Its tax time again!  When you purchase your own home, you are not only increasing your financial well-being, but you can also take deductions during tax time. There are several ways to save on your taxes as a homeowner.

Mortgage Interest: Did you know that after you buy your home, most of your first months payments are all interest? Year after year, your balance will start shifting to principal payments as interest is being paid off. You can deduct up to 1 million on interest you pay on your home.

Property Taxes: You can deduct your property taxes from your Federal taxes. Property taxes you’ve paid to state and local (city) can be deducted.

Home Equity Loan: If you’ve borrowed against your equity to pay off credit cards, a car or anything else, the interest can also be deducted.

Expenses: When you first purchase your home, make sure to keep track of the fees and how much in closing costs you pay. Most of them are tax deductible. Sometimes prorated interest or property taxes are charged.

Owning a home has many advantages including these tax deductions that will definitely benefit you each year when tax time rolls around.

Are you looking for a new place to call home this year? Look no further! Provenance is northern Louisiana’s traditional new home development that has much to offer you and your family. From the gorgeous parks and natural pine woods surroundings to the extremely convenient shops, restaurants, and firestation, Provenance has everything a town needs. Neighbors at Provenance are inviting and encourage safety and strength in order to preserve a wholesome, vital community.

There are many annual community events that take place that involves homeowners and local businesses such as summer movie nights in the park and holiday festivities.

The community has a quaint small town feel with a new modern flair. There are many lots and new homes to choose from! Check out our interactive map to see which lots and new available homes are available. Our trusted realty company Vintage Realty can help match your lifestyle and needs to the perfect homebuilder in Provenance. Provenance is located off of Southern Loop between Norris Ferry and Wallace Lake Roads near the I-49 interchange in southeast Shreveport.

Contact Us today and become a part of the Provenance community!

Once you have chosen your new homesite at Provenance, its time to decide on a builder. Our Builders Guild will be your guide to choosing and building the home that’s right for you according to your budget and lifestyle.

Beautiful and distinctive homes, diverse styles and prices ranging from upscale town homes in the Village Center to the more expansive manor home estates in the Village Edge are available at Provenance. The Provenance Builders Guild will help you select the home type that best meets your needs.

Here are some great tips when deciding on a builder.

Once you have decided on your home site and location, you can begin doing some research. Look for easy to use websites with information, floor plans and other important features to help begin your search. Most likely, if they have an informative professional website, this will give you an indicator on how they will be in person. Give the builder a call or send them an email. See if they are quick to return your inquiry and answer all your questions and are confident about their building process. Are they knowledgeable about building? First impressions are important.

Also determine that the builder is competitively priced, know the building industry well and leave you with a good feeling that they good about communicating while building your home. Visit their model home and see for yourself the quality of construction their homes have. If they’ve been in business for a long time, you may ask them about their long-term service and warranty offers. They may even be able to provide references of other customers. Talk with other home owners in the neighborhood that they’ve built for and get their opinion.

All the builders at Provenance are approved to build in our community and have great reputations. It really may just come down to the style of home you want and deciding on the best builder that offers the home layout that you are looking for.

When it comes to buying a home, the number one thing most consumers look at is “what is the price?” Two different homes can be the exact same price but be much different in size, location, features and so on. All homes are not created equal just because they cost the same.

A home is much more than just the number on the listing price. What makes up a home varies from person to person. What is valuable to one wont be what is valuable to another. The value you get from your home is worth much more than the dollar amount you pay for it. This is why getting stuck on the dollar amount can really blur the value you are getting out of a new home. Your home is a big investment and you want to get the most value out of it as possible.

So ask yourself, what makes a home valuable to you? Is it top of the line appliances? Is it close proximity to grocery stores and shopping? Are good school districts something that is a must when choosing a home? What about your commute to work? The closer to work, the more time to spend with family, which most consider valuable time saved.

Lastly, what about what the neighborhood has to offer? Are there things such as a playground for your kids, walking trails, pools or clubhouses? All of these things can add or take away from the true value of your home and what you will get out of it. Just because a home is a “good deal” or “less expensive” than another home you looked at, you need to investigate whether the value overrides the price when it comes to purchasing your new home.

Are you ready to gather with friends and neighbors this holiday season?

Save the date: Provenance Christmas Party

Sunday, December 11th, 2011

5 – 7pm @ Windrush Grill

Hors & Devors and Spirits Provided!

Please RSVP to Pam Smith by December 5th the number in your party. psmith@vintagerealty.com or call 318-683-0636