariffs before they went into effect April 4. Auto price increases could contribute to a jump in “core” CPI prices, which exclude volatile prices for food and energy, economists at Nomura predicted.

Many forecasters were basing their projections on the assumption that Trump will implement less severe tariffs than the ones he announced on “Liberation Day” last week, after negotiating with trading partners. Forecasters at UBS said annual inflation could surge as high as 5% if the tariffs are not rolled back soon.

“The magnitude of damage they could cause to the U.S. economy makes one’s rational mind regard the possibility of them sticking as low,” Bhanu Baweja, a strategist at UBS, wrote in a commentary.

Shares of Rigetti Computing (RGTI) and IonQ (IONQ) led a quantum computing stock rally Monday in the wake of a new government initiative and as artificial intelligence stocks rebounded from their recent tariff-fueled selloff.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, which operates under the Department of Defense, late last week announced 15 companies for a program it said will explore whether it’s possible to build a “useful” quantum computer that “can achieve utility-scale operation—meaning its computational value exceeds its cost” by 2033. 

Rigetti shares jumped about 11%, while IonQ added 10% Monday after being named for the program. Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), which also made the list, saw its shares rise 4%. 

Some quantum companies not selected got a boost, too, as D-Wave Quantum (QBTS) shares gained close to 5% and Quantum Computing (QUBT) added 4%. Nvidia (NVDA), which Rigetti has partnered with, also saw its stock climb.

The gains came even as worries about new tariffs continued to weigh on broader markets, with the Dow and S&P 500 posting losses. The tech-heavy Nasdaq, however, finished Monday’s session with a slight gain of 0.1%. (Read Investopedia’s live coverage of today’s market action here.)

Major U.S. equities indexes were mixed on the first day of the new trading week, with stocks wavering after President Donald Trump threatened to impose an additional 50% levy on China if the Asian nation fails to rescind its 34% retaliatory tariff on U.S. goods.

Following dramatic swings driven by shifting developments in the trade conflict, the S&P 500 ended the session 0.2% lower. The Dow dropped 0.9%, while the Nasdaq eked out a daily gain of 0.1%. 

Tractor Supply Co. (TSCO) shares sank 5.8%, losing the most of any stock in the S&P 500. The retailer of rural lifestyle products has pointed to its past success in adapting to tariffs during Trump’s first presidential term, which its CEO said involved a roughly even split of the burden between the company itself, supplying manufacturers, and price increases for customers. While the company imports a relatively limited amount of the products it sells, a significant amount of those imports come from China. At the same time, tariffs on materials like steel and aluminum could also add to price pressure.

Shares of tool manufacturer Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) dropped 5.7%. Monday’s decline extended losses posted last week following Trump’s tariff announcement. With a significant production footprint in Asia, Stanley could see a major impact from the intensifying trade conflict. During its latest earnings call, the company’s chief financial officer (CFO) estimated a potential net tariff impact of $10 million to $20 million in 2025, but he indicated that the company would implement countermeasures, including supply chain adjustments and pricing measures.

Homebuilder stocks lost ground, reversing some of the strong gains posted late last week as the broader markets tumbled. In addition to signs of a possible reprieve in interest rates, the exemption of lumber imports from Canada contributed to enthusiasm around the homebuilding sector on Friday. However, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) indicated that tariffs on other key materials could still contribute to price increases for homes around the country. Shares of D.R. Horton (DHI), PulteGroup (PHM), and NVR (NVR) all declined roughly 5% on Monday.

Shares of companies exposed to artificial intelligence (AI) technology staged a partial recovery from the tariff-driven selloff. Analysts at Bernstein said that, while it is difficult to predict how long or deep the market downturn may turn out to be, they maintain their belief in the underlying AI story. Shares of AI server maker Super Micro Computer (SMCI) jumped 10.7%, notching the top performance of any S&P 500 stock, while shares of other AI players also pushed higher.

