Increasing the down payment or buying down the rate are common ways to lower the interest rate. We considered those, but the most impactful decision we made was shopping around.
We filled out 4 mortgage quote applications in 3 days
We re the type of people who will have 10 browser tabs open comparing bed sheets until we find the perfect combination of price and thread count. We approached our mortgage the same way, as a product we could optimize.
Applications for a mortgage quote took 10-15 minutes each and we completed a total of four. The applications asked for the same information:
Permission to pull a credit score
What is the penalty for filing taxes late?
The good news is that if you re expecting a tax refund and don t file your federal income tax return on time, there s no late charge. The bad news is that you won t get your refund until you file. You have three years from the due date of your tax return to file and claim your refund. After that, the money goes back to the US Treasury.
But if you
owe taxes and fail to file your return, the IRS essentially starts a running tab in your name. Every 30 days, you ll be charged 5% of any unpaid tax you re required to report on your return. Even if you file within a few weeks of the deadline, the full month penalty still applies.
A low cost of living makes for smooth sailing in retirement. Hanneke Luijting/Getty Images
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For anyone thinking about relocating for retirement, affordability is a big consideration.
Blacktower Financial Management data shows the best states for retirees are Florida, Iowa, and Ohio.
Other states include Minnesota, Texas, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania.
Choosing a state for retirement can be a big challenge.