The absence of fast food on the Island rankles some but it may also mean we are healthier. Vineyard residents rank as the healthiest in the state, according to a survey released Tuesday by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Nantucket ranks second, the report found.

Researchers examined factors that influence health, such as smoking, drinking, education level, air pollution and access to fast-food restaurants. Dukes County, which encompasses the Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands, was the healthiest county in the state, ranking first in overall health and physical environment and fourth in social and economic factors that included high school graduation rate and access to recreational facilities. The Island’s 93 per cent graduation rate well exceeded a statewide rate of 82 per cent.

The report analyzed data from a nationwide telephone survey, the census and Medicare claims. “The county health rankings show us that much of what influences our health happens outside of the doctor’s office,” said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and chief executive officer of the Johnson foundation.

“In fact, where we live, learn, work and play has a big role in determining how healthy we are and how long we live.”

Related posts:

1. Martha’s Vineyard News & Information Getting Here MV Times Vineyard Gazette...
2. Edgartown Mortgage Mortgage Rates Ease a Bit This Week McLean, VA –...
3. Martha’s Vineyard Fishing Fishing off Martha’s Vineyard with Bernie & Natalie. Edgartown...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Related posts:

1. Edgartown Real Estate for Sale 56 Whalers Walk Edgartown You must see for yourself...
2. Absolute Edgartown This is a multi generational home that brings families...
3. Brokers Open House There is a Brokers Open house for this great...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

One of the best homes in this proven upscale neighborhood of fine properties is this low maintenance move in ready compound. Bright open family room from the summer gazebo deck to the warm brick hearth and fireplace of the renovated kitchen you will love the layout. New tile floors and corian baths is an example of recent renovation done to this home. All done with top quality new building products with old school craftsmanship quality. The one bedroom apartment over the garage is great extra income or nanny/in-law/ guest house. 4 bedrooms 4 baths 2,500 sq ft exclusive $799,000

Related posts:

1. Hello Good Buy- Sold $475,000 This Edgartown home is one of the best buy’s...
2. Edgartown Real Estate for Sale 56 Whalers Walk Edgartown You must see for yourself...
3. Absolute Edgartown This is a multi generational home that brings families...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Q: We bought a house this year! We put $133,000 down and the bank financed $428,000. Can I write this off on my 2011 taxes? How much of it?

A: First things first: Congratulations! You’ve become a homeowner, and seem to have done so using an enviable financial arrangement. But now that you own a home, you might need to shift the way you think and look at some things, including your taxes and other financial matters.

Owning a home is one of those landmarks that signify financial adulthood. And one of the things that responsible financial adults do is get professional help when the situation requires it. Taxes are one of those areas that often do warrant calling the pros in

I’m not just shilling for the tax prep industry here, either: The ultimate aim of using a tax professional is to make sure you get every deduction, credit and other tax advantage for which you qualify, without jacking up your chances at triggering the universally dreaded Internal Revenue Service audit by claiming dubious deductions.

Your mortgage debt is fairly small, as was your home’s purchase price, though I don’t know whether they are large or small in the context of your overall financial picture (i.e., income, assets, investments, etc.).

The fact that you saved or somehow came up with such a sizable chunk of change to put down makes me hesitate to assume that your finances are as simple as your mortgage balance might otherwise lead me to believe.

So, it might be the case that you can easily handle your own taxes — in fact, it’s even possible that your real estate-related deductions won’t even outweigh the standard deductions, so that filing a simple form without even itemizing your deductions is actually the financially advantageous move.

Whether that’s the case cannot be determined in a vacuum — you may have other financial and tax issues going on. But with software and tax preparation services as inexpensive as they are, starting at under $20 for simple returns, I think it behooves you to get some professional advice and ensure you get the deductions you need.

Hiring a tax preparer might be a worthwhile investment to make, even if just this year, so he or she can brief you on what records you should keep and strategies you should do moving forward, like home repair and improvement receipts, or documentation of your use of an area of the home as a home office.

Now, let’s talk more substantively about the deductions that are available to you, in the event you do decide to itemize your taxes (IRS Publication 530 offers a more nuanced view into Tax Information for Homeowners):

1. Mortgage interest deduction. Assuming this home is your personal residence, 100 percent of the mortgage interest you owe and pay before Dec. 31, 2011, is deductible on your 2011 taxes. In January, your mortgage lender will send you a form documenting the precise amount of interest you paid, although most lenders also now make this form immediately available to borrowers online.

