NextPrevious

Bonds

Municipal Bonds

What are the two different categories of municipal securities in which I may invest?

Municipal bonds or “munis,” as they are often referred to, are divided into two categories: general obligation bonds and revenue bonds. They distinguish themselves primarily from the source of their interest payments once the debt is sold. General obligation bonds may raise taxes on a municipality in order to pay for its obligations of interest and principal payments. Revenue bonds, on the other hand, are often tied to specific capital-intensive projects that may be required by the municipal authority, and may be transportation- or utility-related. They are backed financially by the revenue that may be generated as a result of the project. Since the cash they may generate is quite variable, revenue bonds tend to be riskier than general obligation bonds.



Close

This is a web preview of the "The Handy Investing Answer Book" app. Many features only work on your mobile device. If you like what you see, we hope you will consider buying. Get the App