How to Save Money without realizing that you are actually doing it... - 12/29/10 08:10 PM
I heard this a while ago and decided to challenge my husband to a 2011 resolution and we will see if we can keep up with it.
 ~~~~~
Starting January 1, 2011, every day he has to put $1.00 in a box and forget about it. So, at the end of the year, he should have $365. or $366. in a leap year.
I will challenge myself to do the same so we should end up with at least $730.
We will donate the money to a shelter that has kids.
This resolution came to mind in early November when my 9 … (6 comments)

SMAR is sponsoring a Winter Coat & Children's Clothing Drives. - 12/29/10 06:36 PM
Just thought I would pass this along in the event your clients, family and friends may be interested in the drive!
Winter Coat & Children's Clothing Drives
The Community Relations/CARE Award Committee of SMAR is sponsoring a Winter Coat & Children's Clothing Drives.
Donate your coats, scarves, gloves and hats (must be clean and in good condition).  Coats are donated to Men's, Women's and Children's Shelters. Clothing will be donated to students in local elementary (K - 5) schools. Clothing must be clean and in good condition.
Dropoff LocationsDavis Realty109 La Grange AveLa Plata, MD
Southern Maryland Association of REALTORS®8440 Old Leonardtown … (2 comments)

The U.S. EPA today Establishes Landmark Chesapeake Bay ‘Pollution Diet’ - 12/29/10 06:22 PM
EPA Establishes Landmark Chesapeake Bay ‘Pollution Diet'
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/90829d899627a1d98525735900400c2b/c15f64f4d172edff852578080061fa30!OpenDocument
 
"Among the significant improvements in jurisdiction plans are:· Committing to more stringent nitrogen and phosphorus limits at wastewater treatment plants, including on the James River in Virginia. (Virginia, New York, Delaware)
· Pursuing state legislation to fund wastewater treatment plant upgrades, urban stormwater management and agricultural programs. (Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia)
· Implementing a progressive stormwater permit to reduce pollution. (District of Columbia)
· Dramatically increasing enforcement and compliance of state requirements for agriculture. (Pennsylvania)
· Committing state funding to develop and implement state-of-the-art-technologies for converting animal manure to energy for … (2 comments)

E-filing tax returns with the Form 8941...Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiums can be filed - 12/28/10 03:55 PM
E-filing tax returns with the Form 8941 
In most cases income tax returns (i.e. Forms 1040, 1120, 1120S, 1065) filed with a Form 8941, Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiums can be filed through IRS's electronic filing system, but there are restrictions. Normally returns with only one Form 8941 can be e-filed for both business income tax returns and most individual tax returns. In limited circumstances, individual income tax returns (From 1040) can file two. This situation can occur, if :
Neither spouse was an employee of the other spouse, or participated in the management of the other spouse's business … (0 comments)

Housing Starts Seen Rising to 3-Year High With Boost for Jobs - 12/28/10 02:59 PM
Housing Starts Seen Rising to 3-Year High With Boost for Jobs
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-28/housing-starts-seen-rising-to-three-year-high-with-belated-u-s-jobs-boost.html
 
I read this article and thought I would share it.
Quote from article
"The housing market is going to shock people," said Lieberman, former head of monetary analysis at the Fed Bank of New York. "Once we get the ball rolling, it becomes easy to roll. The most critical thing the Fed can do, which is not easy, is to promote job growth. If we see job growth we are going to see a very strong housing market."
… (0 comments)

HUD Awards $73 Million to Housing Counseling Organizations...assist families in becoming first-time homeowners - 12/28/10 02:44 PM
HUD Awards $73 Million to Housing Counseling
http://www.dsnews.com/articles/hud-awards-73-million-to-housing-counseling-organizations-2010-12-23
 
The counseling grants will assist families in becoming first-time homeowners and in remaining homeowners once they have a house. The HUD-approved counseling agencies provide both homeownership counseling and financial literacy training to renters and homeless people.
Sounds like like this is a great program that will assist with funds to better educate and counsel homeowners.
