Author: Donna Arcara
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Make Sure Your Deck is Ready to be Enjoyed!
Tips from The Handyman Connection Thank you to Handyman Connection for sharing the following tips. Collapsing decks is a serious problem. Decks collapse for a variety of reasons but mostly because they were not built correctly, they have not been properly maintained and because they’re too old. To make sure your deck is safe, look…
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New Home Construction Picks Up in Birmingham
According to today’s Birmingham Business Journal, new home construction is starting to pick up in Birmingham. New home construction in the Birmingham area began to thaw in February, according to recent data from the Alabama Center for Real Estate. The University of Alabama center said 120 single-family home building permits were issued in February, a…
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If I Sell My Home, Will I Have to Pay Capital Gains Tax?
Thanks to Charles Bates for sharing this great description of a very important question: If you sell your home, will you have to pay capital gains tax? The IRS permits a maximum exclusion on capital gain of $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for married couples filing a joint return who sell their home, but of…
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Latest Census Information About Alabama…
The 2010 Census Information has been published for our state, with several interesting trends over the past ten years. Arcara Residential is pleased to have many choices of homes in the areas of growth! Do a property search by area to find the latest listings. Here are a few specific areas that line up with…
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Need a Smaller Down Payment?
While down payment requirements have increased for some programs, it is still possible to buy a home with less than 5% down…or even NO money down. For example, FHA offers a loan program that requires as little as 3.5% down. In addition, the VA and USDA offer loans that require no down payment. Of course,…
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Birmingham Area Homebuilders may be Poised for Comeback
The following article by Dawn Kent was in the Birmingham News on February 3, 2011. Metro Birmingham homebuilders could be poised for a comeback in 2011, after a steep market downturn left most of the industry battered. During a two-week period in January, more than 50 building permits were issued for speculative single-family homes in…
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7 Ways to Prevent Water Damage
Gary Davis from Farmer’s Insurance shared the following tips about preventing household water damage. Did you know? – Ninety percent of household damage is the result of water damage and flooding. Broken water pipes are a major contributor to that figure. Electronic items are destroyed. Rugs, curtains and clothes are ruined. Electric shock risk is dramatically…
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Summer Energy-Saving Tips
Everyone just got a big summer power bill and it is still hot outside. We hope these hints will help you save on your power bill until the cooler weather gets here. Follow these simple, cost-effective tips to stay cool and reduce summer energy bills: Turn In. Turn On ENERGY STAR® qualified room air conditioners…