Google has just come out with a new feature on their google maps that I thought may be of interest. They are now mapping foreclosed properties for any given area. Just as an example I have embedded a map here of the Oviedo area and all the little red dots are foreclosures. This opens searching capabilities up to the public but some would suggest there is a privacy issue.
Let me know your thoughts....
| 12/29/10 | vs. Furman (UCF Holiday Classic presented by EA Sports) | Orlando, Fla. | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| 12/30/10 | Northeastern/Princeton (UCF Holiday Classic presented by EA Sports) | Orlando, Fla. | TBA |
| 01/05/11 | vs. Marshall *  | Orlando, Fla. | 7:00 p.m. ET |
The Homestead Act of 1862 is no longer in effect, but free land is still available out there in the great wide open (often literally in the great wide open). In fact, the town of Beatrice, Nebraska has even enacted a Homestead Act of 2010. As with the homesteaders of the 1800s, the new pioneers must not be the faint of heart—they can't be the type to shy away from the trials of building a home from the ground up, or the lack of Starbucks on every corner, or unpaved roads (extremely remote location and lack of infrastructure is probably what caused a well-publicized land giveaway in Anderson, Ark. to flop). If the Google Maps overhead view of the vast open space surrounding the modest street grids of these towns doesn't instill cabin fever, then read on—these parcels are up for land grabs. Marne, Iowa
 marneiowa.com |
Marne is a southwestern Iowa community with a population of just 149 or so, about 60 miles from Omaha and 80 miles from Des Moines. It was never a big town (pop. 617 in 1875), but the head count really began declining around the turn of last century, through the teens and 20s. "The decline of the family farm affects rural areas like this, says Mayor Randy Baxter. "Back in the '60s and '70s, there more smaller farms, and small towns supported the folks in the country, but now those homes aren't there anymore." In hopes of boosting that number, the Marne Housing and Development Corp has made four free lots available: 3 for private and 1 for commercial use. The first family to take advantage of the free land moved onto their new property the fall of 2008, also availing funds from the USDA's Rural Development Agency for building their home, and they qualified for $10,000 down payment assistance from the Southwest Iowa Planning Council.
It’s a simple strategy that works because of how mortgage interest works. Unlike rent which is paid in advance at the start of a month, mortgage interest is only paid after it’s been borrowed. Your January mortgage payment, therefore, accounts for the interest that accrued in December. And for a lot of Lake Mary homeowners, that mortgage interest is tax-deductible. By making January’s mortgage payment in December, eligible homeowners can apply the interest paid to 2010’s tax returns instead of waiting to claim the same deduction against 2011. Don’t cut it close, though. It’s best to remit payment prior to the last week of the month, leaving your servicer ample time to receive and process your paperwork. Most importantly, though, before prepaying on your mortgage, talk to your tax professional. Not every homeowner is eligible for mortgage interest tax deductions, nor should every homeowner itemize their respective tax deductions. The “pay early” plan could be a wasted effort for you, ultimately, depending on your taxpayer profile. If you don’t have an accountant that you trust, call or email me anytime; I’m happy to make a recommendation to you. |
Activated by infrared waves, motion-detector lighting can illuminate a dark driveway, a dark sidewalk, and a dark yard, thwarting would-be thieves while also giving homeowners a lit, safe path to their own front or back door.
If your home is not already equipped with such lighting, this video from Lowe’s will be helpful. It’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to install motion-detector lighting on your home.
The basic steps are as follows:
- Cut the power at the circuit breaker
- If applicable, remove the existing light fixture
- Install the mounting strap
- Connect the junction box wires to the light fixture wires
- Mount the fixture to the mounting strap
Lowe’s marks the the skill level to complete the job as “intermediate”. So, if you don’t want to tackle the job yourself, or if the idea of working with electricity frightens you, reach out to a handyman.
Motion-detector lights sell for as little as $25.
Looking for an extra 2010 tax deduction? Consider making your January mortgage payment a few days early.