When the standard deduction for married couples filing jointly was increased from $12,700 to $24,000 for 2018, there was some speculation that the bloom was off the rose of homeownership. The thought was that if the tax benefits from being able to deduct the property taxes and interest was less than the standard deduction, that […]
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HELOCs Becoming More Expensive
In September, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the third time in 2018 and they’re expected to go up one more time this year and three times next year. If you have a Home Equity Line of Credit, HELOC, you’re paying more to use that money and it is going to become more expensive. […]
Mold and Moisture in your Home
Mold is a common issue and there are ways to recognize it and remediate it inside your home. Moisture is mold’s best friend and it thrives between 40 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit which is why it is commonly found in homes. Mold spores float in the air and can grow on virtually any substance with […]
Burke Nursery & Garden Centre’s Annual Fall Festival & Pumpkin Playground
Opening October 1st thru October 31st 2018 The Burke Garden Centre presents the 24th annual Fall Festival and Pumpkin Playground! This year’s festival will run from October 1st through October 31st and is located at 9401 Burke Rd. in Burke. The festival hours are: 9am to 8pm – Monday thru Thursday9am to 9pm – Friday […]
FHA Advantages
Affordable mortgages for tens of thousands of buyers who may not qualify for other types of programs The Federal Housing Administration, operating under HUD, offers affordable mortgages for tens of thousands of buyers who may not qualify for other types of programs. They are popular with both first-time and repeat buyers. The 3.5% down payment […]
Fast Track Rental Property
FHA allows owner-occupants to purchase up to a four-unit property with a minimum 3.5% down payment. The rent collected on three units could be used to make the payment and the owners’ pro-rata share would be less than ¼ of the payment itself. The owner-occupied unit would be considered their principal residence. The other three […]
How to Clean Gutters
The gutters and downspouts on your home are intended to channel rainwater away from your home and its foundation. When they’re blocked and not functioning properly they can lead to the gutters coming loose, wood rot and mildew, staining of painted surfaces, and even worse, foundation issues or water penetration into the interior of the […]
Consumer Protection from Irresponsible Mortgage Practices
Congress enacted the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010 in response to the mortgage crisis that led to America’s Great Recession. The two parts that apply closely to homebuyers are the Ability-to-Repay (ATR) and Qualified Mortgages (QM). A Qualified Mortgage is a category of loans that have certain, more stable features that help make it more likely […]
