Get consumer advice on product purchases, financial planning, recalls, scams, fraud and more. Take a look at our articles, blog posts, Q&As, videos and radio shows for consumer advice on a wide variety of topics.
2025 Personal Finance Resolutions
What are your 2025 Personal Finance Resolutions? Every year, Ilyce and Sam offer their readers New Year’s resolutions for home buyers, home sellers and their personal finances. These are their 2025 Personal Finance Resolutions. Here's a look at their 2025 Housing Trends. Last year, we asked our readers whether we were in a Silent Depression [...]
2025 Housing Trends
Every year, Ilyce and Sam offer their Home Buyer, Home Seller, and Personal Finance Resolutions for the new year. This year, they’re adding 2025 Housing Trends. What will 2025 bring for housing trends? As we move into the beginning of the second quarter of the 21st century, it’s interesting to see how real estate (and [...]
Do Solar Panels Help Sell a Home?
Do Solar Panels Help Sell a Home? Q: We're thinking of moving to a senior living development in a few years, so we'll be selling our house. We've gotten quotes for solar and think it's the thing to do regardless of whether we'd use it long enough to pay off the initial investment. I thought [...]
HOA Didn’t Repair Air Conditioner: Now What?
HOA Didn't Repair Air Conditioner: Now What? Homeowner contacted HOA to repair a leaking air conditioner drainage line but it still hasn't happened. Q: My homeowners association (HOA) agreed to fix a leaky air conditioning drainage line that ran between floors. It causes flooding in my unit every summer. They set up a repair date [...]
HOA Lighting: Readers Respond
HOA Lighting: Readers respond COMMENT: I enjoy your column in my Sunday newspaper- in fact, it's one of the few that survive as print journalism slowly fades away. I want to commend you for suggesting in your story of the homeowner looking for help with outdoor lighting that HOAs aren't the automatic panacea for [...]
Best Cyber Resource Center
Best Cyber Resource Center In today's increasingly connected world, cyber crime has become a growing concern for individuals and businesses alike. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Report 2023, there were over 880,000 reported cyber crime incidents in the United States alone. That's up a staggering 22% increase in cyber crime compared to 2022. Cyber [...]
Neighbor Problems: Dirty Fences
Neighbor Problems: Dirty Fences Q: My next door neighbor put up a white vinyl fence between our homes. Not a problem for me, originally. But the fence is now turning green and black from dirt and mold. I don’t care what his side of the fence looks like, but I do care about my side. [...]
2023 Holiday Gifts for Billionaires and Everyone Else
My 2023 Holiday Gift ideas for billionaires and everyone else I surfed the Internet and found a few things I thought were just awesome gifts - if money is no object. I mean, what do you get your special someone who already has everything in the world? It would have to be a very [...]
Solar Panel Roof Replacement
Solar Panel Roof Replacement Costs Should you replace the roof before you add solar panels? Q: Five years ago we contracted with a solar panel company to install a system on our house. We now find out we will need a new roof in about two years, after getting three opinions. We’re surprised by this. [...]
Real Estate Matters: Readers Comment
Real Estate Matters: Readers Comment Readers weigh in on some of our recent Real Estate Matters columns Real Estate Matters: Realtor who wants to end lease early Comment: I do read with interest your column, having worked in legal aid for about twenty years – mostly representing tenants being evicted. This is to comment about [...]