January 2026 - propertyunder20k.com

Considerations When Taking Out Life Insurance in 2026

Buying life insurance in 2026 is still about protecting the people you love, but the buying process and the fine print look different.

Underwriting is faster, data is everywhere, and policies pack more optional features than most shoppers expect on day one.

This guide covers practical checkpoints, so you can choose coverage that fits your risks, your taxes, and your budget without guesswork.

Life insurance is still a promise to replace income, pay debts, and keep a household stable after a death, but the route to approval has shifted.

Automated underwriting, expanded riders, and changing tax rules make it worth slowing down and reading the contract details, not just the monthly price.

Start With Your Real Risks

A common shortcut is picking coverage as a multiple of salary, but a cleaner approach is mapping the bills your family must pay, month after month.

Debt Servicing Over Totals

In 2026, the total balance on a mortgage or line of credit matters, but the payment schedule matters more, especially when rates or renewals can move.

Instead of only pricing a lump-sum payoff, estimate five years of required payments and household expenses, then decide whether beneficiaries would refinance, sell, or keep assets.

The Dependent Friction

Child costs do not rise evenly, and education is a big example: the average published in-state public four-year tuition and fees are $11,950 for 2025–26.

Build in flexibility for longer timelines, like adult children needing extra support, plus any specialized care costs your family would still face if one income disappeared.

Match Policy Type To Goals

The term versus permanent question is less about “which is better” and more about how long you need the money, and how predictable you want coverage to be.

The Term Insurance Utility

For many families, term insurance is the simplest fit: high death benefit, lower premium, and a clear job, replacing income during working years and big obligations.

If you are looking for life insurance in Canada or the United States, term policies are often the starting point for income replacement planning.

The Permanent Liquidity Play

Permanent insurance can make sense when the need is lifelong, like funding a special-needs plan, supporting a business succession plan, or creating predictable liquidity at death.

It can also reduce “forced sale” pressure when most wealth sits in illiquid assets, like real estate or a closely held company, and heirs need cash quickly.

Use Automated Underwriting To Your Advantage

Underwriting has gotten more data-driven, and accelerated programs can shorten timelines, but the rules vary by carrier, age, and the amount of coverage you want.

Exam-free limits vary: Some accelerated programs can reach $2 million for younger applicants, while older ages may cap lower, even within the same carrier.
Records drive decisions: Carriers may lean on digital health sources and underwriting automation, and industry surveys link growth in accelerated underwriting to expanding face-amount availability.
Wearables can reduce premiums: Some programs reward healthier habits, and one major carrier advertises “up to 25%” premium savings tied to its wellness program.
Speed trades against privacy: Faster decisions often require broader data access, so compare the convenience against the information you are comfortable sharing long-term.

Request Human Review For Outliers

Automation is great for clean, common situations, but it can struggle with nuance, and that is where a manual underwriter can make a real difference.

The “Grey Area” Penalty

Algorithmic decisions can be cautious with complex histories, like prior cancer, unusual lab patterns, or multiple medications, even when the condition is stable and well documented.

If the offer looks harsh, ask what additional records could help, such as an attending physician statement or updated labs, and request a human review pathway.

Financial Complexity

Income that does not look like a steady W-2, such as commissions, self-employment, or uneven business cash flow, can be harder for automated screens to interpret.

A human reviewer can consider tax returns, balance sheets, and consistent multi-year income, which can support a more accurate picture of affordability and insurable need.

Plan Around 2026 Tax Rules

Life insurance can be part of estate planning, but the right structure depends on your actual exposure, especially once you account for federal rules and state-level differences.

Federal estate taxes hit fewer families: For deaths in 2026, the federal basic exclusion amount is $15,000,000, up from $13,990,000 for 2025.
Gift planning still matters: For 2026, the annual exclusion for gifts is $19,000 per recipient, which can support gradual wealth transfers without using lifetime exemption.
State-level exposure is real: Several states levy estate or inheritance taxes with exemptions far below the federal level, including thresholds as low as $1,000,000.
Canada rules are not identical: The CRA notes the federal government does not intend to proceed with a proposed inclusion-rate increase, while LCGE reporting changes remain relevant for post–June 24, 2024 dispositions.

