28 Incredible Black Friday Deals

The holidays are quickly approaching and so are the deals on everything from smart home accessories to TVs to appliances to video game consoles. If you’re a serious shopper like me and looking for a great bargain, now is the time to start planning your purchases. Since virtually every store has some kind of Black Friday promotion, it can be pretty overwhelming to search through all of them to find the best ones.

Luckily, I did the hard work for you!

For Your Home
Buying new smarthome technology and appliances can really put a dent in your wallet. If you’re lucky enough to time your purchase perfectly with Black Friday  then these deals are for you. Sears, hhgregg and JC Penney are all offering great savings on washer/dryer combos, refrigerators, and other small appliances, while Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Kohl’s, and Amazon have some great discounts on smarthome tech.

• Walmart: The Nest Learning Thermostat will be on sale for $199 ($50 savings on its regular retail price)
• Best Buy: The Amazon Echo will be on sale for $140, a $40 discount
• Target: The Nest Cam for $149 ($50 discount on its regular retail price)
• Multiple stores: Several lines of iRobot Roomba vacuums are on sale at Kohl’s, Target, Best Buy, and Amazon
• Sears: Kenmore french door refrigerator and bottom-freezer for $999.99
• Sears: Kenmore washer and dryers priced at $274.99 each (which were regularly $539.99 each)
• hhgregg: Amana Washer and Dryer $549.99 for the pair
• hhgregg: Frigidaire Stainless Steel 4-piece Kitchen Package for $1499.99 (savings of $910)

TVs

• Best Buy: 39-inch Insignia 1080p smart Roku TV, $180 (in stores only)
• Best Buy: 49-inch Toshiba 4K with Chromecast, $200 (in stores only)
• Best Buy: 70-inch Vizio 4K smart UHD TV, $1,000 (in stores or online)
• Walmart: 50-inch Samsung 4K TV for $398 (a $230 discount on its sticker price)
• Walmart: 15.6-inch Acer laptop for $299, a $150 savings off its regular price
• Sears: 55-inch Samsung LED UHD TV - savings of $300 as it will be available for $599.99

Laptops

• Target: HP Windows 10-based laptop for $260, a discount off its $400 regular retail price
• Best Buy: base 13-inch MacBook Air with Core i5, 8GB of memory, and 128GB of solid-state storage $799.99
• Best Buy: base 21.5-inch iMac (Core i5/8GB/1TB), $899.99

Bonus - Video Game Consoles, Tablets, Cameras, and Other Gadgets

• Walmart: Battlefield 1 Xbox One S 500 GB Bundle and the Uncharted 4 PlayStation 4 500 GB Slim Bundle for $249 ($50 off from the original price of $299)
• Walmart: New Nintendo 3DS black and white special-edition systems for $100 (from the original price of $179)
• Walmart: Apple’s 32GB iPad Mini 2 will be available for $199. The tablet usually retails for $269
• Walmart: Canon D-SLR for $449 ($150 savings)
• Target:  $151 discount on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, a $126 discount on the iPad Air 2, and a $70 discount on the iPad Mini 2
• Target: $100 Samsung Galaxy Tab A (typically retails for $150)
• Target: Fitbit Charge HR will be on sale for $90, a $40 discount on its regular price
• Target: Apple Watch Series 1 will start at $198 ($72 savings)
• Target: Powerbeats wireless headphones for $90. They typically retail for $200
• Target: GoPro Hero Session bundle for $180. The bundle typically costs $250
• Best Buy, Target and Walmart all have varying deals on the iPhone: $250 gift card with qualifying iPhone purchase on installment plan through Verizon, AT&T or Sprint

Amazon.com has one additional resource you should know about: their mobile app lets you mark upcoming sale items and be notified the moment the discounts hit.

As you can see, if you’re in the market for electronics or appliances, these Black Friday deals are just too good to miss! Many of these stores have identical (or very similar) deals on all of these big ticket items. Hopefully, this list will save you some time and help you have a plan in place to score these awesome bargains.

Why Didn't My Home Sell?

You put your home on the market but yet it doesn't sell.  You ask yourself- Why?  

