Blog | Lisa Crowley

Step-Up Basis and Real Estate

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay Suppose you’ve inherited your parents’ longtime home. Suppose they paid $100,000 for it, and it’s now worth $300,000. Had they sold it while it was in their possession, they would have avoided paying capital gains tax due to the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. Now that ...

What’s the “Emotional” Return on Investment of a New Home?

Chances are, you’ve heard the expression, “Your home is your biggest investment.” For most homeowners, that’s true. So, when you’re shopping for a new home, it’s important to consider the financial opportunity of any purchase. Ideally, you want a home that is likely to increase in value over time. In other ...

Light fixtures and you: Harnessing all four types of lighting in your home

When most of us come across the phrase “lighting,” we automatically go to standard lighting fixtures seen in hardware stores or swanky floor lamps featured in chic living room showcases. Those lighting styles are so well-designed, we may even consider using those designs in our homes after inspiration hits. But ...

Home refinance: Costs to consider

Refinancing your home can have major benefits: a lower monthly payment, cash use of home equity for a variety of purposes, generate more appetizing mortgage terms, etc. However, there are a few things to remember when entering into a mortgage refinance, like refinance cost. Here are a couple of cost options ...