Protect Benefits From Inflation

Inflation is quiet but relentless, and a death benefit that looks huge today can feel smaller years from now when it has to cover the same lifestyle.

The Purchasing Power Erosion

From 2020 to 2025, CPI-U rose about 21.8% based on annual averages, which is a real hit to long-range plans.

Put differently, $1,000,000 in 2025 purchasing power equals about $821,000 in 2020 dollars, so a flat benefit can slowly lose its bite.

Reviewing Coverage Gaps

Some policies offer inflation-focused riders, like cost of living riders that allow periodic increases tied to a cost of living index, usually without new evidence of insurability.

If you ladder term policies, schedule reviews every few years and adjust coverage when income, debts, or family size change, so the plan stays aligned with reality.

Add Living Benefits You Use

Many modern policies let you access money while alive, but the triggers, limits, and costs vary, so treat riders as mini-contracts inside the main contract.

Accelerated death benefits: Regulators and consumer guides describe these as “living benefits” that let you take money from the death benefit after a qualifying terminal illness.
Long-term care riders: Some riders let you use part of the death benefit for long-term care expenses, often based on limits and activities-of-daily-living requirements.
Disability waivers: Waiver of premium riders can keep coverage in force if you become totally disabled, with definitions and waiting periods spelled out in the rider.
Cash value access: Permanent policies may allow loans or withdrawals, but those choices can reduce benefits and can create tax issues if a policy lapses.

Keep Term Conversion Options Open

Conversion privileges can be valuable, but only if you understand the deadline, the eligible permanent products, and whether conversion is allowed for the full face amount.

The Health Hedge

Conversion exists for one reason: you do not know what your health looks like later, and a conversion option can preserve a path to lifelong coverage.

Read the contract for conversion cutoffs and product limitations, because “convertible” can mean very different things depending on carrier and policy form.

Carrier Divestiture Risks

Even without company drama, conversion menus can be narrow, and sometimes only certain permanent products qualify, which can affect cost and long-term flexibility.

Before buying, ask for the conversion rules in writing, including the last conversion date, eligible products, and whether partial conversions are permitted.

Prevent Lapses With Premium Loans

Missed payments can kill a policy at the worst time, so set up safeguards early, especially for permanent insurance where coverage is meant to last decades.

Automatic Premium Loan (APL): Some policies can automatically borrow against cash value to pay overdue premiums once the grace period ends.
Administrative mistakes happen: APL can help with simple bank errors, but it still creates debt inside the policy, and that debt accrues interest.
Track loan balance: Unchecked loans can shrink cash value and reduce the net death benefit, so review annual statements and in-force ledgers.
Universal life is different: If APL is not available, ask about no-lapse guarantees and what premium patterns are required to keep them in force.

Verify Carriers And Your Identity

Applying for life insurance means sharing sensitive data, so treat the application like any other high-security transaction, and verify people and portals before uploading documents.

The Deepfake Threat

Scams are more convincing than they used to be, and fake websites can copy logos, agent names, and phone numbers well enough to fool careful shoppers.

Verify agent licensing through your state or provincial regulator, and use only secure portals that match the carrier’s official domain and published contact information.

Carrier Solvency Matters

Life insurance is a long promise, so consider financial strength ratings from major agencies, and decide what rating level you personally consider “sleep well at night.”

Also look at customer service history, policyholder dividends for participating whole life, and how the carrier handled past claims disputes, because day-to-day reliability matters too.

Conclusion

Life insurance in 2026 rewards people who slow down, run real numbers, and match the policy to the job it needs to do.

Use fast underwriting when it fits, push for human review when it does not, and treat riders, conversion rules, and lapse protection like must-read sections.

A good policy is not just cheap, it is clear, durable, and ready for the exact moment your family needs it most.

