Saturday, May 21, 2011

Facts About The Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID)

Are you running an Open House this weekend?  Are you a potential Buyer and you're considering making an offer on a home?  Here are some facts about the Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID) that you should know:
                     

                       
                                                   

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                                Couple figuring the mortgage interest tax deduction
                               
                             
                                 
                             
                           

                           
                           

    7 Mortgage Interest Deduction Myths


                           
    Think losing the mortgage interest deduction would be no big deal? We bust seven myths to show why the cost is bigger than you think. Read

                           

                           
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Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

                             
Copyright 2011 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

                       

                       

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Be on the Lookout for Con Artists Knocking on Your Door

From the Massachusetts office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, comes this warning:


Attention Homeowners!
Be on the Lookout for Con Artists Knocking on Your Door

Individuals looking to steal or con people out of money may work in pairs and pose as utility workers in order to enter a home. While one distracts, the other robs. Senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to these types of scams. An elderly Braintree couple was recently robbed by a North Carolina pair posing as state electrical inspectors in order to gain access to their home.

When people show up in person claiming to represent a state agency or other organization, it is always best to err on the side of caution; don’t let strangers enter your home without first asking for identification; and, when in doubt, call the police. State electrical inspectors will always carry identification, badges, and business cards and usually drive marked vehicles.

In Massachusetts, all electricians must be licensed by the Board of State Examiners of Electricians. The Board examines and licenses candidates and enforces the regulations and general laws relative to electrical installations in Massachusetts. The Board also prosecutes those found to be working without a license, either through the Division of Professional Licensure (DPL) Office of Prosecutions, the Attorney General’s Office, or directly in the courts of the Commonwealth. Many other professions such as plumbers, realtors, and home inspectors are also licensed by DPL and should provide identification prior to entering your home.

Consumers are urged to visit the Division of Professional Licensure’s website at http://license.reg.state.ma.us/loca/locaprof.asp to determine whether a professional they are considering doing business with is licensed and in good standing.


If you have concerns about a licensee that you are considering, the DPL Office of Investigations can be reached at (617) 727-7406.



Barbara Anthony, Undersecretary       10 Park Plaza      Suite 5170      Boston, MA  02116
Hotline 617-973-8787    888-283-3757    www.mass.gov/consumer