Behold, the insurance secrets that surface when you look at publicly available data a different way, by ranking companies by what they charge per $1,000 of insured value:

—Collectively, Florida-based property insurers charge significantly higher rates per $1,000 than companies headquartered outside the state charge.

—Owners of condominium ...Read more

If you’re worried about owing gift taxes if you give money or property away, keep this in mind: Very few taxpayers end up on the hook for this particular tax.

There are two reasons why.

The first is that you can give away up to $19,000 in 2025 (it was $18,000 in 2024) per person — to as many people as you want, according to the IRS. And if...Read more

The U.S. economy has been full of surprises since the Federal Reserve started rapidly raising interest rates to quell inflation back in 2022. The latest shocker might just be that the Trump administration’s tariffs haven’t pushed up inflation more.

Since April, taxes on foreign-made and imported goods have been the highest in nearly a ...Read more

The “big, beautiful” tax bill that’s currently winding its way through Congress would, if it becomes law, lead to drastically different results for U.S. taxpayers, depending on where you fall on the income spectrum.

The wealthy would see their income grow while the lowest income Americans would experience sharp cuts, according to a report...Read more

Seattle is on track to ban landlords' use of controversial rent-setting software that has been under legal fire for years.

A Seattle City Council committee on Wednesday advanced a bill to bar landlords from subscribing to software platforms that compile rental information to recommend rent prices. The proposal targets the platform RealPage, ...Read more

If you’ve been watching mortgage rates hover near 7% this year, you’re probably feeling frustrated.

The dream of homeownership feels more expensive than ever. And for many prospective buyers, purchasing when rates are high means stretching their budget, settling for less house than they want or risking financial strain.

But here’s what ...Read more

ST. LOUIS — Beyond immediate needs tied to shelter and safety, preservation experts and local officials say they’ve heard a common refrain in the aftermath of last month’s deadly tornado that ravaged parts of St. Louis, bringing down multiple brick structures:

What’s going to become of all that brick from damaged buildings — and how ...Read more

“Focus on facts, not emotions.”

I wrote that once, but I’ve come to realize that sometimes saving money is as much about contending with your emotions as it is about budgeting. Here’s what I mean.

I usually have this gnawing guilt anytime I spend a few hours at home doing “nothing.” To be clear, I don’t mean staring at the wall...Read more

When you imagine a renter of affordable housing, Christopher McCormick is probably not who comes to mind.

The 38-year-old software developer was on his way to work in early 2020 when he passed an affordable apartment building under construction in Emeryville, California. He was surprised to find that his annual income — $79,400 — qualified ...Read more

In the wake of the devastating Eaton fire that tore through Altadena, California, in January, hundreds of signs sprouted up in the ash-laden yards of burned-down homes: "Altadena Not for Sale."

The slogan signified a resistance toward outside investors looking to buy up the droves of suddenly buildable lots. But as the summer real estate market...Read more

Nevada legislators approved a bill to change probate laws and sent it to the governor’s desk this past weekend, after the Las Vegas Review-Journal found a cottage industry reaped paydays selling dead people’s homes through court but often didn’t make a dime for heirs.

The state Senate and Assembly both unanimously approved a measure that ...Read more

ST. LOUIS — The sounds of nail guns and roofing hammers echoed through the neighborhood as Lisa Mannery surveyed the impassible pile of branches stacked in her backyard. An HVAC unit hung precariously from the roof of the still-closed Save A Lot on Natural Bridge Avenue behind her house.

Her roof, like many others nearby, was covered by a ...Read more

CHICAGO — After nearly a decade of big swings and misses, including a recent failed bid to build a new White Sox ballpark, The 78 and developer Related Midwest may have finally found an anchor tenant to kick-start the proposed mixed-use megadevelopment in the South Loop.

The Chicago Fire announced plans Tuesday for a privately financed $650 ...Read more

Big bank mergers are starting to pick up steam in 2025, and history shows that’s not typically good news for savers. The recent wave of consolidation in the banking industry could spell trouble for your interest rates, account terms and overall financial choices.

As a reporter who has gained some keen insights on banking, covering finance for...Read more

As you plan for retirement, building a secure nest egg becomes a top priority. Individual retirement annuities and individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are two similar-sounding options, but they function in very distinct ways.

This article explains how individual retirement annuities work, their advantages and disadvantages and how they ...Read more

Debts in collections typically stay on your credit report for seven years and can harm your score for as long as they appear. Some credit repair tactics can potentially get collection accounts taken off of your credit report sooner, but that’s generally only if the information is inaccurate.

Some people may recommend asking for a pay-for-...Read more