Author: Money Mechanics

In this edition of Price Point—a weekly series where Redfin explores current housing inventory across a rotating combination of budgets and metro areas—we’re looking at homes at or under the median U.S. home-sale price of $396,173. In April, the median U.S. home sale price rose 2.4% year over year to about $400,000—the biggest increase in 13 months. With that in mind, we’re exploring what you can get in markets across the country for that price. Hint: A$400,000 home in Washington D.C. looks very different from a $400,000 home in Philadelphia.  Chicago: A Fixer-Upper Condo With an Unbeatable Location, or a…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Being responsible for your parents or your children can be difficult, and it’s made even more stressful when you’re doing both at the same time.But that’s the reality of the sandwich generation – those working middle-aged adults who are simultaneously raising their children and supporting aging parents.According to a 2022 study from the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, there may be up to 2.5 million people in this situation in the U.S. And that is likely to increase as the population ages. An estimated 73 million Americans will be 65 years or older by 2030. From…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Most people don’t realize they have a financial blind spot until it they’re paying the price for it.It might show up as a missed opportunity with an investment account, an unexpected tax bill, a hefty hospital bill following a health emergency or a retirement account that hasn’t grown the way they hoped.No financial decision occurs in isolation. However, when people accumulate wealth, their complex financial pictures can cause them to forget the interconnected nature of their finances. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus…

Welcome to Kiplinger’s My First $1 Million series, in which we hear from people who have made $1 million. They’re sharing how they did it and what they’re doing with it. This time, we hear from a married man, 69, who retired from owning a personal care business and who lives in Northern California. He also made some money from owning real estate and investing, especially in Nvidia.See our earlier profiles, including a writer in New England, a literacy interventionist in Colorado, a semiretired entrepreneur in Nashville and an events industry CEO in Northern New Jersey. (See all of the…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of news releases about what’s being called the Great Wealth Transfer — upwards of $124 trillion that could change hands between generations over the next 10 to 20 years. And much of that inheritance will likely end up in the hands of women — wives, daughters, siblings, granddaughters — if for no other reason than women tend to outlive men.But before you count on that cash, a word of caution is in order. “I have been hearing about a generational windfall for the last 30 years, and I haven’t seen it…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If you own an electric vehicle, time is running out to take advantage of the EV charger tax credit. The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit covers up to 30% of the cost of a home EV charging station, including eligible hardware and installation expenses, up to $1,000.The credit was originally extended through December 31, 2032. However, the GOP’s “Big Beautiful Bill” eliminated the tax credit, and it is now set to expire on June 30, 2026.If you’ve been considering installing a home charging station, you may want to act soon to take advantage of the credit…

Oh, Italy. I miss you! It’s been almost three years since our family vacation there. Like many people, I was awed by the beauty and simple details that make life there so remarkable: the culture, food, music and style. I would love to return soon, but with airfare so expensive and inflation in Italy spiking, it’s just not happening. I may even have to wait a few years until I’m retired to go back for the long soak in Italian culture I crave.Honestly, I’d like to be fluent in Italian for my next trip, dressed as stylishly as any Milanese…

(Image credit: SAUL LOEB / Staff)Airport security in the U.S. may be heading toward a noticeable shift that could change how travelers move through checkpoints in the years ahead.The Transportation Security Administration’s new “TSA Gold+” initiative is expanding the government’s existing use of private contractors at airport security checkpoints, reviving a long-running debate over whether airport screening should remain primarily a federal function or operate more like a public-private partnership.For travelers, the biggest question is simple: Will this make flying easier, or more confusing? The answer may be a little of both. Here’s what you need to know about TSA…

Palo Alto Networks (PANW) just picked up another vote of confidence from Wall Street, and it arrived at a busy moment for the stock. Shares closed at $247.55 on May 18, near a fresh all-time high reached days earlier. For a stock that fell roughly 20% over the prior year, that swing matters to anyone holding it. The new call gives investors something concrete to weigh before the company opens its books. Palo Alto Networks is the largest pure-play cybersecurity firm by market value.SOPA Images / Getty Images Morgan Stanley raises its PANW price target to $253 on firewall and…

Catastrophe bond issuance for the first-half of 2026 is now projected to reach $16.3 billion according to the latest Artemis Deal Directory data, which could rise further as there remain a number of offerings in the market which could upsize, while further new deals could emerge.Catastrophe bond issuance in 2026 has continued to accelerate and the addition of State Farm’s new $1.5 billion of Merna Re Enterprise cat bonds yesterday has given issuance a meaningful boost. As of today, completed and fully settled issuance of 144A catastrophe bonds and the few private cat bond placements we track in our Deal…