Articles written by W Thomas Payne in Personal Finance

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What is Helium

About me - W Thomas Payne

Freelance writer, photographer, and general handyman with words, I roam the back roads of America looking for the slightly different, the bizarre, and the fun that can be found in those 'off the highway' locales.

Over the last 25 years, I have been a landlord

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Personal Finance > Life Insurance How to find a life insurance agent: 2 of 18
Finding a life insurance agent may be as simple as looking in your local phone book and picking one at random, or taking advice from your trusted family and friends. Whatever method you choose for finding an agent for life insurance, be sure to ask the following key questions of the agents during your selection process. 1. H... More..
Personal Finance > Real Estate What is the difference between a real estate broker and a real estate agent?: 4 of 18
The differences between a real estate agent and a real estate broker are many, and subtle, and sometimes invisible to the average consumer. An agent' is anyone who acts on behalf of another to fulfill a transaction or obligation. Every state in the United States requires anyone wishing to promote and conduct business as a re... More..
Personal Finance > Real Estate The difference between condos and coops: 2 of 7
The difference between owning a condominium and a cooperative apartment are night and day. Condos and coops might seem the same on the surface, but one key factor separates the two and should impact your decision on which to own. The biggest difference lies in the history of why the two exist. Condominium ownership was creat... More..
Personal Finance > Smart Spending How to fight high energy bills in the summer: 50 of 103
If you are like me, your electric bills from cooling your home last summer have you concerned about this next air-conditioning season. You are probably thinking about spring projects that will help lower your overall energy costs. There are lots of ideas and suggestions out there, but I wanted to look at simple solutions fir... More..
Personal Finance > Retirement Should Social Security benefits be abolished?: 32 of 60
Abolishing Social Security, or discussion of privatizing it, is pure fantasy thinking. For it to survive as it is currently mismanaged and pillaged by Congress is also another fantasy. Roughly 200 million citizens have contributed into the fund, and depending on their age, contributed hefty sums. We've already seen our Congr... More..
Personal Finance > Insurance Basics When insurance is prudent: 12 of 21
Buying insurance is about as fun as having a root canal, but also a prudent move to safeguard yourself against losses that arise from unknowable risks that occur in every day life. The world is imperfect, and no amount of planning can protect your home, your auto, or your health quite as effectively as having insurance at le... More..
Personal Finance > Real Estate Five things you should know before buying a house: 92 of 144
Considering buying a house? There are five things you should know before purchasing a home. 1) You are not guaranteed an increase in the value of the house. Do not enter the purchase of a house with the mindset that you will have built up a huge increase in value in the next five years. This mistake is leading to tens of tho... More..
Personal Finance > Real Estate What do condominium dues cover?: 6 of 9
You have purchased a condominium, and in the closing you received a credit for condominium dues owed. But, what do the condominium dues cover? Condominium dues are created as part of the creation of the condominium association, and are assessed based on the percentage of ownership that each unit within the condo holds. Dues ... More..
Personal Finance > Real Estate Landlords: Evicting a problem tenant: 4 of 6
Eviction is the last recourse for resolving a dispute or issue with a problem tenant. Never enter an eviction action lightly, and never hesitate to evict a problem tenant if you have good reason. An eviction involves several steps, which vary from location to location. All will involve the court system in one fashion or anot... More..
Personal Finance > Mortgages & Home Loans Suggestions for solving the US housing market situation: 4 of 6
There's little doubt that the U.S. housing market is nearly-universally in the dump. Finding a solution requires looking at the root causes, and learning from the mistakes that created the massive bubble in the first place. Lenders were eager to lend money, with real estate as security to assure them the loan would be repaid... More..