Lower Mortgage Rates Help Buyers and Sellers

February 1, 2018

By LINDA COMINS Staff Writer WHEELING — With U.S. mortgage rates dropping again in early January, area real estate agents say now is a good time to buy or sell a house in the Ohio Valley. Lee Paull III, broker of Paull Associates, said, “The rates are still very, very low, and within two months when it really starts to rev up — the early spring season — I think we’re going to see rates that are very attractive for people to dive in.” Paull Associates operates offices in Wheeling, St. Clairsville, Marshall County and Brooke County. The Associated Press reported that ...

Financial Planning Can Help One Reach Goals

February 1, 2018

By SHELLEY HANSON Staff Writer MARTINS FERRY — Trying to figure out how to pay one’s bills while also saving for retirement, a new car or a child’s higher education is not an easy task for most people. But there are professionals who can help. According to the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, a majority of people in the United States don’t do much financial planning, but should. The association notes 60 percent of adults don’t have a budget and less than half have a savings plan with goals in mind. Nearly 30 percent of people don’t save any of ...

Communal Living, Budgeting the Key to Financial Security

February 1, 2018

By ALAN OLSON Staff Writer One common problem former students face after leaving college is the prospect of leaving school with various amounts of debt, while wanting to continue experiencing the finer parts of life — marriage, social activites and raising a family, while still trying to save for their twilight years, decades later. In an increasing trend, post-graduate students are finding themselves more able to handle their personal finances by living with relatives or groups of friends, sharing the burden of expenses evenly among themselves. Wheeling resident Clara Roberts ...

How Millennials Spend Their Money

February 1, 2018

Millennials include people born between 1980 and 2000. Millennials have become an influential demographic, changing the way business is conducted. While influencing technology, social norms and mores, millennials also are affecting the economy. Forbes says that many millennials have a shaky relationship with money, due in some part to the fact that they lived through one of the worst recessions the United States has experienced in decades. Couple that with staggering student loan debt and it’s easy to see why millennials may be facing an uphill battle when it comes to their ...

Traits of a Good Financial Adviser

February 1, 2018

When looking for help, consider these tips to get the best Professional financial advice can be a valuable asset for men and women focused on their futures. Effective financial advisers help their clients navigate the sometimes confusing waters of personal finance, helping them to achieve both short- and long-term goals. Financial advisers can help men and women protect their savings, make smart investments and grow their wealth. What defines the right financial adviser depends on the client. Some financial advisers’ strategies may not appeal to all prospective clients, so ...

Tips For First-Time Real Estate Investors

February 1, 2018

Real estate can be a good investment that helps build wealth and secure a financial future. According to Investopedia, average 20-year returns in commercial real estate hover around 9.5 percent, while residential and diversified real estate average returns of 10.6 percent. Such figures may seem too good to ignore for many prospective real estate investors. But investing in real estate can be risky, and it’s important that first-time investors consider a host of factors before deciding to delve into the real estate market. Current finances: Real estate can potentially yield big ...