Income Articles - Page 1

$8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Has Time Restrictions
If you're looking to take advantage of the $8000 first time home buyer tax credit or the $6500 long term (move up) (repeat) home buyer tax credit, you'd better hurry. You have to have a contract signed in hand soon and you must close on…

When an investment property is sold as a short sale, it generates what is known as "phantom income." The IRS looks at the difference between what the property is worth and what your sold it for in the short sale as income. You should receive a 1099 for the phantom income generated by the short sale…

The $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit is quite popular these days and everybody that might qualify for it wants to qualify for it. But there are strict rules relating to who can qualify for the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit. If you are a nonresident alien you do not qualify for the…

The $8000 first time home buyer tax credit is quite a bit of money. But you must meet all the guidelines and restrictions. Some of the restrictions may seem unfail To qualify for the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit, it must be your primary residence and you must fall under a certain income…

If you are a first time home buyer and want to claim the $8000 first time home buyer tax credit, make sure you meet all the guidelines and restrictions. To qualify for the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit, it must be your primary residence and you must fall under a certain income limit. You…

If you work for a company that offers a match for a 401(k) should you take it? And, how much should you contribute to the 401(k)? If the company offers to match 50 percent of the contribution up to the first 6 percent of your salary you contribute to the 401(k), should you contribute over and above…

With grocery stores advertising good deals, it's just one sign of retailers helping consumers. A recent study released by the Center for Housing Policy compared housing affordability against how much people earn. The study found that while the home prices have declined, many people still cannot…

One in five Americans believes that winning the lottery is the only practical way to become wealthy. But a better alternative to winning the lottery to become a millionaire is to save. Here’s how to turn those lottery investments into profitable savings.

As you get older you may be trying to think of ways to supplement your income. One way to supplement income in retirement is a reverse mortgage, but that works only for homes that are nearly paid off. If you still owe money on a mortgage for your primary residence you won't be able to get a reverse…

A writer wonders if he can refinance after losing his job. Ilyce explains that without a regular source of income, like a full-time job, you will have a difficult time refinancing your existing loan or even getting a home equity loan or line of credit.

Can non-traditional methods, like income from rental property actually pay for college tuition? Income from a rental property - not just CDs and stocks can help you save money for your child's college tuition. After paying college tuition, the income from rental property can be saved for retirement…

While the federal stimulus package continues to evolve, it's clear that many Americans want government help in the form of a stimulus package or housing tax credit. The housing tax credit that started out at $7,500 and could have gone to $15,000, is now at $8,000 for first time home buyers, but they…

Without adequate income, you can't qualify to get a mortgage loan to buy a home. In addition to income, lenders want to see that you have a good credit score before giving you a mortgage loan. Once you've got the income, a good credit history and credit score, you can start looking for a house to…

A teacher is trying to sell her house, but she's worried about the slow market and her adjustable rate mortgage resetting to a monthly payment that she can't afford on her income. She wants to know how to pay down her mortgage, or what other options she has. To pay down your mortgage you can get…

Credit card debt can hurt your chances of closing on a home even if you have already been approved for a mortgage. What many borrowers don't realize is that the lender may take another financial snapshot of their lives just before the closing. The second pull of your credit history and credit score…

Homeowners sold their home for less than the mortgaged amount, which is known as a short sale. The IRS considers this as a gift from the lender and will collect income tax on the amount forgiven. The forgiven amount of the loan is commonly referred to as "phantom income" simply because it doesn't…

Real Estate Minute with Ilyce Glink How Steady Is Your Paycheck? Original Air Date: October 16, 2006

A real estate investors have created an LLC to separate their personal and business properties. They are having trouble financing due to an increase debt to income ratio. If a large part of your income is from your real estate business or you have enough buildings to affect your income, many…

When creating a budget it is important to understand what percentage of your income should be going to you housing costs. The 28/36 debt to income ratio is commonly used by home lenders. Lenders will allow you to spend up to 28 percent of your gross monthly income on your mortgage, real estate…

After you graduate from college, or drop below half-time enrollment, you will need to start repaying your college student loans. If you have a Federal (FEEL) or Direct Stafford Loan, you'll need to begin repaying your loans after 6 months. If you have a Federal Perkins Loan, you'll have to begin…

Looking for a job? This is the second in a two-part series on surviving the job search process with your ego intact. This great job hunting advice comes from one of the nation's leading resume consultants, Liz Handlin. The next time you interview for a job remember that you are analyzing them as…

When you're applying for life insurance you'll likely speak with an insurance agent who will ask you questions to assess your risk. After the life insurance agent has assessed your risk, he or she will provide you with a dollar amount for your life insurance premium. The life insurance premium is…

It's hard enough to sit down and create a financial plan when you have full-time job generating a regular income. Add an unsteady income and financial planning becomes an even bigger chore. Sometimes it takes a little unconventional investing and sometimes using an investment firm to help with that…

When you win a contest, it's like winning the lottery. You get the goods but you have to pay tax on your winnings as personal income rather than capital gains. The difference can be pretty dramatic in terms of taxes owed. Many people choose to take a cash payment instead of the prize, because they…

If you're going to buy a house or refinance your existing loan this year, you should take the time to organize your finances now. Gathering your paperwork together will make it easy to apply for a loan later. Keeping your insurance policies, checking and savings accounts, retirement accounts…