Key Takeaways: Estate planning can be difficult to talk about—a 2021 Gallup poll showed that 64% of American adults working with a financial advisor have never discussed their estate plans with that advisor. A distribution of assets plan can help ease your anxiety and broach the difficult subject of legacy planning with a trusted financial...
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A reference Trusts are an integral part of estate planning and funding a trust so that it meets the needs of a client’s estate and wealth transfer goals involves a proper and sound strategy. Nearly any type of asset can be used to fund a trust, including stocks, bonds, cash, mutual funds, real estate property,...
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How will inflation affect the housing market? Housing prices tend to rise with inflation. This is because the economy is dynamic and there are a lot of changes introduced to it every day. One of the major factors causing home prices to increase is interest rates.[1] When interest rates are low, buying homes can be...
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House flipping has become a lucrative market for many. And with number of shows dedicated to these endeavors, you may be interested in what it takes to flip a property. But first, what does it mean to flip a house? What is ‘Flipping Houses’? House flipping is an investment strategy in the real estate market....
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According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (known as HUD)[1], the difference between manufactured, modular, and mobile homes all comes down to differences in construction and safety. Manufactured and mobile homes must be built according to HUD’s building codes while modular homes must follow local, state, and/or regional building codes. Mobile, manufactured,...
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A revocable living trust, or simply a living trust, is legal entity created to hold ownership of assets generally used to determine how their assets will be handled after they die. The person who creates this living trust is called the grantor or the trustmaker and typically also serves as the trustee, meaning they handle...
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If the responsibilities of being a homeowner have become tiresome, it might be time to make a move. Or maybe you’re looking at buying a house but think the regular maintenance is more than you, or your schedule, can handle. A condominium or co-op might be the right living option for you. Both offer the...
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You’ve been saving for a house by paying down your debt, working on improving your credit score, and cutting back on spending. For many of us, buying a home will be the single biggest financial milestone we hit. Owning a home can drastically improve your quality of life, and it can seem especially appealing now...
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Finding the right apartment or home to rent can be difficult and stressful. You can be competing with many others for a quality unit in a prime location. The secret, real estate brokers say, is to plan ahead. Often renters will wait until the last minute to look for another apartment. However, when renters are...
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Moving is almost always a process that requires ample planning, but moving to a different state has its own unique challenges. Moving to another state means everything is different — from a new home and school to new doctors and pet groomers. And that’s not to mention the task of boxing up your entire life...
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It’s official: You’re going to be a homeowner. Now comes a critical step – making sure every room, wall and appliance is in tip-top shape and just the way you agreed upon with the seller before closing. Having a thorough new home walk through checklist beforehand can help ensure that you have your bases covered...
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Does your business need extra cash? Whether you need money to buy new equipment, grow your business or purchase a plot of land, you may need a loan for your business to fund the transaction. Small businesses borrowed $614 billion in 2016, according to a survey by the Small Business Administration. Loans under $100,000 saw...
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Are you ready to buy a home? If so, you have a lot of options — one of which is a prefab home. A prefab home, or a prefabricated home, is a house that’s built in sections at a factory and assembled once its components are delivered to your property. There are a lot of...
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You’ve been saving to buy your first home. But timing is important if you want to find the best value for your budget. Certain times of the year are often better for buyers than sellers. Prices tend to drop during these periods, and that can mean sizable savings. It’s best to research price trends thoroughly...
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When you sell your home, carving off a piece of that big check and handing it over to a real estate agent is an unpleasant moment. It’s hard to resist wondering whether you could have sold your home yourself and kept the agent’s commission. There is an alternative that lets you DIY – For Sale...
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