How to Live a GREENER Lifestyle and Lessen your CARBON FOOTPRINT, Dallas TX

Are you looking to live a GREENER lifestyle and lessen your CARBON FOOTPRINT?                                                       

                                                                 

                                                            

Here are some simple ways to be kind live GREEN in your everyday routine.

·         Pay your Bills Online to lessen the waste of paper

·         Skip the Drive Thru Windows … park & walk in

·       Replace light bulbs with Energy-Efficient bulbs

·         Unplug Appliances you don’t use often & turn your computer off completely at night

·         Open your window blinds to bring in the natural light instead of using electricity

·         Print on both sides of paper or let your kids draw on the backside of used paper

·         Use reusable bags for ALL of your shopping

·         Wash as many clothes as you can in a load … and use cold or tap water

·         Insulate your water heater

·         Use a reusable water bottle & stop buying disposable water bottles … and you’ll also save $$$

For more ideas on how to be GREEN, check out The Daily Green.

If you are a Buyer looking for GREEN Homes for Sale in the Dallas/Ft Worth Metroplex or Lake Ray Hubbard area, you can search for houses that are currently on the market in your desired areas directly on my website (top right) … it gets all it’s information directly from the MLS which has the most up to date info.

If you would like to set up an appointment to see homes just give me a call (214-422-0729) or send me an email - I'd be ever so happy to help!

Keep Track of Home Improvements to Help Lessen Your Taxes

With Tax time here, I thought I'd share a tip on things you can deduct and minimize your possible taxes.  If it's too late for your 2011 taxes, start doing it for your 2012 taxes!

Maintenance on a principal residence, the house you live in, is not a deductible, BUT, Improvements can add to the basis which can reduce the gain in the sale. Improvements are easily identified if they add to the value of a home, prolong its useful life or adapt it to new uses.

Receipts and other proof, such as pictures, should be kept during ownership and for several years after the sale of the home.

A simple strategy is to put documents that affect the basis of the home in one envelope. Any receipt for money spent on the home that isn't the house payment or utilities, goes into the envelope. Your tax advisor will be able to sort through them to determine which are the capital improvements.

For more information on determining capital improvements, see IRS publication 523, and consult with your Tax Advisor.

If you're thinking about Buying or Selling a Home in the Dallas/Ft Worth Metroplex or Lake Ray Hubbard area, please contact me to see how I can support you! I love what I do & giving 100% is all I know!

The Best Way Home ... To Buying a Home That Is

"It's not far, if you know the way." Maybe it is an obvious statement but there are some definite steps that will improve your success in buying a home in today's market.

1. Know you credit score - the best mortgage rates are available to borrowers with the highest scores. Unless you know what your credit score is at all three major bureaus, you don't really know what rate you'll have to pay.
   
2. Clean up your credit - it is estimated that about 90% of credit reports have errors. Some are not serious but others could affect a borrower from getting the best loan terms. It is your responsibility to know what is on your different reports and correct them if possible. You're entitled to a free copy of your credit report each year from Experian, Trans Union and Equifax.
   
3. Get pre-approved - Taking the time to make a loan application with a qualified lender even before you start looking at homes will provide peace of mind, make sure that you are looking at the "right" homes and may help you negotiate the best price on the home you select.
   
4. Do your homework - when you find the home that meets your needs and desires, research the tax assessments, school ratings, crime activity, possible zoning changes and comparable sales in the area.

As your real estate professional I can definitely help you with these important strategies to invest in a home to call your own, raise your family, feel safe and secure and share with your friends. Call for a recommendation of a trusted mortgage professional; there really is a difference.