Consumer News: This smart toilet has a camera—here's what it tells you about your health

Mortgage rates are at the lowest level in three years

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Mortgage payments on a typical home are projected to be affordable in 20 of the nations 50 largest metro areas by the end of 2026, up from far fewer in recent years, with Chicago, Atlanta and Raleigh newly joining the list.

• Affordability is expected to improve in nearly every major housing market this year, with Hartford, Connecticut, the lone exception even as Zillow forecasts it will be the hottest market of 2026.

• Nationwide monthly mortgage costs have dropped $92 from a year ago and are down $177 from their peak in October 2023, offering buyers modest but meaningful relief.

Freddie Mac reports its Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.06% this week, the lowest level in three years.

The impacts are noticeable, as weekly purchase applications and refinance activity have jumped, underscoring the benefits for both buyers and current owners, said Sam Khater, Freddie Macs chief economist. Its clear that housing activity is improving and poised for a solid spring sales season.

In fact, a new Zillow forecast shows mortgage affordability is slowly returning to the U.S. housing market, due to improving incomes, easing mortgage rates and subdued home price growth.

By the end of 2026, Zillow expects a mortgage payment on a typical home to consume no more than 30% of median household income in 20 major metropolitan areas the most affordable metros since 2022. The company defines affordability using the long-standing benchmark that housing costs above 30% of income represent a financial burden.

Improving affordability

At the national level, a typical mortgage payment currently takes up about 32.6% of median household income, the best reading since August 2022. Zillow projects that share will fall further to 31.8% by the end of the year, moving closer to pre-pandemic norms, when housing costs generally ranged between 22.5% and 26.5% of income.

This is what a small-wins year looks like for housing, said Kara Ng, senior economist at Zillow. Rising incomes, subdued price growth, and gradually easing mortgage rates would help buyers regain their footing while allowing homeowners to continue building wealth.

The improvement follows several turbulent years for the housing market. Home prices surged beginning in 2020, while sharply higher mortgage rates in 2022 pushed affordability to historic lows. By October 2023, the typical mortgage required 38.2% of median household income, and only seven of the nations largest metro areas were considered affordable for buyers.

The typical mortgage payment

Conditions have since eased. Using an average mortgage rate of 6.2% in December and assuming a 20% down payment, Zillow estimates the monthly cost of a typical U.S. home is now about $2,337, including taxes, insurance and maintenance. That figure is lower than a year ago and well below the peak reached in late 2023. If Zillows outlook holds, monthly payments may edge slightly higher by year-end, but affordability would still improve as incomes rise.

Zillows forecast assumes mortgage rates drift toward 6%, home values increase a modest 1.9% nationally, and household incomes grow about 3.3% this year. Even with those gains, the down payment remains a significant hurdle: a 20% down payment on the typical home already approaches $72,000 and is expected to rise further.

Where affordability is changing

Affordability gains are expected across most of the country, including in markets where home values are still rising. Chicago, Atlanta and Raleigh are projected to cross into affordable territory by the end of the year, while dozens of other metros are expected to see incremental improvement.

Hartford stands apart. Zillow expects affordability there to worsen slightly in 2026, driven by strong price growth, even as the company predicts the metro will be the hottest housing market in the nation.

Zillow notes that buyers can improve their own affordability by exploring down payment assistance programs and carefully matching their home search to current mortgage rates. Tools that track rates and monthly costs, the company says, can help buyers stay within budget and compete without stretching their finances too far.

While the gains may be modest, Zillow suggests they represent a healthier, more sustainable path forward for a housing market still recovering from years of volatility.

Dont assume your return will be postmarked April 15 if you mail it on that day

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• A new USPS postmark rule could trip up last-minute filers: Postmarks now reflect when mail is processed by USPS, not when its dropped offso mailing your return on April 15 doesnt guarantee an April 15 postmark.

• That matters because the IRS relies on postmarks: Under the mailbox rule, a return is considered filed on time only if the postmark is dated by the deadline; a later processing date could make an on-time mailing look late.

• Taxpayers should take precautions: To avoid penalties, file electronically, ask for a manual postmark at the counter, or use certified/registered mail or a certificate of mailing for proof of timely filing.

For years, procrastinating taxpayers have made a mad dash to the post office at night on April 15 to get their return in the mail before the stroke of midnight. This year, thats not going to work.

Effective December 24, 2025, the U.S. Postal Service updated how it defines and applies postmark dates in its Domestic Mail Manual (Section 608.11). Under the new rule:

The date printed on most postmarks will now reflect when the mailpiece is first processed by an automated USPS facility, not when you drop it into a mailbox or take it to the post office.

USPS says the change clarifies existing practice rather than altering operational proceduresit reflects how postmarks have already been applied in much of the network.

How this can affect taxpayers

The postmark date is important because the IRS and many state tax authorities treat it as the official filing date for mailed returns and payments under the so-called mailbox rule (Internal Revenue Code 7502):

• That rule says a mailed tax return, payment, extension request, or refund claim is treated as filed on time if it has a postmark dated on or before the due date.

But now:

• If you drop your return in a postal collection box on April 15 (Tax Day), the mail might not actually be processed and postmarked until April 16 or later because of how mail travels through processing centers.

• When that happens, the postmark on the envelope could show a later date than the day you mailed iteven though USPS accepted it on time.

Potential consequences

Because of this shift in how postmark dates are determined:

• Tax returns or payments could be considered late if the processing date falls after the deadlineeven if you deposited them on time. That could subject you to late-filing penalties or interest.

• The risk is higher for items mailed very close to a deadline, especially from collection boxes or locations that dont get regular pickups before processing.

