A recent Bankrate survey showed that 68% of parents are helping to support an adult child. Those parents often sacrifice their long-term financial stability to help their kids. Here are four tips from Bank of America to help your kids reach financial independence. Show your kids how to develop and stick to a budget. Explain that they shouldn't take on new debt but focus on paying down existing debt. Discuss which expenses they can trim or eliminate to put the money toward their debt. Discuss career goals and income plans and encourage them to take a part-time job or internship to help them

Moving to a new location can be a daunting task, especially if you’re downsizing from your long-term home. Wouldn’t it be nice to arrive in your new living space with everything you need already arranged and ready to enjoy—and secure in the knowledge that all the items you no longer need will be promptly disposed of in the best ways possible? A move manager can help you before, during, and after your move, providing valuable assistance and peace of mind. A moving professional can make your move more organized, coordinated, and stress-free. Plus, once you are settled into your new location, a

Preparing a home for sale is always a significant undertaking. For seniors, in particular, the pre-listing process can feel overwhelming. An agent who has earned their Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) designation can guide your efforts and help make the transition go as smoothly as possible. You can trust your SRES® designee to help you: Map out a plan. An SRES® understands that each client faces different circumstances and challenges. They can advise you on a sequence of steps tailored to your situation. And they’ll guide you through the process at whatever pace suits your needs. Your

Maybe you’ve started thinking that now would be a good time to downsize to capitalize on this fast-moving, post-pandemic market. Realtor.com offers nine questions to ask yourself to better identify what you want next and the implications of a move. Financial considerations, for example, include looking at taxes, insurance, and renovations to the new home, and factoring in HOA fees, if you’re opting for a condo or townhouse community. Also, tally all the costs – including real estate transfer taxes, real estate commissions, and so forth – of selling your current home. Where to move is another

You’re thinking about selling your home. Maybe you’re retiring, downsizing, or a major life event has made you consider a move. A Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) has unique training and experience in helping home buyers and sellers in your situation. Why ask a Seniors Real Estate Specialist® to assist you? An SRES® understands that the decision to sell can be difficult. Selling a home can be an emotional time, potentially involving other life decisions. An SRES® understands the issues facing older adults. By taking a no-pressure approach, they can help you navigate your choices and may

1. Start with the easy stuff. Eliminate anything that’s broken, damaged, or no longer wanted. Then, go to the out-of-the-way spaces like attics, crawlspaces, and garages. Progress in these "easier" parts of your home will help you build momentum and tackle the harder-to-decide areas. 2. Ask yourself, "If this disappeared tomorrow, would I run out and replace it?" If you wouldn't miss it or need to replace it, it's probably not worth keeping. 3. Don't be a storage unit for others. If friends or relatives have left things for you to store, it's time to ask them to pick up their possessions—or

If you’re interested in selling your home—or your parents’ home—you probably already know that it’s essential to do everything you can to make the house appealing to buyers. Decluttering, cleaning, and staging are all excellent ways to help a house shine and receive top dollar. If, however, you’re planning to sell a home that has been occupied by smokers, you face a unique set of challenges. A Canadian study of real estate professionals found that cigarette smoke odors can reduce a home’s resale value by up to 29 percent. Further, more than a quarter of buyers won’t even consider buying a home

Has it been a decade or two since you moved into your current home? Are you now planning to sell it? If yes, it’s a good idea to learn about today’s buyers, what they want, and the steps you can take to help sell your home for the best possible price. For example, if your interior walls showcase paint colors that were trendy decades ago, a substantial number of buyers no longer share your taste. “Let them repaint the walls,” you say. “That’s what I did!” Yes, paint is indeed a relatively easy cosmetic update. However, you’re also assuming that buyers will take time to use their imagination