MOST OF US DON’T START THINKING ABOUT RETIREMENT UNTIL WE’RE IN OUR LATE 50S OR EARLY 60S. BY THEN, IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE TO MAKE CHANGES. HERE’S WHAT TO START THINKING ABOUT IN YOUR 40’S 1. LACK OF A RETIREMENT VISION Retirees often lament the end of work life. They say things like, “What do I do now? Grow roses? Paint the fences? Then what?" Being lost about what comes next makes it...
In real estate, the asking price is often as much about psychology as it is about reality. For example, take the strategy of pricing your home below market value... "I priced my home $9,000 under the market," says Rebecca Ricci. "It was a gamble, but my home was unique. People either love it or hate it. Also, the market was flat. Houses were starting to set on the market a little longer." The lower...
A few years ago, I watched a reality TV show about a home inspector who went to homes that had already been inspected. He always found all sorts of problems that the original inspector had missed. I was struck by one important thing about that show: The TV version of an inspector was poking holes in walls to look at the wiring, ripping out siding to look for mold underneath, digging up the yard to peek...
An ever-increasing number of homeowners are taking advantage of their extra equity by getting a home equity loan or a line of credit. But accessing your extra home equity should be done carefully, and only in a narrow set of circumstances. In 2006, just before the last real estate bubble popped, homeowners were treating their homes like endless piggy banks. They used their equity to purchase nice...
December means the holiday bustle is upon us; there are flights to catch, gifts to purchase, houses to decorate, and taxes to think about. Not the most cheerful of messages to hear during this time, but for property owners or the self-employed, tax season can be as stressful if not more stressful than the holiday season. To get a head start on taxes next year, here are a few things to consider. The...
"I have a ton of equity in my home. I'm thinking about selling and putting that money in the bank before the market goes down again. Should I?"
Are you ready to make that leap from living at home or renting to owning a home of your own?
Your home may be one of your largest assets, and you certainly want to take steps to get the highest price possible for it when you list it on the market to sell. In addition, you may have plans to purchase a new home or to take other similar steps when listing your home, so you may need your house to sell quickly. Staging your home is a great way to present it in the best possible light for potential...
Selling a home is more than real estate listings and making the home appealing to potential buyers. One factor to take into account when buying a home is its location, meaning the community that surrounds the home.
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