A lot of people say that paying off your car loan too soon can end up hurting your credit but if you have the money to pay it all off, why wouldn't you just go for it so you don't have the debt hanging over your head? I don't own a car, I lease, so I am not sure how this works.

I only ever heard this one and it was disproven. The only way to get more out of your taxes is to hire a professional who knows what to look for. Sure, it will cost more to file but you end up making more in your returns. Sometimes a few hundred extra, sometimes a few thousand extra.

This topic always got under my skin because the though of me paying for young adults' poor choices in life with my earnings is not okay. I chose not to go to college and know plenty who did not go and are doing just fine. It seems like a lot of those who did go are struggling to make ends meet...

By "law" you have to pay taxes on anything you earn from providing a service. I don't think people should follow this for minor work like small contracts or short work jobs unless they are earning a substantial amount of money.

I have always thought it to be the case that once you decide you are filing, you have to notify someone right away and stop paying on your cards and using them. I have met a few people in recent years that have said they filed but a few months prior, they decided to buy some things they would...

It depends. Sometimes people get away with it for years, or for good. My brother has worked nothing but under the table work for the last 20 years and has never filed. I am not sure how he has gotten away with it seeing as he had to pay child support but he managed and no one ever came after him.

This is involving a family friend who has immigrated to the US from another country. They have a green card and started working but they have no credit and would like to start building a solid score so they can work on buying a home next year. How is this done for immigrants?

Yeah you need to file for it to be on record. If you are on the books for a job in a company and do not file, it could end up costing you fees in the future which they will take from the following year's tax returns.

I am not sure if this is the right area to ask this but I figured I would ask here. I have not found any information on how to lower property tax. It seems very dependent on the area and what they require from people owning land. I am not sure how to go about looking into this to see if there...

If you go straight to the bank, you will end up paying less but you might end up running the risk of buying a home with a lot of problems. Typically, the house has to be livable to be part of a public auction which means there is no lead, mold, or other damages that can be bad for someone's health.

I have never done this but I know there is a lot of value in land if you can find the right lot. That being said, you have to consider property taxes because the market going back up will increase those and you don't want to be stuck with a lot paying taxes month and month with no interested buyers.

This is a great post. I think it is important that people focus more efforts online. I think it is overlooked because they figure they are dealing with locals only but a lot of people move in from other states and even other countries. It is best to stay connected on all fronts.

I had this happen once. The family was not being honest with everyone involved. The home was originally the grandparents' home and the son and daughter-in-law sold it only to request to get it back a few weeks later. I was not able to do this for them because the process was already finalized...

When it comes to rehabbing an old home, sometimes it is necessary to completely tear down the house and build from the ground up again only leaving the foundation and pluming intact. I can't imagine this is a cheap job and it would seem like buying a lot and starting from scratch would be a...

I know someone who had a terrible experience with a tenant who was always late and eventually stopped paying. He was being too easy and trusting and shortly after the eviction and he got the guy out, he discovered the man had not only took out copper piping but make a disaster inside the...

Having never rented but knowing a few people who do rent out properties, it seems like this is something that is rare. I feel like this can get messy if you hire the wrong person and could end up backfiring in the future. It is not a risk I would take.

I have no experience with renting out properties. I have only bought and sold them. I am considering keeping a few and renting them out since it will be stable income I can rely on. I am not sure how contracts function with this and what should be included for the tenant however. Does anyone know?

If they have good rates, you can often get benefits that come a long with being a loyal customer to your bank. You would have to see your options. If you don't mind me asking, who do you bank with? If it is a national bank I am familiar with, I might be able to tell you.

I agree with James. You want to focus on something that is more flexible right now if it is an option. The prices of homes are going to go up and down before they increase again in a more stable market.

A friend of mine is willing to buy a property off a family member in order to save them from losing their house. 2020 was a bad year to say the least! I know this is possible but I don't know the process. He wants to buy the home by paying off the mortgage and then rent the home to them so they...