A payroll tax in Washington state that is designed to establish a fund for older residents’ long-term care needs could be undone by voters this fall through a ballot initiative. “WA Cares” is a payroll tax that is described as a “public long-term care insurance program” in which all working Washington residents contribute 0.58% of each paycheck to the associated fund. After 10 years of...

Officials in Montana continue to promote the specialized Reverse Annuity Mortgage (RAM) program for the state’s seniors, with one official saying that it could be a big difference-maker for those in Montana looking to age in place while gaining access to additional cash. The program was passed by the Montana Legislature in 1989 and offers a state-subsidized reverse mortgage that is limited to...

Home equity lending in 2023 grew by only 1.5% compared to the prior year, while outstanding debt increased by 8.3% in the same time period, according to a study released Monday by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The data includes total originations of open-ended home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and closed-end home equity loans. Marina Walsh, MBA’s vice president of industry analytics,...

Any sales growth momentum in the real estate market we might have had early in the year is gone. New home sales contracts are coming in pretty consistently fewer than last year — 4.9% fewer in the most recent week. Our Immediate sales measure of homes that get listed, take offers and go into contract in a few days is also notably lower than last year.  On the supply side, new listings are...

A coalition of Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have reintroduced a bill designed to address housing issues by rehabilitating or constructing millions of additional units in an effort to bring down costs for renters and homeowners. Known as the American Housing and Economic Mobility Act, the bill would provide funding to “build or rehabilitate nearly 3 million...

There are quite a few homes throughout Minnesota that can be traced back to the legendary musician. Paisley Park was Prince’s most famous property, with the 65,000-square-foot complex serving as his home, recording studio, and creative sanctuary. But there was also his former Lake Riley mansion, his private retreat away from the public eye, plus a sprawling estate on Galpin Boulevard in...

Maui, the second-largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, continues to rebuild as we approach the one-year anniversary of the devastating fires that swept through the island in 2023. And demand is picking up, with wealthy buyers eyeing idyllic vacation homes on the island — particularly in resort developments and fire-protected areas. A stand-out area where demand is booming is Kapalua, a...

Save time (and your back!) with this multitasking cleaning hack. Here's how to quickly clean your baseboards with a vacuum attachment. Getty Images / Valeriy_G Keeping a house clean is a continuous chore, and it’s common to focus on the spaces that show messes quickly. High-traffic areas such as kitchen countertops, bathroom sinks, and the tile floors near the entrance grab our attention and...

From the free spirits to the homebodies, there’s a peel-and-stick wallpaper design for everyone. Tempaper & Co. Decor that doesn't leave holes in the wall or require a great deal of work to swap out when you want to try out a new aesthetic—also known as renter-friendly decor—has gotten so chic that it's no longer reserved just for those who rent. In fact, renter-friendly decor like...

The viral bucket includes 150 servings of food that are supposed to last up to a quarter of a century. Costco; Design: Better Homes & Gardens There's a lot going on in the world, to say the least—especially if you ask a doomsday prepper. While most of the population hasn't thought up a plan for the worst-case scenario, it's apparently been on more people's minds as of late. An item that's...