DSB discontinues housing program

The Deaf Service Bureau of West Central Florida is no longer participating in the Pasco County Opportunity program. As a result, the DSB housing program can no longer be offered. However, licensed realtor, William Labbancz, with Florida Luxury Realty can still help any qualifying individuals purchase P.O.P. properties. Labbancz is also fluent in ASL. He can be reached at 813-418-9190 or via email william@ourhuts.com.

Check out these tax credits for home owners

By Derek Hartley

From handling all of the maintenance to homeowners insurance, there are as many new responsibilities that come with owning a new home as there are benefits.

Although property taxes increase drastically with a home purchase there are a number of tax benefits offered to homeowners that you’ll want to take advantage of.

Itemized

If you’ve made the leap into home ownership in the past year, you’ll probably be learning a lot about your tax situation when you file this spring.

Standard deductions simplify the tax process for those who don’t own a home or have a very straightforward tax situation. However, itemizing your taxes is a more complete way to make sure you’re receiving all of the benefits you’re eligible for.

Although a standard filing and deduction are simple, itemizing usually saves most homeowners a bundle on their taxes each year. For more on itemizing your taxes you can check out this articleon the differences and check out this copy of a 1040 Schedule A (fully itemized) tax form.

Mortgage Interest

For most homeowners, the biggest tax benefit comes from deducting the interest paid on their mortgage. Mortgage interest rate is completely deductible on loans under one million.

Homeowners can also claim the interest paid on cash-out refinances [link?] as well as home equity loans. Most generally equity debs of $100,000 or more are fully deductible.

Property Taxes

Another big tax break for homeowners comes in the form of deducting property taxes. Every year your lender will send you a statement letting you know the exact tax-deductible amount for that year.

New homeowners must check their settlement papers to figure out how much they have paid since purchase because there won’t be a full year of information yet.

Property taxes are only deductible as an itemized expense, meaning you will have to fill out the schedule A form as opposed to a standard 1040 form.

Tax Credit v Tax Deduction

Deduction: reduces your taxable income. For example, a $1,000 tax deduction reduces your $50,000 taxable income to $49,000.

Credit: A dollar amount reduction in tax payments. A tax credit reduces a tax bill by the amount specified. If the tax credit is “refundable” and you don’t owe any taxes, you get a tax refund.

Energy Efficient Credits

Although many of the popular energy star tax credits expired at the end of 2011, there are still a few energy efficient tax credits available through 2016.

Qualifying geothermal heat pumps, small wind turbines and solar energy systems have a credit for up to 30 percent of the cost with no upper limit. Even though these are very costly upgrades, an essential 30 percent off tax credit should remind homeowners to be looking for tax benefits on everything they purchase through the year.

Soure: http://www.veteransunited.com/futurehomeowners/tax-credits-for-home-owners/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=status&utm_term=vali&utm_content=seventeen&utm_campaign=blog

DSB helps people with low incomes become home owners through the Pasco County Opportunity program. Call 1-800-616-4293 for more information and check out current DSB houses on our YouTube channel!

Check out the official online version of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design

U.S. Department of Justice

2010 ADA STANDARDS FOR ACCESSIBLE DESIGN

The Department of Justice’s revised regulations for Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) were published in the Federal Register on September 15, 2010.

The Department has assembled this official online version of the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (2010 Standards) to bring together the information in one easy-to-access location. It provides the scoping and technical requirements for new construction and alterations resulting from the adoption of revised 2010 Standards in the final rules for Title II (28 CFR part 35) and Title III (28 CFR part 36).

2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (HTML)

2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (PDF -- screen) (3.8mb)

2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (PDF -- print version) (4.7mb)

The Department has also compiled guidance on the 2010 Standards from the revised regulations for Titles II and III. This explanatory information from the regulations addresses the scoping and technical provisions of the 2010 Standards.

Guidance on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (HTML)

Guidance on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (PDF - screen) (2.3mb)

Guidance on the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (PDF - print version) (4mb)

The Deaf Service Bureau of West Central Florida rehabilitates homes following ADA Standards for Accessible Design as part of its housing program that is run in partnership with the Pasco County Opportunity Program.