Headshot of Karen Idelson

Karen Idelson

Editor

Karen Idelson is a content editor and creator who is obsessed with promoting personal financial literacy, budgeting, and investing as well as their role in supporting overall well-being. She strives to make the articles she edits for RocketMortgage.com accessible and interesting so that readers will be inspired to learn more and increase their knowledge of personal finance.
 
Prior to joining the team at Rocket Mortgage in 2025, Karen worked as a writer, editor, and speaker, focusing on the business and technology of entertainment for more than two decades. A graduate of the University of Arizona and the American Film Institute’s Advanced Technology Internship Program, she has contributed to the Los Angeles Times, Variety, Animation Magazine, The Dallas Morning News, the Houston Chronicle, The Arizona Republic, Women’s Wear Daily, The DGA Quarterly, and many other publications. A veteran speaker and moderator, Karen has also hosted dozens of panels, including several for the hit ABC series “Lost” in the legendary Hall H (IYKYK), which seats more than 6,000, at Comic-Con International in San Diego, as well as panels about entertainment business trends at the World Animation & VFX Summit, SXSW, and Variety’s Entertainment Technology Summit.
 
Karen grew up in the Southwest and is a longtime U2 superfan who has seen them play in more than a dozen cities, four different countries, and three continents. If she’s not helping fine-tune the personal finance content at Rocket Mortgage, chances are she’s searching for a new place to grab a coffee with friends or driving to the next trending sushi restaurant.

Expertise

Mortgage
Personal Finance
Real Estate

Education

University of Arizona, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis on Social Psychology

American Film Institute, Advanced Technology Internship Program

Universidad de Salamanca. Studied Spanish language and culture

Coursera certification: Tools for Data Science

Recent Articles

Pink MCM doorway to stucco home exterior with southwestern landscaping flanking doorway.

6-minute read

Super conforming loans: A guide for borrowers

Don't let high-cost housing markets cloud your home buying dreams. Learn about how a super conforming loan could be your key to unlocking homeownership.

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Woman walking to her car parked in driveway of her home.

7-minute read

Should you buy a car or house first?

Buying a car before buying a house? Discover how this decision could impact your finances, credit, and home-buying options.

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A beautiful house near woods, portraying a serene setting with nature in the background.

5-minute read

Appraised value vs. market value: Knowing the difference

Knowing the difference between appraised value vs. market value is key when purchasing a home. Learn more about the role each plays in real estate transactio...

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A teacher helping her student in researching student loans on laptop.

8-minute read

Your guide to buying a house with $100K of student loans

Getting a mortgage and buying a house with $100K of student loans may be possible, but make sure you know these essential financial moves to make before applyin...

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Father sitting at a table with his daughter while he shows her the laptop.

5-minute read

Is private mortgage insurance (PMI) tax deductible?

Can you deduct private mortgage insurance (PMI) on your taxes? Learn more about how PMI works and when you can deduct it with Rocket Mortgage’s guide.

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Man smiling, drinking coffee and looking at open laptop in kitchen.

5-minute read

Calculating your max mortgage loan amount based on your income

Use our calculator to find the max mortgage based on income. Learn your maximum loan amount and whether you should borrow the full amount.

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A tan two-story home, showing a two-story house with a tan exterior.

8-minute read

How to sell a house with a mortgage

Selling your home while you’re still paying off your mortgage can be difficult to navigate. Learn how to prepare to sell your house and pay off your mo...

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An Asian family enjoying family moments outside a white house.

7-minute read

What is Freddie Mac's Home Possible® loan?

Freddie Mac’s Home Possible® program offers low down payments and fees for low-income buyers. Learn if the Home Possible program can help you buy a...

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A blue double-wide home, possibly representing a mobile or manufactured house.

6-minute read

Single-wide homes vs. double-wide homes: Which is right for you?

Considering a manufactured home? Learn about the differences between a single-wide and double-wide home in our guide and see which one is right for you.

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