You can’t get a power of attorney to act for someone after they have died, and an existing power of attorney becomes invalid upon the death of the principal—the individual who gave you the right to take certain actions on their behalf. Someone is still going to have to take care of their affairs after … Read more
Definition and Example of the Fair Housing Act The Fair Housing Act is a law enacted in 1968 and has been updated several times since its inception. The law is enforced by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Fair Housing Act prohibits lenders, landlords, sellers, and agents from discriminating against homebuyers … Read more
Reverse mortgages are special types of loans that give older homeowners a way to turn their home equity into a source of income they can use during retirement. When they move out or die, the lender usually takes and sells the home to repay the loan. There are some benefits to reverse mortgages, but there … Read more
A home equity loan, or second mortgage, allows you to withdraw the equity you’ve built up in your home so you can use the cash to make repairs to your home, pay for college tuition, or consolidate your debt, for example. You repay the money over time through a series of regular payments. Home equity … Read more
Key Takeaways A higher unrecaptured Section 1250 tax rate applies to long-term capital gains for which a taxpayer has previously claimed depreciation. The IRC requires that claimed depreciation must be factored back in to arrive at an adjusted cost basis for calculating the amount of a capital gain. The Section 1250 rate is usually 20%, … Read more
Highlights More than 10 years of experience as a journalist covering topics like personal finance, parents, and mental health Former marketing and communications professional at a real estate company Host of local workshops discussing financial and contractual advice for freelance professionals Has writing expertise focused on the intersection of personal finance, race, and culture experience … Read more
Highlights Has more than 20 years of experience as a business writer and editor, covering everything form the business of media to high-level economics Former editor in charge of technology, media, and telecom at Thomson Reuters You have managed, built, and led teams at some of the world’s largest corporations and media organizations, including New … Read more
Key Takeaways Series HH savings bonds were a type of Treasury bond that directly deposited interest payments into an investor’s account. These bonds matured after 20 years and paid interest every six months, but investors could cash in their bonds for the full face value at any time after a required holding period. This bond … Read more
A leveraged exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a type of financial product designed to track an underlying index at higher rates of return. It can offer returns as high as 2-3 times the returns of a traditional ETF, but that also makes it a riskier investment option. Leveraged ETFs are quickly becoming one of the most … Read more
Key Takeaways Title insurance can protect both buyers and lenders from financial losses that may occur after a home sale. Lenders require borrowers to purchase title insurance to help protect their investment. A homebuyer must purchase separate owner’s title insurance to protect their legal rights to a property. Your title insurance company will handle future … Read more