Rising interest rates are on the horizon, according to Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen. And, it doesn't look at though Donald Trump's election will change the interest rate forecast. In Congressional testimony, Yellen said that the Federal Reserve plans an interest rate increase "relatively soon." But, mortgage interest rates are already rising sharply. According to [...]
A mild fall is one thing, but if you don't prep your home for winter, you could be putting your home value at risk. Prepping your home for winter means more than just digging out the shovels and filling a bucket with salt. A cold winter season can cause damage to your home and property, which translates [...]
Even though you haven’t set the Thanksgiving table, some consumers are already stressing about how much money they’ll spend this holiday season. According to a new survey from Experian, holiday spending is expected to go through the roof – along with consumers’ financial stress levels. The survey found that most stress comes from unexpected expenses consumers [...]
If you’ve ever thought about starting a home-based business, you know what an attractive idea it is. Plenty of profitable companies start out this way, but it’s not as simple as just having a great product or service. Even if you’re only using your home (or maybe even the garage) to launch the company, you’ll [...]
If you’re nearing retirement and still carrying a mortgage you’re probably worried about managing your mortgage payments in retirement. And, who could blame you? A new survey by the American Institute of CPAs found that retirees’ biggest concern is running out of money, and your monthly mortgage payment, which typically includes your real estate taxes [...]
If you’ve paid off the mortgage, you might be ready to celebrate. Except don’t get too excited: While you’re done with the mortgage, and hopefully your home equity line of credit, you won’t be living in the house for free. Here are four post-mortgage expenses every homeowner has to handle and a few things [...]
Are you paying too much for auto insurance? It may feel that, based on your accident history or driving record, what you’re being charged isn’t fair. Well, it turns out you might be right. A new report from the Consumer Federation of America shows that your income has a much bigger impact on your auto [...]
Home sharing is a great way to leverage your extra space into additional income, but it’s not as simple as you might think. And even with large companies making it easier for you to share your home, there are still some risks to consider first. Here are four things to think about before becoming a [...]
Selling your home is an exciting time, but it can also be a bit scary. The end result - a sale - depends a great deal on correctly timing your sale. So, if you’re planning to sell this fall, during the middle of a presidential election, here’s what you need to know: 1. Your local [...]
This month, I’m sending my youngest son, Michael, off to college. (For those of you playing along at home, you may remember I have two sons, but my oldest is now a junior in college.) Sam and I are going to have an empty nest. That makes this post very personal. Back to school season is always [...]
