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What to look for in the new home buyer contracts

Rita R. Robison / July 17, 2024

The National Association of Realtors settlement of a class action lawsuit, scheduled to be carried out by August 17, requires realtors to obtain buyer signatures on home buyer contracts. The $418 million settlement did away with the traditional agent’s commission of 5-6 percent, which should lead to more negotiation, more competition, and lower costs.

This week's top 10 money tips

1. Take a look these tips on what to buy on sale in October.

2. Check out your eligibility for compensation under a recent settlement for certain generic prescription drug purchases and submit a claim.

3. Take a look at where mortgage interest rates are increasing the most.

4. Be sure to consider fuel economy for your next car purchase because the Trump administration has just slashed fuel economy standards.

5. Trim dining out bills by drinking water, picking up takeout instead of using delivery, using rewards, and ordering appetizers instead of entrées.

6. Create a sinking fund, a separate, named savings account tied to a specific goal.

7. Make a plan for your holiday spending.

8. Check out which streaming services people who cut the cable prefer.

9. Consider a postnuptial agreement — it outlines the same things as a prenup, but you sign it after you’re married.

10. Learn about Gen Z spending with this survey that shows that Gen Z has the lowest savings-to-spending ratio of any generation.

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October 1, 2026