To help ensure you get a good return on your kitchen remodel, follow these seven tips: #1 Plan, Plan, Plan Planning your kitchen remodel should take more time than the actual construction. If you plan well, the amount of time you’re inconvenienced by construction mayhem will be minimized. Plus, you’re more likely to stay on budget. […]
7 Smart Strategies for Kitchen Remodeling Read More »
If you upgraded one or more of the following systems last year, you may be eligible to take a tax credit — up to $500 — on your return. Biomass stoves Heating, ventilation, air conditioning Insulation Roofs (metal and asphalt) Water heaters (non-solar) Windows, doors, and skylights Advanced main air-circulating fans (the blower motor that
How to Claim Your Energy Tax Credits Read More »
You’ve asked friends to recommend great contractors, picked your favorite, checked references — and maybe even conducted an online background check on his business. So you know you’ve found a top-notch guy for your home improvement project. But remember that his bottom line is getting you to sign a contract, and he’s not going to
5 Secrets Your Contractor Doesn’t Want You to Know Read More »
Writing Off Rental Home Expenses Many rental home expenses are tax deductible. Save receipts and any other documentation, and take the deductions on Schedule E. Figure you’ll spend four hours a week, on average, maintaining a rental property, including recordkeeping. In general, you can claim the deductions for the year in which you pay for these
Landlord & Rental Property Tax Deductions Read More »
A home purchase isn’t complete until you make it to the closing. Until then, the transaction can fall apart for many reasons. Here are five tips for avoiding mistakes that cause a home sale to crater. 1. Be truthful on your mortgage application. You may think fudging your income a little or omitting debts when
Keep Your Home Purchase on Track Read More »
You’ve worked hard to get your home ready for sale and to price it properly. With any luck, offers will come quickly. You’ll need to review each carefully to determine its strengths and drawbacks and pick one to accept. Here’s a plan for evaluating offers. 1. Understand the process. All offers are negotiable, as your
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This being my last article until after the New Year, I want to wish all my friends a Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas and most of all a Very Happy and Healthy New Year. I hope you all get everything you wish for. This post is being written to remind you when decorating for the holidays
Safety First When Decorating for the Holidays Read More »
You love it, but sometimes you have to leave it. Whether it’s the eight hours a day or eight days on a dreamy beach, allowing your biggest investment to fend for itself can be stressful. And it’s a legit concern; when your home looks empty, break-ins happen. A lot. Ugh. You could deter burglars by
6 Near-Genius Ways to Fool Burglars Into Thinking You’re Home Read More »
Private mortgage insurance is unavoidable for some homeowners, but don’t pay PMI premiums a day longer than required by your lender. Private mortgage insurance provides protection to a lender in case you default on your home loan. Unless you make a 20% downpayment on a house, you’ll most likely be required to purchase PMI. PMI
When is the Right Time to Cancel Your Private Mortgage Insurance? Read More »
For-sale-by-owners tend to sell their homes for lower prices than homes sold through traditional agents via the MLS, and in many cases below the average differential represented by the prevailing commission rate, according to a new study by Collateral Analytics. The study examined the price differences between homes sold through traditional agents versus those sold by FSBOs
Study: FSBOs Net ‘Significantly’ Lower Profits Read More »