Sources and Verifications

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Newsroom, October 9, 2025, https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-releases-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2026-including-amendments-from-the-one-big-beautiful-bill
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Summary of annual and semi-annual indexes” (CPI-U annual averages through 2025), accessed January 2026, https://www.bls.gov/regions/mid-atlantic/data/consumerpriceindexannualandsemiannual_table.htm
College Board Research, “Trends in College Pricing: Highlights” (2025-26 published tuition and fees), 2025, https://research.collegeboard.org/trends/college-pricing/highlights
Protective (Comparion/Protective Financial Professional site), “New accelerated underwriting opportunities,” October 1, 2024, https://comparion.protective.com/about-us/news/life-insurance/product-updates/2024/new-accelerated-underwriting-opportunities
Society of Actuaries (SOA), “Results of the 2024 SOA Reinsurance Section Life Reinsurance Survey,” September 2025, https://www.soa.org/sections/reinsurance/reinsurance-newsletter/2025/september/rsn-2025-09-ferraro/
John Hancock, “Vitality Program” (premium savings and wearable program details), accessed January 2026, https://www.johnhancock.com/life-insurance/vitality/vitality-program.html
Tax Foundation, “Estate and Inheritance Taxes by State” (rates and exemptions as of October 1, 2025), October 2025, https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/estate-inheritance-taxes/
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), “Life Insurance” (consumer explanations of accelerated death benefits and long-term care riders), accessed January 2026, https://content.naic.org/index.php/consumer/life-insurance.htm
New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), “Optional Riders & Supplemental Benefits” (COLA rider and automatic premium loan description), accessed January 2026, https://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumers/life_insurance/optional_riders
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), “What’s new for capital gains for 2024” (inclusion rate announcement and LCGE reporting notes), May 30, 2025, https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/personal-income/line-12700-capital-gains/whats-new-capital-gains.html
Prime Minister of Canada, “Prime Minister Mark Carney cancels proposed capital gains tax increase,” March 21, 2025, https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2025/03/21/prime-minister-mark-carney-cancels-proposed-capital-gains-tax-increase

Hiring a Property Management Company: Questions That Reveal Service Quality

Cheap rentals can be great deals, but they don’t forgive sloppy operations. One slow repair, one drawn-out vacancy, or one misread tenant situation can wipe out the margin that made the purchase look smart in the first place.

A property manager can protect that consistency. Or they can quietly drain it with weak leasing, slow turns, and “we’ll get back to you” communication. The fastest way to tell the difference is to ask questions that force specifics—who does what, how they decide, and what happens when something goes sideways.

Communication: what happens when it’s urgent, messy, or after hours?

Start here, because service quality shows up most clearly when things aren’t going well. Ask how owners and tenants reach the team, what counts as an emergency, and who’s on call. “We’re available 24/7” is not an answer; you want the chain of responsibility, a target response time, and a record of what was done.

Then ask how updates work. Will you get proactive notes during a vacancy or big repair, or will you only hear from them when you chase? A good manager can describe their routine: status updates during turns, same-day notice of emergencies, and a written record of approvals. Local knowledge matters, too, especially when you’re investing from a distance. A team of property managers in Arizona should be able to talk about common heat-related maintenance issues, vendor lead times, and realistic repair timelines without guessing. You’re not testing trivia—you’re testing whether they live in the constraints of your market.

Finally, ask for an example of a recent mistake and how they handled it. The best operators don’t pretend they never miss something. They explain what they told the owner, how they corrected it, and what changed in the process so it didn’t repeat.

Leasing and screening: how do you fill units fast without taking the wrong tenant?

Leasing is where “average” management becomes expensive. Ask how they set rent and how often they re-check pricing during vacancy. What signals trigger a change—fewer inquiries, repeated no-shows, or applications that stall? You want a manager who adjusts quickly without thrashing the price every other day. Ask how showings are handled and what reduces cancellations.

Next, go straight to screening and make them describe the workflow end-to-end. Ask for written criteria, the exact verification steps, and how decisions get documented. Consistency matters because inconsistent screening creates risk, and it can create compliance issues if choices aren’t tied to objective standards. A professional manager should be able to explain how they avoid discriminatory ad language, apply criteria consistently, and handle accommodation requests under the Fair Housing Act.

Don’t stop at “background and credit checks.” Ask how they verify income for self-employed applicants, how they handle mixed files or identity issues, and what their policy is on co-signers. Then ask a practical follow-up: “How long does it take from completed application to decision?” Speed matters, but sloppy speed is worse than slow accuracy. A strong manager will describe a standard decision window and what usually causes delays.

Maintenance: Do they fix problems, or do they create repeat visits?

