What the experts say

New credit reports bare all

“There’s no hiding now,” said Tara Siegel Bernard in The New York Times. CoreLogic, a financial-data firm, has unveiled a new credit report that will tap data that has “never before appeared” in traditional credit files. It may include your history of missed rental payments and child support, and whether you are underwater on your mortgage. For some consumers, the new report is “likely to reveal black marks that previously went undetected, which may damage an otherwise clean record.” But CoreLogic, which has partnered with FICO to develop a new credit score based on the reports, says the added data, most of it publicly available, could also help those with thin credit files better prove their creditworthiness. Reports will be available for an estimated 100 million Americans; you can call CoreLogic at (877) 532-8778 to request a copy of yours.

Betting on demand for water

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“Investors who see a thirsty planet and want to profit from it” have their work cut out for them, said Liam Pleven in The Wall Street Journal. It’s hard to bet directly on the rising demand for water because “there is no futures market, and most of the world’s major providers of water are government-owned.” One option is to find water-focused exchange-traded funds, which invest in companies that deliver water services, like crop-irrigation systems or water-treatment equipment. They haven’t had the best year, though: Through November, four major water ETFs have fallen between 4.5 and 17.3 percent. (The S&P 500 was up 1.1 percent.) But wealth manager Kevin Bannon counsels patience. “Water’s day will come,” he says.

Second-home steals

Great deals on homes in popular retirement destinations are available now if your finances can handle it, said Karen Cheney in Money. Condo prices in areas such as Napa, Calif., and Naples, Fla., are down 44 percent or more since the housing boom. Coupled with record-low mortgage rates, those deals are enticing many boomers. But “no matter the price, buying now isn’t a no-brainer.” If paying for a retirement home would prevent you from putting away the maximum in your 401(k), “don’t buy.” Consider the many additional costs—“everything from regular lawn care to ongoing utility bills”—that come with the package. And do your homework on the local market; prices may continue to fall.