For Lucas Hall, finding that answer has been trial and error. As a “DIY landlord” for more than two years and founder of Landlordology, an online resource for landlords, he’s gutted three homes and renovated countless others. “I’m just handy enough to be dangerous,” Hall says. He’s suffered more than his fair share of […]
4 Ways to Avoid DIY Mistakes — From a DIYer Who’s Made Them All Read More »
When planning a garage addition, you’ll need to consider size, siting, access, and how the garage relates to the architecture of the house. Maybe you’re tired of getting drenched as you dash to your car on stormy days. Or you dream about having more space for storage, a workshop, a home gym, a kids’ play
Evaluate Your House for a Garage Addition Read More »
Getting a bit queasy as tax time nears? Worried about making mistakes or missing out on a deduction — especially if this is your first time itemizing? Unless you’re a CPA, it can be easy to miss deductions, or worse: raise a red flag with the IRS because you got deduction happy. Here are the
Don’t Panic! You CAN Do Your Taxes Error-Free. Here’s How Read More »
Your home is a great source of tax savings if you know what qualifies and don’t forget to claim deductions and credits. If you missed any of these five, you can go back in time — roughly two to three years — by amending your tax return. (Read more nitpicky details in How to Amend
5 Good Reasons to Amend Your Tax Return — and How Read More »
As you calculate your tax returns, be careful not to commit any of these nine home-related tax mistakes, which tax pros say are especially common and can cost you money or draw the IRS to your doorstep. #1 Deducting the Wrong Year for Property Taxes You take a tax deduction for property taxes in the
9 Easy Mistakes Homeowners Make on Their Taxes Read More »
Do you know what important documents to keep and why? You risk wasting money and time if you don’t back up your income tax records. Millions of Americans will remember to do their taxes juuust in time to sprint to the April 15 finish, fists stuffed with W2s and receipts. But if you’re a homeowner,
4 Dangers You Face If You Don’t Back Up Your Income Tax Documents Read More »
No one wants to think about government paperwork, especially when your hand still aches from signing the 977 forms required to buy your first house? But listen up: As a new homeowner, you can typically wave bye-bye to the 1040-EZ form and say hi to itemizing your deductions on Schedule A. That means you can combine
Tax Season: What New Homeowners Can Expect Read More »
Tired of working so hard just to build your landlord’s equity instead of your own? Been dreaming about paint swatches and obsessing over Pinterest projects? Making that leap from renting to owning a home comes with many perks — both financial and emotional. And even though home ownership comes with great responsibility, you might be
Should You Look for Your First House Or Keep Renting? Read More »
There are a lot of homeownership tax benefits — if you don’t forget to take them. To make sure you get your due, HouseLogic asked tax expert Abe Schneier, a former senior technical manager with the American Institute of CPAs, for tax-filing tips. HouseLogic: What’s the most common home-related tax deduction or credit claimed by
Your Top Homeownership Tax Questions Answered Read More »
If you’re considering purchasing a home, you’ve likely already considered how much you have available for a down payment, what an ideal mortgage payment would be, and how much home you can actually afford based on your monthly income. But what about your lifestyle? Have you considered how much wiggle room you need to leave
How Much Home Can Your Lifestyle Afford? Read More »
