While the sun beat down last week on a $187,000 rooftop solar system on his Chester County barn, Edward Frankel watched his electrical output add up. Every two minutes, a meter ticked off another kilowatt-hour of power generated by the 150 solar panels Frankel installed last year at his Honey Brook farm. For every 1,000 [...]
Even though we’re three weeks into 2011, it’s not too late to make New Year’s resolutions. And here’s one that’s a lot easier than giving up chocolate or beer: Resolve to tackle your own tax return. More than 60% of taxpayers pay a tax preparer to do their returns every year. While that makes a [...]
Senators agreed Wednesday to extend a popular tax credit for first-time homebuyers and to offer a reduced credit to some repeat buyers. The tax credit provides up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers but is set to expire at the end of November. Senators agreed to extend the existing tax credit for first-time home buyers [...]
The deadline to take advantage of the first-time homebuyer tax credit is quickly approaching, but the good news is, there are proposed bills in Congress designed to extend the incentive. The measure would increase the tax credit limit from $8,000 to $15,000 and eliminate income caps. In addition to the tax credit’s perks, observers in the [...]
Like clockwork, scammers seem to take advantage of consumers when new programs and incentives make the headlines. The Better Business Bureau has received numerous reports from consumers who received phone calls offering them assistance with filling out paperwork to obtain a voucher for the “Cash for Clunkers” Program- which is completely unnecessary because the dealers [...]
As the November 30th deadline nears, consumers are scrambling to buy their first home and take advantage of the first-time home buyer credit. Many are unaware of the program’s end- qualified borrowers need to have home offers accepted by the end of September to give lenders enough time to close the deal before the tax [...]
Businesses and lawmakers are calling for an expansion of the capped $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit to $15,000. Right now, there are income guidelines in order to qualify, but some proposals want to to eliminate the guidelines and make all first-time buyers eligible. http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2009-06-22-homebuyer-credit-may-be-extended_N.htm?csp=34
Spending money wisely, from home repair to shopping
