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Florida retains its ranking as one of the nation’s lowest-tax states, according to the latest study released by Florida TaxWatch. Out of 50 states, Florida ranks No. 42 in the average amount of money paid by residents. Florida TaxWatch findings: Floridians pay an average $5,679 per person in state and local taxes Residents pay an average $2,584 in state taxes – one of the least amounts nationwide. Only the residents of one other state pay less. However, local tax burdens are higher. “Per Capita Local Tax Collections” ranked No. 27 nationally. In the balance between state and local taxes, Florida…

World events are conspiring to make it more expensive for you to borrow money to buy a house. Mortgage rates have increased for six consecutive weeks, according to Bankrate data, bringing interest on a 30-year fixed rate loan to 4.44 percent—the highest level in 11 months—while home prices continue to rise due to a lack of available homes. After years of tepid economic growth, inflation and wage growth recently found a groove, while the Federal…

As you’ve no doubt heard, the U.S. tax code got an overhaul—so what does that mean for the 2017 return you’re filing right about now? It means that this is your last chance to take advantage of tax deductions from the old tax code. Here is a rundown of four major tax breaks that are disappearing after this filing year, and how to take full advantage of them for 2017. Home Office Deduction With the increasing popularity of telecommuting and working from home, the home office tax deduction is one that many people opt to take. If you’re full-time self-employed, this deduction will continue in 2018. But for all…

Housing Starts and consumer inflation heated up in January, but Retail Sales and Existing Home Sales stayed on the chilly side. The Commerce Department reported that January Housing Starts jumped 9.7 percent from December to an annual rate of 1.326 million units. This was the highest level since October 2016 and up 7.3 percent from January 2017. Single-family starts, which account for the largest share of the market, rose 3.7 percent from December while multi-dwelling starts with five or more units surged 19.7 percent. Housing Starts rose in the Northeast, South and West but declined in the…

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