Advantages of Owning a Home

Advantages of Owning a Home

While some people choose the flexibility of renting and being somewhat free of maintenance while having the ability to move often, many choose ownership for other reasons. It would be nice to say that the main reason for owning a home is the pride of home ownership, but that’s not quite true for most people. Their reasons are purely economical and there are clear financial advantages.


Building Equity
The difference between what you owe on your home and its value is called equity. In the early years of a home mortgage, most of each payment will go toward the loan interest, but later it will gradually go more and more toward your principal balance (what you owe). Through the years your payments will reduce this balance, thus raising your equity. Plus, if your home increases in value, your equity will rise even more. Your equity is like a savings account and it could prove very important for future needs such as a retirement plan, or major purchases.

Tax Deduction
By law, you can deduct mortgage interest and property taxes from your U.S. Federal Income Tax and from some state income taxes. This results in significant tax savings, especially in the early years of a mortgage when interest payments are higher. And you may find the tax savings alone makes it less expensive to buy than to rent.

Payment Stability
Unlike renting where payments can increase over the years, a fixed-rate mortgage payment will remain the same for the term of your loan. Other types of loans could vary in the structure of payments and there always could be slight adjustments for tax and insurance, but owning a home can result in being able to depend on stable payments for years to come. During times of inflation when rent goes up and home values rise, renters end up paying more each month while home owners increase their equity as they make the same payment.




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Port Charlotte Mother's Day, Gift certificates for house cleaning

Port Charlotte / North Port Mighty Kklene Home Services can help make it easier to find the right gift. With a Port Charlotte / North Port Mighty Kklene Home Services gift card, you can give a friend or family member the ability to shake off the burden of house cleaning to enjoy some free time.

Gift certificates for house cleaning services make an ideal gift for Anniversaries, Birthdays, Mother's Day, Wedding or Shower gifts and for Housewarming gifts. Gift Certificates also make an excellent last minute gift idea!  Or for those special moments, "just because" letting her know you were "thinking about her." Imagine how she will feel after walking in a clean home after you have been out for dinner, or a movie.

Someone you know deserves a House Cleaning Gift Certificate - A Gift Certificate is a gift that lets that special someone know just how much you truly care.
Port Charlotte / North Port Mighty Kklene Home Services is truly S.W. Florida best affordable housecleaning company in the business!

Get A Free QuoteHome Cleaning | Maid Service | Move In/Out Cleaning -We Can Clean Now Best Port Charlotte / North Port / Punta Gorda Cleaning Service / Maid ServiceFREE CLEANING QUOTE HERE===>>> Http://www.FreeCleaningBid.com or CALL (941) 628-3891

The beaches of Charlotte Harbor

The beaches of Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands appeal to athletes, families, nature lovers and those who seek seclusion.

Charlotte County beaches appeal to athletes and casual swimmers.

On the beaches of Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands, you can go shelling, stroll nature trails, swim, fish and even frolic on playgrounds. Find the perfect seashore for you or try them all.


Family Beaches
All of Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands’ beaches are kid-friendly, but which one is right for your family?

If your children love to dig into the sand, you’ll want to visit Englewood Beach, known for its wide shoreline perfect for sandcastle building. A long boardwalk provides extra amenities. The adjoining Chadwick Park has a playground, as well as restrooms.

Budding archaeologists and marine biologists will have a field day at Stump Pass Beach State Park, where fossilized sharks' teeth pepper the beach when the tide comes in. Covered picnic tables are a natural for family meals.

A playground, a heated swimming pool and picnic shelters make Port Charlotte Beach Park a great choice for young families. Active families can canoe and kayak from this harborfront park, which is also a favorite location for sunset viewing.


Athletes’ Beaches
Swimmers, joggers and beach walkers can exercise on any beach. If you need courts and equipment to play your sport of choice, area beaches have you covered.

Englewood Beach’s Chadwick Park appeals to weekend jocks with its volleyball and basketball and even horseshoe courts. Little athletes can practice their skills on the playground.

Port Charlotte Beach Park has a sandy beach, but its main draw is the extensive recreational facilities, such as a heated swimming pool, five baseball fields, and basketball, tennis, beach volleyball, bocce and horseshoe courts. Canoers and kayakers can launch from the park, and a boat ramp and a fishing pier are also on the property.


Nature-Lovers’ Beaches
Close encounters with natural wonders are readily experienced at three area beaches, including two state parks.

Port Charlotte Beach Park is a perfect choice for families and athletes alike.

Nature trails traverse 11 habitats within Don Pedro Island State Park. The barrier island is home to an array of Florida flora and fauna, including giant leather ferns, West Indian manatees, gopher tortoises, American oystercatchers and bald eagles. Shelling enthusiasts will delight in the island’s bounty, as will fisher folk, who can reel in tarpon and snook.

