Homeownership-related tax deductions can prove advantageous in lowering your tax bill. HouseLogic lists some of the ways homeownership helps at tax time:Mortgage interest deduction: Itemizing homeowners can deduct the interest they pay on their mortgage up to $1 million—or $500,000 if married but filing separately. The deductions can be made for loans issued to buy, build, or improve your home, and can apply to a house, trailer, or boat as long
A home’s value generally appreciates 3 percent to 4 percent every year, which is attributed mostly to population growth and inflation. However in 2016, homeowners saw appreciation jump to an average of 6.3 percent.Realtor.com®’s research team sought to find out what would boost a home’s value even more and what home features buyers may be willing to pay more for. Researchers analyzed millions of listings on realtor.com® from 2011 to 2016
Americans with an education level of bachelor’s degree or higher are more likely to own a home by age 30, according to a new study from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. That's regardless of their student debt situation too, the study finds.Researchers who tracked college attendance and homeownership rate by age for those born between 1980 and 1986 concluded that college graduation is associated with higher homeownership rates. By age 33, t
Key Takeaways Market knowledge, rapport building and overall presentation will make or break listing conversions.“I’ll take a buyer over a seller every day,” said the young, verbose agent who had been in the business about a year longer than I had.This was back in 2006, and he had just won an award at the sales meeting for closing the most deals. I asked him later why he felt this way.To him, seller clients were demanding, the conversations
Guard Llama, a safety company that was part of the National Association of REALTORS®' REach technology accelerator program in 2015, scored big on ABC's "Shark Tank" on Friday. The company received a $100,000 investment deal from real estate tycoon Barbara Corcoran, one of the show's celebrity hosts.Corcoran also granted Guard Llama cofounders Joe Parisi and Nick Nevarez the right to use her image on their product—a handheld device that connect
Smartphones and tablets are vulnerable to malware, which enables hackers to access them and compromise your email, online banking information, and apps. But you may not even know your mobile device has a virus—yes, Apple products are just as at risk as Androids, despite common misperceptions to the contrary—and that can lead to a more dangerous situation. So how can you tell if your phone or tablet has been infected? USA Today flagged several
A few years ago, outdoor kitchens were considered a hot amenity, but they began to fall out of favor. In fact, in a December 2015 survey by the National Home Builders Association, builders indicated that outdoor kitchens would be one of the least likely features to be added to new single-family homes in 2016. But now, architects say homeowners and prospective buyers are showing resurgent demand for outdoor cooking spaces, according to the America
After the Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate about a month ago, mortgage rates were expected to increase as well. Instead, they've been dropping in recent weeks. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.08 percent last week, its lowest point so far in 2017 and its fourth consecutive week for declines, Freddie Mac reported.When the Fed raises its federal funds rate, it becomes pricier for banks to borrow money, which generally leads to
A property may not garner enough interest because of a variety of problems, including inadequate pricing or insufficient marketing.Put more emphasis on visual content. When a home isn't generating much interest, real estate agents should first take a look at the marketing materials and make sure the visuals are spotlighting the home in the best light. So make sure the photos and virtual tour are professional quality. "If photos and videos are of
Millennials may often get all the attention, but members of Generation X are really the ones who have been driving the housing market lately. Gen Xers, who are between the ages of 37 and 51, make up the second largest share of home buyers, comprising 28 percent in 2016, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS®. They also are buying the largest, most expensive homes compared to any other generation.The median price of homes pu
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