Tag Your Home Photos for Better Insurance Claims" alt="Tag Your Home Photos for Better Insurance Claims" />

On the morning of Nov. 24, 2007, Brad Stanley and his wife Anita watched as their home in Malibu, Calif., burned to the ground. They were not alone. More than 50 other homes were destroyed in the wildfire. With everything they owned now gone, the family had to start to process of documenting their losses to file for an ... Continue Reading »

Home Values: What's in a Neighborhood Name?" alt="Home Values: What's in a Neighborhood Name?" />

Want to boost the price on your house? Go country. Commonly held wisdom is that a prestigious-sounding name can add value to a neighborhood or subdivision. Now the research proves it. Buyers are willing to pay a premium of 4.2 percent for a property with "country" in the name and an additional 5.1 percent for the phrase ... Continue Reading »

Who Walks Away From a Mortgage? Not Whom You'd Expect" alt="Who Walks Away From a Mortgage? Not Whom You'd Expect" />

Peter Safronoff drives a Hyundai and lives in a rental bungalow in Encinitas, Calif., a beach community north of San Diego. At 63, it's not the golden-years lifestyle the financial consultant planned on, but it's the one he has. "I live in a beautiful place, in more modest circumstances," he says, "but at least I know I ... Continue Reading »

Want to Avoid Foreclosure? Listen to Mom" alt="Want to Avoid Foreclosure? Listen to Mom" />

Academic data has shown time and again how important parents are in modeling good financial habits that affect their children's adult lives. New research shows that goes for housing-related finances as well. A story today in DailyFinance.com reports that adults who said they received a lot of parental teaching around ... Continue Reading »

Natural Disasters and Terror Plots: What Home Insurance Covers" alt="Natural Disasters and Terror Plots: What Home Insurance Covers" />

The deadly tornadoes and flooding that affected many parts of the South and Midwest in April, the tragic earthquake in Japan, and a renewed sense of concern for national security after Osama bin Laden's death Sunday underscore the importance for property owners to be ready for a worst-case scenario. Last week, insurance ... Continue Reading »