Dealing with home warranty claims and problems can be difficult. Find out what your home warranty plan covers before filing a claim. Q: We bought a house two years ago. Our purchase included a one-year home warranty. We have yet to get our one-year home fixes done. Some of our repair requests have been blatantly [...]
If buying a timeshare, you should ask why a timeshare is a good idea. If you invest in timeshares you may have problems with selling in the future. Q: My wife and I are looking for more ways to reduce our taxable income. Is buying a timeshare these days a good idea and can it [...]
If you are on disability, you might qualify for the HAMP program. Also think about if you should downsize to a smaller home. Q: I think my mortgage holder is going to start a foreclosure on me again as they are not cashing my checks and have sent me numerous letters about the "HAMP" program [...]
Refinancing a rental property or an upside down mortgage? Options for refinancing an underwater mortgage. Q: We received an invitation from a loan company to refinance a rental home we own. Our current lender is in partnership with this company. The interest rate on our current loan is 6.25 percent with about 22 years left [...]
Need to sell your home fast? Easy tips on selling and buying a new home, including applying for an equity line of credit. Q: I have a problem that I think others in my age group at least, might share. I am retired and over 70 years old. I want to move away from where [...]
When buying a vacation property in Florida for retirement, now may not be the best time to buy a home. Q: We're thinking of buying a property in Florida as a vacation home. Since we won't be able to use it a lot until my wife retires in 3 years, would it be better to [...]
During divorce the division of assets and property can take a long time. Find a divorce attorney to help divide your marital assets. Q: My husband and I have been married for over 15 years. Two years ago, we separated and later decided to give ourselves a second chance. Unfortunately, it has not gone so [...]
As another new year begins, you likely have goals to better yourself and your family. In light of an unpredictable economy, however, you also should set retirement goals. While resources may occasionally be tight, there is no reason why you should be caught off guard when it’s time to retire. Follow these five simple resolutions [...]
Some schools and colleges are cutting fees and tuition to attract students, but education costs are still high. When I went to college, my tuition and fees averaged about $500 per year plus another $500 for books. Today, you’re looking at 10 times those costs—or more. Financial aid is critical to help cover those costs. [...]
Why does the gathering of tax records seem to be such a difficult and onerous task? One year, we had a client who simply could not get us the amount of her mortgage interest payment until the afternoon of October 15 —by which time our office was closed for tax season. The good news is [...]
