Fort Lauderdale Blog

The 10 Worst Money Mistakes You Can Make

The 10 Worst Money Mistakes You Can Make

By Barbara Pronin

Successful money managers share a simple strategy: spend less than you make over a long period of time and invest the difference.

But the author of ESI Money, an online blog written by a reclusive “50-something retiree who has amassed a sizable net worth,” suggests a list of the 10 worst things you can do to sabotage your financial independence:

It’s Electric! How to Keep Yourself Safe During Home Improvement

It’s Electric! How to Keep Yourself Safe During Home Improvement

 
Electricity is coursing around us every day. From the power lines overhead, to the cables connected to our favorite devices, we live in an electric world. Considering how often we come into contact with electricity, it makes sense that safety should be top of mind -- especially if you’re embarking on a home improvement project.

Since 2014, Dominion Energy has received nearly 100 reports of homeowners, private contractors and individuals accidentally coming into contact with electrical lines at a home or business. Every incident was preventable with proper knowledge about the risk of electric shock.

Relocating? Here's How to Feel at Home Faster

Relocating? Here's How to Feel at Home Faster

By Barbara Pronin

Moving to a new city, whether it’s 30 or 3,000 miles away from your last one, can be stressful to say the least – perhaps even more so after you’ve dealt with the last of the packing boxes, because now it’s time to get to know your new community and begin to feel comfortable within it.

Relocation professionals offer practical tips to help you feel more at home faster:

Get connected. If they haven’t already done so, don’t wait for the neighbors to ring your doorbell. Knock on the doors of the neighbors to your left and your right to introduce yourself. Even if they don’t become friends, they can be a good source of city information as well as referrals for reliable window washers, babysitters, medical professionals and other service providers.

Rent Growth Crawls, but Costs Still High

Rent Growth Crawls, but Costs Still High

 Rent growth is crawling at its slowest pace in five years, with rents up nationwide just 0.7 percent year-over-year, according to the recently released March Zillow® Real Estate Market Reports. Notably, rent growth in the West, which has led appreciation, is stalling. The median rent is now $1,408.
 
Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell attributes the brake on appreciation to a more balanced supply/demand scenario.
 
"The slowdown in rental appreciating is mainly due to new construction finally meeting demand, and even outpacing demand in some areas," says Gudell.