 
 
by dsnews.com
joy leopold
… (0 comments)

In 2011, Many Tax Benefits Increase Slightly Due to Inflation Adjustments - 12/24/10 08:53 PM
 In 2011, Many Tax Benefits Increase Slightly Due to Inflation Adjustments 
In 2011, personal exemptions and standard deductions will rise and tax brackets will widen due to inflation, the Internal Revenue Service announced today.
These inflation adjustments relate to eight tax provisions that were either modified or extended by the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 that became law on Dec. 17. New dollar amounts affecting 2011 returns, filed by most taxpayers in early 2012, include the following:
The value of each personal and dependent exemption, available to most taxpayers, is $3,700, up $50 from 2010.
… (3 comments)

IRS Offers New Guidance oon FSA and HRA Debit Cards Today, 12/23/10 - 12/24/10 08:50 PM
 IRS Offers New Guidance oon FSA and HRA Debit Cards Today
The Internal Revenue Service today issued new guidance allowing the continued use of health flexible spending arrangement (FSA) and health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) debit cards for the purchase of prescribed over-the-counter medicines and drugs.
The new guidance modifies previous guidance to permit taxpayers to continue using FSA and HRA debit cards to purchase over-the-counter medications for which the taxpayer has a prescription. Effective after Jan. 15, 2011, in accordance with the new guidance, this use of debit cards must comply with procedures reflecting those that pharmacies currently follow when selling … (0 comments)

From my family to yours...Happy Holidays...Happy 2011...Drive Safely - 12/24/10 08:47 PM
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all my ActiveRain family and all my friends a
Happy Holiday and a Bright and Prosperous New Year!
 
May 2011 bring you many new businesses, friends and colleagues!
May 2011 bring you happiness in your lives!
Most of all, may we all take the time to remember those that are less fortunate!
 
My family and I would like to wish everyone out there,
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DISNEY WORLD!
… (4 comments)

Internal Revene Service Reminds Paid Tax Preparers to Register Now for PTINs - 12/15/10 12:35 PM
 IRS Reminds Paid Tax Preparers to Register Now for PTINs
WASHINGTON - As year end approaches, the Internal Revenue Service today strongly encouraged paid tax return preparers to register now for their new or renewed Preparer Tax Identification Numbers (PTINs) to avoid any last-minute rush.
Starting Jan. 1, 2011, use of the PTIN will be mandatory on all federal tax returns and claims for refund prepared by a paid tax preparer. Individuals who, for compensation, prepare all or substantially all of any federal tax return or claim for refund must use PTINs. Paid preparers must apply for a new or renewed … (0 comments)

The 1st Annual Luminarias of Chesapeake Village...Benefit Calvert Hospice - 12/15/10 10:51 AM
The 1st Annual Luminarias of Chesapeake Village
Benefit Calvert Hospice
 
When: Saturday, December 18, 2010
Dusk to 9pm (raindate Dec 19)
Where:  Chesapeake Village, Chesapeake Beach, MD
 
Join and share in an evening of beautiful illumination in the neighborhood. Drive through and see the spirit of the holiday season shine!
 
… (2 comments)

The Garden of Lights; Brookside Garden in Wheaton MD. Sunrise to Sunset - 12/15/10 10:46 AM
 
Brookside Gardens
<!-- <p>Brookside Gardens is Montgomery County's incomparable, award-winning 50-acre public display garden situated within Wheaton Regional Park.</p> -->Winter Display in North Conservatory
1800 Glenallan AvenueWheaton, MD 20902301-962-1400 Hours: Gardens: sunrise - sunsetVisitors Center: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.Conservatories: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.NOTE: The Visitors Center, Conservatories and Garden of Lights will be closed Friday, Dec. 24 and Saturday, Dec. 25. The Visitors Center and Conservatories will be closed during the day on Friday Dec. 31 and Saturday, Jan. 1. They will be open in the evening for Garden of Lights. Brookside Gardens is Montgomery County's incomparable, award-winning … (0 comments)

National Association of Realtors Online Tool to Include Maponic's School Boundaries Product - 12/14/10 02:57 PM
 National Association of Realtors Online Tool to Include Maponic's School Boundaries Product
The Realtors Property Resource, a new tool from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), will soon include school boundary data from Maponics, a Vermont-based provider of location-based data. Realtors Property Resource (RPR) is an online real estate library that includes assessor and recorder data, active and off-market listing data, mortgage information, foreclosure and pre-foreclosure stats, demographics, schools, and geographic information.
