Archive for February, 2007



Last Minute Items Before Closing

Published on February 27, 2007

It’s getting down to the wire now and there are still a few things that we need to round up before sitting at settlement. I recently received my gift letter from my mom and the money was received. I will then have to go to the bank and get a cashier’s check to bring to [...]


Amending My 2006 Taxes - How To

Published on February 20, 2007

So you paid your taxes already and you made a mistake on your taxes that may affect your refund, it’s time to fill out the 1040X. Luckily, this form is really short and quite simple, especially, if you have a copy of TurboTax or TaxCut. I forgot to deduct my student loan interest this year [...]


Ground Rent in Maryland

Published on February 19, 2007

If you don’t know what ground rent is, then you have finally come to the right place. The interesting thing in a lot of cities is that the ground that the property sits on is not owned by you. This dates back to the mid 1800’s. My ground rent is approximately $75/year and the [...]


Almost Time to Close on the House

Published on

I have a little over 2 weeks before I close on the house. There are so many things that need to be rounded up prior to closing. One of which was the appraisal. I really hate the way that they appraise the house. Some say this and others say this. This is all dependent on [...]


Homeowner’s Insurance

Published on February 12, 2007

I had to quickly call a few companies for homeowner’s insurance. There are few critical numbers that you need to get ebfore calling for a quote. In Maryland, online quotes are not available so you will have to speak with a CSR (customer service rep) to get a quote. Here is what I discovered.


I’m Officially a Homeowner

Published on February 11, 2007

After 2 summers and this winter of looking, I have finally purchased my first home. It took a little time find my home, but it is finally done. I put in a bid two days ago and the seller accepted it. I bid 19K below the asking price and got it. I am now in [...]


First Time Home Buyer IRA Withdrawal

Published on February 8, 2007

In the light of recent events of buying a home, I was thinking about taking some money out of my Roth IRA to pay down some of the closing costs. I was reading on the web and there are a few simple rules to avoiding the 10% penalty for early withdrawal and taxes. Technically, you [...]