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Freelance Writer

Kathleen Pender

Kathleen Pender was a San Francisco Chronicle journalist for 36 years. After serving as a business reporter and editor, she wrote the Net Worth column from 2000 to 2021, where she explained how the big business and economic news of the day affected a household's net worth. She majored in business journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia and was a Knight-Bagehot fellow in business journalism at Columbia University.

Stories By Kathleen Pender

The feds call him a ‘recidivist fraudster’ who targeted the wealthy. His case holds lessons for California investors

A Bay Area man who served five years in prison for fraud has been charged with another investment-related crime. The case shows how important it is for investors to do their research. Kathleen Pender

Here’s latest forecast showing impact of S.F.’s troubled office market on property tax revenue

San Francisco’s troubled office market will take a bigger bite out of this year’s property-tax revenues than previously expected, according to a report issued Thursday by the city controller’s office. Kathleen Pender

IRS’ free program to file taxes is coming soon. Here’s what Californians need to know

Some California taxpayers with relatively simple 2023 returns will be able to try out the new Internal Revenue Service Direct File program starting in mid-March, the IRS announced Thursday. Kathleen Pender

Here are new laws taking effect in 2024 that will impact how Californians save for retirement

More changes are coming to 401(k) plans and IRAs next year, including some with key benefits. But for Californians there are also issues that could cause confusion and hassles. Kathleen Pender

S.F. hit with avalanche of requests to lower property taxes. Here’s what happens now

Nearly 7,000 San Francisco home and business owners applied to have their property taxes reduced. The increase reflects decreasing property values and may shrink the city’s already-short budget. Kathleen Pender, Jenny Kwon

Shohei Ohtani may avoid $98 million in California taxes with pay deferral. Will it actually work?

Shohei Ohtani’s deferred pay from the Dodgers made headlines for its potential to let him avoid California state income tax. Is that really true? Kathleen Pender

Big changes coming to Medi-Cal, the state’s health plan for 40% of Californians

Some big changes are coming to Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid health care program, next year. Kathleen Pender

IRS to offer free, guided tax prep in 2024 for some Californians. Should you use it?

Some Californians with relatively simple taxes will be able to prepare and file their 2023 federal tax return online directly with the IRS as part of a pilot project. Here’s how it will work. Kathleen Pender

Why higher-income workers in California may get surprised by this tax hike in 2024

A payroll tax hike that has gone largely unnoticed will hit high-earning employees in California starting Jan. 1, funding a big future increase in benefits for many workers. Kathleen Pender

Stinson Beach home at center of Dianne Feinstein property feud listed as ‘coming soon’ for $8.5M

The Stinson Beach house is listed as “coming soon” to the real estate market for almost $8.5 million. Kathleen Pender, Shira Stein

This strategy to cut mortgage rates is becoming popular in Bay Area — but there are pitfalls

Home buyers considering a mortgage rate buydown should make sure they understand how the two types work, the potential pitfalls and other ways to save money on a loan. Kathleen Pender

‘House hacking’: How Bay Area home buyers are dealing with mortgage rates at a new high

With mortgage rates topping 7% again this week and hitting their highest point in 22 years, Bay Area buyers on a budget are having to get creative to snag a home. Kathleen Pender

Battle over Dianne Feinstein’s Stinson Beach home holds lessons for handing down real estate

The high-profile family feud provides some insight into how families, blended or not, can avoid or minimize disagreements that may occur when a parent dies. Kathleen Pender

Here’s the latest sign of how declining home prices are impacting the Bay Area’s economy

The assessed value of all Bay Area property subject to property tax grew at a slower rate last year than it did in 2022, mainly because of a sharp slowdown in home sales, according to county assessors. Kathleen Pender

S.F. Bay Area real estate: Property tax cut coming for many homeowners. How to know if you qualify

In response to falling home prices, tens of thousands of Bay Area homeowners will be getting an unsolicited property tax cut for 2023-24. Kathleen Pender

The IRS gave most Californians an October tax deadline. It’s now apologizing for telling some to pay this month

In the wake of deadly winter storms, the IRS gave almost all Californians until Oct. 16 to file and pay their 2022 taxes. It apologized this week for telling some who already filed their returns to pay amounts due by June 26 or face stiff... Kathleen Pender

After First Republic, people are waking up to where they should really be parking cash

Americans are finally waking up to the fact that they can earn a lot more on their cash than what the big banks are paying. Kathleen Pender

Why over 1 million Californians still don’t have their middle-class tax refunds

Six months after California began issuing middle-class tax refunds, more than 1 million households that were supposed to receive their payment on prepaid debit cards still have not activated them, according to state data. Kathleen Pender

Is First Republic and Silicon Valley Bank fallout hurting the Bay Area real estate market?

Before Silicon Valley Bank failed and nearly took First Republic Bank with it, the latter was one of the largest and most revered mortgage lenders in the Bay Area. Here’s a look at the impact of the banks’ problems on the local mortgage and real... Kathleen Pender

What was the San Francisco Fed's role in SVB collapse?

As hearings on Capitol Hill this week look into the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and New York’s Signature Bank, here are answers to some questions about why the Santa Clara bank collapsed and regulators’ role. Kathleen Pender