Planning to save your first $1 million could go a long way toward securing your retirement lifestyle. “It’s definitely a reasonable goal in today’s world,” says Paul Cordero, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) in California. “In fact, saving $1 million is just a starting point if you think about how long you may live.” Saving [...]
Hurricane season is in full swing, and if you’re in a coastal area, your property could be at risk. In the face of a storm, it’s important to prepare as best you can. Taking precautions beforehand may save you time and money after the storm makes a mess of your property. Consider these six tips [...]
It’s one of Benjamin Franklin’s most famous quotes: “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Of course most people aren’t so certain about those taxes, particularly when it comes to taxes surrounding death and inheritance. Estate taxes—the so-called death taxes—have been a hot button issue for a long [...]
Would you buy a place to live for your kids in college? Would you make the purchase while your kids were in middle school? Apparently some overeager parents are buying their college-bound kids apartments near some top ivy schools, long before they’re even accepted. Real estate agent Ed Feijo of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in [...]
On a recent weekend, I visited the Malibu, Calif. area for brunch and a play. The restaurant had a rack of freebie publications, including a glossy homes-for-sale magazine. Wow! The homes and estates stunning—and so are the prices. The advertised monthly rental prices for Malibu homes and estates ranged from $20,000 to $100,000 per month. [...]
For many older homeowners, increasing mortgage debt is dulling the sheen on their golden years. Approximately 33 million Americans over the age of 65 own their homes, making them the age group with the highest homeownership rate. But according to a study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released in May 2014, that asset [...]
More and more homebuyers need to be prepared for bidding wars in today’s real estate market. When they arise, people can end up paying much more than the original listing price. Real estate bidding wars are often the result of first-time buyers and investors looking for the best price and coming across a deal that [...]
The wedding is over, and you’re finally married. Congratulations! Now, let’s see if I can help you stay together. One of the biggest problems newlyweds face is dealing with money—especially today, when couples are getting married later in life and each person has established his or her own habits and relationship with money. It’s hard [...]
Mortgage rates have found their way down to the lowest point of the year. Last week, they hit 4.10 percent for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) and 3.23 percent for a 15-year. Last year at this time, they were 4.58 percent and 3.6 percent respectively, according to the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. It’s [...]
Investing in overseas real estate is a strong draw right now. You can buy real estate in prime locations along the beach with stunning natural views or in cultural meccas in foreign countries for much less than in the United States. Some international markets are experiencing rapid growth, so there’s a stronger chance of a return [...]
