Buying a Home on Land You Don't Own: A Homebuyer's Guide to Community Land Trusts
A community land trust sells you the house and keeps the land on a 99-year ground lease: a far lower price now, with resale gains capped near 25%.
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Personal Finance
Personal money management and financial wellness strategies
Paying for College With Savings Bonds? How the Education Exclusion Makes EE and I Bond Interest Tax-Free
EE and I bond interest is federal-tax-free for college tuition — unless the bonds were ever in your child's name. Form 8815 rules and 2026 limits.
Don't Buy That Mutual Fund in December — the IRS Will Tax Gains You Never Earned
Buying a mutual fund before its December record date hands you IRS tax on a full year of gains you never earned — wait until after the ex-dividend date.
Marriage Penalty vs. Marriage Bonus: What Filing Jointly Really Costs (or Saves) You in 2026
A single $120K earner saves $7,530 filing jointly in 2026, while two top earners pay up to $10,250 more — federal thresholds decide.
Donating Your Car Before Year-End? How Form 1098-C, the $500 Threshold, and Gross-Proceeds Rules Decide Your Deduction
The IRS usually limits car-donation deductions to the charity's sale price — Form 1098-C, the $500 threshold, and three FMV exceptions decide yours.
IRS Letter 12C: Why Your Return Is On Hold and How to Respond in 20 Days
IRS Letter 12C is a processing hold, not an audit — fax or mail the requested forms within 20 days and skip Form 1040-X; refunds follow in 6–8 weeks.
MYGAs, Explained: The CD Alternative Paying More With Tax Deferral
A MYGA is a CD from an insurer: ~1 point higher fixed yield, tax-deferred growth, but surrender charges, no FDIC, and a 10% IRS penalty before 59½.
Starting Your HDHP in December? How the HSA Last-Month Rule Lets You Contribute the Full Year
Covered by an HDHP on Dec. 1? The IRS last-month rule allows a full-year HSA contribution — but fail the 13-month testing period and owe tax plus 10%.
How to Get Rid of PMI: Cancel at 80% LTV, Automatic Termination at 78%, and Why FHA Loans Play by Different Rules
Conventional PMI ends two ways: request cancellation in writing at 80% LTV, or wait for automatic termination at 78%. FHA MIP can run for the loan's life.
Which Scholarships Are Taxable? Tuition, Room and Board, Stipends, and Required Service
Under IRS Topic 421 a scholarship is tax-free only for tuition and required course costs; room, board, travel, and required-service stipends are taxable.
What Startup Employees Should Know Before Selling Stock in a 2026 Tender Offer
A tender offer's ISO disqualifying-disposition income lands on your W-2 with no federal withholding — plan US estimated taxes before the window closes.
Dollar-Cost Averaging vs. Lump-Sum Investing: How Business Owners Should Invest a Windfall After Selling the Company
Lump-sum investing beat 12-month dollar-cost averaging about two-thirds of the time — but set aside the US capital gains reserve before deploying a dollar.