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tips: Tax Tips: Determining Your Ideal Filing Status - 01/04/11 02:49 PM
When you file your tax return, you're required to designate an IRS filing status: Single, Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, Head of Household or Qualifying Widow(er). This status determines which tax rates and standard deduction amounts apply to your tax return. Determining the correct filing status for your situation is essential to making sure you optimize your tax savings and avoid paying more than your fair share.
What if my status changed during the year? If you are married, divorced, or legally separated by or on the last day of the year, you can claim your new status for the … (0 comments)
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tips: 8 DIY Projects To Add Value To Your Home By Labor Day - 08/27/10 04:02 PM
Labor Day looms large for homeowners. The end of summer signals that many of us will soon be immersed in an accelerated work schedule plus soccer practices, homework and other realities of back-to-school season. (Then there are football-filled Sundays that most cut into your handyman time in the fall.) But there's still time to tackle a few remodeling projects. And while your goal may simply be to freshen the appearance of your home, you also want to know that your hard work will increase your home's value.
Here are eight home improvements you can finish by Labor Day that will pay … (1 comments)
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tips: 6 Tips for a More Spacious Kitchen - No Matter the Size! - 08/24/10 02:08 PM
Whatever its size, any kitchen can feel more spacious and function better using these simple tips:
Paint walls and cabinets a similar color. This makes the the separation appear seamless and allows the eye to travel freely across the room. Clear out unnecessary items. Clutter can make even a large room feel tight. Choose the two small appliances you use most (toaster and espresso machine at my house!) to leave on the counter and put the rest away in cabinets or the pantry. A basket on top of the fridge can neatly contain bags of snack foods and chips. Take advantage … (2 comments)
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tips: 10 Worst First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes - 08/05/10 03:41 PM
Are you gearing up to buy your first place? Shopping for a home is exciting, exhausting and a little bit scary. In the end, your aim is to end up with a home you love at a price you can afford. Sounds simple enough, right? Unfortunately, many people make mistakes the prevent them from achieving this simple dream. Arm yourself with these tips to get the most out of your purchase and avoid making 10 of the most costly mistakes that could put a hold on that sold sign.
1. Not Knowing What You Can Afford As we've all learned from … (6 comments)
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tips: The Long and Short (Sale) of It: 5 Steps to Successful Short Sale Negotiations - 07/22/10 06:24 PM
Over the past three years short sales have gone from very rare to very, very common. In fact, in some neighborhoods and price brackets, they're all that's available! Currently there are no education requirements for negotiating short sales and ANY agent can do them – whether or not they have experience with these very unique transactions. (And every one of them is unique!)
Know the Difference
It is important to note that the only difference between a standard sale and short sale is the additional negotiation between the seller and lender(s) regarding a discounted payoff. The lender's conditions regarding sales … (0 comments)
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tips: 5 Real Estate Scams You NEED to Know About - 07/21/10 07:59 PM
Mortgage fraud is pervasive: An estimated $4 billion to $6 billion in annual losses result from mortgage fraud, according to FBI reports. Don't be duped by mortgage fraud. Here are a few common scams and the red flags you should look for in a transaction:
1. The Foreclosure Rescue Scheme
The Scam: “Rescuers” promise cash-strapped home owners that they can save their home from foreclosure. The rescue, which involves paying upfront fees, can take multiple forms, such as the perpetrator obtaining a new loan on behalf of the owner or by having the owner sign over the home’s deed and … (3 comments)
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tips: Organized Crime? Nope, Just an Organized Office in 6 Steps! - 05/12/10 01:49 PM
Are you in your office? Stop reading for a second and take a look around. Is your desk organized, files put away, is there a generally orderly appearance? NO? I don't want to sound like your mom or anything, but maybe it's time to tidy up a bit. An organized space will not only make it feel better, it will actually help you work more effectively and efficiently. Here are a few simple ways to get on a cleaner path:
* Tame the paper tiger by storing documents online. If your documents aren't already digitized, scan them then upload to a … (2 comments)
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tips: You'll Probably Need More Than One Customer for Your Business! - 04/24/10 02:53 AM
What do you think when I say the words lead generation? If you're like most people it's either "Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" or "Go wash your mouth out with soap, young lady!" It's one of those things that no one (except maybe a few freaks) really likes to do but the fact is, no matter what type of business you're in, you're in the business of lead generation. Think about it! Who's going to buy your products or services if they don't know it exists?
Lead generation is just lame lingo for meeting new people and talking to people you already … (8 comments)
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tips: Do Your Clients Like You? Do You KNOW That? - 04/21/10 12:46 AM
Think back to when you were eight years old. You open a birthday present expecting a cool toy, and instead find a hideous sweater. What does your mom tell you to do? Smile and say thank you. This lesson in politeness stays with us throughout our lives. We're constantly smiling and saying thank you whether we like the situation or not! Regardless of your industry, you probably get a smile and a thank you when you've completed a transaction with a client or customer. So how do you really know if they liked your service? You ask. Yup, it's that simple.
