ARCHIVED BLOG POSTS
2012
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The 15-year loan, long considered a fringe character in the mortgage scene, is riding a wave of popularity. Thanks to low interest rates, many borrowers are opting for the deal that allows them to pay off their mortgages in half as much time as the traditional 30-year mortgage. Nearly 16% of the ...
12/28/2012
The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau had more good news for housing this morning. Sales of newly constructed single-family houses increased by 4.4 percent in November, to a seasonally adjusted rate of 377,000 units. This is an increase of 15.3 percent from t...
12/27/2012
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While employers often tend to shy away from hiring older workers, they might want to reconsider if they're looking for someone with strong decision-making skills, a new study finds. Research by the met Life Mature Market Institute and the Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dall...
12/26/2012
It happens. You get a gift and you want to return it. Maybe you don’t need another electric can opener or you’re not fond of that bright pink necktie. Good news: According to the annual survey by Consumer World.org, the refund policies at most major retailers are the same as last year, with a f...
12/24/2012
The top of the year-end checklist typically includes making certain to send a donation to a favorite charity by Dec. 31. This year, though, some accountants say you don’t want to make those donations until January — if you’re betting on higher tax rates in 2013. But what about grabbing some mone...
12/20/2012
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The payroll tax cut that boosted paychecks for millions of working Americans over the past two years may be on the brink of extinction. As Republicans and Democrats search for a plan to avert a fiscal cliff, it's looking more likely that the payroll tax holiday introduced under President Obama in...
12/19/2012
It’s the holiday season — something’s bound to go wrong. We’ve all heard about those nightmarish holiday disaster stories in which accident after accident befalls some poor soul who just wanted a quiet, peaceful Christmas with the family. And we know you can’t get enough of those stories, so we...
12/18/2012
The U.S. tax code has many politically sacrosanct tax breaks and few rank higher than the deduction for home mortgage interest. For decades, politicians have feared even to speak its name, let alone debate putting limits on it, because of its status as a cherished mainstay of the American dream ...
12/13/2012
Many Americans are still having trouble obtaining mortgages thanks to high credit standards set and maintained by lenders, but a large number are also now turning to less expensive properties to make their dreams of homeownership come true. In the third quarter of the year, consumers snatched...
12/12/2012
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At issue is whether Congress will extend the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, which is to expire Dec. 31. If the “fiscal cliff” stalemate continues, the law’s expiration could mean a huge tax bill for distressed homeowners. WASHINGTON — Patrick Boris, a banquet chef in Las Vegas, is inching ...
12/11/2012
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