Maintenance is where small investors get burned, not because repairs happen, but because repairs happen with weak oversight. Ask how work orders are triaged, what your approval threshold is, and how they prevent repeat trips. The best answer sounds boring: clear authorization limits, written scopes, before-and-after photos, and a habit of fixing root causes instead of swapping parts forever. If they can’t explain how they control vendor scope creep, expect surprise invoices.

Give them a scenario and listen closely. “A tenant reports a slow leak under the sink on Friday night—what happens next?” You want a response that protects the property first, communicates with the tenant, and updates you with evidence and a plan. If the answer is “we’ll send someone Monday,” that leak may become warped cabinets and a much bigger bill. Ask another: “The AC is blowing warm air in July—what’s your first step?” The best managers talk about quick diagnostics and a way to keep the tenant safe and the unit livable while parts or vendors line up.

Ask how vendors are selected and measured: in-house techs, preferred vendors, or whoever is free. Do they track completion times and callbacks? In lower-priced rentals, reliability beats fancy. Also, ask how they document move-in condition, because dated photos and a signed checklist reduce disputes and make damage charges less emotional. If you hear “we don’t really do photos,” you’re likely inheriting arguments later.

Financial reporting: Can you verify every charge without detective work?

A clean owner statement is helpful, but it’s not the same as transparency. Ask what you’ll see monthly, what you’ll see quarterly, and whether you can access invoices and work order history without requesting them one by one. If your accountant asks for backups, you should be able to pull them quickly. You should also ask how they handle owner distributions: scheduled monthly, held until a reserve minimum is met, or adjusted during vacancy.

Now talk fees without vague labels. Ask them to walk through a real statement and show exactly where they’re paid: management fees, leasing fees, renewals, maintenance coordination, and any markups. None of these are automatically bad, but surprises are. A trustworthy manager explains the tradeoffs and puts everything in writing, including what triggers each fee and when it’s charged.

Close with the money-handling question most owners skip: “How are owner funds held and reconciled?” You want separate trust accounting, clear reserve policies, and a straightforward way to correct errors. Also, ask what happens when rent is late—what notices go out, what the timeline is, and when you’re informed. If they can’t explain the collection path, you’ll be learning it during a problem.

Conclusion

Hiring a property management company isn’t about finding the nicest pitch; it’s about choosing an operating system you can rely on. Ask questions that demand examples, timelines, and documentation, and you’ll see who runs on habits versus hope. Pick the team with clear standards, and your low-cost rental becomes predictable—the kind of boring that keeps returns intact.

What’s the Biggest Killer in Construction? Understanding the Deadliest Risk on Job Sites

The construction industry is one of those sectors that is most important globally. The most surprising truth is that this is one of the most hazardous sectors. Each year, thousands of workers are seriously injured, as many others lose their lives because of this profession. The most important question arising here is what the major killer is in this sector.

What the answer to the question is, and why it’s true, is well established—that is, falls in height are the leading cause of death in the construction industry globally. The reasons why a fall, in particular, proves to be deadly, as well as its mechanisms, play a vital role in trying to reduce the high mortality rates on construction sites.

Falls from Height: The Leading Cause of Construction Deaths

The largest percentage of construction-related fatalities annually always occurs due to falls. These fall usually happen from roofs, scaffoldings, ladders, and uncompleted flooring. A fall from a fairly short height sometimes causes head injuries or internal damage leading to deaths.

Typical situations involving falls include:

– Falling from scaffolds that lack guardrails or which are not properly erected.

– Slipping on roofs that are being installed or repaired

– Ladder failures caused by incorrect placement or overloading

– Unprotected edges on multi-story structures

Falls are particularly hazardous because they frequently occur unexpectedly, allowing no time whatever for workers to protect themselves.

Why Falls Are So Deadly in Construction

There are several reasons why falls are so deadly within the context of the construction industry:

Working at Elevated Heights

Typically, construction work occurs several meters high, thus heightening the consequences of a fall if it happens.

Inadequate Fall Protection

The lack of guardrail, insecure scaffolding, and the absence of personal fall protection systems create serious hazards.

Poor Safety Compliance

Hurried schedules, insufficient training, or not adhering to safety guidelines can be the cause of fall accidents.