Besides getting an earlier start on preparing your tax return, there are ways to avoid this situation:

• File electronically when possiblee-filing gives immediate proof of submission.

• Request a manual postmark at the post office counter (no extra charge) to get the actual acceptance date stamped.

• Use Certified or Registered Mail or get a Certificate of Mailing to document when the item was accepted by USPS.

In short, this change means postmarks may no longer reliably reflect the day you mailed your returnjust when USPS processed itso planning ahead or using alternative proof of timely mailing is more important than ever.

Customers must ask for the credit: Heres how

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Verizon is offering a $20 bill credit to customers impacted by a widespread service outage on Wednesday.

• The credit is not automatic and must be claimed by eligible customers through Verizons website or app.

• The outage disrupted voice, text, and data service for customers in multiple parts of the country.

Verizon is offering a $20 bill credit to customers affected by a service outage that disrupted wireless service on Wednesday, according to the company.

The outage, which began earlier in the day and lasted several hours for some users, affected voice calls, text messaging, and mobile data. Customers across multiple regions reported difficulty making calls, sending messages, and accessing the internet, prompting a wave of complaints on social media and outage-tracking sites.

In response, Verizon said it is providing a $20 credit as a goodwill gesture to eligible customers who experienced service interruptions.

How to claim the $20 credit

The credit is not being applied automatically, meaning customers must take action to receive it.

Verizon customers can claim the credit by logging into their account through the Verizon website or the My Verizon app.

Once logged in, customers should navigate to the support or billing section, where Verizon has posted instructions for requesting the outage-related credit. Some customers may also be able to access the offer through a notification or message within their account.

Verizon said the $20 credit will appear on a future bill after the request is processed. The company did not specify how long customers have to submit a claim, but advised doing so as soon as possible.

Who is eligible

The credit applies to customers who were impacted by Wednesdays outage, though Verizon has not released detailed eligibility criteria. Both postpaid and prepaid customers may qualify, depending on the extent of service disruption in their area.

Customers who believe they were affected but do not see an option to claim the credit online are encouraged to contact Verizon customer support directly.

Verizon response

Verizon apologized for the disruption, saying it understands how critical reliable service is for customers. The company has not publicly detailed the cause of the outage but said service was fully restored later in the day.

For customers still experiencing issues or who have questions about the credit, Verizon recommends checking its support pages or contacting customer service through the My Verizon app.

Microdosing GLP-1 sounds good but scientists say it's not proven and could be harmful

• Consumers say that smaller doses of a popular weight-loss drug eased side effects and improved theirhealth

• Telehealth companies are increasingly marketing GLP-1 microdosing for longevity and wellness

• Scientists say theres little evidence that nonstandard doses are safe or effective

The anecdotes are everywherestories of consumers who switched from full doses of GLP-1 drugs to microdosesand saw outstanding results: more energy, fewer gastrointestinal effects and big financial savings. But all of the blather is just thatnoise and unproven claims backed up by sub rosa public relations efforts.

There is virtually no published scientific evidence showing that taking smaller-than-standard doses of tirzepatide or semaglutide the active ingredients in drugs like Zepbound and Ozempic is safe or effective. Yet the Washington Post recently reported that it identified at least 15 telehealth companies and medical practices across the country that promote microdosing GLP-1 drugs specifically for longevity. Many more market tiny doses for weight loss, another strategy that has not been validated in clinical trials.

Why patients are intrigued

Studies using standard doses of GLP-1 drugs have revealed links between the gut where the hormone is naturally produced and the brain. Researchers have found that stimulating GLP-1 can prompt the brain to send signals that reduce inflammation throughout the body. There is also evidence that activating the GLP-1 pathway may help protect against inflammation in the brain, which is associated with diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons.

Those findings have fueled hopes that the drugs could play a role in preventing or slowing age-related decline. Some patients and providers interviewed say theyve seen real-world benefits from microdosing, and argue that taking less medication should reduce the gastrointestinal side effects common with GLP-1 drugs.

Cost is another factor. Brand-name GLP-1 medications can list for more than $1,000 a month, making smaller doses an appealing option for patients paying out of pocket.

But scientists caution that anecdotes are not evidence.

Whether these low doses actually combat inflammation is uncertain, said Daniel Drucker, a University of Toronto professor whose research has been cited by some proponents of microdosing and who was quoted in The Washington Post report.

From buzz to business

For drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, which produce Ozempic and Zepbound respectively, microdosing is the latest example of their blockbuster drugs being repurposed beyond FDA-approved uses.

While patients can technically take smaller-than-standard doses using official Ozempic pens or Zepbound vials, many are turning to compounding pharmacies. These pharmacies became major suppliers of imitation GLP-1 drugs during nationwide shortages.

Although the Food and Drug Administration declared earlier this year that shortages had ended, some pharmacies and medical practices argue they are still allowed to compound the drugs by personalizing doses for individual patients.

Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are pushing back aggressively, filing lawsuits that accuse companies of mass-prescribing compounded versions under the guise of customization.

Lilly does not have any data on the benefits or risks of microdosing of Zepbound or Mounjaro, the company said in a statement, adding that its vials contain no preservatives and are intended for single use.

Novo Nordisk echoed those concerns, saying it is deeply concerned about companies promoting and selling compounded, non-FDA approved knock-off versions of semaglutide and sources spreading misinformation about GLP-1s to the public.

For now, experts say patients tempted by microdosing should proceed with caution and with their eyes open.

The science behind GLP-1 drugs is advancing rapidly. But when it comes to tiny doses taken for longevity, researchers say the evidence simply isnt there yet.