(Scroll down for video) If you’ve been thinking about buying your first home, this could be the year to finally pull the trigger. But with all the information out there about the real estate market, it can be difficult to determine what it all means for a first-time homebuyer like yourself. Before plunging headfirst into [...]
The housing market right now is a “crapshoot.” Economist Karl Case—co-founder of the heavily-followed S&P/Case-Shiller home price indices—told CNNMoney that today’s housing market is nothing like the predictable pre-crash housing markets, where you could bank on small but reliable price appreciation every year. "You've got much more negative vibrations in the housing surveys about homeownership [...]
Which cities are the best for recent college graduates looking to settle down? With the economy still in recovery mode, a sluggish job market and staggering student loan debt, college graduates have a lot of obstacles in their path to success. According to Homes.com, several cities around the country are more promising than others, offering [...]
Given the flooding, wildfires, tornadoes, and other severe weather of the past few years, you’re probably fully aware that these conditions have a direct impact on rising homeowner’s insurance costs. If you haven’t already, it’s likely you soon will be contacting your insurance agent to find a way to combat these huge rate increases. However, [...]
In between Baby Boomers and Generation Xers, another group has emerged, dubbed “the sandwich generation.” These are middle-aged adults between 40 and 59 whose financial and emotional responsibilities are increasing due to aging parents and debt-laden kids. According to a 2013 Pew study, nearly half of adults in the sandwich generation have a parent age [...]
Did you go into shock when you saw how the 2014 tax laws affect you? I couldn’t believe how much of a marriage penalty Congress created. We’re back to the bad old days, when my best advice for folks in the top tax brackets was to get a divorce. Divorce can be good for your [...]
Your pets are an important part of your family, but when you're trying to sell your house buyers should not be able to see or smell their presence. Even if your pets are all bark and no bite, you’ll want to take precautions to keep buyers safe and comfortable when showing your home. These could include [...]
One of the hardest truths a homeowner faces is just how expensive remodeling is, and how important it is to save on home remodeling. Nationally, a roof can cost $18,000, a major kitchen remodel runs at $54,000 and a bathroom remodel is $16,000, according to Remodeling Magazine. But you can save on almost any home remodeling project by [...]
In today’s difficult post-Great Recession economy, I find that more of my clients are renting out their single-family homes. This allows them to move to a smaller place so that they can make ends meet or save money for the future more easily. Some of my clients who have second homes are also renting those [...]
The mortgage interest tax deduction is one of the big perks of homeownership. There’s a limit to how much you may deduct, though, and deducting more than your fair share could put you at risk of an audit. You may only deduct mortgage interest if the debt is secured by your main or second home, [...]
