http://www.lawhorn-associates.com/blog/View Lawhorn and Associates Insurance's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.lawhorn-associates.comInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:5f73a6ff-1a2d-4207-a39a-48ead35bf345urn:uuid:273f591e-7092-4484-9e3a-26cec4d1a6ae<img src='http://www.allaboutnews.com/web/images/web/QT_Tax_Breaks.jpg' align='left' /> Five Tax Breaks Every Homeowner Should Know Benjamin Franklin&nbsp;once said, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." More than 200 years later, this certainly hol...Fri, 13 May 2011 10:42:16 -0500<table width="600" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: table; text-align: left;"> <tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;"> <tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"> <td style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: table-cell; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"> <h2 style="margin-top: 0.83em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.83em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; color: #3162a6; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block; text-align: center;">Five Tax Breaks Every Homeowner Should Know</h2> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: block;"><img alt="" src="http://www.allaboutnews.com/web/images/web/QT_Tax_Breaks.jpg" width="174" height="171" style="border:0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; float: right; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px;" />Benjamin Franklin&nbsp;once said, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." More than 200 years later, this certainly holds true. And while being a homeowner won't add years to your life, the modern tax code has a number of benefits certain to make your tax bill lower. The following are a few ways your CPA or&nbsp;Tax Preparer&nbsp;can help you save:&nbsp;<br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" /> <br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" /> <strong style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;">Take an interest in your mortgage interest</strong>&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Statistics&nbsp;show that only about half of homeowners claim this valuable deduction. Make sure you're one of them. On average, qualified American homeowners save about $2,000 per return by deducting mortgage interest. And when added up over the life of the loan, this can make a big difference in your retirement savings. This is a huge break that renters don't get! So take advantage of it.&nbsp;<br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" /> <br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" /> <strong style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;">Don't forget about the points</strong>&nbsp;&ndash; Points paid to refinance your home are also fully deductible throughout the life of the loan. For example, let's say in February of this year you refinanced your home for a new 20-year loan (or 240 months) and you paid $3,000 in points. By the end of this year, you can write off $125.00 for those 10 months (March through December). Beginning next year, of course, and each year thereafter, you can write off the full $150.00 until the points have been fully deducted. It's important to note that buyers can also deduct mortgage points that are paid by the seller, as long as the cost basis of the property is reduced by the amount of the seller-paid points.&nbsp;<br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" /> <br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" /> <strong style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;">Old points are as good as new</strong>&nbsp;&ndash; Unamortized points from old refinancing are deductible in the year of a new refinance. Using the above example, let's say rates dropped again and you refinanced again in February of the next year and paid $2,400 in points. The remaining balance of the points on the old loan, $2,875, is fully deductible &ndash; plus the money you could deduct for any qualifying mortgage payments made toward the new points.&nbsp;<br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" /> <br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" /> <strong style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;">Sell Your House</strong>&nbsp;&ndash; While points are not deductible for sellers, you can exclude as much as $250,000 in gain ($500,000 on a joint return) when you sell your primary home (your principal residence for two of the last five years). If you don't qualify for the two-year rule, you can get a partial exclusion if the sale of your home is the result of either qualifying changes of employment, health reasons, or other&nbsp;unforeseen circumstances.&nbsp;<br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" /> <br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" /> <strong style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;">Casualty deductions</strong>&nbsp;&ndash; Floods, forest fires, hurricanes, earthquakes and other&nbsp;natural disasters&nbsp;can be devastating, especially to homeowners. Ask your CPA how you can take deductions on&nbsp;casualty losses, even if you collected insurance. In addition, if the President declares your area a disaster area, you have even more options.&nbsp;<br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" /> <br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" /> There are, of course, income limits to qualify for this incentive, and other important details, but give us a call, and we'll see if you can take advantage of a tax gift that even Ben Franklin could appreciate.&nbsp;<br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" /> <br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;" /> Remember, this, or any article you might read on your own, should never serve as tax advice. Always consult with a qualified CPA or Tax Preparer before making any tax decisions.</p> </td> </tr> <tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"> <td style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: table-cell; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: table;"> <tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial;"> <tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>urn:uuid:a438acbb-6500-4de5-882d-b4183fb3797aTo Help the Tornado victims, Lawhorn and Associates will donate $10.00 to the Red Cross for each Auto Club policy we sell. &nbsp;Thu, 12 May 2011 19:56:11 -0500To Help the Tornado victims, Lawhorn and Associates will donate $10.00 to the Red Cross for each Auto Club policy we sell. &nbsp;urn:uuid:8d299e2d-2024-4656-828b-0b065cec7548Tennessee Disaster Survivors: Get The Facts About Disaster Assistance&nbsp; Release Date: May 10, 2011 Release Number: 1974-006 &raquo;&nbsp;More Information on Tennessee&nbsp;Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Associated Flooding&nbs...Tue, 10 May 2011 09:13:41 -0500<h1 style="color: #cc3333; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.1em; padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Tennessee Disaster Survivors: Get The Facts About Disaster Assistance<a name="content">&nbsp;</a></h1> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;">Release Date: May 10, 2011<br /> Release Number: 1974-006</p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;"><a href="http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=14272" style="color: #003366; text-decoration: underline;">&raquo;&nbsp;More Information on Tennessee&nbsp;Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Associated Flooding</a>&nbsp;</p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;">NASHVILLE, Tenn. --<strong>&nbsp;</strong>Following a disaster, survivors sometimes hear inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information about disaster assistance. