Kacey Carnes, Author at Harvester Financial Credit Union

Renters Insurance – Fact and Fiction

With more than 43 million renter-occupied units, the number of renters in the U.S. is near an all-time high, according to insurer Nationwide. However, according to an Insurance Information Institute poll, only 41 percent of renters carry renters insurance, a substantial difference from 95 percent of homeowners who carry homeowners insurance policies. “Many renters underestimate both…

Robocalls Are On the Rise

Americans were overwhelmed by an estimated 24.3 billion robocalls in the first seven months of this year, compared to an estimated 17.2 billion robocalls received in the first seven months of 2017, marking a 41.3% year-on-year increase for this ongoing national problem, according to YouMail. The 3.99 billion robocalls received nationwide in July represented a…

Mobility Services Becoming More Popular as Alternatives to Vehicle Ownership, According to Cox Automotive Study

The automotive industry’s predictions on the future of traditional vehicle ownership remain a topic of debate and at times a guessing game. Ultimately, awareness, availability and acceptance of on-demand transportation options, such as car-sharing, ride-hailing and subscription services, will likely be the deciding factor. The uptake of vehicle ownership alternatives is transforming the way consumers…

Where First-Time Home Buyers Can Save a Down Payment Fast

Saving for a down payment is one of the biggest hurdles to homeownership. However, a new analysis from RealEstate.com, a Zillow Group brand, identifies 10 metros where first-time buyers may find it easier to save for their future home purchase, and 10 metros where it may be more difficult. Three Years or Less to Have 20%…

Homeowners Can Pay Nearly $9,500 per Year in Hidden Costs, Zillow Finds

Homeowners can expect to spend about $9,390 every year on costs associated with owning and caring for a home, according to an analysis by online real estate company Zillow and local services company Thumbtack. When it comes to buying a home, shoppers frequently focus on the sticker price or the monthly mortgage payments, but homeowners are also responsible…

Mortgage Payments Require Largest Share of Income Since 2009, Zillow Finds

The combination of rising rates and strong home value appreciation led to one of the largest recorded quarterly increases in the mortgage burden for homebuyers since the Great Recession, according to a new analysis from online real estate company Zillow. In the first quarter of 2018, the share of median income needed for monthly mortgage payments…

FDA Warns of Imposters Sending Consumers Fake Warning Letters

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about criminals forging FDA warning letters to target individuals who tried to purchase medicines online or over the phone. Based on the agency’s experience with criminals posing as FDA employees, the FDA is concerned that these fake warning letters are linked to an international extortion scam.…

More Proof that Pay Raises Are Not Keeping Up with Inflation:

Median weekly earnings of the nation’s 115.8 million full-time wage and salary workers were $876 in the second quarter of 2018 (not seasonally adjusted), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. This was 2.0 percent higher than a year earlier, compared with a gain of 2.7 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban…

The Power and Glory of Central Air Conditioning

Buyers are willing to spend more for the comforts of a cooler home, according to new analysis from online real estate company Zillow. Zillow finds that homes with air conditioning sold for 2.5 percent more than homes without it, which is a premium of nearly $5,500 for the typical U.S. home. The premium for air conditioning is highest in San…

Work-Life Balance: Who Is Getting It Right?

Are professionals living to work or working to live? A new survey from staffing firm Robert Half shows it’s more of the latter these days. Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of employees polled said they’ve achieved a good to excellent work-life balance. Forty-three percent think it’s getting better compared to three years ago. Professionals in Nashville, Denver, Atlanta, Cincinnati, San Diego and Raleigh reported…