Down payments have always been the greatest barrier to first time homebuyers—and, unfortunately, they still are. For a brief period ten years ago, lenders marketed mortgages with no money down, which made it possible for buyers to circumvent the down payment requirements that would have kept them out of the market. When home values plummeted, [...]
Bankruptcy filings increased nearly 30 percent at the height of the Great Recession, and many Americans are still recovering. Fortunately, some of my listeners are rebuilding their lives and moving on from bankruptcy. Others wonder why their mortgage payments aren't being reported after bankruptcy. On last week’s radio show, one listener said her bank told her [...]
The biggest threat to your finances could be your friends. It may seem counter intuitive that the people closest to you could negatively impact your financial life, but too often, people will spend more than they can afford in order to keep up with the lifestyles of those around them. It’s called “relative deprivation,” and [...]
This article was written by guest blogger Teri Cettina. Chances are good that when you budgeted for your summer travel, you remembered to build in the price of your hotel, the charge for your rental car and the estimated cost of your meals. But what about your hotel tax? Extra rental car fees? State and local [...]
As the travel season heats up, many Americans will make their annual trek to the family timeshare, perhaps on a secluded lake or a scenic beach. The American Resort Development Association, a trade organization for the timeshare industry, reports that there are currently more than seven million timeshare owners. Deciding to buy a timeshare Whether [...]
How to buy your parent's house. When they're ready to move out and you're ready to move back in, here's how to go about buying your parent's house. Your parents are ready to move out of their house. They want to sell it to you for cheap, so they get a little cash and you [...]
The majority of Americans don’t enjoy their work. According to a study of workplaces in more than 140 countries from 2011 through 2012 conducted by Gallup: 30 percent of Americans are engaged at work. These people are emotionally invested in their work and focused on doing their jobs well. 52 percent of Americans are not [...]
The golden rule in real estate has always been “location, location, location.” But apparently, a few modern home features—sprawling master bathrooms, luxurious outdoor lounges and his-and-hers closets—can make buyers forget about location. A study released from homebuilding company Pulte Group, found that all but 1 percent of respondents would be willing to sacrifice some aspect of their [...]
Insurance ads are everywhere you look. They promise low rates, helpful service, and quality coverage. With so many options available, it can be difficult choose the right policy or even to know where to start looking. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Many Americans don’t understand the basics of auto insurance, which makes it difficult to [...]
Perhaps your teen is getting to the point where carrying around cash isn’t so convenient any longer. Maybe she’s signing up online for a crafts class, but she needs a credit card to do so. Or perhaps your student is away at college, and you’d rather he not carry a wad of $20s to the [...]
