Budget Kitchen Remodeling: 5 Money-Saving Steps

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Where Owners Pay the Most, Least in Property Taxes

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With tax burdens on the minds of many Americans as tax season approaches and election issues gain steam, one analysis of property taxes in the 50 states finds a wide spread of rates, including some surprising results.

24/7 Wall St. recently analyzed data from the Tax Foundation to review property taxes paid in each state as a percentage of home values to find which state’s home owners pay the most and least in property taxes.

Read the article to learn what the study found…

4 Must-Know Facts About the Last Frank Lloyd Wright

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About a month ago, this distinctive three-bedroom, three-bath home in Phoenix went on the market for $3.6 million. This desert dwelling is particularly notable because it’s the final masterpiece designed by Frank Lloyd Wright before he died in 1959.

Its undulating shape, cantilevered space, and porthole cutouts throughout are Wright hallmarks that remind the eye of his design of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

I’ve had my eye on Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs for a long time, so enjoy the full story here.

Don’t Miss These Home Tax Deductions

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Owning a home can pay off at tax time. Take advantage of these home ownership-related tax deductions and strategies to lower your tax bill.

Top 10 Design Trends

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The modern home is always evolving. And to get an idea of what it’s evolving to, look no further than what’s happening within its walls today. Select the photo above to view 10 of the top design trends for 2016.

7 Tips to Get a Home Winter-Ready

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Winter is on the way, and home owners should preparing their homes for the colder temperatures. The National Association of Home Builders Remodelers suggested home maintenance tips to increase energy efficiency and lessen the chance of emergency repairs.

Vacant ‘Zombie’ Foreclosures Down 43% in Third Quarter 2015 Compared to a Year Ago

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RealtyTrac recently released its Q3 Zombie Foreclosure and Vacant Property Report, which shows 20,050 residential properties in the foreclosure process – but not yet repossessed – were vacant “zombie” homes as of the end of the third quarter of 2015, down 27 percent from the previous quarter and down 43 percent from a year ago. Vacant residential properties in the foreclosure process accounted for 1.3 percent of all vacant residential properties, with bank-owned homes (REO) accounting for another 1.9 percent of all vacant properties as of the end of the third quarter. The report shows a total of 1.5 million vacant U.S. residential properties, 1.8 percent of all 84.7 million U.S. residential properties.

Read the full story…

91% of Properties Now Have Equity

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About 759,000 properties regained equity in the second quarter, bringing the total number of residential mortgages that are lower than their property’s value to about 45.9 million. That equates to about 91 percent of all mortgaged properties. Borrower equity has risen year-over-year by $691 billion, according to CoreLogic’s second quarter equity report.

Read more…

5 Best Values for Your Home Improvement Dollar

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If you’re considering having some remodeling done, it pays to know what will add the most value to your house. Here are some of the best ways to spend your hard-earned home improvement dollars, provided by American Home Shield.

8 Ways to Turn Tired into Trendy

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If you’re longing to give your home a fresh look, upcycling is the way to go. Turning something old into something new and useful can save you money and give you a beautiful look for less. Let these ideas transform your eyesore into a stunner.