My Arizona Home Team has made a commitment to do our part to save energy and help fight global warming. With your help, we can do even more. Be part of our team and pledge WWW.AZEnergyStar.com to make your next light bulb or fixture one that's earned the government's ENERGY STAR® label for excellence in energy efficiency. The pledge is a simple but vital method of encouraging more people like you Continue Reading
Archives for January 2008
Unemployment….
"THE BEST WAY TO APPRECIATE YOUR JOB IS TO IMAGINE YOURSELF WITHOUT ONE." Oscar Wilde And unfortunately, last Friday's Jobs Report indicated that many more Americans than expected are not just imagining themselves without a job, they truly are without a job.The Unemployment Rate jumped up to 5.0% from 4.7%, and new job growth in December was reported at a paltry 18,000 jobs...with private-sector Continue Reading
Elvis and Real Estate
Today is the anniversary of Elvis Pressley's birthday. He died at a young 42 years old and would have been 73 today. He remains an American icon and his recordings and movies continue to sell in many different formats. His story is a real rags to riches one, overcoming adversity, criticism and obstacle after obstacle to his success. Even in his most successful days, Elvis would retreat to his Continue Reading
6 Easy Ways to Sick-Proof the Winter
With 200 cold viruses (not to mention dozens of flu strains) around us, it's no wonder adults get two to four colds a year. Follow the tips below so you won't become another sneezy statistic.Don't go it aloneThe more relationships you tap into (friends, family), the less susceptible you are to catching a cold, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh say.Get vaccinatedThe flu shot Continue Reading
Mortgage Forgiveness Act Signed into Law
President Bush signed H.R. 3648, The Mortgage Forgiveness Act of 2007, into law, sparing homeowners the tax burden associated with canceled mortgage debt.Prior to this action, forgiven mortgage debt due to foreclosure, short sale, or deed in lieu of foreclosure, was considered taxable income. The new law, however, temporarily waives these taxes for debts forgiven (as high as 35%) from the Continue Reading
The Top Ten Reasons Why It’s A Great Time To Buy Real Estate!
1. Selection, selection, selection! There are over 50,000 resale homes on the market. Regardless of the price range a buyer desires, there are plenty of houses from which to choose. Just a few years ago the resale inventory dropped below 5,000 units. A buyer was forced to make compromises if they were going to locate the home of their dreams. There’s a great selection of single-family detached Continue Reading
Energy-Saving Home Improvements Tax Credit
If you replaced your home's drafty windows last year with new, energy-efficient panes, make sure you file the long Form 1040, along with Form 5695, to get the corresponding tax credit. That's just one way to take advantage of the energy-efficient home improvement provisions included in the energy bill that took effect Jan. 1, 2006.Simple upgrades, such as the new windows or added insulation, offer Continue Reading
20 Money Saving Tips
Your 5-minute guide to budgeting'Budget' is not a four-letter word, but many people avoid it like one. These 20 tips can help you face up to your finances and achieve your monetary goals.By MSN Money staffBudgeting isn't a punishment for not being born wealthy.It's an avenue to know where your money goes and help you reach your financial goals, whether it's a new home, a comfortable retirement or Continue Reading
10 Tips for Keeping New Year’s Resolutions
The best way to stick with your resolution is to plan ahead.Chances are, at some time in your life, you've made a New Year's Resolution -- and then broken it. This year, stop the cycle of resolving to make change, but then not following through. If your resolution is to take better care of yourself and get your inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) under control, you'll have a much better year if your Continue Reading
A buyers market….
If you are going to sell your present home, the market conditions will play a crucial role in determining the asking price. Market conditions change constantly, so it is important that you get solid advice from a professional who is familiar with your specific area.A good real estate agent will know how houses in your area are selling, as well as the other factors that may influence the sale. Continue Reading