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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit: Repayment Continues

The 2008 first-time home buyer tax credit was a loan, not a gift. You must continue repaying this year. Read
How to Deduct Your Mortgage Interest & Equity Loan Costs

Deducting mortgage interest, as well as interest on home equity loans and HELOCs, can save money on taxes. Read
Did You Sell Your Home After Making Improvements?

Keeping track of the cost of capital improvements to your home can really pay off on your tax return when it comes time to sell. Read

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Should You Go Forward With a Reverse Mortgage?

Big lenders in the reverse mortgage business — Wells Fargo this month and Bank of America earlier this year — have pulled out of the market and won’t issue any new reverse mortgages. But MetLife and several smaller companies plan to stay in the market, so you won’t have issues finding a reverse mortgage if you want one. Read
Biggest Reverse Mortgage Mistakes

Before you take out a reverse mortgage on your home, make sure you’re not committing one of these common but costly mistakes. Read

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Tax Deductions for Vacation Homes

Tax deductions for vacation homes vary greatly depending on how much you use the home and whether you rent it out. Read
Vacant Homes: 8 Ways to Make Sure They’re Maintained

Living near a vacant home doesn’t have to mean putting up with overgrown grass and unshoveled snow. Does your community use these eight common local laws, programs, and regulations to force owners to maintain vacant homes? Read
Opening and Closing a Vacation Home

Don’t neglect to budget time and money for opening and closing a vacation home before the season starts and after it ends. Read

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Care and Maintenance of Your Deck

Annual deck maintenance will forestall repairs, protect your investment, and boost your enjoyment of your outdoor space. Read
Smart Upgrades for Decks

A few cost-effective add-ons can give a modest deck an edge and deliver a handsome payback should you sell your house. Read
Evaluate Your House for a Deck

Here’s how to plan a new deck that suits your property, meets your budget, and offers the best return on your investment. Read

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Attic Cleaning: What You Can’t See Can Hurt You
Attic cleaning removes allergens and respiratory irritants that can make your family sick. Read
Spring Cleaning Guide
Make spring cleaning less of a chore by following these smarter—and mostly greener—tips for this annual rite of homeownership. Read

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10 Easy Mistakes Home Owners Make on Their Taxes
Don’t rouse the IRS or pay more taxes than necessary — know the score on each home tax deduction and credit. Read
6 Home Deduction Traps and How to Avoid Them
Get an “A” on your Schedule A Form: Dodge these tax deduction pitfalls to save time, money, and an IRS investigation. Read
What You Can and Can't Deduct When You Work From Home
Working from home can offer many advantages including tax deductions. Just take care what you try to write off for your home office on your return. Read

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