By Marcie Geffner - Bankrate
Investors are understandably eager to earn high returns. But nothing erodes that eagerness or kills the investor's confidence in his or her advisers like a plethora of investment fees that eat away at those gains.
That's one reason investors are paying a lot more attention to fees these days, according to Ram Subramaniam, head of products at TD Ameritrade, an online stock brokerage firm in Omaha, Neb.
"Any fee is getting more scrutiny, partly because the market returns aren't as attractive as they were," he says. "People are conscious and aware of what they're paying. What you pay in fees eventually impacts your return."
Here's what investors need to know:
Read on: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/investing/investment-fees-strangle-profits.aspx?ec_id=Tweet101
Marcie Geffner
Reporter. Writer. Editor. Blogger. Real Estate. Personal Finance. Banking.
February 8, 2012
January 25, 2012
How three homeowners fought their property tax bills
By Marcie Geffner - Bankrate
Declining house values create great opportunities for homeowners to contest their property tax bills and potentially save big money.
Each jurisdiction has its own rules, procedures and deadlines to appeal property taxes. The bottom line is that a little research, communication and patience can pay off when you fight a property tax bill.
To prove the point, here are three real-life stories of homeowners who have fought -- or are fighting -- their property tax assessments.
Best comps win
Michael Garard, a real estate broker at Garard & Associates in Highlands Ranch, Colo., has contested the property tax assessment on his house three or four times in the last 10 years with mixed results. Most recently, he scored a big win: a drop in the valuation from $535,000 to $480,000 that will cut his tax bill by about $300 a year for at least two years.
Read on:
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/taxes/homeowners-fought-property-tax-bills.aspx
Declining house values create great opportunities for homeowners to contest their property tax bills and potentially save big money.
Each jurisdiction has its own rules, procedures and deadlines to appeal property taxes. The bottom line is that a little research, communication and patience can pay off when you fight a property tax bill.
To prove the point, here are three real-life stories of homeowners who have fought -- or are fighting -- their property tax assessments.
Best comps win
Michael Garard, a real estate broker at Garard & Associates in Highlands Ranch, Colo., has contested the property tax assessment on his house three or four times in the last 10 years with mixed results. Most recently, he scored a big win: a drop in the valuation from $535,000 to $480,000 that will cut his tax bill by about $300 a year for at least two years.
Read on:
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/taxes/homeowners-fought-property-tax-bills.aspx
January 20, 2012
How to divorce your mortgage
By Marcie Geffner - HSH.com
A house is often a major point a contention when a married couple decides to divorce. But whereas spouses once fought mainly over who would own the house, some experts say arguments today are more likely to zero in on who will be responsible for the mortgage.
"We see more and more nowadays that if the mortgage exceeds the value of the property, neither spouse wants that obligation," says Carl Palatnik, a principal at the Center for Divorce and Finance, a financial planning firm in Melville, N.Y. "It's a very difficult issue."
If you're keeping the house, the best way to deal with the mortgage is usually for one spouse to refinance, Palatnik says.
Read on: http://library.hsh.com/articles/homeowners-repeat-buyers/how-to-divorce-your-mortgage.html
A house is often a major point a contention when a married couple decides to divorce. But whereas spouses once fought mainly over who would own the house, some experts say arguments today are more likely to zero in on who will be responsible for the mortgage.
"We see more and more nowadays that if the mortgage exceeds the value of the property, neither spouse wants that obligation," says Carl Palatnik, a principal at the Center for Divorce and Finance, a financial planning firm in Melville, N.Y. "It's a very difficult issue."
If you're keeping the house, the best way to deal with the mortgage is usually for one spouse to refinance, Palatnik says.
Read on: http://library.hsh.com/articles/homeowners-repeat-buyers/how-to-divorce-your-mortgage.html
January 12, 2012
6 new year's resolutions for homeowners
By Marcie Geffner - Bankrate.com
The start of a new year is a popular time to make resolutions: promises to yourself to achieve specific goals and objectives. Financially speaking, you might want to pay off debt, build up savings, prepare for retirement or better manage your daily spending in 2012.
Those are good goals to have, and if you're a homeowner or intend to become one this year, your house might give you some great ways to bring your goals to fruition.
With that in mind, here are six New Year's resolutions to put on your list.
Read on:
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/6-new-years-resolutions-homeowners-1.aspx
The start of a new year is a popular time to make resolutions: promises to yourself to achieve specific goals and objectives. Financially speaking, you might want to pay off debt, build up savings, prepare for retirement or better manage your daily spending in 2012.
Those are good goals to have, and if you're a homeowner or intend to become one this year, your house might give you some great ways to bring your goals to fruition.
With that in mind, here are six New Year's resolutions to put on your list.
Read on:
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/6-new-years-resolutions-homeowners-1.aspx
4 tips for holiday-season home sellers
By Marcie Geffner - HSH.com
Conventional wisdom says the holidays are the worst time of the year to try to sell your home. But a new survey suggests this so-called wisdom might be wrong.
In fact, 60 percent of real estate agents polled by Realtor.com said they advise homeowners to sell during the holidays. Another 30 percent said they recommend a December sale if the seller is motivated to move quickly.
Why do so many agents favor December sales? A cynic might say they're eager to encourage any home sale at any time, regardless of the seasonal pros and cons.
But the Realtors themselves cited other specific advantages.
Read on:
http://library.hsh.com/articles/homeowners-repeat-buyers/4-tips-for-holiday-season-home-sellers.html
Conventional wisdom says the holidays are the worst time of the year to try to sell your home. But a new survey suggests this so-called wisdom might be wrong.
In fact, 60 percent of real estate agents polled by Realtor.com said they advise homeowners to sell during the holidays. Another 30 percent said they recommend a December sale if the seller is motivated to move quickly.
Why do so many agents favor December sales? A cynic might say they're eager to encourage any home sale at any time, regardless of the seasonal pros and cons.
But the Realtors themselves cited other specific advantages.
Read on:
http://library.hsh.com/articles/homeowners-repeat-buyers/4-tips-for-holiday-season-home-sellers.html