Posts from January 2015
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30
How to Build a Winning Home Buying Team
Meet your home buying team:
1. Real estate agent: Your agent will help you research the homes that cater to your needs, negotiate with the seller, and help you find the rest of your home buying team. (Learn more about how your agent can help you.20
The Ins and Outs of Building Permits
If you're considering a home improvement project, you may need a permit. Permits can cost as little as $25 and up to $1,000 or more, or can be calculated as a percentage of the total remodeling budget.
How do you know if you need a permit? Permits are generally not necessary for projects that update the aesthetics of the home, such as new appliances, flooring and carpeting. Major renovations, such as a kitchen or bath remodel, almost always need a permit. A good rule of thumb is to evaluate whether the project will disrupt the layout of the home, i.e., cutting a new window or tearing down a load-bearing wall.
For safety purposes, some municipalities require permits for projects that can affect the wellbeing of the home's occupants. These projects include things like electrical wiring, plumbing or a new fence...
18
Three upgrades sure to turn kitchen time into quality time
(BPT) - The average American spends an hour a day in the kitchen preparing food and cleaning up afterward, according to the American Time Use Survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Add in the time it takes to put groceries away, load and unload dishwashers, organize cabinets and pantries or just hang out, and you spend a whole lot of time in your kitchen.
But do you really enjoy that time? Whether cooking is your favorite activity or you would rather clean the bathroom, the livability and usability of your kitchen can directly affect how you feel about the time you spend there.
If you're considering a kitchen renovation - among the most popular and profitable of all home improvements - keep in mind the value of upgrades that wil...
16
Busting first-time homebuyer myths
(BPT) - When buying a first home, most people are making one of the biggest purchases of their lives. Without home buying experience, it's hard to separate fact from fiction.
'Buying a first home can be exciting and stressful for most young buyers, especially the financing process,' says Clete Thompson, vice president at imortgage, a division of loanDepot LLC. 'There's a lot of paperwork, many choices, and sometimes budgets don't stretch very far. Our licensed loan officers specialize in helping first-time buyers navigate the home finance process, which can be stressful if you're not working with a seasoned professional.'
To help first-time buyers, the experts at imortgage are uncovering prevalent myths about financing a home purchase:
Myth: It...
11
3 Tips for First-Time Tax Filers
(BPT) - Unless you majored in accounting, the thought of filing your own income tax return may evoke feelings similar to your first job interview. Though understandable, this is an unfounded fear, given the simple taxes most individuals have in their early to mid-20s and the easy digital tax programs available.
"All you need to file your own tax return is a little self-confidence, the desire to get your maximum refund, and a computer or mobile device," says TaxACT spokesperson Jessi Dolmage. "You're well qualified to do your taxes because you're the expert of your finances."
Follow these tips to successfully file your taxes for the first time and every year after that.
Don't procrastinate.
Waiting until the last minute causes undue stress, and rushing increases the potential for typos...