What you won’t find in the metro-Atlanta area are opportunities for snow skiing. What you will find is that snowfall is only experienced once or twice per season (usually less than two or three inches) with rare occurrences of ice storms (winter temperatures on average remain above freezing). The average annual temperature is 61 degrees, with July being the hottest month averaging 89 degrees and January being the coldest month averaging 33 degrees.

What does that mean for metro-Atlanta residents? Well, you can play golf or tennis, bike or run, garden, attend outdoor festivals and enjoy the area’s natural resources such as the Chattahoochee River and Stone Mountain all year long.

Many of the new home communities offered by Traton are located near parks and preserves that allow residents to enjoy the wonderful Atlanta weather all year long. The builder has new homes throughout the north and northwest suburbs of downtown Atlanta with prices starting from the $180,000s.

Visit http://www.TratonHomes.com for more information about this builder’s communities and homes.

It’s easier now more than ever to take direct control over cutting down your paper storage. You can ditch time and space consuming physical filing operations by investing in a scanner or an all-in-one scanner-printer-fax-copy machine for your home office, which can also be a tax deduction as a business expense. Now is a great time to shop for one, as most consumer electronics are on sale as manufacturers get ready to roll out 2012 models.  Check sites like Consumer Reports and CNet to find out which model is best for you, and know that there are wireless solutions that can reduce the number of cords and cables in your office.

Now, once you’ve got stuff scanned, there’s the question of how to keep your digital copies. Having them all on one hard-drive is a big no no, as there are all manner of internal and external opportunities for them to be deleted. If you’re old-fashioned, buy an external hard drive and manually transfer everything over and keep that drive somewhere separate from your primary computer – your office, your car, anywhere that is safe and away from your primary data set so you don’t lose both in the event of a fire, flood or some other natural disaster.

The article has a number of other tips and tricks for conquering your paperwork, including hiring other services to do the dirty work and some benefits of putting your data on the cloud.  Be sure to check the Equifax Finance Blog for more information about keeping your taxes, credit, insurance, real estate and retirement under control.

If you’re donating a lot of stuff, say $500 or more, you must provide a detailed list of what was donated, how many units, what it cost originally and its value when making the donation. It’s a great idea to take a snapshot of them for proof of condition with your phone or digital camera for records. There are many sites online which can help you determine the value at time of donation.

If your donations exceed $5,000, you’re going to need a written appraisal from a professional to be able to claim deductions. This may mean that you should hold onto your donations until you can make one big one that can be properly appraised to keep your deductions safe and make sure you pay the right amount. Or you may want to wait and plan out your big donations so you’re not stuck at the end of the year with a total at or near $5,000 and no way to appraise already donated items.

For more information about properly documenting your deductions and all kinds of other tax expertise, be sure to check the Equifax Finance Blog, especially as the year ends so you can be sure to make all of your i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed before the end of the calendar year.

Despite the encouraging increase in the Housing Market Index (HMI), overall measure continues to remain quite low. High numbers of foreclosures, financing difficulties, inaccurate appraisals, and restrictive lending are all key factors in the discouragement of potential buyers.

According to the NAHB’s Chief Economist, David Crowe, this second consecutive gain indicates that well-qualified buyers from similar areas have been “tempted” by favorable mortgage rates and pricing to seek a new home. Gradual gains can be expected as conditions continue to improve.

Three out of four regions saw an increase in November. The Northeast increased by 6 points, the Midwest by eight, and the South by two points. After a large increase in October, the West returned to trend with a six point decline. It now rests at fifteen.

Overall poor housing market conditions are beginning to improve. With a slow yet steady increase in the HMI, buyers and builders alike can see a bright future ahead. Although it may take a significant amount of time to enter into ideal levels of confidence, good things come to those who wait.

The Art Nouveau masterpiece merges influences and interior furnishings from Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America. Guests begin their journey in the lobby welcomed by a single door set in a hand-carved mahogany frame. The lobby features a mini rotunda, curved walls and impressive columns as well as rich Amazon Ironwood, sculptured plaster ceilings crafted by artisans from around the world, and stained-glass windows. Guests instantly unwind as they enter the hotel’s peaceful open-air courtyard, which features lush tropical plants and a Persian Water Garden.

The 179 spacious suites are elegantly appointed with every modern comfort, including balconies with soothing, 105-degree Japanese hot tubs or Jacuzzis in the master bedrooms. The richly-furnished rooms delicately surround guests with clean lines, natural light, rich colors and textures, and spacious floor plans. Guests indulge in the hotel’s hand-carved mahogany headboards, sea-grass furnishings, Egyptian cotton bedding, stone floors, and marble bathrooms with Roman spa baths. Special touches such as a 42-inch plasma television and sumptuous bath products sweep guests off to four-diamond luxury. The rooms feature European-built Brazilian wood closets and imported Brazilian doors, with unique art deco fittings, marble bathrooms, with limestone floors and Roman spa baths, which can be enjoyed while watching a favorite movie on a 15-inch LCD television in the bathrooms. Beds are luxuriously topped with 360 thread-count linens.

As would be expected, the amenities at the Mayfair Hotel & Spa are truly indulgent. Guests enjoy world-class spa and dining, rooftop heated pool with private cabanas, pet friendly services, state-of-the-art fitness center and more.

The hotel is located seven miles from Miami International Airport, in the heart of Coconut Grove, perfect for enjoying the excitement and vibrancy of South Florida. Just a few miles from the beaches and downtown Miami, the Mayfair Hotel & Spa is in the heart of world-famous shopping, dining, and attractions. Historical and charming Coconut Grove is known for a vibrant, upbeat spirit, and sophisticated attitude.

