Home closing costs can be a huge headache, but if buyers and sellers know about how much they should expect to pay it’s much easier to plan ahead. There are many types of closing costs, and not all of them apply to every deal. Fees may be higher or lower depending on the particular home [...]
Are you paying too much in property taxes? Chances are your answer is yes. Well, there are three steps you can take to reduce your property taxes. Most homeowners feel overburdened by ever-rising property tax costs and want to take steps to reduce property taxes, though not every homeowner’s taxes are as oppressive as others. [...]
Mortgage lenders recommend spending between 28 and 36 percent of your gross monthly income on debt payments. While this is considered to be perfectly affordable, it’s stunning that one-third of the homes for sale right now are unaffordable by historical standards. More than half the homes on the market in seven major American metros are [...]
Engagement ring or down payment? Apparently young women are increasingly opting for the latter. According to a survey of 1,000 people from ERA Real Estate, half of young women would rather have their mate propose with a plan to put money toward the down payment of a house than an engagement ring and 60 percent would [...]
Money can be a real pain. About 24 percent of people admit that the “pain of spending” turns them into tightwads, while about 15 percent admit to being spendthrifts, where they experience so little pain when spending that they spend more than they should. When I say pain, I mean it rather literally. Researchers Scott [...]
Have you heard of the Rule of 752? For those struggling to save money, this one’s for you. We always hear that by cutting out small expenses, we can save big (I even have an eBook touching on 10 expenses that can kill your savings). We know those $3 daily lattes add up. But it [...]
Many Americans are facing tax issues this year that they’ve never experienced before. Whether it’s because of a marriage, a home sale or new federal and state rules, questions arising this close to the April 15 tax deadline can be stressful. One big new rule this year is that the federal government is recognizing same-sex [...]
The final home walk-through before closing is an important time for homebuyers and sellers. To make the most of it, it’s helpful for both parties to know what they should look for ahead of time. A walk-through before closing can help homebuyers avoid getting burned if sellers leave the home in worse condition than it [...]
An anonymous Silicon Valley billionaire has purchased the world’s most valuable life insurance policy for $201 million, and I think his reasoning behind it is fascinating. He bought the insurance to help his heirs avoid paying a 45 percent inheritance tax after his death. This life insurance policy will pay out twice as much, and [...]
Want to make smarter financial decisions? Wear heels when you go shopping. If heels aren’t your thing, then you can try shopping right after yoga class or after a session of escalator riding, or standing on one foot when deciding which big-screen TV you want to buy. What do all these activities accomplish? These actions [...]
