Mortgage rates inched lower this week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, released Thursday, showed the average rate on the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage slipped to 6.09% from…

Selling a home below its fair market value can trigger tax considerations that go beyond a standard real estate transaction. When a property is sold at a discount, the IRS may treat part of the difference between the sale price and market value as a gift, which can affect gift…

A Georgia-based gun accessory company will pay $1.75 million in restitution to victims’ families, injured individuals and traumatized survivors of the 2022 mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket and permanently stop selling a controversial magazine lock in New York under a settlement announced Wednesday. Mean LLC, commonly known as Mean…

Pulling money out of a trust can feel straightforward, but the tax consequences are often anything but. Depending on how the trust is set up and what type of funds you withdraw, a distribution could be tax-free, or it could come with an unexpected tax bill. Many people assume that…

Key takeaways Refinancing your mortgage can help you lower your rate, access your home’s equity or move to a fixed-rate loan. For most homeowners, the best time to refinance is when you qualify for a lower rate than you’re currently paying. If you want to refinance, calculate the break-even point…