Soak up the style and tranquility of the newly renovated Mayfair Hotel & Spa, its luxury accommodations, first-class spa and fine dining by visiting www.mayfairhotelandspa.com.

In her recent article for the Equifax Finance Blog, “Homeowners Insurance: Someone Gets Hurt On Your Property” Linda Rey offers homeowners advice for dealing with injuries on their property.

The first thing that needs to be assessed is the extent of the injuries. Are they serious enough to warrant a 911 call?

After that, depending on your relationship with the injured party, the police may need to be called so both parties can make statements.

Next, be sure and take photos of the situation. Try and photograph any injuries and the area of your property where the injury occurred.

Depending on how the injured party wants to handle the situation, more work may be required on our part. If the injured party is merely looking for reimbursement of medical costs, this could be a best case scenario. Of course, if the person is looking to sue you or claim damages beyond what your insurance policy covers, the aforementioned steps become even more important.

Either way, be sure and call your insurance agent as soon as possible for more guidance on how to handle a situation. The sooner you bring in an agent, the sooner he or she can assess the situation and offer advice.

For more insurance advice, visit the Equifax Finance Blog.

In his article, “Home Buying: The Low Down on No Down Payment Mortgages,” Cook covers several types of loans that could help you finally purchase the Jacksonville real estate you’ve always dreamed about. Here are a few of the options he mentions.

If you’re thinking of moving to a small town or suburb, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds loans to thousands of families each year. There are some income and geographical restrictions on these loans. For example, you can only make up to 115 percent of the median annual income where you’re going to live. Also, these USDA loans do not cover homes in major cities. However, you also don’t need to live on a farm or in the middle of nowhere to be eligible.

VA loans are a great option for those who have served 90 days on active duty or with the Reserve or National Guard. Surviving spouses of servicemen and women may also qualify for these loans. They will cover up to half the cost of your mortgage, depending on the amount your borrow and where you live.

Don’t think you’re eligible for the aforementioned programs? Most state and local governments offer a variety of no down payment loans. In fact, most people are surprised by the amount of assistance available for first-time buyers. Do a little research in neighborhoods you’ve had your eye on. You might be able to afford your dream home after all!

Be sure and visit the Equifax Finance Blog to read Cook’s full article and to see a list of resources.

A recent post on the Equifax Finance Blog offers some tax tips for deducting business mileage. Tax specialist Eva Rosenberg’s article, “2012 Standard Mileage Rate: How It Affects Your Business Vehicle,” has the following advice.

If you use your car for business or work, you probably already know that you can use either the standard mileage deduction or you may use actual expenses. Using actual expenses allows you to claim depreciation deductions, in addition to the registration fees, repairs, insurance and fuel costs. Aside from the standard mileage rate increase, the rate for moving and medical mileage has also increased to 23.5 cents per mile from 19 cents. Charitable mileage stays the same, at 14 cents.

One thing that people may not realize is that the standard mileage rate has deduction built into it. Rosenberg points out that when you sell your car, you must take depreciation into account. She suggests using the table on the Small Business Taxes & Management site to determine how much depreciation you used each year. This number will be be based on the total number of business miles you reported on your tax returns.

Read Rosenberg’s full article on the Equifax Finance Blog.

According to a recent post on the Equifax Finance Blog, the process might seem complicated, but there are things you can do to simplify things. Sam Tamkin shares some great tips in his article, “6 Ways to Get Your Property Taxes Reduced.” For one thing, you need to know how real estate taxes are determined. You should also be aware of when the best time to file your dispute is.

Once you learn some basic tax facts, its time to arm yourself with proper documentation. The key to reducing your property tax is showing proof that homes in your neighborhood are selling for/valued less than your home’s appraisal value. It may also help your cause if you provide photos of the devalued homes and your own. After all, if there is little to no difference in two properties, why should you be forced to pay significantly more than another homeowner?

Tamkin’s article goes into great detail on how to prepare for your dispute. For all of his advice, visit the Equifax Finance Blog.

Hotel guests are certain to enjoy the lavish interiors, amenities and services that the South Ocean Boulevard boutique hotel offers, year-round. The 134-room hotel was designed by Leslie Schlesinger Interiors, who turned the time-worn and old-fashioned building completely around, into the city’s newest and hippest hotel with modern, clean design approaches and state-of-the-art conveniences and amenities.

Modern Asian influences give the beachfront property a relaxing feel and fresh and simplistic design. Omphoy balances the edifice with tranquil, earth-friendly details intended to evoke a stress-free environment.

With trunk-like pillars, koi ponds and floor-to-ceiling ocean views, the soft and comfortably relaxed earthy design scheme of The Omphoy lobby takes the breath away of guests and visitors. The scheme continues in the chic lobby bar, which offers sexy backlit caste glass, an Asian-influenced billiard table, 103-inch plasma television and sumptuous sofa seating that creates a genuinely inviting atmosphere.

With low lighting in the hallways, guests only experience lush, gentle and warm surroundings at The Omphoy, which extends into the guest rooms boasting custom-designed furniture, crisp white sheeting, bronze porcelain tile floors. All rooms offer a spacious balcony, terrace or large picture window that open the rooms to panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean or the Intracoastal Waterway.

Omphoy guests enjoy innovative and world-class cuisine by celebrity chef and James Beard award winner, Michelle Bernstein. The Exhale spa at The Omphoy Ocean Resort features a full spa with transformational spa therapies, skin-care services, steam rooms and cardio gym with yoga. The hotel also offers a full-service complimentary business center, Wi-Fi access throughout, a palm tree lined pool with a soothing waterfall and private cabanas, refined pool bar, direct beach access and access to exclusive area golf courses.

For more information, please visit www.omphoy.com.