MESSAGE FOR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS

If you or someone you know are still paying a landlord's mortgage instead of building equity of your own, see what you're missing. Check out some of the other financial benefits of being a homeowner.

Typical Tax Deductions for Homeowners

• Mortgage interest - One of the biggest tax incentives to owning a home is that the interest you pay on your mortgage is tax-deductible, up to $1 million. This deduction applies to any kind of home, including a second home under certain conditions.
• Real-estate taxes - As a homeowner, you can deduct the local property taxes you pay each year, too. This applies to both your principal home and any others you may own.
• Points - If you (or even the seller) paid points to the lender to secure your mortgage, you may be able to deduct those points on your taxes.

New and Temporary Deductions

• $8,000 for First-time Buyers - Just when you were figuring out the $7,500 tax credit for first-time buyers, Congress changed the rules and is now offering an $8,000 tax credit - and guess what? Buyers won't have to repay it unless they sell their homes within three years.
• Mortgage Insurance Premiums - Thanks to Congress, MI premiums can be deducted in most cases by home buyers for mortgages issued after 2006 and before 2010 (although Congress may extend this provision). This one has income limits, so ask your tax professional for help.
• New Standard Deduction - Prior to 2008, only taxpayers who itemized their deductions could deduct state and local property taxes. New legislation changes this for 2008 and 2009. Qualifying tax payers who don't itemize but pay property tax, get up to a $500 extra deduction; married filing jointly get up to $1,000.

Special Incentives

• Tax-Free Profits on Sale - When you sell your primary residence, you can make up to $250,000 in profit if you're a single owner, twice that if you're married, and not owe any capital gains taxes.
• Other Benefits - Ask your tax professional about Penalty-free IRA payouts for first-time buyers, home improvement deductions, energy credits, and even moving expense deductions.

Facts and Figures
Get a College Education for Free

It's no big secret that a college education can cost you or your children years of debt. But guess what? More and more universities, and not just the US military academies, are now offering some students everything from free tuition to free room and board. Check out some of the sweet deals offered by these unique universities.

1. College of the Ozarks - Students pay no tuition in exchange for at least 15 hours a week at a campus work station at this top liberal arts school in the Midwest.
2. Deep Springs College - This two-year, all-male liberal arts college in California offers free tuition, room and board in exchange for at least 20 hours a week of hard work on its ranch.

3. Berea College - This Kentucky college provides a full-tuition scholarship to every student, in exchange for at least 10 hours a week in one of the school's 130 labor departments.

4. Olin College of Engineering - One of the top undergraduate engineering programs in the country, this school provides every admitted student free tuition for four years.

5. Cooper Union - Located in Manhattan, this school offers degree programs in art, architecture, and engineering, and every admitted student receives four years of free tuition.

Other more specialized schools with similar deals include: Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Alice Lloyd College in Kentucky, the City University of New York's Teacher Academy, and UC-Irvine School of Law (this year only) in California.