finance.yahoo.com Market update
She Paid Off Her House Years Ago. On Social Security, the Taxes and Upkeep Are Pricing Her Out Anyway.
Quick Read Paying off a mortgage removes principal and interest but leaves property taxes, insurance, and maintenance free to outpace Social Security income. The 2026 COLA of 2.8% adds just $56 a month on a $2,000 benefit, which a single reassessment or insurance hike can erase entirely. Property-tax exemptions, weatherization grants, and USDA Section 504 repair assistance can …