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How To Re-Finance With An Eye Toward Future Rates
Just when you thought it was safe to go on about your business and stop paying attention to mortgage rates, rates drop. Again.
In fact, current levels show we haven't been near these rates since a brief period late last January and early February. And for those of you who waited, and waited and waited for rates to drop again, well, this might just be the time.
But how do you pick the right interest rate?
There's no perfect answer, but by comparing interest rates to the required discount points and origination fees it becomes a little easier to decide which combination of points and fees are right
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for you.
Personally, I've never been a big fan of paying points or origination fees during a refinance, or for any loan for that matter. Especially in this recent cycle.
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Getting the Most From Your Home Inspection
With thoughts of how you're going to arrange the furniture in your new home, whether you'll make the deadline for registering the kids for their new school and how you'll find a mover on short notice, the home inspection process sometimes takes a back seat. But it shouldn't.
A home inspection is perhaps the most important chapter in the home-buying saga. You've seen the beautiful tile floors, the new carpet and the freshly painted walls, but do you know what lurks in the bowels of the heating system, what lies in the crevices of the roof, and if anything -- other than water -- can be found in the interior plumbing?
You should -- you're about to plop down a huge down payment and commit to a 15- or 30-year mortgage. A home's condition is important to you.
Some 77 percent of all home sales in the United States last year involved a home inspection, according to a study by the American Society of Home
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Charitable Contributions
Americans have a well-deserved reputation as a generous people. We support thousands of charitable organizations, and when disaster strikes, as it did on Sept. 11, 2001, our willingness to help others in need shines through.
To encourage philanthropy - and perhaps to say 'thank you' for the support Americans give year-round - Congress passed laws to allow tax deductions for charitable contributions. In fact, you can take deductions on up to half of your adjusted gross income. But as with all 'gifts' from the Internal Revenue Service, this one has a raft of rules and regulations to go with it. Here are some things you need to know about making charitable contributions:
You can only deduct contributions to qualified organizations. The Better Business Bureau points out that "tax-exempt" and "tax-deductible" isn’t the same thing. An organization can be exempt from paying income taxes, but not meet the requirements for a charity. You can find out an organization's tax-exempt status by:
Asking a representative of the group for a copy of its "Letter of Determination" from the IRS. That's the formal notification that its tax status has been approved.
Calling your local office of the
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How To Make Your
Home Safer
You've probably seen them sprouting on lawns or popping up on windows in many new neighborhoods -- signs for home security system. Companies such as ADT, Brinks, and a host of other national and local companies sell alarm systems to protect homes and the individuals inside. Many builders are now working with security companies to hard-wire alarm systems into new homes right from the start.
The National Crime Prevention Council says alarms can be a good investment, but police caution that alarms are only good once someone has already invaded your property. While the security alert signs themselves can help deter criminals, there are many other steps you can take to decrease the chances of becoming a victim.
Whether your house is old or new, one of the most obvious pieces of advice is to check your locks. The NCPC says
Daily News and Advice
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