Realty Insights for Home Buying, Home Selling, and Indy Info

Congress renewed for three years the legislation making mortgage insurance payments tax deductible for many homeowners. Mortgage insurance premiums are once again fully deductible for taxpayers earning up to $100,000, and partially deductible for those with incomes between $100,000 and $109,000. This has not changed from last year. The only change is that the deduction now applies to policies written through the 2010 calendar year.

SmartMoney.com's Aleksandra Todorova recently wrote about President Bush's new plan to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. Her article explored the criteria homeowners must meet to qualify for assistance and what help is available to them. She writes that "an estimated 1.2 million homeowners could qualify for help under this plan, according to the Homeownership Preservation Foundation, which negotiates on behalf of consumers. Some will be able to refinance into loans with better terms, while others will qualify for a much quicker five-year freeze on their current mortgage rates. " To read the full article, visit http://www.smartmoney.com/consumer/index.cfm?story=20071206&nav=RSS20 .

Here is a list of activities and goings-on around Indy for this week (Dec. 17-25): Circle of Lights Monument Circle Jolly Days Winter Wonderland Children's Museum of Indianapolis Yuletide Celebration with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Hilbert Circle Theatre A Christmas Carol Indiana Repertory Theatre Holiday Trainland and Christmas at the Zoo Indianapolis Zoo Christmas at Lilly House Indianapolis Museum of Art A Beef and Boards Christmas Beef and Boards Celebration Crossing Indiana State Museum The Polar Express IMAX Theatre at Indiana State Museum Live Nativity Scene Meridian Woods Baptist Church For more information and more events, visit http://www.indy.org/ .