Dollar Tree (DLTR) shares jumped 7.8% after Citi upgraded the discount retailer’s stock to “buy” from “neutral.” Analysts noted that Dollar Tree could have the flexibility to raise its prices as tariffs affect global supply chains, suggesting that the company’s stores could lift price tags to $1.75 from current levels of $1.25 without encountering significant pushback. Citi’s team also recalled that when Dollar Tree initially moved past the $1 price point several years ago, the company saw sales growth and a boost in its EBIT margin.

Shares of Texas Pacific Land (TPL), which owns major acreage in the oil-rich Permian Basin, added 6.9%. Emerging from the bankruptcy of a railroad company in the 19th century, the land trust has been exploring opportunities to diversify its revenues, including water sales, easements, and even cryptocurrency mining projects.

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Humana (HUM) shares jumped in extended trading on Monday after the federal government said it would pay Medicare insurers more next year than previously expected.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said payments for 2026 Medicare Advantage health plans run by private insurers will increase by 5.06% on average, more than the 2.83% the government initially proposed in January. The boosted rates will benefit health insurance giants such as Humana, which has grappled with rising medical expenses related to government-backed health plans.

Humana shares trade flat since the start of the year as of Monday’s close but have slumped nearly 20% over the past 12 months, weighed down by increasing medical costs, downgraded Medicare offerings, and moderating membership signups. The stock rose 11% to $283.50 in after-hours trading Monday.

Below, we take a closer look at Humana’s chart and apply technical analysis to identify key price levels worth watching out for.

Symmetrical Triangle in Play

Since plumbing their 52-week low last October, Humana shares have traded within a symmetrical triangle, a chart pattern indicating a period of consolidation before the price breaks out.

The stock broke down below the pattern in Monday’s trading session before staging an impressive intraday reversal to close above its lower trendline, signaling a bullish shift in investor sentiment.

Indeed, the shares look set to open sharply higher on Tuesday morning, potentially setting the stage for a longer-term upside trend reversal.

Let’s identify three key technical overhead areas on Humana’s chart and also locate an important support level worth monitoring if the stock resumes its established downtrend.

Key Overhead Areas to Watch

A breakout above the symmetrical triangle’s upper trendline could see the shares initially test the psychological $300 area. This level may provide significant overhead resistance near the 200-day moving average (MA) and several prominent peaks and troughs on the chart stretching back to early April last year.

The next overhead area to watch sits around $336. Investors who have bought at lower prices may look for profit-taking opportunities in this location near the March through and April peak.

Further buying in the stock could fuel a move to the $383 area. The share may run into selling pressure in this region near swing highs that formed on the chart in January and September last year. This location also roughly aligns with a measured move upside target that calculates the distance of the symmetrical triangle near its widest point and adds that amount to the pattern’s top trendline.

Important Support Level Worth Monitoring

Finally, If Humana shares resume their long-term downtrend, investors should keep tabs on the $213 level. This area would likely attract significant attention near last year’s October gap low, which also marks the lowest point of the symmetrical triangle.

The comments, opinions, and analyses expressed on Investopedia are for informational purposes only. Read our warranty and liability disclaimer for more info.

As of the date this article was written, the author does not own any of the above securities.

Several big health-insurance stocks jumped in extended trading Monday after the federal government said it would pay Medicare insurers more next year than previously expected.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said payments will increase by 5.06% on average, more than the 2.83% the government said it anticipated in January.

Payments such as these to insurers cover costs for Medicare Advantage, in which private plans are an alternative to the government-run health care program for Americans 65 and older. The government said it is increasing the payments to reflect increased costs for health care.

The news lifted several stocks in the after-hours session. Humana (HUM) was recently up 14%, while CVS Health (CVS) rose 7%. Elevance Health (ELV) climbed 8%, while UnitedHealth Group (UNH) added 6%.

Those moves followed a wild day of trading driven largely by ongoing uncertainty regarding US trade policy. The S&P 500 and Dow industrials moved lower, while the Nasdaq Composite managed a slight gain.

