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Spring has arrived, and the real estate market is blossoming alongside the flowers. If you’re thinking of putting your home on the market, spring and early summer offer a strategic advantage for sellers. Trends in home sales show that sellers could potentially get...
Once you’re retired, you will likely need to draw on several types of income for your living expenses. You’ll need to know where these funds are coming from and how much you can count on, but you should also be aware of how this money is taxed — because this knowledge...
Whether you’re buying or refinancing your home, getting a home appraisal is crucial for securing a mortgage or determining the fair market value when buying or selling a property. Real estate agents are not licensed appraisers. They can provide a comparative market...
As spring and summer approach, you may think about getting rid of old items that have made walking through your basement difficult or finding things in your attic impossible. Or maybe you may want to give your home an uncluttered look in advance of a real estate open...
Spring is almost here, which means it’s time for some spring cleaning. This year, in addition to tidying your home and surroundings, you might want to consider sprucing up your financial environment as well. Here are some suggestions for doing just that: • Improve...
According to Forbes Magazine, in 2021 there were almost 700,000 divorces reported by 45 states. Divorce is thought of as an ending, but it’s also the beginning of a new life for all involved, so it’s crucial to wrap up loose ends and let everyone move on without being...
We all hear about homes selling so quickly because there is no inventory, but we may not realize all the prep work that goes into getting those homes ready. Real estate agents often are called in months in advance of selling a home, as people want to plan ahead and...
When you plan to retire at a certain age, you can follow a strategy that incorporates your investment moves, your health insurance and other factors. But what happens if you’re forced to retire earlier than you anticipated? Unfortunately, this situation is not that...
When it comes to finding your ideal home, there are many factors to consider. It’s easy to get overwhelmed in the details, but don’t overlook the importance of finding a home that’s the perfect size for you. Consider how many people will live in your new home. Are...
It’s not as well-known as Halloween, but National Retirement Security week happens every October — the third week, to be precise — and while it doesn’t involve ghosts and goblins, it does deal with something even more frightening: the risk of not being able to enjoy a...
Have you ever seen a classified ad for a used car that reads, “Take over payments?” When it comes to houses, the same thing might be possible. An assumable mortgage is what is sounds like — a mortgage that’s assumed by someone else other than the original mortgage...
We all make mistakes in many areas of life. These mistakes are usually fairly harmless — we took a wrong turn while driving, used the wrong ingredients in a recipe and so on. But sometimes, our mistakes can be costly — especially those connected to investing. Here are...
By Jason Schadler As the seasons change and the leaves begin to fall, you may think about getting rid of old items that have fallen out of use. Or you may want to give your home a more festive look in advance of Halloween and holiday parties by clearing out clutter. A...
Home inspections are an invaluable part of the home-buying process when you’re making a decision on one of the biggest investments in your life. Your real estate agent can tell you things like how a house is priced in relation to “comps” (comparable properties)...
If you’ve invested in an IRA for many decades, it may well turn into a key source of income for your retirement. Still, you might not deplete your IRA in your lifetime, especially if you also have a pension or a 401(k) and other investment income. So, if your IRA...
With the last heatwave of summer behind us, the arrival of fall is a good time to start thinking about winterizing your home. This is especially important if you are a snowbird who’ll be spending the colder months elsewhere. A good place to start is by cleaning out...
You’ll find some big differences between traditional and speculative investments — and knowing these differences can matter a great deal when you’re trying to reach your financial goals. To begin with, let’s look at the basic types of traditional and speculative...
Your kids have moved out, and your home is just yours. Now what? For many people, being a parent is an integral part of their identity. You might find yourself wondering what to do with yourself now. You might feel sad or depressed. A child moving out is a loss of...
Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” But as you chart your financial course, what steps should you take to help you keep moving forward to where you want to go? Consider these suggestions: • Establish and quantify your goals....
If you own a business, you’ve always got a lot on your mind. But no matter how busy you are today, you need to think about tomorrow. Specifically, you’ll want to create an exit strategy for the day you want to move on from your business to a new phase in your life. To...
