Who is falling into foreclosure? The Florida Association of Realtors wanted to find out, so it commissioned an analysis that cross-referenced three years of foreclosure filings with demographic data. The study focused only on primary residences; the idea was to ignore investors and speculators, looking instead at people who'd bought homes to live in themselves.
Some of the findings about foreclosed homeowners were pretty interesting:
Lisa Gibbs - May 4, 2010 9:57 AM ET
In the wake of Friday's civil fraud complaint filed against Goldman Sachs, the blogosphere has had all weekend to reflect upon the implications of the news. Here's some of the best commentary:
"Wall Street has gotten a lot of mileage," notes Ezra Klein, "out of the accusation that the political system simply doesn't understand how Wall Street works. And that's, well, correct. The problem is that Wall Street also doesn't understand MORE George Mannes - Apr 19, 2010 10:43 AM ET
Financial reform news from around the Web:
The 1,300-page financial reform bill before Congress contains plenty of controversial provisions. Here's a rundown of five issues that promise heated debate between lawmakers and lobbyists. [Mother Jones]
An anonymous veteran banker opens up about what he sees as a faulty financial system and the necessity of breaking up banks that are Too Big To Fail. He also discusses the need for whistleblower protection. [The MORE
Beth Braverman - Apr 16, 2010 5:04 PM ET
The Securities and Exchange Commission's civil fraud charges against Goldman Sachs will no doubt help stoke populist anti-Wall Street sentiment. But the specifics of the complaint, if they turn out to be true, are also a blow to the intellectual underpinnings of anti-regulatory philosophy. And it could give Democrats the advantage in pushing their financial reform measures over the top.
Pat Regnier - Apr 16, 2010 4:01 PM ET
Tax Day news from around the Web:
If you still haven't filed yet, all is not lost. Here's a list of last-minute tax tips. [Lifehacker]
The slew of tax breaks enacted last year has both taxpayers and the IRS scrambling to keep up. The IRS has erroneously issued millions in tax credits even as it has detected and stopped faulty refunds. [Associated Press]
Enjoy tax day in 2010, because taxes are only going MORE
Beth Braverman - Apr 15, 2010 1:17 PM ET
Down to the wire for paying taxes? The IRS realizes it's been a tough year. If you can't cough it all up by April 15, here's a step-by-step on prioritizing payments. [Boston Globe]
Green thumb or not, there is no denying it is cheaper to grow your own produce than it is to pay exorbitant prices at the supermarket. If you are an intrepid money-saving soul, find out how a novice MORE
Lauren Kelleher - Apr 14, 2010 5:17 PM ET
Personal finance from around the Web:
Spirit Airlines CEO Ben Baldanza explains the rationale behind charging for checked bags. He says Spirit's business model is fundamentally "customer friendly." [Elliot]
Home owners apparently were not the only ones caught off guard when home prices began to fall as the housing bubble burst. Former Fannie Mae executives tell Congress that plummeting prices consistently surprised them as well. [Associated Press]
Are cruise ship nuptials the new MORE
Beth Braverman - Apr 9, 2010 3:32 PM ET
For months, economists have warned that historically low mortgage rates couldn't last forever. It looks like that promised rate increase may finally be starting to materialize.
Beth Braverman - Apr 9, 2010 8:13 AM ET
Personal finance from around the Web:
Remember that bond-fund manager who got ousted from TCW in a dispute that, uh, reeked of pot and porn? Well, on Tuesday his new firm will be launching two new mutual funds. [DoubleLine Funds]
An 8.2 percent rise in NAR pending home sales index indicates that more Americans are looking to buy homes. [The Atlantic]
In return for a small pay cut, employees could avoid layoffs with MORE
Tania Chen - Apr 5, 2010 5:04 PM ET
Personal finance from around the Web:
A simple trick to cut your spending: Estimate the annual cost of what you're buying. [Debt-Proof Living via Free Money Finance]
Fearful of fraud? Of course, you are. In fact, it's is a sign of successful messaging on the part of the IRS, which seems to make an annual push for publicizing tax fraud cases as the calendar year approaches April 15th. [Economix]
Say goodbye to the MORE
Lauren Kelleher - Mar 31, 2010 1:28 PM ET
Personal finance from around the Web:
On Thursday the House cut Sallie Mae and other private lenders out of the federal student loan business; on Friday, Sallie Mae's shares hit a 52-week high. How did that happen? Here are some theories. [Student Lending Analytics Blog]
Seventy-seven percent of working Americans have less than $100,000 in savings and investments. Twenty-seven percent have less than $1,000. [AllFinancialMatters]
Who says the bank bailout has been MORE
Ana Patricia Ferrey - Mar 30, 2010 1:01 PM ET
Personal finance from around the Web:
You're sick of reading about healthcare reform, of course. But now that it's passed, check this list of ten immediate benefits for you and your family. [Crooks and Liars]
Forget about getting an early look at those Wall Street analysts' reports: A US District Judge ruled Thursday in favor of complaints brought by several financial services firms against Theflyonthewall.com for publishing their investment recommendations before the MORE
Lauren Kelleher - Mar 22, 2010 9:07 AM ET
Alas, I'm not getting a refund on my state taxes this year. But my fellow New Yorkers who are expecting money back should be prepared to wait for it: Governor David Paterson announced Wednesday that some checks may be delayed in light of the state's fiscal crisis.
Margaret Magnarelli - Mar 18, 2010 12:48 PM ET
Personal finance from around the Web:
In the wake of the credit card law passed last May, understanding all the new regulations that apply to consumers has gotten confusing. A consumer-law professor tries to untangle the legal mumbo jumbo, offering advice in parts one and two. [Bucks]
Beer Market: Even St. Patrick's Day won't do much to boost lagging brew sales. Turns out Americans are more likely to celebrate the USA MORE
Lauren Kelleher - Mar 17, 2010 2:09 PM ET
The state of the housing market has long reached a point where it's good news to hear, "It's not getting worse." Unfortunately, according to a firm that tracks borrowers behind on their mortgages, you can conclude at best, "It's getting worse, but less quickly."
Lisa Gibbs - Mar 15, 2010 10:57 AM ET
