 | Art City Austin '08 April 12 - 13, 2008 Sat. 10am - 5pm & Sun. 11am - 6pm @ Cesar Chavez between Colorado & Lamar For those of us who need a regular culture fix, Art City Austin caught my eye. Connect with Austin's art scene at this temporary utopia featuring 220 visual artists, live music, local food, community art installations, kid's block and more. |
 | Austin Green Living Expo April 18 - 20, 2008 Friday 2pm - 7pm, Saturday 10am - 7pm & Sunday 11am - 5pm @ The Austin Convention Center (500 E. Cesar Chavez) For the ecologically-minded, the Austin Green Living Expo may be the event of the year. The expo features info, products and seminars on everything green, including: Green Building, Organic Gardening/Native Landscaping, Renewable Energies, Alternative Fuels, Transportation Alternatives, Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Interiors, Organic Foods & Cooking Demonstrations, Fair Trade Products andmore. |
 | WHY AREN'T MORTGAGE RATES LOWER? As you may have noticed in the news lately, the "Fed" has recently lowered interest rates. I've been getting a lot of questions about how this affects mortgage rates and you might find the answer surprising. I recently ran across this great article, Why Mortgage Rates Aren't Lower, which sheds some light on the subject. |
 | The Tax INCENTIVES OF HOME OWNERSHIP It's tax season again and Coldwell Banker® has identified the following list of tax incentives for home ownership. Those who experience apprehension around the financial responsibility of owning a home will be relieved to learn that home ownership also offers financial benefits, including providing a tax haven. As always, I advise taxpayers to seek the advice of a financial professional: Deductible Property Taxes and Interest: Most homeowners can deduct property taxes and interest paid on their mortgage every year of ownership. In fact, the tax code allows homeowners to write off interest on first and second mortgages - including equity lines and loans - up to $1.1 million worth of the overall mortgage debt. Borrowing Against Equity: Homeowners can borrow against the equity they have built up in their homes. Equity from a home can be used to improve the property, buy a car or pay for education. Homeowners may also have the ability to deduct the interest from their federal taxes. Real Estate Tax Exemptions: Depending on the state, certain real estate tax exemptions apply for homeowners who meet specific criteria. There are several types of "Homestead" exemptions you may qualify for in Texas. More information about Texas Homestead exemptions is available at the state website of Susan Combs, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. However, always check with local assessors and tax consultants to ensure exemptions apply to you. |
If you are considering buying/selling a home or know someone else who is, let me know, I'd love to help! I can be reached at: 512.470.8923 or brettsmith@cbunited.com.
Sincerely,
0 comments:
Post a Comment