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You care about your home. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® cares about homeownership. To help you become the best, most responsible homeowner you aspire to be, we want to provide you with free information and tools you can use to make smart and timely decisions about your home.

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Author Profiles

Richard Koreto

Richard J. Koreto is a freelance writer. He's been editor of many financial magazines and is the author of “Run It Like a Business,” a practice management book for financial planners. He and his wife own a pre-Civil War house in New York.

BY THIS AUTHOR

The Best IRA You Didn’t Know About

Real estate makes a great retirement plan: Put a rental property into an IRA, play by IRS rules, and you’ll grow your investment tax-free until retirement. Read More

Progress K
Effort High 1-2 weeks researching options
Added to Binder
Mortgage Interest Deductions Home Equity Loans Interest

How to Deduct Your Mortgage Interest & Equity Loan Costs

Deducting mortgage interest, as well as interest on home equity loans and HELOCs, can save money on taxes. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money High $988 (on $100,000 AGI)
Effort Low 1 hr (review IRS chart)
Investment Low $0
Added to Binder

How to Get Your PMI Tax Deduction

Home owners who are eligible to deduct private mortgage insurance, or PMI, premiums can shave hundreds of dollars off their income tax bills. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money Med $438/yr (on $100,000 AGI)
Effort Low 1 hr (calculate LTV)
Investment Low $50-$100/mo (PMI premium)
Added to Binder
First Time Home Buyer Credit

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit: Repayment Time Looms

And the fine print says? It’s time to repay the piper. The 2008 first-time home buyer tax credit was a loan, not a gift. Read More

Progress K
Effort Low 1-2 hrs (complete tax paperwork)
Added to Binder
Estate Planning Home Home Estate Planning

4 Reasons You Need an Estate Plan for Your Home

The time to solve estate planning problems is before they happen. Otherwise, what you think is a loving act—leaving your home to your heirs—can turn into a financial and familial disaster. Read More

Progress K
Effort High 1 mo. for plan
Investment Med $800-$3,500 for estate plan
Added to Binder
Great Home Insurance Tips Insurance Tips For Home Owners

7 Home Owners Insurance Tips

The new year is a good time to take stock of your home owners insurance coverage. Read More

Progress K
Effort Med 2 hrs to review
Added to Binder
Inheriting A House Tips For Inheriting A House

I Just Inherited a House. Now What?

Making the wrong decisions upon inheriting a house can lead to financial and emotional problems down the line. Here are four ways to be prepared. Read More

Progress K
Effort High 3-6 mos for probate
Investment High $1,500 for probate
Added to Binder
Foreclosure Redemption Foreclosure Reinstatement

Fight Foreclosure Through Redemption or Reinstatement

Redemptions and reinstatements are among the rarest tactics to fight foreclosure. Your home must be in a state that supports them; even more important, you must have access to cash. Read More

Progress C K
Effort High 1 wk for research
Investment Low $0--free HUD counselor
Added to Binder
House Rental Finances Does It Pay To Rent Your House

The Costs of Renting Out Your House

Renting out your house can be a smart financial move, as long as you calculate your costs carefully. Read More

Progress K
Effort Low 30 min./mo (record-keeping)
Investment Low $600/yr (mgt co)
Added to Binder
Invest In Your Home For Tax Breaks

Tips for Investing a Tax Refund in Your Home

HouseLogic talks to CPA Alan D. Kahn, who offers tips for investing a tax refund in your home based on where you are in life—and with your house. Read More

Progress K
Investment Low 1 day (review finances)
Added to Binder
Umbrella Home Insurance Costs

The Cost of Umbrella Insurance for Homeowners

The surprising thing about the cost of umbrella insurance is that it can be influenced as much by your driving record as it can be by your record as a homeowner. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money Low $60/yr (multi-policy discount)
Effort Low 2 hrs (purchase a policy)
Investment Low $300/yr ($1 million umbrella)
Added to Binder
What Is Covered In Umbrella Insurance

What’s Covered by Umbrella Insurance?

Homeowners can better guard against liability claims by knowing what’s covered by umbrella insurance and what isn’t. Read More

Progress K
Effort Low 2 hrs (purchase a policy)
Investment Low $300/yr ($1 million umbrella)
Added to Binder
Umbrella Insurance Liability Protection

Umbrella Insurance and Homeowner Liability

Umbrella insurance offers added homeowner liability protection that kicks in after homeowners insurance reaches its coverage limits. Read More

Progress K
Effort Low 2 hrs (purchase a policy)
Investment Low $300/yr ($1 million umbrella)
Added to Binder
Private Mortgage Insurance Insurance For Private Mortgages

Cancel Your Private Mortgage Insurance

Private mortgage insurance is unavoidable for some homeowners, but don’t pay PMI premiums a day longer than required by your lender. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money High $600-$1,200/yr (cancel PMI)
Effort Low 1 hr (calculate LTV)
Investment Low $362 (avg appraisal)
Added to Binder
Historic Preservation Tax Incentives

Tax Incentives for Historic Preservation

Tax incentives, including credits, deductions and easements are available for historic preservation but the rules can be complicated. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money High $500 tax credit/$2,500 spent
Effort High 60 days (initial review)
Investment High $10,000 (fees, consulting)
Added to Binder
Home Buyer Tax Credits Tax Credits For Home Ownership

Claim Your Homebuyer Tax Credits

Whether a first-time buyer or a longtime owner, you may be eligible for a homebuyer tax credit if you meet IRS guidelines. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money High $8,000 (max tax credit)
Effort Low 1 hr (Form 5405)
Investment Low $187 (avg tax-prep fee)
Added to Binder
Home Financial Planning Home Ownership Budgeting Tips

A Financial Plan for Your Home

Your home is probably your biggest investment. To manage it, create a financial plan that takes into account repairs, upgrades, mortgages, insurance, and taxes. Read More

Progress $ K
Save Money High $14,887 (mortgage interest)
Effort Med 2 days
Investment Med $100/mo (extra payment)
Added to Binder