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency urge Tennesseans in the 10 counties affected by recent tornadoes, severe storms and flooding to get the facts now from TEMA and FEMA.</p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;">The counties designated for federal assistance due to the storms of April 25-28, 2011 are&nbsp;<strong>Bledsoe, Bradley, Cocke, Greene, Hamilton, Johnson, McMinn, Monroe, Rhea</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>and Washington.</strong></p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;">&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t want anyone to miss out on available assistance because of wrong information,&rdquo; said Jim Bassham, director of TEMA.</p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;">FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer W. Montague Winfield stressed that anyone with damages in the designated counties should apply for assistance. &ldquo;The only way to ensure you get the help you are entitled to is to register with FEMA,&rdquo; he said.</p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;"><strong>The best way to register for FEMA assistance is online at&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov/" style="color: #003366; text-decoration: underline;"><strong>www.DisasterAssistance.gov</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;or by calling FEMA&rsquo;s toll-free registration number (800) 621-FEMA (3362), or for the hearing- or speech-impaired TTY (800) 462-7585. The registration lines are available daily from 7 a.m. to&nbsp;</strong><br /> <strong>10 p.m. local time. Recovery specialists offer help in most languages.</strong></p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;">Here are some of the most common questions and misconceptions about assistance, with answers from TEMA and FEMA:</p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;"><strong>Do I need to go to a Disaster Recovery Center to register for state/FEMA assistance?&nbsp;</strong><br /> You may, but you are encouraged to register online or by calling FEMA directly.<strong>&nbsp;</strong>At the recovery center, you can obtain additional services, get help with your registration and, answers to specific questions, and check on the status of your registration. No money or checks are distributed at DRCs.</p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;"><strong>I reported my damages to my county emergency manager and/or to the Red Cross or other agency. Does that mean I&rsquo;m registered with FEMA?</strong><br /> &ldquo;<em>No.</em>&rdquo; The only way to register with FEMA is online by calling FEMA&rsquo;s toll-free registration number.<strong></strong></p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;"><strong>I received FEMA assistance after storms last year. Can I receive more assistance this year?&nbsp;</strong><br /> If you have damages from the recent storms, you may be eligible for new assistance.<strong></strong></p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;"><strong>There are people who need the help more than I do, so I&rsquo;m not going to register.</strong>&nbsp;<br /> You are not depriving anyone else of help by registering yourself.<strong>&nbsp;</strong>FEMA has sufficient funding to cover all eligible losses.</p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;"><strong>I have insurance. Should I still register for aid?</strong>&nbsp;<br /> FEMA may be able to help you with disaster-related costs that your insurance does not cover. The only way to be eligible is to register with FEMA.</p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;"><strong>Representatives from TEMA and FEMA already looked at my property and asked me questions.&nbsp;&nbsp; Doesn&rsquo;t that mean I'm registered?&nbsp;</strong><br /> You may have seen representatives of local, state or federal agencies during damage assessments. The only way to register for assistance from FEMA is online or by calling FEMA.</p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;"><strong>I&rsquo;d like to apply for help from FEMA but I&rsquo;m afraid it will affect my Social Security or other government benefits.</strong>&nbsp;<br /> FEMA grants do not affect eligibility for any other benefit program or the amounts received from other programs. The grants are not reported to the IRS as income.</p> <p style="color: #333333; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 0px;"><em>FEMA&rsquo;s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.</em></p>urn:uuid:4c64c489-35e2-4d31-ad2f-6703ad6a5c3dWe are now selling Wedding Insurance. &nbsp;Protect your special day by insuring the unexpected that happens and you are covered to make fast decision to make things right. See the Wedding section on our website.Tue, 10 May 2011 07:46:59 -0500We are now selling <strong><em>Wedding Insurance</em></strong>. &nbsp;Protect your special day by insuring the unexpected that happens and you are covered to make fast decision to make things right. See the Wedding section on our website.<br />urn:uuid:c1ac3440-0597-4e09-a082-7e5a3c8c6dceWe are offering a special deal on our premium Auto Club. &nbsp;Now until the end of Summer, we are offering our Auto Club for 69.00. &nbsp;It is regularly priced at 99.00. &nbsp;Call today for details..................... &nbsp; 423-867-3030. &nbsp;T...Tue, 10 May 2011 07:46:50 -0500<span style="font-size: large;">We are offering a special deal on our premium </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Auto Club</span><span style="font-size: large;">. &nbsp;Now until the end of Summer, we are offering our Auto Club for </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">69.00</span><span style="font-size: large;">. &nbsp;It is regularly priced at 99.00. &nbsp;Call today for details..................... &nbsp; </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">423-867-3030</span><span style="font-size: large;">. &nbsp;This is available for all of Tennessee and Georgia.</span>urn:uuid:4928910a-ef72-48f2-8155-8c3c7bafe7acWe are now selling Wedding Insurance. &nbsp;Protect your special day by insuring the unexpected that happens and you are covered to make fast decision to make things right. See the Wedding section on our website.Tue, 10 May 2011 07:42:46 -0500We are now selling <strong><em>Wedding Insurance</em></strong>. &nbsp;Protect your special day by insuring the unexpected that happens and you are covered to make fast decision to make things right. See the Wedding section on our website.<br />urn:uuid:3db9f22c-8c8b-455a-8e43-c3c927baf37aWe are now offering Roadside Assistant anywhere in the country.&nbsp; All your have to do is call one number an everything is taken care of.Sat, 20 Nov 2010 19:22:07 -0600We are now offering Roadside Assistant anywhere in the country.&nbsp; All your have to do is call one number an everything is taken care of.