Reverse mortgages are going to be a less appealing way to contribute to retirement, due to recent changes by the Trump Administration. If you have been considering a reverse mortgage, the time to act may be now. Richard Eisenberg discusses upcoming changes in this Forbes article.
Starting October 2nd, the following changes will be placed into affect.
Changes Coming to Reverse Mortgages:
A Caution to home buyers from CNNMoney:
Rising housing costs are putting a major squeeze on Americans.
Nearly 39 million households can’t afford their housing, according to the annual State of the Nation’s Housing Report from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.
Experts generally advise budgeting about 30% of monthly income for rent or mortgage costs. But millions of Americans are far exceeding that guideline.
One-third of households in 2015 were ‘cost burdened,’ meaning they spend 30% or more of their incomes to cover housing costs. Of that group, nearly 19 million are paying more than 50% of their income to cover their housing needs.
When so much of your paycheck is going toward keeping a roof over your head, it forces sacrifices in other budget areas, including food, health care and transportation.
LDSAgents.com note—What this article does not say is that many people finance homes using income generated by both partners working. Not only does this put stress on a family, but if one wage earner suddenly cannot work for some reason, finances can get stretched very quickly. We advise our readers to consider the advice of LDS leaders and be watchful about taking on too much debt.
Once you have put down earnest money on a house, are you locked in with no options? It actually depends on how your contract is written.
Many Generation Xers and Millennials are increasingly remorseful about their home purchases. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal points to a survey by Nerdwallet.com in January that revealed, “nearly half (49%) of homeowners who responded said they would do something differently if they had to go through the process again.” Read more
Make sure downsizing is right for you before you take the leap.
Let’s face it: the word downsizing often conjures up images of loss or failure. But what if the definition of downsizing in retirement really means a step up: freedom from hassles and overhead with the flexibility to do and be more of what you want in this next stage of your life?
Here are five things to consider before you put up the “for sale” sign: Read more
True wealth is the freedom to spend your days doing what you’re passionate about and what you think is important. If you are not living within your means and your cost of living is high, you may have no choice but to keep slogging away at the job you don’t like. But if your costs are low, you’ll find it easier to save money and you’ll be in better shape if you get laid off. You’ll need a smaller nest egg to retire in comfort, and you may have the financial freedom to take a lower-paying job that you like.
But store up for yourselves riches in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20
Want to get your living expenses under control? Try these three steps: Read more
Most sellers have a specific goal when it comes to their transaction: a quick sale and top dollar. But sometimes fast action doesn’t align with achieving the highest and best value.
There are multiple schools of thought on this subject, and the perspective varies not only with where you are in the country, but also by price point, neighborhood and even down to the block. When it comes to pricing and the search for a quick sale, it’s always best to get help from a local agent. LDSAgents.com has over 3,000 realtors in the US and Canada.
Here are some strategies you can use to get offers fast. Read more
Houseplants are a decorator’s best friend, adding pops of color and a vibrant touch to even the blandest home interiors. And studies show that they also improve air quality, lower your stress level, generally make you happier, and just might even make you smarter.
But what if those seemingly innocent buds are doing just the opposite? What if they’re actually trying to kill you? Maybe even your pets?
More than 60% of Americans own their homes, and while there are certain benefits to ownership, there’s also a downside: the cost.
You may have thought that coming up with a down payment was the greatest financial hurdle you’d face, but as you’ll soon come to learn, there are numerous expenses associated with owning a home. Here’s how to handle them. Read more
Be sure to complete the list before winter!
Many factors are involved in creating a strong, healthy lawn. Fall lawn care is extremely important if you want a great lawn in the spring. Follow this checklist as part of a sound lawn maintenance program. Read more
