Deborah Laemmerhirt
TERMITES: SNEAKY AND SERIOUSLY DESTRUCTIVE
A home may appear structurally sound and still be falling apart. That’s because termites – wood-boring insects of just one-quarter inch length – attack wood from the inside out, causing serious damage that can go undetected for years. Homeowners in every state except Alaska are at risk of termite infestation. In fact, each year homeowners…
Read MoreKNOW YOUR RIGHTS WHEN APPLYING FOR A MORTGAGE
We’ve all heard that many things in life are not fair. But the process of qualifying for a mortgage shouldn’t be one of them. That doesn’t mean you necessarily get the loan you apply for. It does mean that you have the right to be judged on your financial stability and credit history rather than on…
Read MoreGoing Green – Product Reviews!
Summary: In warm weather or in the deep freeze, these three products can save you money year-round. What $50 investment can you make that can possibly pay you back in one month? Investigate a programmable thermostat! Next, it’s hard to save money on energy costs if you don’t know what appliances cost to run. Lastly,…
Read MoreEND OF YEAR TAX TIPS TO GET WORKING ON NOW
There are several steps you can take now to make sure you reduce your tax bite come April of next year. But you have to start preparing! The easiest tax reducing measure that most homeowners with a mortgage can implement is making a 13th mortgage payment right before the end of the year.(so start saving)…
Read MoreWhat’s In Store For Home Ownership?
Topic Summary: With the Presidential election getting close, we will be reporting on candidate’s views on home ownership and their ideas on policies to support a sustainable recovery. But, no matter who wins the White House, there will surely be efforts to scale back the incentives of being a home owner. Each candidate has not…
Read MoreNEW SHORT SALE RULES MAY AID UNDERWATER HOMEOWNERS AND TAXPAYERS.
Topic Summary: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will allow underwater borrowers who are current on their mortgage payments to qualify for a short sale, with some fine print attached. Come November 1st, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will OK short sale requests from distressed borrowers even if they the borrower is on time with payments.…
Read MoreA Simple Way to Plan Your Nest Egg!
Ever wonder how much money you’ll need to preserve your lifestyle during retirement? Many financial experts use a benchmark of 70 percent to 100 percent of your current income to maintain your lifestyle during your non-working retirement years. For simplicity’s sake, let’s say you’re aiming for a 20-year retirement (the standard calculation as we live…
Read MoreSlow and Steady!
It can be difficult to maintain your commitment to investing when your investment values seem to be growing slowly. But even if you need to accumulate large sums of money for retirement or other goals, you need to maintain the discipline to follow two basic investment principles: 1. Invest regularly and 2. Invest for a…
Read MorePARTIAL TAX EXCLUSIONS FOR HOME SALES
If you’ve been living in your home for a while, you’re may be sitting on a tax gold mine. That’s because the tax law allows a married couple filing jointly to pocket up to $500,000 of gain without owing any federal income taxes from a home sale if they have owned and used the home as a…
Read MoreEquity Harvesting!
A critically important issue these days is whether or not we are saving enough for retirement. With longer life spans and increasing uncertainty about Social Security, it’s becoming ever more important to sock away as much as possible into retirement accounts. But unless you have a lot of expendable income, finding that extra money to…
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