There are many reasons but these are the most common mistakes that kill most home sales.

1. How long the home was on the market and at what price – Pricing is by far the biggest reason why homes don’t sell.  Was the home listed for many months at an above-market price? Was the price reduced multiple times?

2. If the home was marketed properly – Was the house professionally photographed? Was the description accurate? 

3. Was it the agent you hired?  Do they work for a reputable firm? How long have they been working in real estate? Do they have a good online presence?

4. What is the condition of the home –  Does the home look like it’s in good condition? Are there only a few pictures? Does the listing have pictures of every major room in the house? If not, buyers may believe that there may be some serious condition issues in the rooms not photographed.

5. Was your home was staged? – This is an easy one. If the home was not staged buyers will see lots of personal items, family pictures, clutter etc. in the listing photos. Are the pictures of a vacant home?  All of these lead to negative perceptions of the home by a potential buyer

Thinking Of Selling Your Home Yourself? Think Again

For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) sellers often sell their home without assistance to avoid paying commission.

What the FSBO seller might not know is that, according to the same report, the typical FSBO home sold for $184,000 compared to $230,000 for agent-assisted home sales. That 22% difference in sale price would give those seller’s extra money, even after commission.

Why to Sell With a Realtor

Choosing to sell with a professional rather than on your own makes sense for a variety of reasons:

A Realtor has access to market data about recent sales and other homes on the market that can be used to price your home appropriately. Studies show that homes priced right when they’re first listed sell more quickly and for a higher price than those that linger on the market.

A Realtor can show your home when you aren’t available, can respond to inquiries from potential buyers and their agents, and can get valuable feedback from visitors – all things that save you time.

A Realtor can look at your home objectively and suggest ways to improve its appearance – by staging and minor repairs – so it appeals to more buyers.

Buyers typically prefer to look at a home without the seller present so they can feel more comfortable exploring the rooms and visualizing themselves in the property. At an FSBO sale, the seller must be present.

A Realtor can screen visitors to your home, which provides a measure of safety that FSBO sellers don’t have. In addition, by checking to see if the buyers are legitimate and can afford to purchase your home, a Realtor can help you avoid wasting time showing your home to unrealistic buyers.

Realtors have professional marketing expertise, contacts with other Realtors who work with buyers, and the support of a brokerage that can market your home more widely than you can as an individual.


A Realtor can help you negotiate a contract that not only garners you an appropriate price for your home, but that meets your needs for a settlement date and perhaps includes a period when you rent back your home from your buyer. In addition, a Realtor can make sure your contract is in compliance with all local regulations.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR TAX APPRAISAL COMES IN HIGH

If your expenses just went up alongside the perceived value of

your home, well, you're not alone. Appraisals all over the country have risen substantially over the past few years.  But that doesn't mean you have to live with it.

Good news for those facing eye-popping property taxes: You can fight city hall, or whichever government body sends you this annual economic albatross,.

The knowledge that as many as 60% of properties in the U.S. are assessed at a higher amount than their current value, according to the National Taxpayers Union, should give homeowners some solace, or at least a little encouragement as they try to knock that appraisal down a bit (or a bunch). If you're looking to lower those property taxes, here are a few things to try.

Understand what you're dealing with

It's important to note that while appraisals are generally based on a combination of local tax rates and assessed property value, they are not necessarily accurate on a house-by-house basis, Unless the government has a drone that's been spying on the inside of my house (they don't, right?), I'm quite sure they are unaware of how badly I need new floors. And a cooktop. And window coverings. In order to sell my home for what they've appraised it for, I would need to do some updating and repairs. Most of us would, and that can help if you're planning to dispute your appraisal.

Request Your "Property Tax Card"

Few homeowners realize they can go down to the town hall and request to view (or receive a copy of) their property tax cards from the local assessor's office. The tax card provides the homeowner with information the town has gathered about the property over time. Here you'll find information about your lot size, exact room dimensions, fixtures, and details about any improvements that may have been made over time. Find any errors? You may have just discovered the key to lowering your taxes.

