Do you take a chance and wait or will you miss out? Will lobbyists convince Congress to extend the home buyer tax credit?  The National   Association of Realtors and other industry groups are beginning to make the rounds on Capitol Hill to press their case, which goes something like this: We know you’ve extended the tax credit two times already, but the housing market is still fragile, the tax credit is working, and don’t forget– you’re up for re-election soon. In other words, do you really want to own the next leg down in home prices? Read more…

 

Good night Pa, good night grandma, good night John boy…The new face of retirement, what will it look like? More and more households are starting to look like the Walton’s with three or four generations living under one roof. Aging parents and underemployed adult children with children of their own are squeezing boomer households.  Read more…

 

Check those credit card statements carefully…Credit card issuers are now going to have to play by a whole new set of rules that are considered consumer-friendly—but will also cut into some of their traditional sources of revenue.

Don’t expect those companies to take that lying down. Card issuers are expected to spend the next year experimenting with new products and fees—as well as higher interest rates—testing just how much consumers are willing to shell out.  Read more…