Once tax season ends, do you dread finding room for yet another fat folder in an overstuffed closet, file cabinet or shelf? The IRS says all those stored papers may be overkill.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is working on new rules to increase both transparency and accountability in the mortgage-servicing industry. The rules would provide you with more clear and timely information about changes to your mortgage so you can avoid costly surprises.

So-called specialized law firms are sending invitations to homeowners for "mass joinder" lawsuits against their mortgage lender, touting it as a way to stop foreclosure and get good loan modifications. The invites are often a scam, says the Federal Trade Commission.

The four years since the housing market plunge have seen an increasing number of younger homeowners seeking reverse mortgages, according to a new study from the MetLife Mature Market Institute.

Home loan modification scams may appear to be help from one of the new foreclosure assistance programs recently announced by the federal government, but don't be fooled.

The New York Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, has brought suit against several big banks accusing them of deceit and fraud in how they used a mortgage electronic registration system, or MERS. Schneiderman says the banks' actions put homeowners at a disadvantage during the foreclosure process.

The year-end holidays can be a time for beautiful home decorations, but the Consumer Products Safety Commission warns of an increasing number of injuries from consumers stringing up festive lights and other holiday decorating activities.

A good paper shredder can tear a personal document to thousands of pieces which makes recovery nearly impossible, right? Sure. But a team of computer programmers in San Francisco recently won $50,000 for beating the U.S. Defense Department's challenge: Recreate a note that was torn into more than 10,000 tiny fragments.

The business of preying on desperate homeowners is proliferating. Foreclosure rescue and refinance fraudsters will promise that you can save your home by making mortgage payments through them. However, the so-called middleman then just pockets your money and walks away, leaving you in financial dire straights.

Sixty-four percent of American homes are under-insured, according to a California company that tracks rebuilding costs. And for many homeowners it's been a hard year, with flooding, hurricanes and wildfires wreaking havoc. So how do you know of you have enough coverage for your home?

Falling behind on your mortgage may have significant implications for your health, according to an article published online in the American Journal of Public Health. The study concluded that mortgage delinquency can be associated with an increase in incidents of mental health impairment, including depressive symptoms, and reduced access to health care overall.

Great news for New Jersey homeowners who suffered wind damage from Hurricane Irene, which swept up the east coast last weekend: Your property insurer cannot impose its onerous hurricane percentage deductibles, which run from 1 to 4 percent of your coverage amount, or a whopping $3,000 to $12,000 on a dwelling insured for $300,000.

If you had any doubts about the value of buying flood insurance, the historic devastation visited upon Vermont and northern New Jersey this week should convince you. Thousands of people in these areas are finding their homes badly damaged by flooding, a peril not covered by traditional homeowners insurance. For those without special flood insurance, the cost to rebuild could be catastrophic.

If your home happens to be in the path of Hurricane Irene here is some last-minute advice on how to file a homeowners insurance claim if damage is done.

In the second quarter of this year, the number of home owners late on their mortgage payments increased to 12.87 percent, after falling for more than a year, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.