Known for its plethora of fossilized shark’s teeth, Stump Pass Beach State Park also caters to environmentally minded beach-goers with its well-marked trail through five distinct habitats. Interpretive signs along the path define the pristine park’s native plants, such as indigo berry and bay cedar, and wildlife like snowy egret and gopher tortoise. During the summer, you can enjoy ranger-led turtle walks and beach nature hikes.

The dune wildflowers decorating Blind Pass Beach are just the beginning of its natural attractions. If you visit between May and October, you may see sea turtles nesting or their eggs hatching, releasing babies who waddle their way to the water to begin their lives. Throughout the year, you can meander the trails that weave through the beach’s acres.


Secluded Beaches
If a private island defines your dream beach experience, you can almost achieve it at Don Pedro Island State Park and Blind Pass Beach.

Don Pedro Island State Park, located on a barrier island, is accessible only by private boat or public ferry service provided by Placida’s Grande Tours. Fronting the Gulf of Mexico, its one-mile beach is perfect for sunbathing, fossil hunting, swimming and just getting away from civilization. You’ll find all the creature comforts, from restrooms and outdoor showers to a picnic pavilion and barbecue grills.

On Manasota Key, Blind Pass Beach covers 66 acres of sand dunes, nature trails and shorelines on the Gulf of Mexico and Lemon Bay. Beach Road offers a direct route to the strand, where wildflowers and sea turtles often outnumber people. Picnic shelters, restrooms and a playground make Blind Pass Beach an ideal retreat for families, couples or anyone looking for a stretch of sand all their own.

The beaches of Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands invite you to seek solace, refreshment, action and recreation on and along their silky sands. Spend a day at your favorite or a week exploring every shore.

Tips for Avoiding Mortgage Foreclosures

How to Protect Yourself: Tips for Avoiding Mortgage Foreclosures
Source: The Florida Attorney General

Contact your lender or loan servicer as soon as you realize you may have a problem and may have missed a payment. Studies show that at least 50 percent of all consumers that have defaulted on a mortgage or missed payments never contact their lender. This is a mistake. Lenders can discuss options with you to help you work through payments during difficult financial times. Lenders prefer to have you keep your home and most will work with you. Be honest with your lender about your financial circumstances. For more information about contacting your lender, refer to www.hud.gov/foreclosure or use this link http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/econ/contactyourlender.cfm.
Gather information. Learn all that you can about your mortgage rights and foreclosure laws in Florida. Review your loan documents to determine what your lender may do if you can’t make your payments. Review Florida laws, particularly Chapter 702, Florida Statutes and Section 45.031, Florida statutes to learn about foreclosure proceedings. Attend a foreclosure prevention information session. Information on local sessions may be available on http://www.freddiemac.com/avoidforeclosure/workshops.html#FL.
Contact a nonprofit housing counselor. Help and information is available to you free of cost. The HOPE NOW alliance provides a 24-hour hotline to provide mortgage counseling assistance in multiple languages. 1-888-995-HOPE. You may also obtain a list of HUD-approved counseling services in Florida at http://www.hud.gov or at this webpage: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm?webListAction=search&searchstate=FL . Read more

Key Information on the tax credit program

Key Information

Following are key points that prospective home buyers should be aware of when considering a home purchase under the tax credit program.

A tax credit of up to $8,000 is available for first-time home buyers purchasing on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. In cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.

A tax credit of up to $6,500 is available for repeat home buyers who have owned a home for five consecutive years out of the prior eight years. The repeat home buyer tax credit applies to houses sold after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. In cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.

Income limits of $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for married couples filing jointly apply to all sales occurring after Nov. 6, 2009.

The income limits for sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before November 6, 2009 are $75,000 for individual taxpayers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Homes priced above $800,000 are not eligible for either the first-time home buyer tax credit or the repeat home buyer tax credit.

Expanded tax credit benefits apply to members of the military, the foreign service and the intelligence community. Home purchases in 2010 may be claimed on an amended 2009 income tax return.
Persons who are claimed as dependents by a taxpayer or who are under age 18 do not qualify for a tax credit.

Home purchases from relatives of the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s spouse do not qualify for the tax credit. The IRS defines relatives as ancestors (parent, grandparent, etc.), lineal descendants (child, grandchildren, etc.) and spouses.

Married couples are not eligible to claim the first-time home buyer tax credit if either spouse has previously owned a home. They may, however, qualify for the repeat home buyer tax credit.
Neither the first-time home buyer tax credit nor the repeat home buyer tax credit have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after the initial purchase.

Taxpayers must submit a copy of the HUD-1 settlement statement and IRS Form 5405 to claim either the first-time home buyer tax credit or the repeat home buyer tax credit.