Trump Tower Tampa buyers, with $3.6 million in deposits held in escrow, might get that money back. And the lawsuit involving Donald Trump and a local developer who failed to build the tower can move forward, a federal bankruptcy judge ruled today. ...more

July 18, 2008

The obsession of many high school students and their parents about getting into a prestige college or university is part of the social scene of our time. So is the experience of parents going deep into hock to finance sending a son or daughter off to Ivy U. or the flagship campus of the state university system. ...more

June 24, 2008

More property owners than ever failed to pay their tax bills this year, Pasco County officials are finding, as they prepare for their annual tax certificate sale. ...more

May 26, 2008

A government-backed mortgage bailout is needed, and it must be done right away. ...more

May 10, 2008

Bankrupt developer TOUSA has won court approval for a restructuring plan that allows the company to keep paying its employees, selling houses and honoring home warranties. ...more

February 9, 2008

Bankrupt developer TOUSA has won court approval for a restructuring plan that allows the company to keep paying its employees, selling houses and honoring home warranties. TOUSA, the parent company of Engle Homes, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Jan. 29. It reported assets of $2.28 billion and debts of about $1.77 billion. The new agreement allows the company to borrow $135 million from Citigroup Global Markets Inc. to pay normal operating expenses. The terms of the agreement allow TOUSA and its subsidiaries to continue building homes, pay off liens and sell the houses free and clear. Home warranties also will be honored. TOUSA subsidiary Engle Homes is the primary developer of Live Oak Preserve, The Hammocks and Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club. ...more

February 7, 2008

Six family members were indicted on charges of enslaving Mexican and Guatemalan immigrants and forcing them to perform farm labor, federal authorities said Thursday. ...more

January 19, 2008

Cold, hard, cash has always been "legal tender for all debts public and private" in the U.S.A. It says so right on the face of every dollar bill. That means it's accepted everywhere, right? Wrong. Next time you want to rent a car, don't offer to pay cash. It will probably be refused. Recently, I reserved a car with a major nationwide rental company, via the Internet. But when my husband and I went to pick up the vehicle, the local office of that company insisted we present a major credit card, which we did not have in hand at the time. Then they even refused cash on the barrelhead as an alternative. We use only debit cards; it keeps us from spending money we don't have. With virtually every other business in town, that makes us the very best, most-preferred, kind of customers, but not at this establishment. ...more

December 23, 2007

The online discussions I host give me an opportunity to see the financial issues that trouble people the most. Often what I find are people racked with fear. ...more

December 16, 2007

A British man who was declared dead after disappearing at sea five years ago masterminded an elaborate life insurance fraud to pay off family debts and also lied to get a false passport, police said Saturday. ...more

December 9, 2007