Thursday's Personal Finance Stories

By MarketWatch

Don’t miss these top stories:

• Top 5 cities for selling a home.
• The 5 biggest lies on Wall Street.
• Self-employed? Deduct your commuting costs.
• The most tax-friendly states for retirees.

After waiting on the sidelines for years, some would-be home sellers are encountering favorable conditions again. According to data released today by the National Association of Realtors, median sale prices hit $173,600 in January, up 12.3% from a year prior — marking the 11th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases. And markets that were among the hardest hit during the downturn are seeing some of the biggest gains. In today’s Personal Finance pages, see five cities where it especially pays to sell now.

Plus, read about five stock-market myths that are making the rounds again, learn how to take advantage of the commuting-cost tax break if you’re self-employed, and find out which states have the lowest tax burden for would-be retirees.

— LinkTextChunk((LinkChunk)chunk), staff editor

The $500,000 spring break getaway

Why settle for a few nights on a beach at a chain hotel when you can have an entire island to yourself? That’s what Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, a Florida Keys destination that occupies a whole 5.5-acre island, promises with its $500,000 three-night “Exclusively Yours” package.
The $500,000 spring break getaway..

Top 5 cities for selling a home

Home sales are taking off in some places. Where it pays to be a seller right now.
Top 5 cities for selling a home..

The 5 biggest lies on Wall Street

Maybe the Dow will double from here. Maybe the good times will roll. But don’t spin me. Here are five myths about the stock market that are doing the rounds, yet again.
The 5 biggest lies on Wall Street..

Self-employed? Deduct your commuting costs

If you’re self-employed with a home office, then you just might be able to write off the cost of traveling between your residence and any other location where you conducted work-related business last year.
Self-employed? Deduct your commuting costs..

RETIREMENT

The most tax-friendly states for retirees

Picking the state with the lowest tax burden is no easy feat: You’ve got to carefully consider where your retirement income will be coming from.
The most tax-friendly states for retirees..

New retirement hurdle: Credit-card debt

Job losses, medical expenses and other unforeseen costs have steadily boosted baby boomers’ debt load over the last two decades.
New retirement hurdle: Credit-card debt..

Will your current home be your retirement home?

With more retirees opting not to move, some neighborhoods become “naturally occurring retirement communities.”
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