Author Archives: Carol Morgan

Online Shopping Sales Tax and ID Theft Protection

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ID protection for online shopping

ID protection for online shopping

Two things that probably do not enter your mind when shopping online are sales tax and ID theft protection. However, the experts at the Equifax Finance Blog think they should spring to mind with every item your ‘click’ into your virtual shopping cart.

Currently, thousands of Americans have being clicking their paychecks away for this season’s latest holiday gifts. Many gifts are probably shipping from several states away as we speak. In their article, “

Online Shopping, Sales Tax, and You,” the Equifax Finance Blog experts want to remind you to look at your sales total before clicking ‘submit’ on your purchases.

If your total does not reflect a sales tax, it is a purchase that you will need to keep records of for you taxes due in the springtime. This is because many local governments are suffering from the lack of funds being collected in person at local businesses due to the overwhelming influx of online shoppers.

It may not seem like a big problem to some, but for many states who rely on the sales tax for governance funding (which is used for schools, highways, etc.), it is a real concern. If you haven’t been paying sales taxes for your online purchase, check out Governing.com and find out what you should have paid.

When tax season comes some individual tax returns may have a ‘Use Tax’ line on them. This line is where online shoppers will need to fill out their shopping payment information.

Being aware of your online shopping purchases can also become an identity theft solution for some shoppers, because comparing your purchase history plus bank statements regularly is always a smart idea!

For more information about taxes, credit reports,

ID protection and more, please check out the Equifax Finance Blog today!

Avoid a Design Crisis After Your Foreclosure Purchase

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Carolina real estate design

You just bought your first Carolina real estate foreclosure property, now what? Chances are you have a million thoughts running through your mind about all of the updates your new home needs. Don’t panic! By creating a design plan, you can effectively turn your home from shabby to shiny!

The first step is to make a list of things that clearly need some work. Next, make a design board. Gather inspiration and pictures from a variety of courses and paste them onto your board. You can get a sold vision of your home by thinking about your choices for cabinets, countertops, lighting, flooring,  trim, paint, appliances and more. Good sources of inspiration include new home construction models, the internet, magazines and more. Model homes are especially useful because all the design research has been done for you, and oftentimes the design trends used are ahead of the curve. You can also turn to larger companies such as PPG Porter Paints for ideas. They have color consultants around the world working to draw trends together for a global, well-rounded look.

Once your list and design board are complete, it’s time to get to work. Consider what items are most important and what can wait? That hideous bathroom may be unbearable, but the flooring throughout your main living areas are seen by more people.

Having a design board and a list will not only help you prioritize, but also stay on track. Even though you probably can’t afford to do everything all at one time, you’ll be able to rely on your research to complete your transformation seamlessly over a period of time.

Tessa Jones is a South Zone Color Consultant with PPG Porter Paints

New Home for Veterans Opens in North Carolina

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North Carolina veteran housing

Recently, state and city officials gathered for the grand opening of the new N.C. State Veterans Home in Black Mountain. The facility aims at providing long-term healthcare for U.S. military veterans.

“We always like to say that North Carolina is the most military-friendly state in the nation and it really shows with the opening of the new N.C. State Veterans Home in Black Mountain,” said Gov. Perdue. “This is how we show appreciation to those who served and sacrificed to make our state and country a better, safer place to live and prosper.”

The facility, which has 100 beds total, provides residents with their own rooms and bathrooms. These rooms are grouped into “neighborhoods” of 12-14 residents who share a common area complete with dining room, large-screen TV and courtyard.

In addition to these housing facilities, residents also receive skilled nursing care and a state-of-the-art therapy center.

The N.C. State Veterans Home program provides skilled care services to qualifying North Carolina veterans. Currently, about 765,900 veterans live in the state, and approximately 100,000 of those reside in the western portion of the state.

The State Veterans Home program is a fully receipt-based operation. Homes operate on funds from private pay, Medicaid/Medicare, Veterans Affairs pension and/or per diem, and other sources such as gifts and donations. The N.C. Division of Veterans Affairs, which is part of the N.C. Department of Administration, employs a private provider to manage the facility. North Carolina currently operates two other facilities, a 150-bed facility in Fayetteville, and a 99-bed in Salisbury. A fourth facility in Kinston is scheduled to be completed in early 2013.

For additional information about the State Veterans Home program, visit the N.C. Division of Veterans Affairs website at www.ncveterans.net. For more North Carolina real estate news, explore our site.

Ryan Homes Announces New Single Family Homes at Birkdale Grove

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new homes near Charlotte

Ryan Homes is excited to announce new homes coming soon to Birkdale Grove in Huntersville, N.C. Carolina new home buyers who have been searching for the perfect new home in this prestigious area won’t want to miss out on this limited opportunity!

Homeowners at Birkdale Grove will enjoy a selection of six unique floor plans with up to six bedrooms and more than 2,500 square feet of living space. These homes are all priced from the $280,000s with brick or stone fronts, HardiePlank Colorplus siding, two-car garages, extensive landscaping packages, high-end finishes and much more! Like all new Ryan homes, these homes are fully Energy Star certified, meaning your utility costs will be cut by up to 30 percent. With only 13 homesites remaining, interested buyers should act now!

Huntersville is a sought-after area, and Birkdale Grove is just one mile to shopping, movie theaters and restaurants. Residents will also enjoy being just north of Charlotte with convenient access to Birkdale Golf Club, Lake Norman and I-77.

For more information on these wonderful new homes, visit www.RyanHomes.com.

Net-Zero Homes Under Construction in South Carolina

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net-zero South Carolina real estate

When you think of housing markets leading the way in green and energy efficient building, you most likely think of California. However, green home builder Nexus EnergyHomes is expanding their efforts to the South Carolina market with two new communities where geothermal and solar PV is a standard combination for each home.

The developer’s Carolina real estate designs call for geothermal heating and cooling, energy recovery ventilation, PV solar array, state-of-the-art electronic and web-based controls and monitoring systems, super insulated building shells and Energy-Star rated appliances.

When combined, these technologies enable homes to produce almost as much energy as they consume, saving these lucky homeowners thousands of dollars each year annually on energy expenses.

Sunchaser at Bridlewood Farms in Ridgeville, South Carolina is a 30 home community with homes ranging in size from 1,900 to 3,100 square feet and pricing from the mid $250,000s.

At Sundial GeoSolar Community of River Birch in Summerville, South Carolina, buyers will find 12 three to five bedrooms homes with 2,500 to 3,450 square feet and pricing from the mid $300,000s.

For more information on these net-zero energy home opportunities, visit the Nexus EnergyHomes website.