| 3 Tips for Spring Homebuyers
Most of what you've heard about the cooling housing market has been geared toward homeowners and the companies that cater to them. Falling home prices and upcoming rate adjustments on creative mortgages have current homeowners up against the ropes. Many are concerned that subprime lending troubles will spread throughout the economy, and they've already had profound effects both on lenders like Novastar (NYSE: NFI) and on homebuilders. Just today, Beazer Homes (NYSE: BZH) is responding to comments about a possible federal investigation into its mortgage lending practices. Even Lennar (NYSE: LEN) CEO Stuart Miller is concerned that the "typically stronger spring buying season hasn't yet materialized" in 2007. But there are two sides to every story. If you're bucking the trend and looking to buy a home this spring, you'll find yourself in the friendliest market for buyers in years.
New York’s interest rates unchanged for 2nd Quarter 2007
The Department of Taxation and Finance has announced the interest rates on overpayments and underpayments of New York taxes for the period April 1, 2007, through June 30, 2007. The overpayment rate remains at 7% for taxes on alcoholic beverages, beverage containers, boxing and wrestling, corporate franchise (income), diesel motor fuel, estate and gift, generation-skipping transfer, hazardous waste, highway use, personal income, lubricating oil, mortgage recording, motor fuel, petroleum business, real estate transfer, real property transfer gains, sales and use, waste tires, and withholding. The underpayment rate remains at 10% for taxes on alcoholic beverages, boxing and wrestling, cigarettes, corporate franchise (income), diesel motor fuel, highway use, mortgage recording, motor fuel, petroleum business, real estate transfer, real property transfer gains, tobacco products, waste tires, and withholding.
Money Do-Over, Anyone?
When it comes to a windfall (say, the one an estimated 75% of taxpayers are getting this year courtesy of the IRS), our best intentions are often forgotten by the time the refund check arrives in the mail. It may be hard to ignore the siren song of the electronics superstores with that refund burning a hole in your pocket (the average as of early March, according to the IRS, is $2,436), but try to show a little restraint. This is your shot at a bona fide money do-over -- the chance to right any financial wrongs you may have committed over the past year. Here are a few ideas on how to blow that dough and feel good about yourself the next morning. What to do with your tax refund check
Splurge (a little). Denial can be ugly, triggering a spending bender that will require a decade of tax refund checks to undo.
|