As you review this card, note any discrepancies and then raise these issues with the tax assessor. The assessor will either make the correction and/or conduct a re-evaluation. This tip sounds laughably simple, but mistakes are common. If you can find them, the township has an obligation to correct them.

Hire a professional

For many, the surest bet when fighting increasing assessments is hiring a lawyer, property tax negotiator, or consultant. Keep in mind, though, that you'll be paying for those services—anywhere from one-third to one-half of the money saved if the taxes are lowered.

Fight it yourself

If you plan to do it on your own, you need to prepare yourself:

Hire a professional

For many, the surest bet when fighting increasing assessments is hiring a lawyer, property tax negotiator, or consultant. Keep in mind, though, that you'll be paying for those services—anywhere from one-third to one-half of the money saved if the taxes are lowered.

Fight it yourself

If you plan to do it on your own, you need to prepare yourself:

·         First, locate your assessor's office. This will help you find out precisely how the property tax calculation is derived and get their criteria for home appraisals.

·         Fight it in person. According to experts, this is the most effective way to dispute your appraisal. Emails are often ignored or requests flat out refused. . Gathering comps from your real estate agent that outline recent sales for similar homes in your neighborhood is key. Taking pictures of areas of your home that need repair or aren't in "selling shape" to illustrate why the higher appraisal number is inaccurate can also help.

·         Put Zillow to use for you.  Zillow's Zestimates are usually low, but in this case, that might help bolster your case. Zestimates for your home and similar homes in your area showing lower than the appraised amount? Print out those pages and add them to your file.

·         Network. If your  community is active it a good source  for discussions and information about property taxes and appraisal disputes. Using social tools like this can help you get to know what your neighbors are up against and find common solutions specific to your neighborhood. It may also help you find someone to help guide your dispute.

·         Do some reconnaissance. Neighbors with the same floorplan across the street have a pool? Make sure to mention that in the file you're putting together. Know who's redone their kitchen? Note that as well. What many individuals don't realize is that in many cases, information about other home assessments in the area is also available to the public, . You can often find discrepancies that could lower your taxes. For example, let's say that you have a four-bedroom home with a one-car garage, and your home was assessed at $250,000. Your neighbor also owns a four-bedroom home, but this house sports a two-car garage, a 150-square-foot shed and a beautiful swimming pool. Despite this, your neighbor's home was valued at $235,000. If an error is found, it pays to bring it to the assessor's attention as soon as possible so that you can get a reassessment if necessary.

·          

Pay attention to the timeframe

Filing an official protest has to be done within a certain timeframe. You don't want to miss out on savings because of a missed deadline. 

Most municipalities differ, with some towns stipulating that you only have 14 days from the time of your property tax assessment to appeal, and some may go as high as 60 days, Your town's tax appraisal office will have the deadline information.

Buyers: Your 3 Common Mortgage Options

As a home buyer you have different options when buying a home.  Below are the three most common

type of loan programs provided by mortgage companies.

Conventional loans

Who they're for: Conventional mortgages are ideal for borrowers with good or excellent credit.

How they work: Conventional mortgages are "plain vanilla" home loans. They follow fairly conservative guidelines for: 

• Borrower credit scores.
• Minimum down payments.
• Debt-to-income ratios.

Cost: Closing costs, down payments, mortgage insurance and points can mean the borrower has to show up at closing with a sizable sum of money out of pocket.

What's good: Conventional mortgages generally pose fewer hurdles than Federal Housing Administration or Veterans Affairs mortgages, which may take longer to process.

What's not as good: You'll need excellent credit to qualify for the best interest rates.

FHA loans

Who they're for: Federal Housing Administration mortgages have flexible lending standards to benefit:

People whose house payments will be a big chunk of take-home pay.

Borrowers with low credit scores.

Homebuyers with small down payments and refinancers with little equity.

How they work: The Federal Housing Administration does not lend money. It insures mortgages.

The FHA allows borrowers to spend up to 56% or 57% of their income on monthly debt obligations, such as mortgage, credit cards, student loans and car loans. In contrast, conventional mortgage guidelines tend to cap debt-to-income ratios at around 45% and sometimes less.

