Editor profile
Senior Policy Editor, Housing & Tax
Covers HUD housing programs, foreclosure sales, and federal tax credits. Focuses on translating agency rules into steps readers can actually follow.
Thomas E. Wright is a senior policy editor at Insight Press covering U.S. housing assistance and federal tax programs. His work centers on HUD home sales, voucher programs, FUTA and related employer tax rules, and the practical paperwork that decides whether a household qualifies.
Before joining Insight Press, he spent years reading primary guidance from HUD, the IRS, and state housing agencies — the same documents that later become application checklists and eligibility tables on this site.
He writes for readers who need a clear answer before they talk to an agency, a housing counselor, or a tax professional — not for people looking for hype or secondhand summaries of other blogs.
Up to 85% of your Social Security benefits can be subject to federal income tax depending on your combined income. Here is how the IRS calculates provisional income, what thresholds trigger taxation, and how to protect your retirement checks.
Sep 22, 2026
Everything at HUD is moving slower in 2026 — and it's not just your local housing authority. Here's what the staffing cuts, a canceled reorg plan, and thinner inspection teams actually mean if you're applying for or already have a voucher.
Sep 22, 2026
Your GI Bill housing payment isn't based on your rent — it's based on your school's ZIP code, your enrollment level, and a military housing formula that has nothing to do with where you actually live. Here's how the math really works.
Sep 22, 2026
"GI Bill" gets used as if it's one single benefit, but it's actually an umbrella term covering several different programs — and which one you have determines whether you get a housing allowance at all.
Sep 22, 2026
You don't need your COE before you start house-hunting — just before closing. Here's how VA loan eligibility actually works, what your COE shows a lender, and the fastest way to get one.
Sep 22, 2026
"Federal Housing Authority" isn't actually the name of anything — but the two real agencies people mean when they type it help with completely different things: one helps you buy a home, the other helps you rent one.
Sep 21, 2026
Didn't get a 1099? You may still owe taxes on it. Here's the real $400 threshold gig workers need to know, plus how self-employment income affects the EITC.
Sep 19, 2026
Got a notice that your EITC was disallowed? Form 8862 might be how you get it back — but ban periods and notice types determine exactly when you're allowed to file it.
Sep 18, 2026
"HUD homes sell for way below market" is only half true. Here's where the real discount actually comes from — and why it's not the bidding war you might expect.
Sep 18, 2026
It works like Section 8, but there's no waitlist at your local housing authority — because HUD-VASH doesn't start there. Here's how the program actually works, and where a veteran should actually call first.
Sep 18, 2026
HUD doesn't just help renters — it also sells foreclosed homes to the public, sometimes for a $100 down payment or 50% off. Here's how the actual buying process works, and the programs people confuse it with.
Sep 18, 2026
Free tax filing covers most Americans in 2026 — but the free and paid versions of the same software are often one click apart. Here's how to actually find the free one.
Sep 16, 2026
The ACA's employer coverage rule only kicks in for full-time workers at large employers. Here's exactly where that line sits, and what it means if your part-time job doesn't offer insurance.
Sep 15, 2026
GoSection8 is effectively gone. We compared AffordableHousing.com and AffordableHousingOnline.com firsthand to see which one actually helps you find a Section 8 unit.
Sep 14, 2026
TaxAct isn't a competitor to IRS Free File — it's part of it. Here's how to actually get free filing, and which option fits low-income filers best in 2026.
Sep 13, 2026
They get used interchangeably all the time, but a deduction and a credit don't save you the same amount of money — and the gap can be worth thousands of dollars depending on your bracket.
Sep 13, 2026
It's a brand-new type of IRA for children under 18, and the government will seed it with $1,000 for free — but only if a parent actually files the right form. Here's exactly how it works.
Sep 13, 2026
The EITC is fully refundable, meaning the IRS pays you the difference even if you owe zero tax — and yet the IRS itself estimates roughly 20% of eligible workers skip it every year. Here's how much it's actually worth and who qualifies.
Sep 13, 2026
Section 8 doesn't use the federal poverty level like SNAP or Medicaid — it uses local Area Median Income instead. Here's how the three income tiers actually work, and what else determines eligibility beyond income.
Sep 9, 2026
HUD doesn't process Section 8 applications — a specific local agency does, and most applicants never find it. Here's the exact tool, plus the one mistake that's adding years to your wait.
Sep 9, 2026
The federal unemployment tax caps out at $42 per employee for most employers — but not if you run payroll in California or the U.S. Virgin Islands. Here's the full breakdown for the 2025 filing season.
Sep 9, 2026
Search "housing act 1974" and you'll land on legal history. But this one law is the reason Section 8 exists today — and understanding it explains a lot about why the program works the way it does.
Sep 7, 2026
A brand-new federal deduction just for taxpayers 65 and older is now available — but it phases out fast, it's easy to confuse with an older deduction of a similar name, and it disappears after 2028.
Sep 7, 2026
Searching for "the LIHTC application"? There isn't one national form — here's how the program actually works and where to find real listings and applications.
Sep 7, 2026
VisaScreen isn't a license or a visa — it's the federal credential check every foreign-educated nurse needs before an occupational visa is approved. Here's how it works.
Sep 3, 2026
PERM is the slowest, least-understood step in an employment-based green card. Here's what it actually involves and how long it really takes.
Sep 3, 2026
Compare New York, Montana, and California nursing license rules for foreign-educated nurses in 2026 — what actually speeds up or slows down your path.
Sep 3, 2026
It isn’t another app. It’s a boundary most teams still refuse to write down.
Sep 2, 2026
Three buckets, one rule, and no spreadsheet that lectures you.
Aug 26, 2026