Real Estate Investing

So in the interests of ensuring that a prospective home buyer never has to leave their computer, all things real estate are now available online. But up until recently, it was difficult to find a good rating system determining the number and types of businesses within driving distance. Very inconvenient. Now all that has changed, thanks to Fizber.com. Name a property - any property - and Fizber will rate it with its “Drive Score Real Estate Widget.”

My home scored 75 out of 100. So exciting. Of course, the mighty widget overlooked key locations like the Longhorn Steakhouse on the corner, but it did include the local karaoke bar! So hat’s off to this new innovative interactive interfacing. It’s worth a look if you’re eyeing that big move. Of course, you could always just do a drive-by and have a look-see in person (so early 90’s).

The mighty widget could be most helpful when relocating to a distant town. Not only will you discover the “Drive Score” of your possibly soon-to-be new home, but you will also learn a thing or two about the quality of businesses nearby, which speaks directly to the quality of the neighborhood. Fizber displays the businesses in a categorized list form and also on an interactive display map. That way, you can determine just how close that karaoke bar really would be.

If you’re interested and have spare time, this is enlightening - a list of the average homeowners and renter’s insurance premiums by state. I was pleased to learn mine lined up with the average in my state. While you’re at it, you may want to check out Consumer Action’s tips on how to lower your premiums:

Higher deductible: As with anything, a higher deductible means a lower premium. Consumer Action says a higher deductible of even just a few hundred dollars can make a significant difference.

Buy sufficient insurance: It’s best to make sure your coverage amount is sufficient before you actually have to file a claim.

Ask: Simply asking your agent for a discount may open up some doors you didn’t even know existed. Furthermore, it could shed light on some additions you can make to your home in order to be eligible for said discounts. Anything from deadbolts on the doors and a home security system to your age and length of time as a customer with that particular company can actually save you money on your monthly premium! And a penny saved is truly a penny earned!

The topic of global warming is hot right now, and eco-friendly everything is en vogue. Clean energy is a hot topic in current political debates and there’s even a new cultural phrase emerging - “E.C.” (environmentally correct).

Helping the earth is a worthy goal, but what if you could help yourself in the process? Obviously, we’ve discussed how eco-friendly building can reduce utilities costs. However, you may not know about the multitude of related tax benefits.

Tax Credits are available at the federal level for home improvements including: the installation of energy efficient windows; doors; roofing; insulation; HVAC; solar panels and fuel cells. More specifically, tax credits can tally up to $500 for general eco-friendly home improvements, but up to 30 percent of the cost of solar energy systems (up to a $2,000 limit) and up to 30 percent of the cost of fuel cell installation (up to a $1,000 limit).

Click here for info on which states offer incentives for energy efficiency, and also check out the Green Daily Tax Guide. There, you will find much more detailed information on eco-friendly tax benefits.