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Your House Is Not an Emergency Fund

by Brian Orelli - August 20, 2008 - 0 comments

<p>I have a confession to make: I've never had an emergency fund.</p> <p>I don't think that I'm immune to financial woes; I just figured I'd tap into my home equity line of credit at a relatively low interest rate, should I run into a financial disaster. Better to keep the cash earning a higher rate of return than stuck in a low-rate bank account, I figured.</p>

I have a confession to make: I've never had an emergency fund.

I don't think that I'm immune to financial woes; I just figured I'd tap into my home equity line of credit at a relatively low interest rate, should I run into a financial disaster. Better to keep the cash earning a higher rate of return than stuck in a low-rate bank account, I figured.

Stop Sweating That A/C Bill

by Dayana Yochim - August 1, 2008 - 0 comments

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average family shells out $1,500 annually for utilities. Air conditioning can account for as much as 70% of summer energy costs. To put this in everyday context, let's hear from Mr. Electricity: He says that running central A/C for 12 hours a day for three weeks uses more energy than leaving the refrigerator door open 24 hours a day for an entire year. (I'm not willing to sacrifice my Fudgesicle stash to fact-check that theory.)

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average family shells out $1,500 annually for utilities. Air conditioning can account for as much as 70% of summer energy costs. To put this in everyday context, let's hear from Mr. Electricity: He says that running central A/C for 12 hours a day for three weeks uses more energy than leaving the refrigerator door open 24 hours a day for an entire year. (I'm not willing to sacrifice my Fudgesicle stash to fact-check that theory.)

Trouble Selling Your House? Become a CEO!

by Motley Fool - July 11, 2008 - 0 comments

<p> By Morgan Housel:</p><p>CEOs have tough jobs. Whoever occupies the corner office has a world of worry on their hands these days: inflation, oil, credit markets, consumer confidence, global wars, and a real estate market slowly eating away at the American dream.</p>

By Morgan Housel:

CEOs have tough jobs. Whoever occupies the corner office has a world of worry on their hands these days: inflation, oil, credit markets, consumer confidence, global wars, and a real estate market slowly eating away at the American dream.

Make Your Dream Life Happen Now

by John Rosevear - July 1, 2008 - 0 comments

<p>What do you want to be when you grow up?</p> <p>Most of us haven't had to seriously answer that question in a long time. We have the careers we have, and maybe we like them and maybe we don't, but in most cases, we’ll keep doing some variation of what we're doing now until we retire.</p>

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Most of us haven't had to seriously answer that question in a long time. We have the careers we have, and maybe we like them and maybe we don't, but in most cases, we’ll keep doing some variation of what we're doing now until we retire.

Rethinking Reverse Mortgages

by Motley Fool - June 19, 2008 - 0 comments

Reverse mortgages -- a way for seniors to tap into their home equity without having to make monthly payments -- have become a mainstream retirement-planning option in recent years. Despite some drawbacks, for many retirees, a wisely chosen reverse mortgage has helped fund a comfortable, active retirement when savings and pensions alone weren't sufficient.

Reverse mortgages -- a way for seniors to tap into their home equity without having to make monthly payments -- have become a mainstream retirement-planning option in recent years. Despite some drawbacks, for many retirees, a wisely chosen reverse mortgage has helped fund a comfortable, active retirement when savings and pensions alone weren't sufficient.

Housing Must Get Worse

by David Lee Smith - June 11, 2008 - 0 comments

For the first few months of 2008, it appeared that homebuilding stocks would generally trudge toward higher ground. During the past month or so, however, the group has retrenched. While <strong>Pulte</strong> (NYSE: PHM) and <strong>Toll Brothers</strong> (NYSE: TOL) still linger around their end-of-2007 prices, rivals like <strong>Centex</strong> (NYSE: CTX), <strong>Beazer</strong> (NYSE: BZH), <strong>Lennar</strong> (NYSE: LEN), and <strong>Ryland</strong> (NYSE: RYL) are all in negative territory for the year to date.

For the first few months of 2008, it appeared that homebuilding stocks would generally trudge toward higher ground. During the past month or so, however, the group has retrenched. While Pulte (NYSE: PHM) and Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL) still linger around their end-of-2007 prices, rivals like Centex (NYSE: CTX), Beazer (NYSE: BZH), Lennar (NYSE: LEN), and Ryland (NYSE: RYL) are all in negative territory for the year to date.

Avoid Home Repair Nightmares

by Elizabeth Brokamp - May 30, 2008 - 0 comments

Americans spend hundreds of billions of dollars on home repair and remodeling projects each year. That means that there are a whole lot of very happy contractors out there, bank accounts bulging.

