June 2, 2015 By

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

debt collectorsToday’s top story: Getting debt collectors off of your credit report is about to get easier. Also in the news: How to change a bad spending habit, the worst financial mistakes you can make during a divorce, and the worst markets in America to buy a home.

Why Kicking Debt Collectors Off of Your Credit Report Just Got Easier
Changes are coming to your credit report.

To Change a Spending Habit, Focus on Cause and Effect
Tiny changes could make a big difference.

3 Worst Financial Mistakes You Can Make in a Divorce
How to protect your best interests.

The 10 Worst Markets in America to Buy a Home Right Now
Where you buy matters.

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May 15, 2015 By

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: How to increase you credit card limit. Also in the news: The money mistakes empty nesters make, the terms every homebuyer should know, and the biggest threats to your retirement.

5 Ways to Get a Higher Credit Card Limit
What to do when you need more spending power.

3 Money Mistakes Empty Nesters Make
All that change can shake things up.

10 Terms Every Homebuyer Should Know
Brush up on your real estate vocabulary.

The 7 Biggest Threats to Your Retirement
What you need to avoid.

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April 27, 2015 By

Q&A: Capital gains taxes

Dear Liz: My wife owns a house that was separate property before our marriage. She has since fallen ill and needs round-the-clock care. I am selling the house to support this and will net about $250,000 at close. Will we have to pay capital gains taxes, or can I claim a one-time exemption, based upon this not being community property?

Answer: If your wife lived in the property as her principal residence for at least two of the five years prior to the sale, the profit would qualify for the capital gains exemption of up to $250,000 per owner.

People who have to sell their principal homes before they meet the two-year residency requirement may qualify for a partial exclusion if the sale was triggered by special circumstances such as a change in health or employment or “unforeseen circumstances.” You’ll want to talk to a tax pro about whether your wife’s situation qualifies.

Even if the gain is taxable, she may not owe tax on the entire amount netted from the sale. When figuring home sale profit, her basis in the home — essentially, what she paid for it, plus any qualifying improvements — is subtracted from what she nets from the sale.

There’s another way to avoid paying taxes on home sale gains, and that’s to hold on to the property until your wife’s death. At that point, the home would get a “step up” in tax basis to the current market value. An inheritor who sold the home at that market value wouldn’t owe any tax, said Mark Luscombe, principal analyst for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting U.S.

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March 2, 2015 By

Q&A: Investment property

Dear Liz: Eight years ago, we bought a fixer-upper in an up-and-coming neighborhood. Now it’s mostly fixed up, and property values have soared. We would like to borrow against the equity to buy a beach house we could use and also rent out. This would be a long-term investment. We already own one rental property that is turning a small profit. Managing it allows me to bring in much-needed extra income while staying home with my children. I want to increase that income with a beach house we can also enjoy. Is this a smart use of home equity?

Answer: It may be. You’ve got some experience as a landlord, so you understand what’s involved in maintaining and repairing a rental property and dealing with tenants. A property that’s split between personal use and rental is somewhat different, since you won’t be able to deduct all the expenses as you could with a full-time rental. The expenses have to be divided proportionately, and you can’t deduct rental expenses in excess of the rental income you get. IRS Publication 527, Residential Rental Property, offers more details, or you can talk to a tax pro (which you should have, given that landlords can face some complicated tax situations).

Your first task is to ensure the beach house is in an area that allows short-term rentals on the scale you’re anticipating. Not all communities do. Some don’t allow “vacation rentals” at all, while others limit the amount of time that the property can be rented. Those that allow short-term use may require annual licenses and assess taxes or fees on the rentals, which are costs you’ll want to factor in before you buy.

Your next step, if your goal is to generate income, is to find a property that is “cash flow positive” from the start, with expected rents more than covering expected costs. Obviously, though, you can’t predict everything, which is why it’s essential to have a fat emergency fund for unexpected repairs or greater-than-anticipated vacancies.

Another smart move would be to lock in your interest rate if you don’t expect to pay back what you borrowed against your house within a few years. That means a home equity loan with fixed rates rather than a line of credit with variable rates. You put your home at risk when you borrow against it, so be conservative and lock in predictable payments.

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February 24, 2015 By

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

200150236-001Today’s top story: The increasing threat of medical identity theft. Also in the news: the student loan time bomb, how to gain an edge when selling your home, and how to fix a high electric bill.

A Dangerous Form of Identity Theft Is Growing Fast
Medical identity theft is on the rise.

Student Loan Time Bomb Is Ticking Louder
The delinquency rate is skyrocketing.

