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Articles by halina-matt

Halina Matt

Halina has spent years working to perfect her command of the written word, annoying – er, assisting – many a friend or family member along the way with her pedantic nature. She has an affinity for uncontrollable laughter, British television, take-out Thai food, and writing about personal finance, home and family – not necessarily in that order. When not typing away, she spends her time hanging with her seriously awesome family. Seriously. They’re awesome.

Congress and States Band Together for New e-Sales Tax

Are you an avid online shopper? There’s a wave of support, from both states and Congress, to enact an e-sales tax that would create a streamlined and simplified tax system requiring consumers to pay state taxes on online purchases.

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Rental Properties: To Be or Not to Be (a Landlord), That Is the Question

Check out the best cities in the U.S. to buy a rental property. If you think you may benefit from a second home as a rental property, consider the following to be sure this investment is the right fit for you.

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Make Your Summer Sizzle with These Outdoor Entertaining Tips

If you’re anything like me, the onset of warm weather has you dreaming of elaborate outdoor entertaining. If you have lofty aspirations to entertain in the coming months – but are overwhelmed by lack of time, budget constraints, or you need some neat and attainable ideas ­– Real Simple has some great tips for easy outdoor entertaining.

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When Can You (Really) Expect to Retire?

When will you be able to retire? That all depends on three factors: how well you’ve been saving, the lifestyle you want upon retiring, and the age you want to stop working. The experts over at CNNMoney recently tried to provide some answers to this big, important question.

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10 Most Common Threats to Your Home

Our homes are our sanctuaries. They’re the refuge we seek after a long day at the office, the cool, comfortable enclosures we create to reflect our personalities, and most importantly, they’re where we keep our stuff. According to CNN Money, there are certain steps you can take to make sure your home isn’t in jeopardy due to preventable threats.

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I’m Ready for My Close-Up! Staging Your Home for Sale

Selling your home these days may require lots of outside-the-box thinking. With so many homes on the market, you have to go that extra mile to make your home stand out above the rest. Staging your home before selling could mean the difference between a quick, profitable and painless sale, and sitting on the sidelines, head in hand, wondering why your home just won’t budge.

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Helpful Tips for Living with Pet Allergies

Imagine you’re sitting at home on a seemingly uneventful evening, petting your cat or dog, when suddenly you are overcome by an intense sneezing fit. Been blindsided by pet allergies and don’t know what to do? Here are a few things to consider when your furry friends have you feeling sick.

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Repairing Smoke Damage in Your Home

If you’ve ever dealt with the aftermath of smoke or fire damage in your home, you know it’s quite an overwhelming endeavor. Paint peels and chips away, thick oily residue clings to the walls like permanent marker, and there seems to be a layer of film on everything. Here’s how to attack this problem head on!

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Is an FHA Loan Right for You?

Finding the right fit when it comes to mortgage loan options can be a daunting task, especially if your credit history is less than perfect. Imagine a world in which you can find an easier credit qualifying process and low down payment options with a government-secured loan that allows lenders to give you a better deal. That world, dear readers, is here and now, and we in the business like to call it an FHA Loan.

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