… (6 comments)
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tips: 10 Tips to Green Your Spring Clean! - 04/13/10 04:46 PM
The 40th annual Earth Day celebration is April 22nd! It also happens to be the time to bust out the mops, rags, and cleaners and take care of a little Spring cleaning! Here are some earth- and human-friendly cleaning tips:
1. Take a Deep Breath. Use baking soda, essential oils, or even fresh cut flowers instead of chemical fresheners.
2. Go Paperless. Opt out of junk-mail lists and phone book deliveries and use paperless billing for utilities.
3. Clothes Encounters. Wash laundry in cold water and install a clothesline in your backyard, basement, or garage.
4. Water Wise. Install a low-flow … (5 comments)
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tips: Moving Countdown Part 5: Moving Day! - 02/03/10 05:29 PM
After much anticipation, it's finally arrived: moving day! Here are some tips to make this move a good one:
Strip the beds and put all bedding in a box labeled "Load Last". That way, it's the first to be unloaded and you'll have blankets for the first night in your new home! Make sure to be on hand when the movers arrive. If you're not available, authorize another adult and tell the movers who's in charge for the day. Spend plenty of time with the movers and make sure special instructions are understood. Don't be bossy or condescending - communicate well … (0 comments)
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tips: Moving Countdown Part 4: The Week Before - 01/29/10 11:42 AM
We started this series with tips for 6-8 weeks before moving. Now we're up to the week before the big day! Here are some ideas to make it less stressful:
Tie up those loose ends! Make sure you've returned movie rentals, library books, and items borrowed from friends and neighbors. Review moving tips from previous posts to make sure you haven't missed anything. Confirm your travel arrangements. Pack suitcases and check airline and hotel reservations. Keep plans as flexible as possible to accomodate last minute changes. At least one day before your move, empty, defrost, and clean your fridge and freezer. … (1 comments)
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tips: Moving Countdown Part 3: 2-3 Weeks Before - 01/21/10 11:35 AM
So far we've covered tips for 6-8 weeks and 4-5 weeks before your move. Here are some ideas for 2-3 weeks before the big day:
Call ahead to schedule utilites to be connected at your new home. This includes electricity, gas, water, phone, cable, internet, etc. Call your bank to change your address or transfer accounts. If you use a local credit union or bank that doesn't have branches in your new area, ask if they have recommendations or "partner" banks. Make final packing decisions and start packing items you don't use very often. Create a staging area in the garage … (1 comments)
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tips: Moving Countdown Part 2: 4-5 Weeks Before - 01/12/10 11:51 PM
In the last blog, we covered what to do 6-8 weeks before your move. Here are some tips to follow 4-5 weeks before the big day arrives:
If you live in an apartment or condo, now is the time to talk with your property manager about scheduling your move. There may be date or time restrictions as to when moving can be done. Make sure to abide by any rental or lease agreement you may have to avoid hefty fines. Contact the moving company to schedule your move date and reserve the appropriate sized truck. Notify your insurance company and schedule … (1 comments)
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tips: Moving Countdown Part 1: 6-8 Weeks Before - 01/12/10 01:55 AM
Moving. The word can bring up feelings ranging from happiness and excitement to exhaustion and dread. No matter where you fall on the scale, these tips can help your next move be a smooth one.
What to do 6-8 weeks before the big day:
Determine which items you wish to take to your new home. Items you don't need should either be donated to charity or sold at a garage sale. You may consider teaming up with your neighbors who want to sell some of their belongings and hold a "neighborhood sale." If you plan on packing your own items, start … (1 comments)
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tips: 7 Things You NEED to Know About the $6500 Tax Credit! - 01/08/10 12:45 PM
Several months ago Congress approved a $6500 tax credit for homebuyers aimed at so-called "move up" buyers. Though it's been law since November, there are still a lot of questions and mis-information floating around. Here are a few things you should know about taking advantage of the tax credit:
To qualify, you must have owned and lived in your current home for a consecutive 5 out of the last 8 years. And your income must be below $125k if you're single, $225k if you're married filing jointly. You may "move up" (buy a more expensive home) or "downsize" (buy a less … (1 comments)
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tips: 9 Top Tips to Improve Your Credit - 01/06/10 05:43 PM
Mortgage rates are heavily weighted by your credit (or FICO) score, so of course you want it to be the best it can be! Here are nine tips to improve your credit score:
Review your current credit report for accuracy. Everyone is entitled to one free report per year from each of the three credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You can get all three at once, or get one every four months. Make sure the information in your file is about YOU, not someone with a similar name or similar social security number! It's very common for your credit reports … (2 comments)
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S&B Real Estate Team
Vancouver,
WA
More about me…
Capstone Washington Real Estate, LLC
Address: 411 E 29th St., Vancouver, WA, 98663
Office Phone: (360) 693-6139
Cell Phone: (360) 241-7305
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