Sunday, December 4, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Fall Clean-up Time
The perpetual Autumn question rake the leaves or mulch them? I have for the past two Autumns decided to mulch my leaves and leave them to nourish my lawn. My yard suffers from a lack of good soil so for me this approach I feel will build a nutrient dense soil structure for my lawn come next Spring. This past year I also did away with chemical herbicides and used an organic fertilizer to boost my lawn. The results have been encouraging as the lawn has rebounded nicely. I am also experimenting with an area that is sloped, by introducing white clover into the grass mix in these areas. This should help stabilize the soil and add beneficial nitrogen to encourage the growth of the lawn. So far the clover which I bought online is filling the slope and will prevent erosion. Next Spring I plan to overseed with more clover, my entire lawn to help prevent soil compaction and to provide a green fertilizer to the lawn. I would be interested to know if anyone else has experimented with welcoming clover back to their lawns. Drop me an email or respond to my Blog if you have...
Monday, September 5, 2011
Save energy by sealing your drafty windows.
Seal Air Leaks Around Windows and Doors
Seal air leaks around your windows and doors to prevent wasting precious home heating and cooling energy that costs you money. Read
Essential Heating System Maintenance
Getting your home’s heating system professionally serviced every year will keep it running smoothly and help keep heating costs under control. Read
Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.
Copyright 2011 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Heating system maintenance
Essential Heating System Maintenance
Getting your home’s heating system professionally serviced every year will keep it running smoothly and help keep heating costs under control. Read
Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.
Copyright 2011 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Bargains for your landscape
Summer is here and the hammock has become your new best friend. What about those areas of the yard that got neglected this past spring or an area that just lacks pizzazz? Head to your local gardening store to get great deals on perennials, shrubs and trees that have to be cleared out, after all winter is right around the corner. Yah right. Seriously most stores carrying plants and gardening supplies are clearing out the inventory and most plants are downright cheap. The selection isn't as great as it was a month ago and maybe the plants look a little worse for wear, but at bargain prices and with loving care they can be the star of your garden next season.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Write-offs to Remember
Write-offs to Remember
Deductions in the Loan Process
Deductions in the Loan Process
Write-offs are the government's way of rewarding taxpayers when they've done something the government likes. And to judge by the write-offs, the government likes it when people borrow money to buy a house. There are write-offs aplenty, many of which people often forget.Make sure your clients take advantage of every break the IRS will give. Here are a few they tend to forget:
Points:
According to the IRS, origination fees charged as points must be paid for the use of money, (for example, to obtain a lower interest rate) in order to be tax deductible. Origination fees that constitute a "service fee" are not tax deductible. The question must be asked, "Does the fee apply to the use of money, or is it a service charge?"
Pre-payment penalties:
Unforeseen circumstances often cause borrowers to pull out of their mortgages sooner than expected. Fortunately, pre-payment penalties are tax deductible, which helps ease the pain.
Pro-rated real estate taxes:
Even if the seller sent the tax collector the check, chances are the buyer paid a pro-rated portion of the taxes for the year at closing. Be sure they know to deduct their fair share.
Pro-rated mortgage interest:
Depending on when in the month the home sale closes, buyers pay either a hefty or a tiny amount of pro-rated mortgage interest for that month. Big or small, they can write that off. The Final Closing/Settlement Statement will show just how much they've paid.
Home construction loan interest:As long as the construction period doesn't last more than two years before they make the new place their "principal residence," they can write off the interest for that construction loan.
It pays to pay attention – all these write-offs can add up to some serious savings when tax time comes around.
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