Strategic Defaults Are Going Mainstream. Shameless.

May 17, 2010

The Term Strategic Default is “the new black” in the world of homeowners who bought in to speculative real estate markets with the bare minimum down payments during the real estate boom.  These are homeowners that are well-paid, employed and completely capable of paying their mortgages, yet they’re walking away from their homes and their […]

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Darwin’s May Portfolio Unveiled: The Fully Monty

May 16, 2010

As is customary, I unveil my trading portfolio monthly so readers can track my performance compared to the prior month for a hypothetical basket of the same stocks evenly split, as well as any trades I made in between.  My last update was over at Darwin’s Finance (April Portfolio Update).  Since that update was on […]

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Record Low Rates and Tax Credit Expiry = Home Sale Bargains

May 13, 2010

There’s an interesting phenomena brewing in the affordability of homes for buyers – both of which run contrary to what many experts and the government predicted.  Two things are continuing to move in their favor – mortgage rates and sellers slashing home sale prices. Tax Credit Expires so Sellers Cut Prices The New Homebuyer tax […]

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Best 529 Plans: Everything You Need to Know

May 11, 2010

If you have children, or are even thinking of having kids in the future, you’ve probably heard about 529 college savings plans and may be participating in one already. While the premise is pretty straightforward, there are some provision, benefits and tips that ensure you set yourself and your progeny up for success in establishing […]

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