A love/hate thing
You've had a few bumpy relationships in your lifetime — with your cable provider, your mechanic, your great aunt.
Get the full story >>Global apparel giant a suitable investment
Q: Shares of PVH Corp. were recently recommended to me. What can you tell me about this company?
Get the full story >>Too much student debt can lead to turbulence
If you've ever been upgraded to first class on a flight, you understand the thrill of experiencing the good life: roomier seats, a free...
Get the full story >>File lien against deadbeat condo owner
Q: My wife and I own a vacation condo in a small development on a lake in Wisconsin. There are about 32 units in the condo complex, of...
Get the full story >>'Sweet spot' consumers: Buy long-term coverage
With the future of a government long-term care option under health reform in doubt, consumers in the "sweet spot" for buying their own...
Get the full story >>Did honesty raise borrower's rate?
It was to help out a relative. While going through the application process, we were completely honest about the reason for the loan. My...
Get the full story >>Boston Beer Co. hit by higher price of barley
Q: Something bad has happened to my Boston Beer Co. shares, and I want to know if problems will continue.
Get the full story >>New election period adds to Medicare daze
Confused over Medicare? Take a number.
Get the full story >>Survey: Married folks more retirement-ready
Parents have any number of reasons for wanting an adult child to marry: They want you to have companionship. They want you to be settled....
Get the full story >>Starker exchange could defer capital gains tax
Q: I have a rental house I have owned since 1977. It currently grosses $1,400 per month. The house is 120 years old and I have done...
Get the full story >>A warning about unpaid real estate taxes
Q: Subsequent to the purchase/settlement of my condo, I began receiving claims of delinquent real estate taxes that the seller had...
Get the full story >>15- or 30-year loan: Which adds up?
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has been a stalwart of today's real estate market for homeowners looking to refinance. Now it's facing...
Get the full story >>Continue to pay mortgage while pursuing options
Q: My wife and I are separated and in the process of filing for divorce. She is also relocating out of state for work, and I remain in...
Get the full story >>Staying on top of extra mortgage payments
Q: I have a related issue to the recent question regarding payment of extra principal on a mortgage. A few years ago, I read an article...
Get the full story >>No-interest loan comes with tax bite
Q: My wife and I want to give our two grown children an interest-free loan for $360,000. They currently have a 15-year fixed 5 percent...
Get the full story >>Does foreclosure wipe out all liens?
Q: In a recent column you said that "a foreclosure by a first-trust (lender) will wipe out any subordinate liens." But that is not...
Get the full story >>Reclaiming your life from identity thieves
You can't know how big a hassle it is to have your identity stolen until some scammer enters your life and starts taking over.
Get the full story >>Donating time share is risky
Q: Many people talk about how to get rid of a time-share unit. I went to a meeting where the broker wanted $4,000 to assist me. I left the...
Get the full story >>Filing suit only option left in property dispute with village
Q: Quite some time ago, we began to think about renovating our home and obtained preliminary approval from the village regarding the...
Get the full story >>Who gets tax credit for purchase of new home?
Q: My husband and I recently filed for bankruptcy after our home was foreclosed. My mother is willing to purchase a home in her name...
Get the full story >>Beware of hidden foreclosure fees
Q: I recently was the successful bidder on a condo. The closing was within 15 days of the sale, and a special warranty deed was...
Get the full story >>Giving property as a gift requires careful tax planning
I receive a large number of email questions on a monthly basis, and try to answer as many as I can. I wish I could respond personally to...
Get the full story >>Recoup costs of maintaining life estate property
Q: We have an unusual situation. When my dad died, he left a life estate in a house/rented duplex to his widow. My sister and I have...
Get the full story >>Deflecting illegal job questions
Q. What should I do about illegal questions in a job interview? If I say the question is illegal, I'm afraid they'll think I'm a...
Get the full story >>Weighing risks, rewards of adjustable-rate mortgages
Fixed mortgage rates remain below 5 percent, and these days fewer homebuyers seem to be opting for adjustable-rate loans.
Get the full story >>Will flex fuel save you money?
Spikes in gas prices often turn attention toward alternative fuels. Ethanol alcohol, in the form of E85, is occasionally in the news due...
Get the full story >>When a mortgage puts buyer at a disadvantage
For homebuyers who need to finance their purchase using a mortgage, a cash buyer can be their worst enemy.
Get the full story >>Confronting a grave situation about burial plots
Q: I was reorganizing my garage when I found a box of family memorabilia. In it was a deed for four burial lots that were purchased by my...
Get the full story >>New reverse mortgage opens options for seniors
Q. I have been a student of retirement living since 1962, when I was an executive with one of the major developers of active retirement...
Get the full story >>When the mortgage market goes private
In a rare instance of like-mindedness across the political spectrum, most everyone agrees that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the infamous...
Get the full story >>How to drive the hardest car bargain
Most new-car shoppers know that if they pay invoice price for a vehicle, they're getting a bargain. But does that mean the dealer makes no...
Get the full story >>Obama administration officials' personal finances 'more or less appropriate,' investing experts say
Obama administration officials are trying to steer the nation out of its biggest financial crisis in decades.
Get the full story >>How to polish your credit score
Sherelle Villacorta had a good credit score, but like many people she wanted a higher score.
Get the full story >>GAIL MARKJARVIS
Gail MarkJarvis is a financial columnist at the Chicago Tribune. E-mail her at gmarksjarvis@tribune.com.
Get the full story >>Prices are low! Mortgages cheap! But you can't get one
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Yep, mortgage interest rates are low, but there's a catch: It doesn't matter how cheap rates are if you can't get a...
Get the full story >>Tenants refuse to pay new owners of foreclosure property
Q. We purchased a foreclosure property. The tenants have not paid rent for the past 18 months while the bank was the owner. The tenants...
Get the full story >>Job hunting? Make your expenses count
When you're out of work, the last thing you need to do is waste money.
Get the full story >>THE JOURNEY
Janet Kidd Stewart if Your Money columnis. Have a retirement question? Write to yourmoney@tribune.com, or via mail at Your Money,...
Get the full story >>Search for real estate document likely will reach dead end
Q. I seem to have misplaced my HUD-1 form when we bought our house back in 1972. What can I do to obtain a copy and where?
Get the full story >>Is lender being upfront about fee?
Q. On July 30, I had settlement on the purchase of my first home. It was an FHA mortgage and the mortgage insurance premium (MIP) was...
Get the full story >>Surviving layoffs may mean new job responsibilities
Congratulations--you dodged layoffs, at least this time around. So why is the boss at your elbow wanting to talk? Because the job you've...
Get the full story >>