Current Tax Breaks for Homeowners
 There are many benefits to owning a home, not the least of which are the financial advantages of home ownership. Homeowners can gain a number of tax benefits, and, combined with the Fed's indication to keep interest rates attractively low throughout the new year, home buying in 2012 is promising to be a financially astute plan. Consult with your accountant about which of the following perks you might enjoy.
Mortgage Interest Deductions (MID)
This deduction allows home owning taxpayers to reduce their taxable income by the amount... Read More
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Mortgage Rates Remain Low
 According to the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, average fixed mortgage rates have held steady in recent weeks. For five weeks in a row, average rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages haven't increased over the 4 percent mark. At the same time last year, the average rate on 30-year FRMs averaged 4.46. While the 15-year FRMs held steady at an average of 3.3 percent from the week before, rates are down an average of 0.51 percent from the same time last year. Adjustable-rate mortgages, meanwhile, have also fallen to record lows.
Good News for Home Buyers
The loss of percentage points is good... Read More
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Diversity in Design: Mix, Don't Match, Wood Textures and Colors
Courtesy of ARAcontent
 Still worrying about what goes with what when you're decorating? Design style leaders nix the matching—"too boring"—in favor of mixing colors, wood grains, stains and textures throughout a room.
"Consumers think everything has to match, but the pros mix," says Laura Dalzell, owner and president of Cabinets & Designs, Inc. in Lexington, Kenn. She's a firm believer in combining, —for example painted wood cabinets with cabinets in both natural wood tones and a wide range of colored stains. Mixing is the magic that brings a kitchen to life, she believes... Read More
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Key Questions to Ask Before Buying a Foreclosure
 Although foreclosed properties can be good deals, the process of buying is rife with pitfalls. Here is what you must know:
1. Have you done your research?
A foreclosed property may have all sorts of clouds on its title, from multiple bank loans to tax and contractor's liens. Once you buy, you're responsible for all such balances. Be especially wary of the situation where one bank forecloses, but another still demands to be paid.
2. How far has the process gone?
If the foreclosure hasn't... Read More
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Great Decor is in the Details
 Sometimes the grandest design changes are in the small details—a re-covered lampshade, painted knobs for old cabinetry, a new valence above a window. Plus, small changes are manageable because they don't cause household upheaval. Transform your home decor style by paying attention to little design details.
Replace dated hardware
for a shiny new look.
Simply replacing wooden doorknobs, for instance, with gorgeous crystal knobs can add dramatic vintage... Read More
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