Americans spend hundreds of billions of dollars on home repair and remodeling projects each year. That means that there are a whole lot of very happy contractors out there, bank accounts bulging.

The Wrong Side of a Real Estate Slump

by Motley Fool - May 28, 2008 - 0 comments

<p> By Elizabeth Brokamp:</p><p>When my husband and I bought our home in April 2005, the Washington, D.C.-area housing market was in a frenzy. We'd paraded through homes, all priced at far more than half a million dollars, with cracked foundations, slanting floors, and "slight" flooding problems. We'd been told that it was likely we'd lose bidding wars to folks willing to waive the home inspection contingency. In fact, we had lost bids on two other homes, even with escalation clauses that sometimes went thousands over asking price. The market around the area had been red-hot for several years, long enough that many of us forgot it could be any other way.</p>

By Elizabeth Brokamp:

When my husband and I bought our home in April 2005, the Washington, D.C.-area housing market was in a frenzy. We'd paraded through homes, all priced at far more than half a million dollars, with cracked foundations, slanting floors, and "slight" flooding problems. We'd been told that it was likely we'd lose bidding wars to folks willing to waive the home inspection contingency. In fact, we had lost bids on two other homes, even with escalation clauses that sometimes went thousands over asking price. The market around the area had been red-hot for several years, long enough that many of us forgot it could be any other way.

Has Housing Turned?

by David Lee Smith - May 21, 2008 - 0 comments

A nutritional movement has been around for years that operates under the adage, "You are what you eat." I hope, however, that it doesn't become accepted lore that, "You know what you read." If it does, those who glace at headlines like this one will be in a world of hurt.

A nutritional movement has been around for years that operates under the adage, "You are what you eat." I hope, however, that it doesn't become accepted lore that, "You know what you read." If it does, those who glace at headlines like this one will be in a world of hurt.

Housing crisis spiraling to people's stuff

by MT Bureau - May 12, 2008 - 0 comments

Washington -- Many Americans who have lost their homes to foreclosure are seeing their belongings auctioned as well because they can't pay the storage costs, analysts say.

Washington -- Many Americans who have lost their homes to foreclosure are seeing their belongings auctioned as well because they can't pay the storage costs, analysts say.

4 Reasons Housing Can't Recover Quickly

by David Lee Smith - May 6, 2008 - 0 comments

A cartoon in the latest issue of <em>The New Yorker</em> magazine started me thinking about the current state of housing and homebuilding. It depicts a small cottage with three windows, each with a frightened-looking little pig staring out. At the front door stands a wolf in slacks, a tie, and suspenders. He's intoning, "I'm not huffing and puffing. I'm foreclosing."

A cartoon in the latest issue of The New Yorker magazine started me thinking about the current state of housing and homebuilding. It depicts a small cottage with three windows, each with a frightened-looking little pig staring out. At the front door stands a wolf in slacks, a tie, and suspenders. He's intoning, "I'm not huffing and puffing. I'm foreclosing."

Million-Dollar Homes at Half Price

by Selena Maranjian - May 1, 2008 - 0 comments

Some things we know in our heads, and other things we know in our bones. Great investors understand, deep in their bones, the importance of seeking value, while people like me often pay it lip service.

Some things we know in our heads, and other things we know in our bones. Great investors understand, deep in their bones, the importance of seeking value, while people like me often pay it lip service.

Your Home: Rent or Buy?

by Motley Fool - April 30, 2008 - 0 comments

There's nothing like owning the roof over your head and the floor beneath your feet. Having a bunch of walls in between is even better. Although there are those who prefer the modern-loft lifestyle.

There's nothing like owning the roof over your head and the floor beneath your feet. Having a bunch of walls in between is even better. Although there are those who prefer the modern-loft lifestyle.

Color Your New House Green

by Rich Duprey - April 23, 2008 - 0 comments

<em>Want to keep the planet and your portfolio green? The Fool shows you how in our special series on Earth-friendly investing.</em>

Want to keep the planet and your portfolio green? The Fool shows you how in our special series on Earth-friendly investing.

Housing Prices Will Drop 25%

by Motley Fool - April 18, 2008 - 0 comments

<p> By Anand Chokkavelu</p><p>"We now see potential for another 25% to 30% downside over the next two years."<br />-- David A. Rosenberg, <strong>Merrill Lynch</strong> (NYSE: MER) in <em>BusinessWeek</em>, Jan. 31, 2008</p>

By Anand Chokkavelu

"We now see potential for another 25% to 30% downside over the next two years."
-- David A. Rosenberg, Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER) in BusinessWeek, Jan. 31, 2008

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