PMI: Why You Need It and How to Get Rid of It
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PMI: Why You Need It and How to Get Rid of It With few exceptions, most homeowners purchasing a house with less than 20 percent down have to buy private mortgage insurance — PMI. This insurance, which makes home ownership possible for so many purchasers, covers the lender… Read More
Yes — You Can Challenge Your Property Tax
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Yes — You Can Challenge Your Property Tax Typically, every few years American homeowners have the value of their property assessed by their local government. The property tax you pay is based on the local tax rate, which you have no control over (except at the voting booth!),… Read More
New Entry Door Is The Biggest Bang For Your Remodeling Buck
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New Entry Door Is The Biggest Bang For Your Remodeling Buck Want to get the best return on your remodeling investment? Stick to the exterior of your home, according to the 2015 Cost vs. Value report from the National Association of Realtors® and Remodeling Magazine. Realtors® across the… Read More
Dispelling Some Myths About Home Inheritance
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Dispelling Some Myths About Home Inheritance Myth No. 1: You have to specifically list your home in your will. When you draft your will, you can include your home in the assets you distribute. For example, you can leave it to multiple children and direct them to sell… Read More
Four Steps to Choosing the Ideal Refrigerator
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Four Steps to Choosing the Ideal Refrigerator If you have owned your refrigerator for about a decade, it is time to buy a new one. But before you make the purchase, take into consideration certain key details to keep your appliance — and its surroundings — working long… Read More
Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers: Do You Need One, the Other—Or Both!
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Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers: Do You Need One, the Other—Or Both! Whole-House Dehumidifiers Whole-house dehumidifiers help control and regulate the humidity throughout your house automatically by removing moisture from the air. They tend to be energy efficient and easy to maintain. They are generally located in the basement, so… Read More
Get to Know These Home Deductions for Next Year
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Get to Know These Home Deductions for Next Year Whether you’re buying a home, selling a home or staying right where you are, there’s a wide range of deductions you can take. Some of them are well-known, some less so, and there are a lot of twists, so… Read More
How to Cut Your Bills in Response to New Rules for Hot Water Heaters
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How to Cut Your Bills in Response to New Rules for Hot Water Heaters Starting this month, when you buy a hot water heater, you’re going to run into new federal energy efficiency rules if your unit is bigger than 55 gallons. One result of those rules may… Read More
6 Questions To Help You Choose The Right Paint
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6 Questions To Help You Choose The Right Paint Most paint retailers sell a dizzying array of coatings, and that can make it difficult for anyone to pick the right paint. Even so, there is a way to streamline your paint selection. Answer these six questions from the… Read More
Window Replacement Firms Mislead On Energy Savings
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Window Replacement Firms Mislead On Energy Savings If you’re in the market to buy new windows, you’ll hear a lot of claims about how much energy you could save. Be skeptical of anything you hear because the Federal Trade Commission has repeatedly fined window companies for false claims. Read More