Home prices rose in July, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index, and have now risen for four straight months. The bad news? Home prices generally rise in July, and they’re still down 4.1 percent year on year.
Lofts: The One Bright Spot in the Real Estate Market
Oh, a loft … who doesn’t want to live in a large empty space that can be customized to fit your needs? Loft properties can be especially appealing to empty nesters, whose aging knees may dictate a preference for …
Soon, You’ll Have to Wait Even Longer for Movies Via Netflix or Redbox
Increasingly, consumers just aren’t buying movies: DVD sales were down 18.3% in the first half of 2011, and 2010 marked the third year in a row of declining sales. Sales are down even as the studios have forced Netflix, Redbox, …
How Nevada Became the Go-To State to Evade Taxes
Nevada rolled out the welcome mat in the 1940s for mobsters who transformed the sleepy town of Las Vegas into Sin City. Now, the Silver State appears to be welcoming a new generation of entrepreneurs looking for a legal haven for …
What to Expect From Black Friday and the Upcoming Holiday Shopping Season
Gazing into Santa’s crystal ball, the retail experts point to the strong likelihood of weak sales during the rapidly approaching holiday shopping season. And with one aspect of the season, there’s no guesswork necessary: It’s all …
Say It Ain’t So, Apple! Will the iPad Juggernaut Slow in 4th Quarter?
Apple is not immune to the worldwide economic slowdown. According to a note issued today by J.P. Morgan, “multiple supply chain vendors” have confirmed that the Cupertino, Calif.-based company has cut orders by 25% for iPad …
Want to Stop Spending? Try Thinking About Cash
Almost all of us have walked out of a store having spent more than we planned thanks to a salesperson who helpfully suggested that your kids would love the accessories not included with a toy, or that the shirt you’re trying on …
Rethinking the Role of a Fixed Annuity
With interest rates at historic lows, retirement income has become difficult to secure and now planners and retirees are even rethinking the role of the venerable annuity, which has long been a stalwart source of monthly income.
The plain truth is that unless you have boatloads of cash simple annuities alone won’t get the job done.
News Flash: A Healthy Home-Cooked Meal Costs Less Than Fast Food
Compared to traditional home cooking, fast food is more immediately gratifying and pleasurable and, well, faster to prepare and consume, from beginning to end. But no matter what some people say (particularly right after a pricey …
More Banks Hop on Debit-Fee Bandwagon: Will It Last?
Last month, megabanks Wells Fargo and Chase both announced pilot programs in which they will charge some customers a $3 monthly fee to use their debit cards. Additional banks, including SunTrust and Regions, have followed suit with plans for similar fees. Cue outrage. “A lot of it goes back to the history. Debit cards were supposed to …
Why You Should Get a Tax Credit for Volunteer Work
With millions of people down on their luck the past three years, older folks have filled big voids and provided real economic value through volunteerism. Now we’re going to slash their benefits?
Bargain-Hunting in Europe: How To Make the Best of the Crisis
Great stocks have been knocked down a lot even in the strongest European countries – so it’s time to start looking for opportunities.
