Rental market conditions, like vacancy rates in luxury rentals and scarce affordable housing, prompted state and local governments to offer incentives for developers focused on lower end properties, creating a rare investment opportunity. The recent State of the Nation’s Housing report illuminated rising vacancy in luxury rental units and a shortage of affordable rental housing [...]
Millennials are nearly 10 percent less likely to be homeowners than baby boomers or Gen Xers. What’s different about this generation of homeowners? Urban Institute’s comprehensive study on Millennial Homeownership found that Millennials are 8 percent less likely to be homeowners than baby boomers and 8.4 percent lower than Gen Xers in the same age [...]
What you need to consider before buying your first home later in life? From mortgage terms to tax deductions, there’s many decision to be made before buying your first home. Note: This post has been updated to reflect a correction to the amount of the 2018 State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction change in the [...]
Claiming home ownership through adverse possession: What you need to know in order to put the home in your name. How do you claim home ownership through adverse possession? What you need to know in order to put the home in your name? These are some of the most commonly asked questions about adverse possession. [...]
Is your email address wrecking your creditworthiness? A recent study found that a person’s digital footprint can predict their financial behavior. Did you know your cell phone or email address can reflect your creditworthiness and might limit your ability to take out a mortgage? According to a recent study from Frankfurt School of Finance & [...]
In this $idehusl Q&A with financial columnist Kathy Kristof, we discuss Millennial employees and how their need for side hustles are fueling the gig economy. As costs rise and wages stagnate, Millennial employees are struggling to earn enough money to live the way they want to live. Their solution? Side hustles that allow them to [...]
How to make a family mortgage work with a construction loan to ensure the complicated building process doesn’t exceed the loan amount. Q: In regard to your article "How to become a mortgage lender for your children" in the Washington Post, can a family mortgage also be accomplished on a construction loan? Can you refer [...]
Why you may not need a full 20% down payment before buying a home, especially if it means draining your savings. Q: I’m looking to buy a home where the typical property sells for about $200,000. I have saved up about $25,000. Should I wait until I have $40,000 to buy the home or try [...]
How to afford your summer travel plans without totally breaking the bank, or taking out potentially risky travel loans. Have you considered taking out a travel loan to pay for a vacation? I read an article on MarketWatch about several companies offering payment plans for flights, hotels and amusement. Each company offers different loan terms, [...]
How to find proof of your cancelled mortgage if your lender didn’t send you a cancelled note. Q: How you can figure out if a cancelled mortgage is cancelled by the county? A: In a recent column, we discussed how a lender should and generally does send the cancelled note and mortgage back to the [...]