For many FHA borrowers, the minimum down payment is 3.5%. Borrowers can qualify for FHA loans with credit scores of 580 and even lower.

Cost: Each FHA loan has 2 mortgage insurance premiums:

An upfront premium of 1.75% of the loan amount, paid at closing.

An annual premium that varies from a low of 0.45% to a high of 0.85%. This premium is rolled into the monthly mortgage payment for the life of the loan. See how the premiums vary by loan term and amount of equity.

What's good: FHA loans are often the only option for borrowers with high debt-to-income ratios and low credit scores.

What's not as good: FHA mortgage insurance premiums usually are higher than premiums for private mortgage insurance. To get rid of FHA premiums, you must refinance the loan.

VA loans

Who they're for: Most active-duty military and veterans qualify for Veterans Affairs mortgages. 

Many reservists and National Guard members are eligible. Spouses of military members who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability may also apply.

How they work: No down payment is required from qualified borrowers buying primary residences. The VA does not lend money but guarantees loans made by private lenders.

Cost: The VA charges an upfront VA funding fee, which can be rolled into the loan or paid by the seller. The funding fee varies from 1.25% to 3.3% of the loan amount.

The VA allows sellers to pay closing costs but doesn't require them to. So the buyer might need money for closing costs. Borrowers may also need money for the earnest-money deposit.

What's good: VA borrowers can qualify for 100% financing. Veterans do not have to be first-time buyers and may reuse their benefit.

What's not as good: There are limits on loan amounts. The limits vary by county.

Tips To Sell Your Home In Winter

Are you planning on selling your home?  Winter doesn't have to be a harsh, unappealing time of year

to sell your home. With 2016 about to rev up, it's especially important to make your home stand out if you want to sell in the New Year. Here are some essential tips for making your house #1 on the market as the year begins:

#1 Warmth is top priority.

Your home should always be warm when a realtor conducts a walk-through with buyers. Set a timer on your thermostat so it's warm when they arrive. Also make sure to check there are no leaks or problems with your ducts and vents, as this could make rooms cold during a walk-through.

#2 Keep the house bright.

It's also important to ensure that your home is adequately lit in each room. You want buyers to feel welcome and impressed with the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms of your home. If a room has dim lighting or a burned-out bulb, it could take away from the overall appeal of the room. You should also consider spending a little extra money to upgrade your lighting fixtures -- installing recessed lighting in certain rooms will give your home a little extra "pop." Standing lamps are also a fantastic, affordable alternative to lighting additions

#3 Try to make your landscape appealing.

Although your yard will be mostly winterized during this time of year, there are several ways to spruce up your cold weather landscaping. Start by clearing your yard of any broken branches or large patches of fallen leaves. It's also important to ensure that any ice or snow on or near your home's walkway is removed. If needed, you can hire a weekly snow removal service to keep your home safe for buyer walkthroughs.

#4 Make the interior cozy.

In addition to keeping your house well-lit and warm, there are other ways to make your home cozy and welcoming to buyers. This includes:

Classical music (at a low volume)

Homemade treats (candy, cookies)

Holiday decorations (tinsel on the mantle, for example)

You want buyers to feel as though they already live in your home when they walk through the door. When you offer them a cozy setting, they will want to spend more time in your home and admire its features.

#5 Keep the fireplace lit.

While you should have the heat on during a walkthrough, another warm and cozy feature is the fireplace. If you've got a wood-burning model, this means you'll need to have coal or wood handy. You don't want to have multiple showings a day and a fireplace that roars for only half the visitors. This is especially important if the fireplace is close to the entrance (all of that cold air gets in!).

20 Tips To Get Your Credit In Check In 2016

Struggling to get your credit cards paid off? Juggling balances between several cards? Just plain tired of paying interest? Make this the year you get your credit in order. Whether your goal is to buy a new home, become debt free and raise your credit score, or just make your payments more manageable, these 25 tips for handling your credit can help get you there.

1. Talk to a lender - If you're planning to buy a home anytime soon, a call to a lender can clarify what you'll need to do in order to qualify (and qualify for the best rates).

