Tax time is upon us again already, but luckily, the Internal Revenue Service provides some perks to homeowners to compensate for expenses they may have incurred throughout the year with homeowner related tax deductions. Consult your tax advisor to find out which deductions apply to you, but here are some common deductions that may be beneficial to you. Property taxes Property taxes - the taxes charged by state and local governments on your property's value are usually tax-deductible. • You must have paid these taxes at closing, or to a taxing authority, either directly or through an escrow account, during the year. • Also, the tax must usually be based on the assessed value of the property and the taxing authority must charge a uniform rate on property in its jurisdiction. There are some exceptions to property tax deductions. Read IRS Publication 530 , or consult your tax advisor for more information. Home mortgage interest The interest that you pay on a home mortgage

Buying a home can be a very exciting experience, but it can also be a confusing and complicated process, especially for a first-time home buyer. New home buyers are confused, anxious and concerned when it comes to finding a real estate agent, choosing the house, and getting financing. Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed, here are a few tips that can help you can make sure things go as smoothly as possible. Find the right person to guide you through the process. It is just as important to shop around for the right real estate agent and lender as it is to shop for the right home. Choosing the wrong person to work with during the home buying process can lead to hassles and headaches. Choose someone you feel comfortable with and that will put your best interests first. It is important to find someone who can match your needs and goals with the right mortgage possibilities. Check your credit report and score. Knowing what kind of mortgage you can qualify for depends on a number of dif

I'm proud to announce that my website http://www.realestateinabq.com has just been ranked #5 on the 2007 Top 100 Internet Marketers for real estate agents nationwide. eSourceAgent.com , an online marketing company with a real estate focus, did extensive research and ranked agents websites based on web visibility in the Albuquerque area. I am excited that I received a ranking of #5, because I understand the power of the internet and I am striving to use it effectively. With over 84% of consumers using the internet to search for homes, it is important to have an effective site to facilitate their search. 80 major markets in the US. Markets were selected based on market size (population) and search volumes. The top US cities were selected based on population rank (See cities ). In addition, cities appearing in Google Trends for the search terms "Real Estate" and "Homes" were included within this market search. This ranking is an honor in a competit

In today’s market competition is tough and you have to make your home as marketable as possible. Potential buyers are more interested in homes that are spacious with open floor plans. But even if your home is smaller or you have a choppy floor plan, you can visually create a larger room, giving the illusion of more space. There are plenty of easy ways to do this with little or no money and without remodeling your entire home. • Reduce clutter . Keep rooms tidy and organized, pick up newspapers and magazines and put away unnecessary items from countertops in the kitchen and baths. There’s nothing that makes a small space feel cramped more than having too much stuff. Keep decorative objects to a minimum, figurines and excessive accessories are distracting. • Let the sun shine in. Lighting is a key element in opening up a space, if you have a lot of natural light, don’t cover it up with heavy drapery. Choose window coverings that will compliment, such as Roman Blinds or Roller Sha

I have received my ACRE® certification. What does this mean to the consumer? Real estate professionals who have earned the ACRE™ designation have completed a course of study and taken an exam that tests their ability to provide unbiased counsel to the consumer in matters that deal with real estate. ACRE™ members consult WITH their clients, not sell to them. So, rather than hiring a salesperson whose sole focus tends to be "making the sale," a consumer should look to a consultant who's focus is to help their clients attain their goals, which may or may not involve a sale. In addition, ACRE™ members who are listed on our website continue to work with the authors of the real estate consulting concept, as well as all of the other ACRE™ graduates from around the country, through the Graduate Coaching Program, thereby continuously increasing their knowledge and skills, and staying current with market shifts and trends. Copyright ©2006—2008 All Rights Reserved ACRE Council

Identity Theft is a crime in which the thief obtains key pieces of personal identifying information such as Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers and uses them to commit fraud or other crimes. This personal information is usually obtained from lost or stolen wallets, pilfered mail, a data breach, computer virus, phishing, a scam, or paper documents thrown out by you or a business (dumpster diving). The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Identity thieves can empty your bank account, max out your credit cards, open new accounts in your name, and purchase furniture, cars, and even homes on the basis of your credit history. Unfortunately, many consumers learn that their identity has been stolen after some damage has been done. You'll get the headache and expense of cleaning up the mess they leave behind. While you may never be able to completely prevent your identity from being stolen, there are many things you