Ask Chuck: How Can I Save Money on Energy Bills?
Dear Chuck, It is already cccccold where I live. My heating bills are getting painful. Any tips to save money this winter? Bracing for the Winter Bills Dear Bracing for the Winter Bills, Unfortunately, we all need to be prepared to pay more to heat our homes in the coming months, regardless of the […]
Ask Chuck: Buy or Keep Renting?
Dear Chuck, We’re trying to decide if now’s the time to buy a house. We’ve been outbid numerous times, and our landlord wants to raise our rent. Should we wait or keep trying? Squeezed by Rising Rent Dear Squeezed by Rising Rent, My answer is yes—to both. Exactly if or when to stop renting […]
Ask Chuck: Do I Need Title Lock Insurance?
Dear Chuck, My spouse believes we need to protect our home with a title lock. I disagree but agreed to check around. We have title insurance, so do we really need a title lock? Title Lock or Title Insurance? Dear Title Lock or Title Insurance, This is a complicated but important question that impacts […]
Ask Chuck: Should I Retire with a Mortgage?
Dear Chuck, Is it wrong to carry a mortgage in retirement? We are both preparing to retire but have 20 years left on our home mortgage. Senior Mortgage Concerns Dear Senior Mortgage Concerns, My general response is to recommend that you (and everyone else) get completely out of debt before you retire. This verse […]
Ask Chuck: Should We Move South?
Dear Chuck, Many of our friends are moving to the South. We are reluctant to leave our family, but the financial benefits seem worth it. What do you advise? Considering a Move South Dear Considering a Move South, In January, I went to the dentist where I live in Tennessee. The dental assistant was […]
Ask Chuck: Beware of Bidding Above Asking Price for a Home
Dear Chuck, We’re trying to buy a house, and our realtor suggests we sign an “Appraisal GAP” clause in our offer that is above the asking price. Should we do it? First-Time Homebuyers Dear First-Time Homebuyers, For some, it is a crazy real estate market right now! A member of our staff is trying […]
Ask Chuck: Single And Ready to Buy a House
Dear Chuck, I’m single and have saved enough money to buy a house and have a sizable emergency fund for any surprise repairs. Do you consider this a good time to enter the real estate market? Single Home Buyer Dear Single Home Buyer, Reuters released an article on February 24th on the rise of […]
Ask Chuck: Drive One Car So We Can Buy a House?
Dear Chuck, My wife and I are aggressively saving for a down payment on a house. We’ve toyed with the idea of selling one of our two cars. Is that too radical? First-Time Homebuyers Dear First-Time Homebuyers, This is a great question. Because of the inflationary market we are in right now, it is […]
Ask Chuck: Cash-Out Refinance Advice
Dear Chuck, My home is in need of multiple costly repairs. My neighbor just did a major update on his home, and he told me he did it with a cash-out refinance. We also need a new car. What should we do? Refi Home Dear Refi Home, There is a lot in your question […]
Ask Chuck: Should I Buy a House in a Hot Real Estate Market?
Dear Chuck, Housing prices are astronomical here but so is rent. It seems I am throwing money down the drain every month. Would it be a mistake to buy so I could at least build some equity? Buy Now or Wait? Dear Buy Now or Wait, This year’s real estate market has been crazy! […]
