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Author Profiles

Barbara Eisner Bayer

has written about finance for Motley Fool, Daily Plan-It, and Nurse Village, and is the former Managing Editor of Mortgageloan.com and Credit-land.com. She splits time between a beachfront condo and a mountain retreat.

BY THIS AUTHOR

Easy Property Tax Deductions How Do I Deduct Property Tax

Are You Entitled to a Property Tax Exemption?

Property tax exemptions are available to many homeowners, but you’ll need to do some legwork to find them and lower your property tax bill. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money Med $285/yr (15% exemption)
Effort Low 4 hrs (research/paperwork)
Investment Low $0
Added to Binder
Property Tax Appeal Dispute Your Property Tax Bill

Appeal Your Property Tax Bill

To successfully appeal your property tax bill, you first need to do a bit of sleuthing into your real estate assessment. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money Med $285/yr (15% reduction)
Effort Med 2-3 days (research)
Investment Low $10-25 (appeal filing fee)
Added to Binder
Home Deduction Mistakes Traps For Home Deductions

6 Home Deduction Traps and How to Avoid Them

Get an “A” on your Schedule A Form: Dodge these tax deduction pitfalls to save time, money, and an IRS investigation. Read More

Progress K
Effort Low 1 hr.
Added to Binder

Mortgage Broker or Banker: What’s the Difference?

Today’s mortgage broker is a different breed from those of the housing bubble days. Here’s why — and when — it makes sense to use a mortgage broker. Read More

Progress K
Effort Med (Interview brokers and banks)
Added to Binder

3 Ways to Restructure Mortgage and Save Thousands

You can refinance or recast your mortgage. Or you can create your own DIY mortgage restructuring plan. We compare so you can decide. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money High $49,000 ($200,000 loan @ 6%)
Added to Binder
Contractor Agreements Contactor Agreement Facts

The Contractor Agreement: 7 Steps to an Iron-Clad Contract

Follow these seven tips to make sure your contractor agreement works in your favor—not your builder’s. Read More

Progress K
Effort Low Meet with an attorney
Investment High $500-$1,500 (attorney fees for drafting contract)
Added to Binder
Legal Options For Contractor Disputes

How to Resolve a General Contractor Dispute: Your Legal Options

If you have a general contractor dispute, try some simpler resolution alternatives before you call in Perry Mason. Read More

Progress K
Effort Low 1-2 hrs to check
Investment Med $50 to $1,000+ (depending on complexity)
Added to Binder

Get Your 2010 Energy Tax Credits: Filing Tips for Form 5695

Sidestep snares in the complex IRS Form 5695 to get all the 2010 energy tax credits you’ve got coming. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money High $1,500 or more tax credit
Effort Med Filling out forms
Added to Binder
Mortgage Refinance Benefits Reasons For Mortgage Refinance

5 Reasons for a Mortgage Refinance Other Than Lowering Your Payment

There’s more to a mortgage refinance than lowering your monthly payments. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money High $10,000+
Effort Med 2-3 days research
Added to Binder
Couple meeting about refinancing their home

Mortgage Refinance: You Have to Think Long-Term

When it comes to a mortgage refinance, it’s less about how much you’ll spend and more about how long you’ll stay. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money High $10,000+
Effort Med 2-3 days research
Added to Binder