Mortgages - Registered Investment Advisor

House Rich, or House Poor?

By Scott Burns Q. Our home is appraised at $851,000. I think we could sell it for much more than that. In 2008, for instance, it was appraised at $1,077,000. As an 18-year-old house, it will soon be in need of significant repairs— roof, windows...

Posted Feb 10 2010, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Q&A (from print), Mortgages

Home Lending: Still A Problem, But Another Kind of Problem

By Scott Burns Analysts greeted the tiny May increase in existing home sales with minimal cheer. I guess they were looking for something more dramatic. In fact, they didn’t understand the meaning of the little uptick. It was a miracle . It is miraculous...

Posted Jul 10 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 2 comment(s)

Filed under: Mortgages, economy, finacial crisis

How Older People Benefit from Mortgage Payoff

By Scott Burns It’s always good to have readers who pay attention. Last week, asked how a young Army lieutenant should invest , I focused on finding a low-cost fund that invested in a broad portfolio. I suggested three such funds. Readers quickly...

Posted Jun 17 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 2 comment(s)

Filed under: Mortgages

Extra Principal Payments on Small Mortgages Are a Good Use of Extra Cash

By Scott Burns Q. My monthly mortgage payment is slightly over $500 a month. It varies yearly with cost of taxes and insurance. I pay an extra $100 each month on the principal. Is this a good idea? ---P.M., by email A. Yes, it is a very good idea. It...

Posted May 27 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Q&A (from print), Mortgages

No Magic in Biweekly Mortgage Payments

By Scott Burns Q. I have a new mortgage loan of $328,000 at 5.25 percent. Recently a direct mail offer said that if I pay the mortgage biweekly, I can save about $100,000 during the loan repayment period. Can I pay one additional installment every year...

Posted May 06 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Q&A (from print), Mortgages

Lock n’ Load: We’re on Foreclosure Safari!

By Scott Burns LAS VEGAS . If you’d like to learn about adapting to change, spend an afternoon with Jennifer Martin, Realtor. You might also buy a condo or house while you’re at it. Priced to insane levels at the top of the bubble, lots of Las Vegas real...

Posted Apr 03 2009, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Mortgages, economy, finacial crisis, Home Ownership &amp

Watching California: The National Yard Sale Begins

By Scott Burns SAN DIEGO. “License to Chill” glides by a wonderful sight in San Diego harbor. Hundreds of sea lions, basking at leisure, occupy their own private resort, a long dock that is anchored out in the harbor. Respectful pelicans, cormorants and...

Posted Oct 22 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Government, Mortgages, Other Disasters, Taxes &amp, finacial crisis

Stay the Course, But Rethink Shelter

By Scott Burns Q. My wife and I are 52 years old. We’re slogging through a lot of expenses, and we’re nervous about the market. Here are the basics: Our two children in private school cost $19,000 a year. College starts for one in 2 years. Both will be...

Posted Apr 16 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 1 comment(s)

Filed under: Q&A (from print), Mortgages

The Last Bubble

By Scott Burns First it was technology stocks. Then houses. Now U.S. Treasury obligations. I guess you can’t keep a bubble down. But it doesn’t seem right. How can a government as irresponsible as ours be rewarded with such low interest rates? The answer...

Posted Mar 21 2008, 02:45 PM by admin with | with 3 comment(s)

Filed under: Mortgages, finacial crisis, Home Ownership &amp

Hazard at the Extremes

By Scott Burns A recent listing of mortgage foreclosure rates in 100 top areas drew a lot of attention. Released by RealtyTrac, a firm that compiles data on home foreclosures, the listing showed the number of foreclosure filings in each city, the percentage...

Posted Feb 22 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 2 comment(s)

Filed under: Mortgages, finacial crisis

Shouldn’t We Be Really Nice To Everyone?

By Scott Burns Remember Gresham’s law? It’s the one that says bad money drives out the good money. Well, it also applies to lending. During the home price boom, bad money lending--- subprime mortgages and no-down-payment adjustable-rate mortgages--- displaced...

Posted Feb 08 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 2 comment(s)

Filed under: Mortgages

Déjà vu, Texas

by Scott Burns Lately I've been getting that déjà vu feeling. If you lived in Texas through the S&L debacle of the late ‘80s, you probably have too. If you didn't, listen up. What happened to houses in Texas back then may be the template for...

Posted Oct 05 2007, 03:02 PM by scottb with | with 9 comment(s)

Filed under: Mortgages, finacial crisis

Getting Out from Under Isn’t Easy

Q . A couple of years ago, I purchased an investment property in Sacramento California. For a period of time all went well. But in 2006 I was without a tenant for the first half of the year. Making the mortgage payments ate through all of my cash reserves...

Posted Sep 07 2007, 03:30 PM by admin with | with no comments

Filed under: Q&A (from print), Mortgages

Re-Thinking the Joys of Inflation

This year may be the first since 1991 with a 4 percent inflation rate. After years of running just under 3 percent, a 4 percent rate will be a shock, particularly since it won’t apply to home prices. The combination of slowing wage gains, higher inflation...

Posted Sep 05 2007, 03:00 PM by scottb with | with no comments

Filed under: Mortgages

How to Estimate Your Future Social Security Benefit

Q. I am 56. I retired after 30 years of teaching at the age of 52. I plan to take Social Security at age 62. My understanding is that for the 10 years I will have been retired and have not contributed to Social Security, the benefit I will get will be...

Posted Aug 15 2007, 04:30 PM by scottb with | with no comments

Filed under: Retirement, Mortgages

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Registered Investment Advisor

House Rich, or House Poor?

Home Lending: Still A Problem, But Another Kind of Problem

How Older People Benefit from Mortgage Payoff

Extra Principal Payments on Small Mortgages Are a Good Use of Extra Cash

No Magic in Biweekly Mortgage Payments

Lock n’ Load: We’re on Foreclosure Safari!

Watching California: The National Yard Sale Begins

Stay the Course, But Rethink Shelter

The Last Bubble

Hazard at the Extremes

Shouldn’t We Be Really Nice To Everyone?

Déjà vu, Texas

Getting Out from Under Isn’t Easy

Re-Thinking the Joys of Inflation

How to Estimate Your Future Social Security Benefit

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