Market drops can tempt investors with the supposed profits that await those buying coveted stocks at a discount. When markets took a nosedive after President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs in April 2025, many considered “buying the dip,” referring to a drop in the stock market from recent averages.

“If you’re thinking about buying the dip, then you’re looking at market losses in a healthy manner,” said Peter Lazaroff, chief investment officer of Plancorp and a member of Investopedia’s advisor council. “The key now is to be smart with what you choose to buy.”

According to JPMorgan (JPM), retail investors bought billions in popular stocks like NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA) on April 3, buying at the highest level in a decade. However, they threw good money after bad, “buying the dip” as stocks continued to plummet into bear market territory.

What Does It Mean to ‘Buy the Dip?’

Ideally, downturns should offer stocks with strong fundamentals at reduced prices. “Buy low, sell high,” goes the famous investing strategy. So what’s not to like?

Many retail investors know that in recent years, pullbacks during an otherwise strong bull market have been followed by quick recoveries. Indeed, investment forums and social media channels go into overdrive with buy-the-dip advice during such periods. These message boards can make it seem easy, but identifying market bottoms is notoriously difficult. Even professional investors with vast resources and experience fail to time market bottoms.

In addition, dips often turn downward into a deeper correction or bear market. Recent downturns had numerous so-called “sucker rallies“—an apt name for what you’ll feel if you buy into them.

What You Need To Know

Assess Your Financials

Before buying into a dip, ensure your overall financial house is in order:

• Only invest what you can handle losing. Adding more risk is only prudent if you can withstand additional losses in the near term.
• Get your debts in order. The guaranteed “returns” from paying off credit cards (some with interest rates as high as 30% annually) are often greater than potential market gains.
• Assess your income stability. Those with stable incomes can afford to take more risks than those facing potential unemployment or fewer work hours.

“Is this truly long-term money that you will not need for seven+ years? And if the market drops further, will you stay calm or feel the urge to panic-sell?” said Michelle Perry Higgins, a financial advisor at California Financial Advisors. “If you’re not confident in your ability to ride out more volatility, it may be best to hold off.”

Consider Dollar-Cost Averaging

Rather than putting all your money into a single dip, consider a more measured approach: dollar-cost averaging (DCA). This involves investing fixed amounts at regular intervals—say, $100 weekly or monthly—and removes the psychological and emotional pressure of timing. If you have a 401(k) with contributions from each paycheck, you’re already doing this.

“Understand that you’re unlikely to time the bottom perfectly,” Higgins said. “Statistically, the odds of buying at the exact low are very slim. Instead, think of it as gradually buying at lower average prices over time … nibbling your way in during downturns rather than trying to hit a perfect entry point. This approach helps build long-term wealth without unnecessary stress.”

Focus on Diversification and Fundamentals

Just because something is on sale doesn’t mean you should buy it. The same is true with stocks. Consider shares of companies with strong balance sheets, sustainable competitive advantages, and reasonable valuations (e.g., lower price-to-earnings ratios). But be wary of companies that appear to be facing business model challenges. For example, as the market lurched into bear territory in April 2025, stocks that took a hit included those most likely to face severe problems in a high-tariff environment.

So-called defensive stocks like those for utilities and consumer staples—things that will have demand no matter the economic environment—may offer better value than others. Defensive ETFs that focus on minimum volatility, like the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP), can leave the choice of specific stocks up to the professionals in a fund’s management.

But keep your portfolio diversified. “Individual stocks are historically a losing route to wealth building,” Lazaroff said. “The best route is to emphasize broadly diversified, low-cost options that are well aligned with your time horizon,”

The Bottom Line

Dips can create buying opportunities that improve long-term returns. But trying to time market bottoms is incredibly difficult, and it’s often impossible to judge whether a severe sell-off is just a temporary overreaction or a harbinger of a prolonged bear market. Investors should remain informed, exercise patience, and avoid impulsive decisions based on short-term market moves.