How Your Status as a New Homeowner Will Affect Your Taxes
December 31, 2008
taxes?” and “What are some deductions I should be aware of?”. Although I 
cannot provide specific directions on taxes, I can, however, tell you a few things you can deduct on your return to receive the full benefits of home ownership.
For the 2008 tax year, homeowners who do not itemize will be able to deduct property taxes up to $500 for single taxpayers and $1,000 for married couples filing jointly. This can be deducted on top of standard deductions.
Tax rules can be complex for many of us as they are always changing. It is best to consult with your tax professional to determine how deductions will apply in your situation.
Typically, itemizers can deduct interest paid on home mortgages, state and local property taxes, interest paid on home equity loans for credit lines, some or all private mortgage insurance premiums if your household income is under $109,000, and mortgage points.
Good luck in your new home and on your taxes. Be sure to ask your tax professional about these deductions so you can get the maximum on your tax refund.
IRS – www.irs.gov
Finding a Great Real Estate Professional
December 25, 2008
Because of today’s real estate market, every homebuyer needs a real estate professional. However, finding a great agent will require a little research. Your real estate agent needs to be able to answer all your questions and be knowledgeable in the home buying and selling process.
In your search for a great real estate professional, some good questions to ask the real estate agent are:
· What kind of advertising will the agent do for the home?
· What is the agents marketing strategy?
· Can the agent present and still sell the less-noticeable assets of the property?
· Is the agent willing to communicate effectively on a regular basis?
The real estate professional you choose should be knowledgeable about the community you are buying or selling in. They should know the history of the area and know what people in that area are willing to pay.
The agent should also know exactly what the competition is, and let you know how the competition can affect your sale. You should never choose your Realtor® based on price alone. A Realtor® cannot raise the selling price of your home. You wouldn’t want that anyway. If your home is priced too high, buyers will simply overlook your home.
Following these tips should help you find a great real estate professional that will get your home sold in today’s market, or find you the right house for your money.
Edmond Oklahoma’s Holiday Celebrations
December 18, 2008
Winter holidays are a time when everyone comes together for celebrating, giving and helping others. This holiday season Edmond , Oklahoma will have many wonderful events for residents and visitors to enjoy. So bundle up and go have some fun.
· Now – 31st – 2nd Annual First Lights: Come to the First Baptist Church at 33rd & Bryant for a nightly lighting ceremony. Starts at 6:00pm each evening. Free for all.
· December 18th – 20th – Merry Memories: The UCO Music Theatre will be performing their annual jazzy holiday revue that will feature the tunes of yuletides past and present. Songs will be performed by UCO’s Searle Pop/Jazz Quartet. A perfect way to kick off your holidays. Price is $12 and program begins at 8pm each evening at the UCO Jazz Lab.
· December 21st – Horseshoe Road with Kyle Dillingham & Brad Benge: Come to the UCO Jazz Lab for great food and beverages at 7:00pm. $10 to enter.
· December 26th – The Dennis Borycki Trio: The UCO Jazz Lab will present traditional and contemporary Jazz with food and beverages. Doors open at 7:00pm. $7 to enter.
· December 27th – The Michael Summers Band: UCO Jazz Lab will feature the Michael Summers and Band at 7:00pm. $7 to enter.
· December 31st – January 4th – US Team Roping Superbowl II: Come enjoy the entertainment of live cowboy roping at the Lazy E Arena. Call 405-282-7433 for time and ticket information.
· December 31st – Shortt Dogg New Year’s Eve Party: The perfect place to bring in the New Year with Blues and Soul tunes at the UCO Jazz Lab. Admission is $50, which includes an all you can eat Pizza Bar. Doors and dance floor open at 7:30pm.
Don’t let the holiday season pass you by without enjoying some of these great festivities.
Make Your Guest Room Inviting
December 11, 2008
The holidays are just around the corner, and many of us are planning to 
invite guests into our homes. And, of us who are fortunate enough to have an extra room to offer our guests, we want them to feel as comfortable as possible during their stay.
I have been thinking of some ways to make my own guest room comfortable, hospitable and inviting for my guests. So there’s no better time than now to share some of my ideas.
Comfort comes first and foremost. Start with clean bed linens. You may even want to consider adding extra pillows, blankets and even a featherbed mattress topper for your guests. A couple of bottles of water in a small ice bucket and a light snack will make your guests feel even more comfortable when they arrive. Also, make sure the room has plenty of light and a small, low light lamp on the night-table.
Space is another key factor when having guests. De-clutter the room. Take away all your knick-knacks to make extra space. Providing your guests with extra space for their luggage and small items like keys or a purse will make them happy, too. Make space in the closet and leave a few empty hangers and clear out a couple of drawers from your chest. This will be helpful to your guests.
Privacy is very important to many people. So, check to see if your window coverings give good light control and privacy. If they do, you’re good to go. If they don’t, consider replacing them with new ones. And, make sure your guest room has a lock on the door for added privacy.
Little extras can go a long way in helping your guests feel comfortable. Add an alarm clock to the room. Install a phone and put a note pad with pens next to it. Leave a box of tissues near the bed. If possible add a small television with a remote in your guestroom. Magazines or newspaper are great for those guests who love to read.
A great idea, if you have guests visiting that are interested in visiting the local attractions, is to fill a basket with tourist brochures and a map of the area.
I hope your guests will feel right at home during the holidays.
Home Maintenance Tips for the Fall
December 4, 2008
As many homeowners already know, owning a home can be a never ending job. As a homeowner myself, it seems like I finish one repair job just in time to start another. But over the years, I have also found that regular home maintenance goes a long way in repair prevention. Following a regular maintenance schedule will only take a short time and can be spread out over the fall months. And it will save you time and money in the end.
Here are some tips I find helpful:
· Change your furnace filter. If you have forced-air heat, it is simple and inexpensive to change this filter. If not changed on a regular basis, the furnace can’t push warm or cool air into your homes rooms. Having a clean filter will also cut down on your energy bills. Some filters can be reused once washed, but check your filters requirements before washing it to make sure it’s reusable. Also, change filters again each season.
· Reseal windows. It’s a good idea to reseal your windows every fall. Check windows for cracked or missing seal. The seal is a putty that seals a bond around the window frame. Begin with adding the putting in needed areas and gently press the new putty in place. Be sure to also use a flexible blade putty knife to smooth the putty and give it a flat look. If you plan to paint around the windows, let the putty dry for at least three weeks.
· Replace door weather stripping. Check the weather stripping on every exterior door of your home. If there is any stripping torn or missing, replace it. Weather stripping is easy to install and is inexpensive.
· Clean chimney. This is more of a safety issue. It is very important to have your chimney swept out once a year, and the fall is the best time to do it.
· Clean gutters. Toward the end of fall is a great time to clear the debris from your homes gutters. Clogged gutters can cause water damage, and that can be a very expensive repair that can easily be avoided. Clean them again at the end of spring.
· Replace smoke detector batteries. It’s a good idea to replace your smoke detector batteries on a regular basis. Changing them at the beginning of each season will help you remember better. Even if your smoke detectors are hardwired to your home, you still need to replace the batteries on a regular basis in case of power outages.
Simple home maintenance like this can save you so much hassle when it comes to repairs. Winter begins December 21st, so you may want to get started now.
