Mortgage rates took the day to do just a little bit more of what they’ve been doing in fairly grand fashion for the past week: MOVE LOWER! When the good times started in earnest, rates were already in line with their lowest levels in more than a year. As of today, they’re another quarter or […]
Two terms that are often (and incorrectly) used interchangeably are “pre-qualified” and “pre-approved”. A Pre-Qualification typically means a buyer has spoken with a lender (who may or may not have pulled a credit report) and verbally discussed employment, liabilities, payment histories, and assets. A true Pre-Approval, on the other hand, entails a strict review of […]
BY JANN SWANSON Two Zillow subsidiaries are estimating it will cost the average U.S. homebuyer $40,000 to get in the door of their new home. Depending on where the home is located, according to a new analysis from RealEstate.com and Thumbtack, the number could be $26,641 (in Cleveland) or $202,834 (San Jose.) That headline number […]
Wed, Sep 26, 2018 BY JANN SWANSON One of the more contentious provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was a new ceiling on the SALT deduction. This is the amount taxpayers can deduct on federal tax returns for what is paid in state and local taxes including income, sales, and property […]
Sometimes, mistaking a myth for a fact can be extremely costly. Take, for example, the myth that the only people who need to insure themselves against fires, floods or other disasters are homeowners. Everyone realizes that a property owner needs an insurance policy, but many renter’s overlook the fact that they, too, need coverage. “Some […]
Sure, the stock market has risen for over eight years. But the run which started in October off 2016 is quite extraordinary, to say the least. Usually when bull markets get older, they fluctuate and run out of steam, but this one seems to have gotten quite a second wind. The question is — where […]
If you need a kick to start saving more for retirement, here’s a statistic that should light a fire under you. A couple retiring this year will need an estimated $275,000 to cover health care costs in retirement, according to Fidelity. That’s a 6% increase over last year. Of course, it’s a ballpark number. The […]