Americans spend a lot of money on takeout and lattes but just how much are they spending and what does that mean for their savings and retirement readiness? How much money do Americans spend on takeout and lattes? Americans spend an average of $2,944 each year on financial vices like takeout, drinks and lottery tickets, [...]
Renting an apartment is tricky. There are at least 10 mistakes you should avoid making when you rent an apartment. If you can avoid making these mistakes, you'll save yourself time and money. When you rent an apartment for the first time, you're bound to make a mistake. In fact, research shows there are 10 [...]
What are the limits on a SALT deduction? After massive tax reform last year, this is the question on many homeowners’ minds. Q: When it comes to the SALT deduction, can you give me a little more information on the limits. A: In the last big tax bill that Congress passed, the law limits the [...]
A home flipping and construction expert wrote in to weigh in on a recent article on flipping homes in retirement. See what he has to say about this real estate retirement trend! Q: I read your column “Flipping homes in retirement.” I flipped two homes decades ago, and the last one in 1993. I didn't [...]
When a home inspector overlooks an asbestos problem, what can you do? And, how do you find an inspector who will actually have your best interests at heart? Q: We hired a home inspector to help us out when we were buying a home in Chicago. We received the report, reviewed it and later closed. [...]
A little preventative home maintenance this fall makes a huge difference over winter. You can reduce energy costs, prevent expensive disasters and spot future repairs to take care of when warmer weather returns. The days are getting shorter and the leaves are falling as Autumn approaches. Time to tackle your 2018 Fall Home Maintenance Checklist. [...]
How to pick a new neighborhood Most tenants looking for a place to rent will spend much of the time looking at what kind of space they’ll have inside the four walls of an apartment. That makes sense, since it’s what you will see daily, and there’s an important connection that needs to be made. [...]
Is it better to rent or buy in retirement? This retired reader isn't sure whether she should buy or rent. Q: My wife and I are wondering if it is better to rent or buy in our retirement? We are retired and renting an apartment for $1,600 a month. I am 64 and she is [...]
How to share a private road with an unruly neighbor? What do you do if your neighbor takes over a private road? Q: How do I share a private road with my unruly neighbor? We discovered that the county does not own the top part of our road. We learned this two years after we [...]
How to find a great landlord - and a good apartment to rent Finding the right rental property can be very stressful. Renters spend most of their time searching for a rental unit that satisfies basic living needs, such as the size, look and location of the property. But if you don’t find a great [...]
