Where's my tax refund?

Did you know that 75% of U.S. taxpayers are expecting a refund this year?  If you're wondering when you'll get your money, you have several ways to check.


Call the IRS
Call 1-800-829-1040.  Before you call, you'll need to provide your Social Security number, your filing status -- single, married filing either jointly or separately, head of household, or qualifying widow or widower -- and the amount of your expected refund, as shown on your tax return, rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
Also, consider how long it has been since you filed. You may not have given the IRS enough time to process your return.
If you e-filed, you should give the IRS at least 72 hours before calling about your refund status. If you instead sent in your return through the mail, you should wait at least three weeks before checking your federal tax refund status. If you call sooner, they probably won’t have anything to report.


The IRS Website
Go to www.irs.gov and choose the "Where's My Refund" tool. Just like when you call the IRS, you will need to provide your Social Security number, your filing status -- single, married filing either jointly or separately, head of household, or qualifying widow or widower -- and the amount of your expected refund, as shown on your tax return, rounded to the nearest whole dollar. The tool is updated every Wednesday.


IRS2Go  - Smart Phone App
For iPhone and Android phone users. You can download the free app at the Apple App store or Android Marketplace. Input the same three pieces of information -- Social Security number, filing status and expected refund -- to find out when you'll get your money. (Next year, be sure to choose direct deposit if you're filing your return electronically; you may receive your refund in as little as ten days.)

Should I refinance my home mortgage?

This question can be hard to answer depending on your individual situation.  There is a lot of information on the Internet on this topic – good and bad.

Before you make your move to refinance your home loan ask yourself several questions:

1)      Will the refinance lower my monthly repayment and interest rate?

2)      Can I shorten the length of my mortgage when refinancing?

3)      What will my costs be to refinance my existing mortgage?

4)      Will I be able to get some cash-out?

   

You can use a Mortgage Calculator to get a general idea of what your approximate new monthly payment will be.

Ask your Mortgage Planner if shortening the length of your loan will benefit you and your situation.

There will always be costs involved in getting a new loan or refinancing your existing loan.  Make sure you understand all of the one time and ongoing fees before you refinance.

If you have equity in your home, you may also be able to take out money when you refinance your loan.

You should definitely contact a Certified Mortgage Planner who can run your credit and answer any refinance questions you may have.

Don't start home shopping until you are Pre-Approved first!

So, you’ve been thinking of purchasing a home.  You’ve picked up all of the real estate books from the grocery store stand and you are now ready to call a Realtor®.

Stop!

In this market, buyers need to get pre-approved for a loan before even consulting with a Realtor® for a variety of reasons.

Here are a few:

• Most Realtors® these days won’t even waste their time driving clients around to look at homes without a pre-approval.

• You won’t have the disappointment and heartache of finding a house you fall in love with only to find out you don’t qualify for a loan.

• Sellers want buyers to be pre-approved.

• With tighter underwriting requirements, you may not qualify for a loan you may have qualified for a year or two ago.

• Many properties are “under-priced” to provoke multiple offers.  If you are not already pre-approved, you may miss out on being able to submit a competitve offer.

Consulting with a Mortgage Lender prior to shopping for a home will help you understand the best loan option available to you and possibly save you money & heartache!

If you are ready to apply for pre-approval, click HERE.

5 Smart Ways To Increase Your Savings (without even trying!)

You might think that in these times of rising gas prices and that ugly phrase "down economy" it is next to impossible to save money.

I've come up with 5 simple and smart ways to save a little bit of cash and hardly feel it.  Over a year's time these savings can really add up!

1) Garage Sales - Look, everyone loves a good bargain these days.  Garage and yard sales are more popular than ever!  You can easily make $100 or more in just one day.  Plus you will be getting rid of all the clutter you've collected in the basement and/or garage.  Don't forget to advertise your sale on sites like Craigslist and Gee Sale-er (which has it's own Smart Phone App by the way).

2)  Pack a lunch - How often do you go out to lunch?  Did you know that the average person spends $7 per day on lunch?  Brown bagging it can cost as little as $2 per day. Try this handy Lunch Savings Calculator to see the tremendous savings impact of packing a lunch everyday!

3) Use the Library - Stop purchasing books, DVD's and even Video Games!  The library is free so go get a library card and start taking advantage of all the Public Library has to offer.  Many libraries also offer quiet spaces with free Wi-Fi to actually get things done away from the home or office.

4) Ask for Discounts - From buying airline tickets to paying a medical bill, always ask if there's a discount to be had. The worst that can happen is you'll be told no.

5) Watch Those Utilities - Changing over to energy saving light bulbs and low flow showerheads is a great start. Also, most utility companies offer a home audit you can complete online.

There are several other ways you can put a little money aside each week.  Add it up over a year’s time and the money you save can perhaps be used during the holidays for gifts or that family vacation you thought you never could afford.

The trick is to take the money you save, put it in the bank and don't touch it until you need it.