Quotes of the Day

The real art to dietary restriction, Nutrition 3.0-style, is not picking which evil foods we're eliminating. Rather, it's finding the best mix of macronutrients for our patient-coming up with an eating pattern that helps them achieve their goals, in a way that they can sustain. This is a tricky balancing act, and it requires us to forget about labels and viewpoints and drill down into nutritional biochemistry. [2023] - Peter Attia

For most portfolios, a reasonable split of foreign stock holdings would be something like the neighbourhood of 40/40/20, with 40% going to Europe (England, France, Germany, Switzerland); 40% to the developed Pacific region (mostly Japan, with a smattering of Australia, New Zealand and Singapore); and 20% to the emerging market nations (Brazil, Russia, Turkey, South Africa, Mexico, and a host of countries where the entire value of all outstanding stock may be less than that of any S&P 500 company). [2013] - Russell Wild

Normally, a lender won't grant mortgages for properties on leased land unless the lease runs significantly longer than that of the mortgage. For example, if a condo is on leasehold land with a 30-year lease and 5 years remain after the scheduled end of the mortgage, the lender will likely consider the risk too high. Buyers typically want an assurance of the terms of leased property when they buy. Five or ten years is rarely long enough to reassure potential purchasers that a property will have the value they saw in it when the time comes to sell. [2020] - Douglas Gray

Will gold price go up in a straight line? Of course not. No market ever does that. I expect one or more corrections along the way--sharp plunges by as much as 20 or 25 percent. But these will be mere bumps along the road. In fact, savvy investors will treat them as the buying opportunities that they are. [2009] - James DiGeorgia

Choose the right insurance: For homes that will need some fixing up, you may be limited to an actual cash value (ACV) policy. That means the insurance company will give you only enough insurance to cover what you paid for the property, minus the value of the land it sits on. On the other hand, a replacement cost policy is the preferred option if you can get it. The coverage is better, and it will pay for the full cost of a covered loss (minus your deductible) or even to fully rebuild the house, if necessary. To qualify, the property must be in good condition, with the roof and paint in good shape. With most policies, if you are more than 20% under market costs, you will be subject to a coinsurance penalty. Make sure your policy includes outbuildings (garage, shop, etc.) and you have liability coverage on the home (common limits are $300,000, $500,000 and $1,000,000). I recommend requiring your renters to carry their own renter's insurance as well. [2015] - Brandon Turner