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Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

Zillow says it's fighting for buyers. Compass says it's fighting for sellers. What if neither is fighting for you?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

As two real estate giants escalate a war over how homes should be listed for sale online, both sides say they’re acting in the interest of consumers.

Both sides also stand to make a lot of money if they win.

The issue intensified at the end of 2024, when Compass, the country’s largest brokerage by sales volume, began advising its sellers ...Read more

Real estate Q&A: Should I pay $8,000 to repair damage from leak that didn't start in my condo?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Q: My condominium is charging me $8,000 to repair a leak they claim originated from my unit. They sent the assessment in a letter without even discussing it with me. The leak wasn’t from my unit because I also had slight water damage where water leaked through my ceiling, leaving a stain, which they would have known if they had contacted me. ...Read more

Nick Wagner/The Seattle Times/TNS

Seattle's affordable housing industry is in crisis. City faces tough choices

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Late last year, one of Seattle's most vaunted affordable housing providers put six buildings up for sale.

A few months later, another nonprofit listed four of its eight.

Then, another developer gave up its stake in all three of its affordable properties in Seattle.

While one-off sales happen from time to time, 13 buildings with more than 1,...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

Zillow says it's fighting for buyers. Compass says it's fighting for sellers. What if neither is fighting for you?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

As two real estate giants escalate a war over how homes should be listed for sale online, both sides say they’re acting in the interest of consumers.

Both sides also stand to make a lot of money if they win.

The issue intensified at the end of 2024, when Compass, the country’s largest brokerage by sales volume, began advising its sellers ...Read more

Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group/TNS

Eviction cases still soaring in the Bay Area five years after COVID-19

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

The eviction court of Alameda County, California, was crowded on a recent Wednesday. It usually is.

Tenants, family members, landlords and attorneys — about 100 people in all — waited long hours to appear before a judge at the Hayward Hall of Justice. Fifty-six people were slated to appear that day in a marathon of back-to-back sessions. ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: Life in a Crowded Nest

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

It used to be that kids reaching adulthood could not wait to leave home and be on their own. That worked out well because their parents longed for an empty nest and quieter lives. But these days, young people are spoiling these plans.

Estimates out there indicate that, currently, some 50% of U.S. college graduates plan to move back home with ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: The Mystery of Hair Conditioners Solved

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Hair conditioners fall into general categories according to what they do and the problems they solve. Using the wrong product for the specific condition of your hair will produce disappointing results. For example: If your hair is thin and fine, you are not going to be happy with an industrial-strength conditioner for thick, coarse, frizzy or ...Read more

Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times/TNS

Seattle office king Martin Selig loses another piece of his empire

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

It took more than half a century for developer Martin Selig to build one of Seattle's largest downtown office portfolios — and barely six months to lose control of most of it.

Since late last year, 19 of Selig's roughly 30 downtown buildings have been put under outside management or turned over to lenders after pandemic-related vacancies left...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: A Casserole Connoisseur's Guide to Healthy Substitutions

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

I grew up in church, literally. My father, the minister, saw to it that the preacher's kids never missed a gathering. Even when not a scheduled event, we were still in church cleaning, folding bulletins or just hanging out. I credit my heritage for my expertise as a connoisseur of the all-American casserole. There's just nothing quite like a ...Read more

Joe Raedle/Getty Images North America/TNS

High prices charged by Florida insurers revealed by cost-per-$1,000 analysis

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

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

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

Gift tax: The exclusion limit for 2025, how it works and who has to pay

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

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

Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images North America/TNS

Inflation is bucking tariff fears, but the Fed likely won't cut rates, as Trump wants. Here's why

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

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

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images North America/TNS

Trump's tax plan: 'Big, beautiful' bill could cost low-income Americans $1,600 a year, CBO says -- here's what to expect next

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

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

Everyday Cheapskate: A Simple Guide to Saving Money on Streaming Without a Household Uprising

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Remember when canceling cable was supposed to save us a ton of money? Good times. Now we've got a dozen streaming services, and somehow we're still paying more than we did for cable -- just with fewer remotes and more confusion.

If your household is juggling subscriptions like hot potatoes and your credit card is begging for mercy, it may be ...Read more

Daniel Kim/The Seattle Times/TNS

Seattle considers banning controversial rent-setting software, RealPage

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

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

Real estate Q&A: Do I get more equity credit for covering house expenses after our divorce?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Q: When I got divorced a decade ago, I was allowed to continue living in the house until our son grew up, but I had to cover all the expenses for the house, including the mortgage. Now that he has gone off to college, I want to sell the house, take my share of the equity, and move to a smaller apartment. My former spouse wants to split the ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: 7 Ways to Get Rid of Flies in the House

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

Flies are a nearly unavoidable nuisance in most homes, especially during the warmer months of the year. Annoying for sure, but more than just pesky, houseflies (Musca domestica) can carry and transmit disease and cause illness. Consider these seven simple ways to banish these pests from the house and keep them out for good.

BLOCK THE ENTRANCES ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: How to Upsize a Cake Mix That's Too Small for the Recipe

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

In my kitchen, I have a small collection of cookbooks, which I consider prized possessions. One of them, the classic Betty Crocker Cookbook, was a wedding gift, and trust me, it's seen more than its share of splatters and dog-eared/ripped pages. And I wouldn't part with it for anything.

Another features 100 things to do with an ordinary cake ...Read more

Everyday Cheapskate: 6 Generics That Are Truly a Great Buy

Consumer / Everyday Cheapskate /

What do you associate with the word "generic?" Do the words "inferior" or "tastes like cardboard" come to mind? Or do you, like many people, associate name brands with people who are well-to-do, while people in poverty opt for generics? That's complete nonsense but a commonly held attitude. The truth is that generics are often a great buy ...Read more

Sasiseviowork/Dreamstime/TNS

Why high mortgage rates mean it's time to save, not buy

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

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

 

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