Boost Your Tax Deductions

1. Make an extra mortgage payment. The extra interest you pay will be added to this year’s mortgage interest by your lender, boosting your itemized deductions.

2. Donate to charity. It pays to be charitable, especially at the end of the year. Donating cash is always a good idea. You can also donate household goods, clothing, and other items.

3. Boost your business expenses. Business owners and independent contractors can buy office supplies, invest in new equipment, or pay bonuses to their employees.

4. Pay doctor bills, insurance premiums, buy eyeglasses, or stock up on prescription medications. You can take a deduction for medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.

5. Organize your financial records. Good record keeping can really pay off at tax time. Not only will it make your tax preparation easier and faster, but you might uncover enough tax deductions to be able to itemize.


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How Greener Can The Other Side Be?

Are you one of those who constantly think of ways to conserve energy and save more in the process? Here are a few options you can use to save more on your power bills. Heat or cool your home less. Drive or fly fewer miles. Run electrical equipment less and run less water since pumping water takes lots of electricity. Buy more locally grown food and goods that are manufactured nearby; they’re typically made with cleaner U.S. manufacturing processes, and companies use less fuel to transport them. For appliances buy the most energy-efficient devices you can afford. Look for appliances with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Label. Since 1992 the EPA says that is has help save Americans an estimated 14 Billion dollars on energy bills. The EPA has over four dozen types of products in its program. That includes everything from a DVD player to an air conditioner. The EPA also allows you to monitor your savings with the use of its website calculator so you can create a customize plan for reducing your environmental impact. The biggest annual energy impact in your household comes from climate-control systems (45%), Water heating (13%) and followed by your refrigerator (8%). By using a 25-watt compact fluorescent light bulb vs. using a conventional 100-watt bulb is the equivalent of saving 100 pounds of carbon dioxide. Moving your thermostat 2 degrees either up or down can reduce your energy usage by 1%. Houses that are well sealed and insulated, including heat ducts, use less energy because the furnace does not have work as hard. The easiest way to cut emission from your car is to drive less and use more public transportation and if you must drive consider car pooling. I know that saving money is on everyone’s mind. Discipline and having a plan in place can play a vital role in reducing your energy usage.

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It’s Raining Dollars For Foreign Investor’s

From CNN Money, Wall Street Journal to Forbes Magazine they all are reporting the fall in value of the U.S dollar. Interest rates have been slashed in order to boost our struggling economy. The sub-prime fallout from earlier this year is in full effect. When you purchase a home so many entities feed off a sole purchase that churns our economy.

Example, when a homebuyer completes escrow and receive the keys to their new home, they often purchase items from dept stores for their home. Landscaping, cable or satellite, pest control, home insurance you name it are all affected by foreclosure. When you hear about these foreclosures that are taking place through out the U.S. so many people feel the crunch as well. Moreover, lending has been extremely tightened which deepens the problem. We are all connected to one another one way or another.
Bank owned properties are springing up everywhere and with that leads to depreciation of whole communities. On the other hand, if your not getting in on this feeding frenzy then you just might miss a once in lifetime opportunity to buy properties at all time lows. Investor’s aboard are taking advantage of our real estate market. Why aren’t you?
The old saying is “don’t let opportunity pass you by”. Foreign investor’s are cashing in on the fall of the U.S. dollar.

Dan Greene, a certified mortgage planning specialist and author of TheMortgageReports.com states that inquiries outside the U.S. are 5 to 10 times higher than last year. Markets such as Miami and San Francisco are receiving huge boost in real estate sales from foreign investor’s. Chicago and New York and other parts of Florida are areas that are very attractive to foreign investor’s. Who’s influencing our economy? Is it the U.S. citizen or a wealthy person living some 10 or 12 time zones away? One thing is for sure we are truly living in a global market.