Maponics' School Boundaries product is the first commercial geographic information systems (GIS) data
product to include explicit attendance zone boundaries, the areas around local public schools that define the … (2 comments)

BREAKING NEWS...Federal Reserve to Holds Direction on Monetary Policy...just released - 12/14/10 02:53 PM
 
Just wanted to share this article. I couldn't really sum it up so read on...
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The Federal Reserve just released its official statement from the board's monetary policy meeting held today. The central bank voted to keep the target range for its benchmark federal funds rate at 0 to 0.25 percent, and reiterated its commitment to purchase an additional $600 billion in long-term Treasury securities by June 2011.
Fed officials say economic recovery is continuing but at a rate that has been insufficient to bring down unemployment.
(developing story)



from DSNews.com by Carrie Bay
… (0 comments)

~Here is your Sunday Motivational Phrase...Happy Sunday Everyone~ - 12/12/10 08:06 PM
"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them."
~ George Bernard Shaw ~
 
 
 
… (5 comments)

MEDIA ADVISORY: IRS Expands Use of Twitter to Help Taxpayers, Tax Professionals - 12/11/10 09:47 PM
MEDIA ADVISORY: IRS Expands Use of Twitter to Help Taxpayers, Tax Professionals
The Internal Revenue Service announced the availability of expanded Twitter feeds to share timely information with taxpayers and the tax professional community.
The IRS Twitter news feed, @IRSnews, provides the latest federal tax news and information for taxpayers. The focus of the IRS Twitter messages will be on easy-to-use information, including tax tips, tax law changes and important IRS programs such as e-file, the earned income tax credit and "Where's My Refund." Anyone with a Twitter account can follow @IRSnews by going to http://twitter.com/IRSnews.
Another important IRS Twitter feed, … (0 comments)

Bank of America Origination Jobs Will Move to the Modification Department - 12/11/10 09:43 PM
Bank of America Origination Jobs  Will Move to the Modification Department
In order to deal with the influx of loan modifications that many banks are dealing with, Bank of America Home Loans (BofA) has made the decision to move some of its mortgage loan originators and other staff to the loan modification department.

The company plans on moving around 2,500 employees to the modification side, where they will remain for at least for the majority of 2011.
"The integration of these experienced mortgage professionals will provide Bank of America with a significant surge in servicing capability to manage the … (0 comments)

Federal State and Local Governments Webinar on Section 218 Social Security Agreements - 12/11/10 09:40 PM
FSLG Webinar on Section 218 Social Security Agreements
The IRS office of Federal, State, and Local Governments (FSLG) invites you to participate in a webinar to be conducted January 27th on the topic of Section 218 Agreements.  The webinar is entitled "Section 218 Tools, Tips, and Compliance for Government Entities".
Section 218 agreements are voluntary arrangements between governmental entities and the Social Security Administration to provide social security and Medicare coverage for groups of employees, either in addition to, or in place of, coverage by a public retirement system.  In order to properly determine the coverage of social security and Medicare … (0 comments)

Housing Currently Undervalued by 14% to 17% a Research Firm Says...Capital Economics. - 12/07/10 04:18 PM
Housing Currently Undervalued by 14% to 17% a Research Firm Says  
The sharp fall in residential property prices in the third quarter means that housing in the United States has become even more undervalued, according to the analysts at Capital Economics.

Based on the latest S&P Case-Shiller index, Capital Economics has concluded that house prices are now 17 percent undervalued relative to disposable income per capita. Housing has never before looked as undervalued, the firm pointed out in a research note released to DSNews.com.
Looking at the data included in the index compiled by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), … (0 comments)

Interest Rates Decrease for the First Quarter of 2011 beginning January 1 - 12/07/10 04:12 PM
 Interest Rates Decrease for the First Quarter of 2011 beginning January 1
The Internal Revenue Service today announced that interest rates for the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2011, will decrease by one percentage point.  The rates will be: 
three (3) percent for overpayments [two (2) percent in the case of a corporation]; three (3) percent for underpayments; five (5) percent for large corporate underpayments; and zero and one-half (0.5) percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000. Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is determined on a quarterly basis.  For taxpayers other than corporations, the … (0 comments)

Man claims cell phone exploded...ER visit due to explosion... - 12/04/10 09:40 PM
… (7 comments)

Got the question from my kid...is santa for real or is it just a myth - 12/04/10 09:24 PM
So, last year, my then 8 yrs old asked me if santa clause was real because his friends told him that parents buy gifts from WalMart, wrap it and put under christmas tree.
