Mortgage interest rates are still astonishingly low, even though they’ve begun to creep up from the historic low levels of a few months ago. While some housing industry watchers have worried that the rise in rates could put the brakes on the emerging housing recovery,...
It’s no secret that green is in. Energy efficient and environmentally friendly upgrades and add-ons can boost a home’s selling price and attract good renters. But paying for those green add ons and getting a return on the investment can be tricky – especially when...
Government help for housing may be coming to an end, if a new bill floated by House Republicans becomes law. This wide-ranging piece of legislation could virtually eliminate a number of government-backed housing initiatives, privatize federal lending services and make...
Know your math, keep your house? A new study conducted by the Columbia Business School appears to suggest exactly that. All other things being relatively equal, Columbia’s researchers found that the better a homeowner’s math skills, the less likely they were to lose a...
The mortgage interest deduction has been around since 1913, and to this day it remains one of the most valued provisions in the real estate tax code. But new revisions to tax laws could change all that, as lawmakers argue that this venerable exemption really does...
The ongoing saga of out of control student loan debt took a detour through Washington for some partisan infighting last week, as House Republicans and Senate Democrats engaged in some busy finger pointing about who’s responsible for delaying a bill that would keep...
The Federal Reserve has been hovering in the headlines over the past few months, as investors and financial institutions around the world keep a close eye on its plans to buy massive amounts of mortgage backed securities. Although it might seem that the Fed’s...
The Internet makes financial transactions quick and easy, and for investors it’s practically an indispensable tool. But as we’ve pointed out in previous posts, unwary users can find themselves vulnerable to scammers and hackers who can empty bank accounts, hijack...
Yes, the Federal Reserve is going to wind down the bond buyup. Really, this time. After making a bold statement about its intentions to emd its stimulus buyup of bonds and securities in 2014, the Fed now says it’s on track to taper down the program in the last quarter...
The rise of social media has changed the way the world does business. Although the Internet has always offered 24/7 availability of services, shopping and information, social networks offer more: personal connection, sharing, a sense of community – and trust. It’s no...
