June 2007
Monthly Archive
30 Jun 2007 02:05 am
Little Known Ways to pay off mortgage
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A good rule of thumb is that you should prepay the mortgage if you expect to earn less after-tax on your investments then the effective interest rate on your mortgage. So where do you plan to invest the proceeds from the sale of the inherited property? If you can use the mortgage interest deduction on your federal income taxes, again assuming you’re in the 25 percent marginal federal income tax bracket, you’re effectively paying 4.5 percent on your mortgage. I’m ignoring state and/or local income taxes in this example. |
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search for : mortgage interest deduction
29 Jun 2007 07:23 am
Little Known Methods of Getting the Price Right On Home Value Sites
| It’s fairly easy to research the potential resale value or sales history of their home — or their neighbor’s — by plugging in the address on Internet sites like Cyberhomes.com, RealEstateABC.com and Zillow.com. However, while all three allow house hunters to price or compare properties they may be interested in, and potential sellers to get guidance in setting an asking price, the sites aren’t always 100% accurate. All these sites utilize at least some public information, so in regions where housing data is not complete or up to date, these sites’ calculations may fall short. |
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28 Jun 2007 06:32 am
Factory-built homes gain popularity
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More and more dream homes have gone inside — at least for all or part of the construction phase — as curious consumers research and locate the new creative designs, energy-efficient features, often lower costs and environmentally controlled production of prefabricated residences. And, the finished product absolutely demolishes the preconceived notion of a “kit.” Modular, manufactured, structural insulated panels and other types of “prefab” housing are reaching a growing segment of new-home buyers yet they are very different in the way they are built. The built-to-be-towed house — in a custom, preassembled package or enclosed finished unit — has changed dramatically, and so have its occupants. For example, modular home builders have begun to target last-time home buyers: customers who know what they want and are willing to pay outside the “affordable” range. |
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search for : Modular, structural insulated panels
27 Jun 2007 07:47 am
Fixing Up Your Home Without Injury
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Do-it-yourself home improver injuries have jumped in recent years. Injuries result from consumer repair work when homeowners fail to understand the proper use of common tools. Ladders in particular need to be anchored securely and replaced when they appear damaged. There were 198,000 ladder injuries that resulted in emergency-room visits last year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Old-fashioned wooden ladders eventually weather and may need to be replaced with a newer-generation aluminum or fiberglass one. |
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search for : Do-it-yourself home improver
26 Jun 2007 07:07 am
Using Professional Questioning Techniques When Buying or Selling A Home
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Buying, selling or leasing real estate, for personal or business use, requires knowledge and skills that usually fall outside mainstream education and the average work experience. Sharpen your communication skills and you’ll be less vulnerable to salesmanship and to those who do not have your best interests at heart. If you want to investigate your real estate choices and unearth potential pitfalls before you sign on the dotted, how well have you equipped yourself to gather relevant and essential information? Improving your communication powers may be easier than you think. The main goal is to move from unconscious to conscious or strategic communication where results matter every time. |
search for : communication skill
25 Jun 2007 07:39 am
Here are your 12 free credit strategies
| The United States Congress has guaranteed a free once-a-year glimpse into your credit files. But, how do you keep an eye both on your credit and on costs? Here are a few suggestions.
1. Catch mistakes before they make it to your report. Double-check your credit card and other lending statements to make sure you were credited for last month’s payment and that all charges are yours.
2. Stagger your free reports for year-round monitoring. The only place to get your federally guaranteed free credit report is through the annual credit request service.
For the complete list, chick here. |
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