Popular Business Misconceptions Cost You Money!
Faulty information costs you money! Which of these popular business misconceptions do you believe?Popular Misconception #1: "We Only Need Our Books Done Once A Year For Tax Purposes." Are Your Accounting Records Adequate To Run Your Business?Although it is important to keep records for tax ... more...

Home Equity Loan Improvements
There's more Regulation Z compliance on the way, courtesy of the Home Equity Loan Consumer Protection Act. This fall banks will have to implement the new home equity loan disclosure rules the Federal Reserve Board was required to issue under the act.The Federal Reserve released the final version of ... more...

Mortgage Loan Closing Costs for Refinance Loans and Home Purchase
If you are going to obtain a mortgage loan, for whatever purpose (home purchase or refinance) you are going to pay closing costs...period. Let me clarify regarding a purchase of a home...the seller may pay some or even all the closing costs in a transaction, but it essentially works out to just ... more...

Things To Consider Before Buying a Condo Hotel or Resort Residence
Resort home ownership, such as condo hotels and fractional shares is different from typical home ownership. So it is important to ask certain questions before signing the purchase agreement on a resort property. The following list of questions typically applies to most types of resort property ... more...

'Budget' is a Four-Letter Word - Create a Spending Plan You Can Live With
'Budget' is a four-letter word when it comes to your personal finances, but face it--if you don't decide ahead of time what's most important to you, it's easier than pie to slip into that nearly-impossible-to-break habit of living bigger than your paycheck. Use these tips to get started on creating ... more...

Where Did All The Farmers Go?
Several times a year, I hear someone complain about the development of farm land in our area. These complainers consider it a crime that so much of our farm land has been converted to housing, business, shopping, etc. They seem to consider the farmers and developers to be criminals.If you want to ... more...

Tax Assessment/Appraisal: How Do I Know What My Home is Worth?
If you are in the home buying or selling market, its important to understand the difference between tax assessment and appraisal value. Concentrate on the appraisal value because this determines your asking price.Understanding Tax AssessmentThe tax assessment is a tool local governments use to ... more...

Who Could Benefit From A Reverse Mortgage?
What is a "Reverse Mortgage?"Also known as a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)a reverse mortgage,is a popular way older homeowners (62+) can convert part of the equity in their homes into tax-free income without having to sell the home, give up title, or take on a new monthly mortgage payments ... more...

Home Buyer Checklist
Before You BuyThe biggest question is: where do I want to live? All of us have different likes and dislikes. The needs of one person may be of little consequence to another person. If you are moving to a new community your questions may be different from somebody who is moving within the ... more...