2. Check your credit - You can pull your report once a year at AnnualCreditReport.com for free.

3. Dispute anything that's incorrect - It may take some time and effort, but removing incorrect items from your report can have a great impact on your score.

4. Don't waste your time trying to get collection accounts off your credit report - "Be aware that paying off a collection account will not remove it from your credit report," said myFICO. "It will stay on your report for seven years."

5. Set little goals - Paying off a large balance can seem overwhelming. Setting weekly or monthly goals to pay down your credit can make it feel for manageable, and also help keep you on track when that handbag is calling your name.

6. Pay off the smallest accounts first - It may seem smarter to attack the large balances first, but getting small balances paid off will lower your monthly output and allow you to redirect those funds to other balances once they're paid off.

7. Or, pay off the account with the highest rate first - Since this is the one that's costing you most every month.

8. Contact your creditors - It might be that they have a program to help you pay your debt.

9. Negotiate your rates - A call to your creditors may yield a lower rate.

10. Transfer balances - You can make it easier to pay your balances by taking advantage of an existing card with low or no interest?

11. Don't have a card with a low rate? Open a balance - transfer credit card - "This allows you to move expensive debt over to a new card, with a low - often 0% - APR for a set time period," said Bankrate.

12. Get a secured card - If you're trying to reestablish credit after a bankruptcy or after paying off old delinquent accounts, a secured card from a bank can help you build it back up.

13. Even if you can't wipe out all your debt now, pay down your balances - "One of the major factors in your credit score is how much revolving credit you have versus how much you're actually using," said Bankrate. "The smaller that percentage is, the better it is for your credit rating. The optimum: 30 percent or lower."

14. Pay your bills on time - It's the easiest and most effective way to keep your score good - or improve it.

15. If you're buying a home, don't apply for any more credit cards without your lender's approval - That Kohls card may save you 15% on your first purchase but it can also ding your credit score.

16. Set up payment reminders - If you're the type that forgets or overlooks payments, make sure you've got it covered. Setting a reminder from the creditor or putting a reminder in your phone can help.

17. Set your accounts on auto pay - You're less likely to miss a payment if you have it set up automatically to draw from your account. Just make sure you keep enough money in your account to cover the payments or you'll have to pay overdraft fees.

18. Use cash for everything - Financial experts often recommend this tactic to keep us in check about what we're actually spending. There aren't any surprises at the end of the month when you're only using the dollars and cents you have in your wallet.

19. Think about debt consolidation - Many experts consider this a last-ditch resort because its "quick fix" solution may actually cause more problems down the line. Be sure to read up to make sure this is the right step for you.

20. File for bankruptcy, but only if you have no other option - "While going this route allows you to wipe the slate clean, it also has a devastating impact on your credit," said Smart Asset. "Bankruptcy is meant to be a last-resort option but there are certain situations when filing may be your best bet:

You're being sued by debt collectors

Your wages are being garnished

You can't pay your bills (due to a job layoff or an unexpected illness)

You're in danger of losing your home"

How To Unclog A Toilet Without A Plunger Or Plumber

If you’re faced with a clogged toilet and you don’t have a plunger or don’t want to use a plunger because it’s too disgusting  try this trick .  Pouring some dish soap into the toilet bowl followed by some hot water may be all that's needed to get things flowing properly down the toilet's drain. In as little as 15 minutes, your toilet can be unclogged, and no one else in the household has to be the wiser.

Here are the steps:

1. Pour a healthy amount of liquid soap into your toilet bowl, about half a cup. The soap is denser and heavier than water and should drop to the bottom of the bowl.

2. Let the liquid dish soap sit in the bowl for 20-30 minutes. Over time the soap will seep into the clog lubricating the trap way.

3. After 20 minutes fill up a container with hot water and pour it into the bowl. Make sure not to overflow the toilet bowl. Slowly the clog should work it’s way free.

This does not work for all clogs but people have reported success by repeating steps 1-3 again if it doesn’t clear the clog the first time. Some said they did this at night and the clog was gone in the morning.