When you’re busy, it’s oh so easy to pull out your wallet and give your child cash to buy a hot lunch at school. But the cost of those lunches can add up pretty quickly. So just in time for the back-to-school season, I asked one of my favorite experts on saving money, Stephanie Nelson of CouponMom.com, [...]
Negative equity—owing more on your mortgage than your house is worth—has been a devastating multi-headed hydra over the past six years. Negative equity makes homeowners vulnerable to foreclosure should they hit hard times. It has sapped the primary source of retirement wealth for working families, and it has frozen owners in place, making it difficult for them [...]
Real estate team building may be the key for realtors coming out of the housing market's Great Recession. I just finished working with the FMLS at Showcase 2012 where we discussed this. But whether you're looking for an investment or are a property seller, real estate team building will be critical for everyone. And as [...]
If you close on your underwater mortgage before 12/31/12 and your lender forgives your debt, you don't have to pay a phantom income tax. We've received quite a number of letters recently from readers that are trying to determine their best options given their status as underwater homeowners. Some of these letters clearly indicate that [...]
Follow these new rules to refinance your home mortgage and make sure you ask the right questions about refinancing to get the best deal. Q: llyce, I listen to you on the radio every chance I get. Thanks for all your advice. I owe $86,717 on my mortgage, which is a 30-year fixed-rate loan with [...]
Recent research shows that women's investment returns are, on average, higher than those of men. Remember when a woman was told that the best investment she could make was finding herself a husband? Times sure have changed. A survey by personal-finance site DailyWorth showed that 76 percent of women act as their household’s primary retirement [...]
In a surprise move, mortgage interest rates rose this past week while NAR reports indicated that median home prices were rising as well. Mortgage interest rates rose a bit this week, but not enough to make a meaningful difference in the price you’ll pay to own a home. When you’re talking about a 30-year fixed [...]
A couple is looking to refinance their home. They should recognize they may pay more interest later to lower their monthly payment now. Q: I need some advice on my current housing situation. I am a married woman that bought my house almost 4 years ago. Two years ago, I had a baby and my [...]
No one wants to talk about death, but unfortunately far too many people put off discussing life insurance until it is too late. When you have others relying on you and your income, your death can spell disaster for them. The bottom line is that it is imperative to have a good life insurance policy in place [...]
When you apply for county or state healthcare assistance, the county or state can lay claim to a percentage of your estate proceeds. Q: Fifteen years ago, my parents put my two siblings and myself on the title/deed to their house with the stipulation that they could continue to live in the house for as [...]