Environmental Conditions

The presence of wet surfaces, high wind, insufficient lighting, and irregular platforms makes balance harder to sustain, particularly at heights.

Other Major Killers in Construction

Falls account for the largest number. Other hazards contribute substantially to the number of construction fatalities. These can be collectively termed as the “Fatal Four.“

Struck-by Incidents

Employees are also at risk of injury from falling tools, moving equipment, and vehicles within the workplace. Cranes, forklifts, and heavy machinery pose genuine hazards.

Caught-in or Between Hazards

Such problems occur when a person is pressed between objects, machines, and structures that collapse such as trenches and walls.

Electrocution

Electricity can cause lethal shock or burning from contacting live wires, low-quality equipment, or improper grounding.

Though such dangers can be lethal, falls are still considered the major cause of death for construction workers.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Certain construction roles face higher risks, including:

Roofers and steelworkers
Scaffold installers
Electricians working at height
Laborers on multi-level projects

Newly hired employees are even more vulnerable since they lack experience and awareness.

How Falls Can Be Prevented

To bring an end to the fall-related deaths, the solution involves careful planning, training, and enforcement.

Use Proper Fall Protection Systems

Guardrails on platforms and edges
Safety nets below elevated work areas
Personal fall arrest systems (harnesses and lifelines)

Ensure Safe Access Equipment

Ladders and scaffolds require periodic checks, correct installation, and correct use according to safety rules.

Provide Ongoing Safety Training

Employees can benefit from training that is provided to them from time to time regarding fall hazards, equipment handling, and handling emergencies.

Improve Site Management

Enhance Site Management There must be clear signs, organized working areas, adequate lighting, and weather checks to minimize fall risks.

The Role of Employers and Contractors

Employers are legally and ethically responsible for maintaining safe worksites. This includes:

Conducting risk assessments
Providing protective equipment
Enforcing safety rules
Supervising high-risk tasks

Effective safety culture translates into saving many lives and minimizing project costs.

Conclusion

The primary cause of death on construction sites is not equipment, electricity, or heavy materials but falls from heights. Fall-related accidents can be dramatic, devastating, and deadly, but they can also be easily mitigated by placing more emphasis on the safety measures that need to be implemented on the construction sites.

Safety is not a choice on a construction site. Each and every guard rail erected, safety harness donned, and safety procedure followed brings the construction worker one step closer to going home at the end of every day.

Buying a Low-Cost Fixer: Where to Store Belongings During Cleanouts and Repairs

A low-cost fixer has a special kind of charm. You walk through it, and you can already see the finished version: clean walls, better light, floors that don’t creak, maybe even a kitchen that doesn’t feel like a time capsule.

Then you open a closet. Or the attic hatch. Or the shed out back.

Suddenly, you’re not just buying a house—you’re inheriting a logistics puzzle. And if you don’t solve the “where does all this stuff go?” question early, your renovation timeline will drag. Crews can’t work around piles, materials get damaged, and you end up paying for tasks twice because rooms weren’t actually ready.

The good news is that storage doesn’t have to be complicated. It just needs to be intentional. Here’s how to decide what stays, what moves, and how to protect your belongings while you clean out and repair a budget property.

Treat the Cleanout Like a Jobsite, Not a Weekend Chore

The fastest cleanouts aren’t the ones with the most trash bags. They’re the ones with a clear flow.

Start by creating a “staging lane” near the main entrance (or the widest door you’ll actually use). This is where items temporarily land while you sort. You’re not decorating it. You’re running a mini loading dock. If you’re working alone, that staging lane keeps you from carrying the same box to three different corners before you decide what to do with it.

Next, pick one room to be your “keep” room—ideally a space that won’t be renovated first. Everything you plan to keep goes there for now, even if it feels annoying to consolidate. The point is to stop the drift where your belongings scatter across the whole property. When that happens, you can’t start repairs without relocating things again, and that’s where projects lose momentum.

As you sort, be brutally practical. If something is damp, moldy, mouse-chewed, or warped, don’t store it “until later.” Later rarely comes. Save the storage space for items you’ve already committed to keeping: tools you’ll use, furniture you’ll restore, fixtures you’ve verified are working, and personal items that matter.

