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Good News for Housing: Consumers Show Positive Financial Attitude

Consumer optimism toward the housing market gained some momentum last month following a dip in December, likely getting a boost from their increasingly positive financial outlook, according to results from Fannie Mae’s January 2015 National Housing Survey™. The share of respondents who says their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago […]
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How to Sell Your Business

(TNS)—After dedicating a good 20 years to building your own business, the question just might be, “What now?” When selling the enterprise you nurtured, getting your managers to buy is usually your best bet. I spend lots of time talking to owners of private companies who are not sure how to leave their business. If […]
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DIY Home Repair Ideas That Will Make Your Home Worth More

If you’ll be putting your home on the market this year, doing some home improvement projects first can boost its value. When your budget only allows for a limited amount of money on these projects, there are still plenty of things you can do. Consider one or more of the following DIY home repair projects: […]
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Living Smart: Do I Need to Cut Down That Tree?

(TNS)–Just like people and pets — trees get sick. Sometimes it’s as minor as the common cold (perhaps, a damaged limb), while other ailments (trunk damage) may call for tree removal. Several factors, such as old age, storm damage or environmental issues, can prematurely damage or kill trees. But what if you’re not sure if […]
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5 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers

(TNS)—You’ve decided to go for it. Buying a home can be thrilling and nerve-wracking at the same time, especially for a first-time homebuyer. It’s difficult to know exactly what to expect. The learning curve can be steep, but most of the issues can be resolved by doing a little financial homework at the outset. Take […]
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5 Tax-Saving Strategies to Help This Tax Season


Millions of Americans face a challenge in meeting their budgets every month—not just financially, but also in their time budgets, says investment advisor Reid Abedeen. “Knowledge is power and time is often money, but what if you don’t have the time to empower yourself with knowledge? For many households, that often means losing out on […]
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New Study Finds Price Premium for Solar Homes

A study conducted by a team of researchers,  led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Berkeley Laboratory, found that homebuyers are willing to pay more for homes that have installed solar photovoltaic (PV) energy systems. The research (Selling into the Sun: Price Premium Analysis of a Multi-State Dataset of Solar Homes) estimates a price premium of approximately […]
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Great Spaces: Soak Up South Carolina Luxury at Seven Oaks

Looking to get luxurious down south? Look no further than Seven Oaks, a palatial manor with river views and access located in Bluffton, S.C., just minutes from the white sand beaches of Hilton Head Island and close to the romantic towns of Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston. Built in 2004, the lavish mansion spans 17,649 square […]
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8 Small Ways to Save Big

Yes, it’s hard to save money—especially when you think you’ve already cut the fat out of your monthly budget. But Kiplinger’s personal finance editors offer eight ways you may not have considered that can help you wring out a few more dollars to squeeze into your savings: Negotiate your rates – If you’re paying high […]
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87 Percent of U.S. Homes Qualify for Down Payment Help

RealtyTrac recently released a Down Payment Resource (DPR) on the availability of down payment programs across the country. Out of more than 78 million U.S. single family homes and condos, more than 68 million (87 percent) would qualify for a down payment program available in the county where they are located based on the maximum […]