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 [...]
If the tax deadline snuck up on you and your tax return is nowhere near ready to be submitted, don’t worry—you do have options. If you file for an automatic extension by April 15, you can give yourself an additional six months to file your paperwork and avoid penalties for late payments. How do I [...]
In the rush to file your 2013 taxes before April 15, looking out for federal income tax identity theft may not be at the top of your mind—but it should be. Federal income tax fraud through the use of identity theft topped the IRS’s list of the “Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams for 2014. An identity [...]
It’s not a great idea to amend tax returns needlessly. The IRS can only audit you for three years after you file a tax return. When you amend a return, however, you start that three-year clock running again. There may be things that you can no longer prove or that are too complicated to explain. [...]
My best advice for buying a home, especially if it’s your first home, is this: Don’t do it alone. Consider everything that’s on the line with a home purchase. For most people, a home is the most valuable asset they will ever have and the biggest financial investment they will ever make. While going solo [...]
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. [...]
There’s a saying that good meat isn’t cheap and cheap meat isn’t good—in other words, you get what you pay for. So when you’re on a budget, how can you enjoy the finer things in life without breaking the bank? Fortunately, you can treat yourself and the ones you love to some VIP-style fun every [...]
Is your family itching to go somewhere for spring break while you’d like to keep your wallet from overheating? Here are some ideas for saving money on your trip: 1. Get off the beaten path. If at all possible, avoid traveling to typical spring break destinations. Not only will your family be surrounded by partying [...]
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 [...]
