Working from home

Imagine that your employer gives you the choice between either working from home or commuting to the office throughout your work week. You might think the obvious choice is to work from the comfort of your own home; after all, staying in your pajamas all day and avoiding stressful commutes sound appealing. But there are some considerations to think about before you decide that telecommuting is right for you.

Advantages

Working from home could end up saving you a considerable amount of money. It eliminates the cost of commuting by cutting down what you spend on gas, public transportation and parking fees, and car maintenance. And depending on your company’s dress code, you could save what you might spend on expensive work-related clothes.… Read More

Buying a fixer upper?

What to Know About Buying a Fixer-Upper

Buying a fixer-upper property has become popularized thanks to home improvement shows. But buying a fixer-upper–either to keep or resell–isn’t just for TV.

Why purchase a fixer-upper?

There are many reasons to consider purchasing a fixer-upper, such as:

·         Profit potential–If you choose to rent or sell the home, you have an opportunity to earn an income or make a profit.… Read More

Child’s First House

Loaning a down payment on a house?

For a lot of young people today, it’s difficult to purchase a home without at least some financial assistance. As a result, many young adults turn to their parents or other family members for help with a down payment.

If you plan on lending your child money for a down payment on a house, you should try to assume the role of a commercial lender. Setting the terms of the loan in writing will demonstrate to your child that you take both your responsibility as lender and your child’s responsibility as borrower seriously.

While having an actual loan contract may seem too businesslike to some parents, doing so can help set expectations between you and your child. The loan contract should spell out the exact loan amount, the interest rate and a repayment schedule. To avoid the uncomfortable situation of having to remind your … Read More