Anna Helhoski

All right, let's talk a little bit about getting out of debt.

You note that 17% of Americans have paid off credit card debt completely and then fallen back into it.

What distinguishes those who successfully stay debt-free from those who cycle back?

Are there any specific methods that people are using to pay off their debt?

Otherwise, you're mostly just moving that money around.

Can you talk a little bit about what your analysis showed about Americans who make only the minimum debt payment each month, which is what a lot of people feel they can afford or really is what they can afford?

Now, the study mentions AI tools to develop a debt payoff plan.

I know I use AI for lots of different things, but only 11% of Americans have actually done so.

That's a pretty low adoption rate.

Do you see it growing?

All right, Erin, any other advice on managing debt?

Thanks for joining us, Erin.

Hey, Sean.

Hey, Elizabeth.

Yeah, today we're joined by mortgage writers Horace.

Holden Lewis and Kate Wood to reflect on the home market this past year and look into their crystal balls for 2026.

But first, I'd like to point out that it's the end of an era here at NerdWallet.

Yeah, we should all be so lucky.

I know I wasn't when I was about 22, but anyhow, uh,

Holden, you've got more than 20 years experience writing about mortgages and homeownership, and that's pretty wild.