5 Ways Spring Home Sellers Can Gain an Edge
How to make your home stand out.

How to fix that high electric bill
The vampires of standby mode.

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February 5, 2015 By

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

downloadToday’s top story: There’s been a massive data beach at Anthem Insurance. Also in the news: Personal finance questions that should be answered before you say “I do”. learning your investment vocabulary, and assumptions that could hurt your retirement plans.

Massive breach at health care company Anthem Inc.
As many as 80 million customers have had their personal information stolen.

Personal Finance Questions Before Marriage
Questions to ask before walking down the aisle.

The Many Different Types of Investments, and How They Work
Learning the investment vocabulary.

4 Dangerous Assumptions That Could Hurt Your Retirement Plan
You know what they say about assuming…

7 Home-Selling Mistakes to Avoid
Keeping your sale trouble-free.

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January 19, 2015 By

Q&A: When is the right time to buy?

Dear Liz: My wife and I are young (25 and 22). We owe no one money and have built up an emergency fund with six months of expenses. We both contribute enough to our 401(k)s to get the maximum match, and I contribute the maximum to my company’s stock purchase plan. Currently we are saving $2,500 to $3,000 a month for a future home purchase. My question is will we be able to buy a decent house without getting a mortgage in three to four years at this rate? Is this something we should do? Or should we have a large down payment and pay the mortgage off quickly? We both have below average credit and mostly use cash for everything.

Answer: Since you two are so good at saving, you presumably can do the math required to determine how much you’ll have in three or four years. So what you’re asking is whether home prices will accelerate so fast in your area that what may seem like enough to buy a decent house now won’t actually buy one in the future.
The answer is: Nobody knows for sure.
The best approach is to keep your options open — and that means you’ll need to work on improving those credit scores. A year or two of using credit cards lightly but regularly, and paying off your balances in full each month, should help pull up your numbers. You could speed up the rehabilitation process by getting an installment loan such as a car loan or personal loan. Managing different types of credit responsibly is typically good for your scores.
If you wind up getting a mortgage, you may decide to pay it off quickly, or you may have better things to do with that money such as boosting your retirement accounts or saving for college educations.

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January 12, 2015 By

Q&A: Renovations with high returns

Dear Liz: What renovation projects reap the most return when selling? Replacing windows and carpeting is what I had in mind.

Answer: Remodeling magazine’s latest Cost vs. Value report puts window replacement near the top of renovation projects that pay off, but none of the projects the survey tracked recouped more than they cost.

In 2014, a homeowner could expect to recoup about 79% of the cost of window replacements, assuming the home was sold soon after the improvement. Major kitchen remodels offered a 74% return on a mid-range project that cost about $55,000, or 64% of a high-end project that cost about $110,000. The amount you can expect to recoup usually declines over time as the improvements start to get dated or suffer wear and tear.

The survey doesn’t track projects that are typically considered more maintenance than improvement, such as replacing carpeting or painting. Those projects may, however, get a home sold faster if done just before the house is put up for sale.

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January 5, 2015 By

Q&A: Terminating private mortgage insurance

Dear Liz: I bought my first home about a year ago. Because I had very little money for the down payment, I have to pay private mortgage insurance, which is a whopping $385 each month. My burning question about this is: How can I get rid of it? There must be a way to pay the loan quicker or pay more each month or something to make it go away.

Answer: Mortgage insurance protects the lender in case you default on your loan. Since loans with small down payments have a higher risk of default, mortgage insurance is typically required until your balance falls to 80% of the original value of your home. At that point, you can request in writing that the mortgage insurance be canceled. If you don’t make the request, the lender is still typically required to terminate PMI when your balance reaches 78% of the home’s original value.

To speed that day, you can pay down your principal, but do it the right way. Call your mortgage servicer and ask how to be sure the extra money you submit is reducing your mortgage balance. Otherwise, your extra money may just be applied to the next month’s payment, which won’t help reduce your balance much.

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November 21, 2014 By

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: A little known tax credit could save future retirees money. Also in the news: How to avoid overspending during the holidays, making the right upgrades when selling your home, and how to maximize your Social Security benefits.

The Crucial Tax Credit Retirement Savers Don’t Know About
Your 401(k) contributions could save you money come tax time.

Watch out! 11 ways retailers get you to overspend
Retailers have their eyes on your wallet for the holidays.

Know Your Market When Doing Home Upgrades To Increase Value
Investing in the right improvements.

How to Maximize Social Security for Your Retirement
When you decide to start taking benefits can make a huge difference.

5 Ways to Whip Your Budget Into Shape for the Holidays
The holidays don’t have to leave you broke.

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