Well, I didn't want to lie to my kid so I sat him down and asked him if he believed in santa clause and he said yes.
I told him that IF he believe in santa clause, then it is real just like how he believed in the easter bunny. So, he said that he believed in santa caluse.
This year, I asked him if he believed in … (5 comments)

Guidelines on sound practices by financial institutions for real estate appraisals and evaluations - 12/04/10 08:41 PM
Guidelines on sound practices by financial institutions for real estate appraisals and evaluations
http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/press/bcreg/bcreg20101202a1.pdf
 
The above link has a 70 page document that spell out the new guidelines for real estate appraisals and evaluations by the Federal Finance Regulatory Agencies.
I imagine this was long time coming.
Hopefully, it won't affect the way we do business too terribly,
 
… (0 comments)

IRS Announces 2011 Standard Mileage Rates ... hope you keep good records - 12/04/10 08:31 PM
 IRS Announces 2011 Standard Mileage Rates
The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2011 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2011, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be: 51 cents per mile for business miles driven 19 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations
The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed … (4 comments)

Tax Credit for Employee Health Insurance Expenses of Small Employers - 12/02/10 06:02 PM
 Tax Credit for Employee Health Insurance Expenses of Small Employers
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-10-82.pdf
 
It looks like there is a tax credit for employers who offer insurance to employees.
Employers eligible for this tax credit must have under 25 full time employees and make less than $50K.
Well, at least there is a credit of some sort.
 
I do hope more of us will be entitled to a break in insurance plan.
 
… (4 comments)

Latest release of the Federal Beige Book...just released...hot off the press. - 12/01/10 02:38 PM
 Hot off the press...Fed Beige Book release
http://www.federalreserve.gov/fomc/beigebook/2010/20101201/default.htm
Looks like there's indication of continuing improvement in many states.
Of course, the housing market stays somewhat depressed.
Retail spending showed improvement with some mixed results in certain districts.
All in all, I think the economy is picking up. Maybe slower than we'd like.
… (2 comments)

Did you receive that mail from the IRS...open it...it could be a check - 12/01/10 02:25 PM
Two weeks ago we received a couple envelopes addressed to me and my husband separately. I kind of set it aside getting ready for the Thanksgiving holidays.
In the meantime, I remembered a blog about the IRS maybe owing you money.
Well, last week we received two more envelopes from the IRS and I thought I should open it.
It was a notice stating that we are due some money and that if we do not owe any taxes, we should receive a check shortly.
On Monday, we received a check from the IRS for money that was owed to us … (7 comments)

Here are the more common types of insurance products a new home buyer is likely to encounter - 12/01/10 02:03 PM
Which Insurance Do You Need?
Home buyers are sometimes surprised to find out there's more than one type of home-related insurance. Here are the more common types of insurance products a new home buyer is likely to encounter (but not necessarily purchase):
Homeowners Insurance: Also called "hazard insurance," it covers the dwelling and its contents for damage or loss resulting from events such as fire, wind, hail and theft. In most cases, it also protects the owner against claims by anyone injured on the property. Most homeowners insurance policies specifically exclude flood damage and limit the amount of coverage for items … (0 comments)

How to save on energy as well as save some money in 2011 - 12/01/10 01:58 PM
How To Save Big In 2011
If your budget is feeling tight around the edges, you might be looking for ways to save some money. Here are some great tips to help you save some energy -- and in the process a few dollars too!Lower your thermostat. For each degree you lower your thermostat in the winter, your heating costs are cut by about 3%.Get clean in a flash. A 10-minute shower with a low-flow showerhead will save you about $100 per year. Cut it to five minutes and save another $100.Stop drips. If you have a leaky faucet, don't delay … (3 comments)

 


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