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Reverse Mortgages For Seniors, Extract Equity From Your Property

A reverse mortgage is a loan against the equity in the home that provides tax-free cash advances, but requires no payments during the term of the loan. Moreover, it doest not require an income or credit qualification. Basically all you need is to own your own home or condominium, and be 62 years of age or older. During the duration of the loan you will not have to make any monthly payments, meaning the balance will grow and equity will get smaller because the interest will accrue to your balance.Now if you decide to move from the property and it is no longer your principal residence, then loan will become due and payable. Other factors that can contribute to this are, the last surviving borrower sells or passes away. A reverse mortgage can used for everyday living expenses, such as home repairs and home improvement; medical bills and prescription drugs; pay-off existing debt; education; travel; long-term health care; retirement and estate tax planning; and other needs you may have. There are advantages and disadvantages of a reverse mortgage. Some advantages include, no qualifying loans, having to make mortgage payments and managing the account, cashing out money upfront. On the other hand you might have to qualify for a loan, slightly higher closing fees and few choices on the terms of the loan. For more details I suggest you consult with a reverse mortgage counselor.


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Solar Energy Is Gaining In Popularity And Usage.

Solar energy is becoming more popular by the minute. Besides providing electricity for residential homes, solar power is being used for water heaters to carports. Die-hard conservationist for the most part primarily used solar energy. There are examples of huge savings associated with solar energy.
Case in point: A elderly couple from Long Beach, CA had solar panels installed at their residence. They essentially cut their power bills from $400.00 a month to a mere $1.34. California is one of the most aggressive in offering consumer credits to use solar energy. Solar Energy Industries Association trade group advise consumers to check out installers through their web site, www.seia.org and to make sure the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners certifies them. Companies like Solar City help make high cost of solar systems more user friendly.
Solar City help consumers with remote monitoring of solar production to ensure that the consumer is getting the most out of their solar systems. One option for homeowners who find installation a bit costly is to lease a solar system. Some companies plans to start selling carports covered with photovoltaic cells to generate power for the home and hybrid cars.
Canada’s EnerWorks Inc. introduces older-thermal technology with newer products. They’re marketing a solar thermal water heater called the Space-Saver, which is designed to cut power bills while taking up less room than a traditional heater. The most economical approach is to purchase a new home that is already equipped with solar panels. Lennar Corp is expected to build 2,500 homes in California in partnership with SunPower Corp based in San Jose, CA. Lennar officials say the sales rate for their solar homes is running almost three times greater than conventional ones in a down market.
With other natural resources being stretched thin coming up with a new source of energy is important. Solar energy is a great way to save money while conserving our planet’s environment from pollution


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Improve Your Home Without Breaking The Bank

Homeowners, if you want to makeover your home, but you’re short on cash here are some ideas to consider. Let’s start with the yard. Landscaping does not have to be expensive, by replacing bushes and overgrown shrubs with colorful flowers will add value to your home. Another way to modernize your home is to update your fixtures. Swapping out older light fixtures and faucets will bring a newer look; also you can save more using fixtures that support halogen light bulbs. You can save $500.00 to $600.00 by replacing your floors yourself. Floating floors are options that can be installed on top of boards and linoleum floors this might come in handing in your rec and pantry rooms. One other way to add curb appeal to your home is repainting the trim and the front door of your home. This will take just a few hours to complete and save you a bundle of cash.
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Why Do I Need Home Insurance?

The recent Southern California wildfires in October 2007 served as a reminder of how powerful Mother Nature can be. Several homes were destroyed with thousands of people displaced from their homes proving the importance of home insurance. Over the years the United States has suffered some of the worst natural disasters in world history. From earthquakes, hurricanes, and wildfires you can’t never predict when these horrific life-changing events may occur. Having home insurance can soften the loss of your personal property and make recovering a bit easier. Tax dollar wise Here are some the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history. Click here for a free quote of California home insurance. Keep in mind disasters can affect anyone at anytime
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How Safe Is Your Tap Water?

We often take for granted how safe our home tap water is. In reality it may be more harmful than you think it is. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) mandates that all drinking water suppliers provide an annual quality statement. You can locate these reports at www.epa.gov. If you can’t find it there, then be sure to contact your local utility companies. If you like to test your water for contaminants, contact your local health departments or call the Environmental Protection Agency hotline at 1-800- 426-4791. These agencies will assist you in finding a state certified lab for water testing. Private Laboratories charge from anywhere from $15 to more than $100 depending on how many contaminants you test for. Households with small children or pregnant women should test their water for lead. Testing your water for contaminants is beneficial to your family’s health. If you experience your water having a odor or discoloration to it, you should have your water tested immediately.

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