SmartMoney.com - Personal Finance

Test Drive Your Retirement Home

letters@smartmoney.com (Catey Hill) — Thu, 12 May 2011 09:31:47 -0400

Communities in vacation hotspots are turning to a new tactic for wooing residents this summer.

More Investors Shift Into Hard Assets

letters@smartmoney.com (Charles Passy) — Tue, 31 May 2011 17:35:18 -0400

Wary of the markets and a weak dollar, more investors are drawn to precious metals, diamonds -- even collectibles. The pros and cons of this strategy.

For Second Home Purchases, Cash Is Now King

letters@smartmoney.com (Alyssa Abkowitz) — Thu, 19 May 2011 18:15:58 -0400

Some 60 percent of investment buyers are forgoing loans and plunking down greenbacks for that waterfront bungalow. Do such deals pay off?

Pawnshops Go Upscale and Online

letters@smartmoney.com (Anne Kadet) — Thu, 19 May 2011 14:43:29 -0400

With more middle-class borrowers looking for cash, pawnbrokers are cleaning up their image.

Should I Pay Off My Mortgage and Live Debt-Free?

letters@smartmoney.com (SmartMoney Staff) — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:56:41 -0400

I am tempted to pay the balance on my mortgage and live debt-free. How do I estimate the tax benefit of the interest paid on the mortgage?

U.S. vs. China on Small Businesses

letters@smartmoney.com (Dyan Machan) — Mon, 09 May 2011 07:25:20 -0400

What Uncle Sam could learn from its Pacific Rim rival about nurturing start-ups.

How Will Leasing a Car Affect My Credit Score?

letters@smartmoney.com (SmartMoney Staff) — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:42:23 -0400

The common advice is to not open any new credit before applying for a mortgage. If I lease a car, how will it affect my credit score, and how much time should I allow before I try to buy a home?

Home Buyers Go Hunting Alone

letters@smartmoney.com (AnnaMaria Andriotis) — Thu, 12 May 2011 09:31:50 -0400

More house-hunters are rejecting so-called buyer's agents. Is that smart?

How to Rein in 401(k) Paperwork Chaos

letters@smartmoney.com (Anna Prior) — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:42:24 -0400

Overwhelmed with statements from employers and brokerages, more investors are closing accounts to regain control of their financial lives.

An Insider's Guide to the Selloff Industry

letters@smartmoney.com (Missy Sullivan) — Wed, 04 May 2011 17:28:11 -0400

Whether you're downsizing your own household or dealing with a relative's estate, selling a lifetime of stuff can be stressful. Who to call for help? Below, a rundown of the liquidation industry's key players.