Average 30- and 15-year mortgage rates climbed back toward their recent peaks, the latest in a series of up-and-down swings. The average on a conventional 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 5.92% from 5.77% the previous business day. Last month it reached 6.19%, its highest point since at least 2019, and likely much farther back. (Our … Read more
If you’ve ever read a report from an investment analyst, you may have seen stocks described as “overweight.” It can be a confusing term. Most people are used to seeing more simple “buy” or “sell” ratings. If an analyst rates a stock as “overweight,” they think that the stock will perform well in the future. … Read more
If you’re looking for flexible funding, you can tap into your home equity with a home equity line of credit (HELOC). A HELOC is a revolving line of credit that uses your home as collateral. Using a HELOC can be risky, so homeowners typically use them for major life expenses, not daily expenses. Let’s learn … Read more
Definition and Example of Actual Cash Value Actual cash value (ACV) is how an insurance company measures a property’s worth at a given moment in time. It accounts for depreciation. You may come across the term if you make a car insurance claim, or a claim on your homeowner’s policy. Some policies use replacement cost … Read more
Reverse mortgages are special types of loans that give older homeowners a way to turn their home equity into a source of income they can use during retirement. When they move out or die, the lender usually takes and sells the home to repay the loan. There are some benefits to reverse mortgages, but there … Read more
Key Takeaways An enhanced life estate deed transfers ownership of property after the owner’s death without the necessity for probate. The owner retains control of the property after the deed is in place and during their lifetime, unlike with standard life estate deeds. Enhanced life estate deeds were recognized by only five states as of … Read more
Key Takeaways Tax-loss harvesting involves offsetting capital gains with capital losses so that little or no capital gains tax comes due. Investors might intentionally sell some securities at a loss to achieve this when they have significant gains. Losses can offset regular income by up to $3,000 when they exceed gains. Any losses over the … Read more
Definition and Example of the Fair Housing Act The Fair Housing Act is a law enacted in 1968 and has been updated several times since its inception. The law is enforced by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Fair Housing Act prohibits lenders, landlords, sellers, and agents from discriminating against homebuyers … Read more
You can’t get a power of attorney to act for someone after they have died, and an existing power of attorney becomes invalid upon the death of the principal—the individual who gave you the right to take certain actions on their behalf. Someone is still going to have to take care of their affairs after … Read more
HELOC Home Equity Loan Secured by your home equity Secured by your home equity Low interest rates Low interest rates Usually variable rate Variable or fixed rate Draw funds multiple times One-time payout Upfront and annual fees Upfront fees, but no annual fees Secured by Home Equity Both home equity loans and HELOCs are secured … Read more