Blog – Page 715 of 738

12 Jun 2013

Homeowners — Are You Making These Mistakes Planning Next Year’s Taxes?

Around The Home

Filing your taxes can be a complicated and confusing process. If you are a home owner you may have many different home tax deductions and credits to consider. Since we recently passed the filing date for 2012 taxes, it may be a good time to plan for next year and get your tax tracking systems in place. Check carefully to make sure that you are not making any of these common homeowner tax mistakes – which could cost you money or get you in trouble with the IRS. Miscalculating Your Home Office Tax Deduction If you work from home, you…

11 Jun 2013

By Mark Feder

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Increasing May Jobs Report Shows Strengthening Economy

Financial Reports

The U.S. Department of Labor released its Non-Farm Payrolls and National Unemployment Rate reports Friday showing 175,000 jobs were added in May, which surpassed expectations of 164,000 new jobs and April's reading of 149,000 jobs added. The jobs added in May were largely from the private sector. However, the national unemployment rate for May was 7.60 percent, one-tenth of a percent higher than expectations and the April reading of 7.50 percent. The rise was attributed to more people entering the workforce as opposed to people losing jobs. 420,000 workers joined the workforce in May, which pushed the civilian participation rate…

10 Jun 2013

By Mark Feder

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week — June 10, 2013

Housing Analysis

Last week's economic reports provided a mixed bag of results. On Monday, the Department of Commerce reported that construction spending increased by 0.40 percent in April and fell shy of the expected reading of 1.0 percent, but exceeded the March reading of -0.80 percent. Home Prices Increase Fastest Since 2006 On Tuesday, CoreLogic released its Home Prices reported that the national average home price had increased by 12.10 percent year-over-year in April. The comparable year-over-year reading for April 2012 was 11.00 percent. This represents the fastest pace of home price increases since 2006. The national average home price expanded by…

07 Jun 2013

By Mark Feder

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What Does The Future Hold For The Security System In Your Home?

Around The Home

Imagine walking into your home and turning off the alarm, locking your doors, opening the windows and starting your coffee maker, all with a few taps of your finger on your smart phone? What if you had a home security camera that you could monitor from anywhere and a motion sensor that would send you an email when your kids come home from school? What if you could open your blinds or unlock your home for a visitor, even from halfway around the world? The technology that powers our home security systems is getting more and more sophisticated and in…