property taxes

TopRetirements.com has named the 10 worst states in which to retire, based in factors such as taxes and climate. Every retirement is unique, but before you end up living out your golden years chilly and underfunded, check out this list.

In today's shaky real estate market, more and more homeowners are becoming landlords, often as an unexpected necessity. Whether you're renting out your old house, an investment property or even a single room, being the landlord means tax breaks -- and you should take every one you can.

Much has been made recently of the huge valuations of Internet players like Facebook, Twitter and Zynga, but while Web 2.0 is doing well, the Silicon Valley region itself is not. A new report shows compensation and unemployment in the region haven't improved since the downturn.

Inflation in 2010 was low, according to the consumer price index. But underlying growth in the cost of energy, raw materials and health care could indicate significant inflation this year. And that could mean higher prices for consumers or lower profits for companies.

Major news stories ebb and flow, rising to the headlines and then slipping out of the spotlight. But even if they fade from attention, keep an eye on this handful of long-term issues, such as North Korea, which have the potential to disrupt the U.S. economy and global recovery.

Common sense suggests that as home prices decline, the property taxes based on their valuations ought to as well. But property taxes nationally are clicking higher. Why is this occurring? Several factors are at work -- and they bode ill for state budgets.

Jerilee Wei never expected to be living next to a cow pasture when she bought her home in Lakeland, Fla., in 2007. In her upscale community, newly constructed houses were selling for between $300,000 and $425,000. Then one morning she woke up and found some cattle had moved in.

A recent Fed working paper happily points out that even as other sources of municipal tax revenue have plummeted, property taxes have held fairly steady, and the authors expect that to continue. Unfortunately, their optimistic prediction ignores the bigger picture.

If you're having a problem with a business, Consumer Ally can help. Write us at HelpMe@WalletPop.com. Q. CitiFinancial sent me an escrow analysis that shows they paid my taxes in August 2010. However, Cook County, Ill., where I live, has not even issued the tax bills yet. Citi's flawed analysis...

If stocks are rising, that should mean the economy is improving. Yet even though the S&P 500 has soared 80% from its March 2009 lows, 70% of Americans don't believe the recession is over. Which side has a firmer grasp of reality?