Decide Between On-Site Staging and Off-Site Storage

Here’s the core question: do you need space to work, or do you need access to your things?

If your repairs are light—paint, a few fixtures, maybe a single-room update—you can often stage on-site. Choose one dry room as a holding zone and keep everything tight to the perimeter so you can walk through the middle. Use shelves if you have them. Even basic plastic shelving helps because it keeps boxes off the floor and makes it easier to see what’s what.

But if you’re doing anything that creates dust, debris, or traffic—floor refinishing, drywall, demolition, window replacement, electrical rewiring—on-site staging turns into a risk. It only takes one careless bump to crack a mirror, or one surprise leak to ruin a stack of cardboard boxes.

That’s when off-site storage starts to make sense. A short-term option like a storage center can give you a clean buffer between “this house is a construction zone” and “these are the things I’m keeping.” It also makes contractors faster. They’re not tiptoeing around furniture. They can move materials freely. And you’re not constantly deciding whether a pile needs to shift before the next trade shows up.

A practical rule: if you can’t clear at least one full room to be a dedicated work zone, you’re probably better off moving your keep-items off-site for a phase. That one choice often saves weeks of stop-and-start progress.

Pack and Protect Like You Expect Dust, Moisture, and Mishaps

Storage isn’t just about finding a place. It’s about preventing damage while the property is in its messiest phase.

For furniture, skip thin plastic wrap as your only protection. It keeps off grime, but it doesn’t prevent dents or scratches when something shifts. Wrap wood furniture in moving blankets first, then add plastic if you need it for dust. Tape drawers shut with painter’s tape, not duct tape, and put a label on the front that tells you what’s inside. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re trying to find “kitchen hardware” without opening ten boxes.

For boxes, avoid cardboard directly on floors. Fixers often have moisture issues you haven’t fully solved yet—minor seepage, humidity spikes, condensation, you name it. Even “dry” basements can surprise you. Use pallets, 2x4s, or plastic shelving to create a simple air gap. It’s a small move with a big payoff because it prevents soggy boxes and mildew.

If the home is older (and many low-cost properties are), take dust seriously. Sanding, scraping, and demolition can create hazardous dust, especially if the home was built before 1978. The EPA’slead renovation guidance is worth reading before you disturb painted surfaces, even if you’re doing the work yourself, because lead dust can travel and settle on stored items in ways you don’t notice until later. When you plan storage, assume dust will migrate. Seal what you store. Keep textiles and soft goods in bins, not open bags. And if you’re staging on-site, separate stored items from work zones with plastic sheeting and tape so your belongings don’t become dust collectors.

Finally, don’t store what you can’t protect. Anything that’s already on the edge—particleboard furniture swollen from moisture, paper items in flimsy boxes, electronics you can’t seal—should either be upgraded to better containers or removed from the property until the environment is stable.

Keep What You Need for Repairs Accessible (Without Losing It)

One of the most frustrating parts of a fixer is misplacing the exact thing you just bought for the job. Storage decisions can either prevent that or make it worse.

Create a “daily kit” that stays with you. This isn’t a huge toolbox. It’s a small bin with the essentials: tape measure, utility knife, gloves, marker, flashlight, basic screwdrivers, and a notebook. Add spare batteries and a phone charger. If you’re working with contractors, add a folder for receipts, paint colors, appliance specs, and permits. Keep this kit in your car or in one clearly marked container that never gets packed “for later.”

For materials, separate them by phase. If the kitchen remodel starts in three weeks, don’t bury cabinet hardware under a stack of living room boxes. Put near-term items in one labeled tote and keep it in an easy-to-reach spot. If you’re using off-site storage, reserve a front section for “next up” items so you’re not unloading half a unit to retrieve one box of fasteners.

Also, keep a simple inventory. You don’t need a spreadsheet unless you enjoy spreadsheets. A photo and a note on your phone works. Take a quick picture of each box as you seal it, and write a one-line description. It’s low effort, but it prevents the “I know I packed it… somewhere” spiral that wastes hours.

Conclusion

If you can keep one room truly clear and your belongings truly protected, the cleanout moves faster, the repairs go smoother, and you spend less time shifting piles and more time improving the property.