Capital Gains Exclusion for Surviving Spouses

Losing a spouse is a deeply emotional experience and the financial decisions that follow can feel overwhelming. One important area to understand during this time is how the IRS treats the sale of a primary residence after the death of a spouse. Under certain...

Home Insurance: Protect Your Investment

If you’re buying a home�or already own one�home insurance might not be the most exciting part of the process. But it is one of the most important. In many cases, home insurance is required to secure a mortgage, but even if it weren’t, having the right...

Tips to Pay Down Your Mortgage Faster

One of the biggest benefits of homeownership is the ability to build equity�the portion of your home you truly own. Equity grows naturally over time in two ways: first, as you pay down your mortgage through regular payments (amortization), and second, as your home...

Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later

There was a memorable Fram Oil Filter commercial years ago where a mechanic asked a customer during an oil change if he wanted to replace the filter. When the customer declined, the mechanic calmly replied, "That’s okay with me. You can pay me now, or you...