Chances are good that you paid some amount of advance interest on your home loan at closing — expect to see that on your statement from your lender, but you should also be able to find it on the HUD-1 settlement statement you received from your escrow agent at closing.

2. Property tax deductions. Again, assuming that this is the home you live in most of the time, you should be able to deduct 100 percent of the property taxes you’ve paid to your state and/or local taxing agency this year.

3. Closing-cost deductions. Discount points and origination fees paid to your mortgage lender and/or broker at closing are frequently deductible, but there are rules around this, which tax software and/or professionals can help you make sure you meet. Note that, according to Internal Revenue Service Publication 530, “You cannot deduct transfer taxes and similar taxes and charges on the sale of a personal home.”

There are various home improvements (especially those that increase your home’s energy efficiency), state and local tax credits for buying a foreclosure, and other tax advantages that might be available to you.

My advice is to work with an experienced, local tax preparer or, at the very least, use reputable tax preparation software to ensure that you get the maximum tax advantages available to you as a result of your new role as a homeowner.

Related posts:

1. Edgartown Mortgage Mortgage Rates Ease a Bit This Week McLean, VA –...
2. WMVY Chili Festival Results 2011 CONGRATS to our winners, voted by YOU, the chili festers:...
3. Edgartown Real Estate for sale This Edgartown Vacation home compound has been only on...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Related posts:

1. Edgartown Real Estate Update There have been 39 sales in the last 90 days...
2. Edgartown Real Estate for sale This Edgartown Vacation home compound has been only on...
3. Edgartown Home For Sale- Sold $920,000 Located in the heart of Katama This Edgartown Vacation...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Island Grove section of  Edgartown is this one of a kind property.  Come see for yourself

Directions drive down Meshacket road past Morning Glory farm and look for signs.

Exclusive $1,789,000

Related posts:

1. Brokers Open House There is a Brokers Open house for this great...
2. House and Guest house on Bootstrap Lane Bootstrap Lane in Edgartown is for sale. This Edgartown...
3. Unit 16 Meeting House Village- Edgartown This is a bright, sunny end unit condo with skylights,...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

This Edgartown home is one of the best buy’s today. This property has what today’s buyer is looking for. Master bedroom on the first floor, brick fireplace, hardwood floors, open sunny kitchen dinning living room set up. Full basement with walkout access, oil heat, covered rocking chair porch looking over quiet country lane. Two large bedrooms with ample storage on second floor. This home could connect to town sewer if you wanted to have more bedrooms. Room for garage and or garage apartment on this private lot. Exclusive $595,000

Related posts:

1. South Beach Vacation Home- Sold $725K This beautifully appointed Katama beach house located 1 1/2...
2. Edgartown Real Estate for Sale 56 Whalers Walk Edgartown You must see for yourself...
3. Two Acres in Katama with Water View This well planned vacation home on 2 acres has...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

This is a multi generational home that brings families together. Recently built with all the best materials and today’s design you will want for nothing more in this one of a kind property. First floor master bedroom with a master bath includes a jacuzzi tub, separate tiled shower. marble sinks, stone floors, walk in closet, wood floors, your own outside entrance to pool. All 6 luxury bedrooms have ceiling fans, all 4.5 baths have tile floors and marble sinks, fireplace, bright open chefs kitchen dining room, sunny porch and a 16 x 32 pebble tec heated pool with hot tub. 2 car garage, 2 dishwashers, 2 washers and dryers, 2 kitchen sinks, 2 refrigerators,  extensive professional landscaping. $150k of rental income in place for this year. $1,789,000

Related posts:

1. Hello Good Buy- Sold $475,000 This Edgartown home is one of the best buy’s...
2. Unit 16 Meeting House Village- Edgartown This is a bright, sunny end unit condo with skylights,...
3. Bold Meadow home for sale in Edgartown One of the best homes in this proven upscale...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Foreclosure activity dropped to a three year low in February as mortgage servicing companies slowly resumed their repossession procedures. In the 26 states that have judicial foreclosure processes, where lenders temporarily called-off foreclosures as a result of faulty egal paperwork, default notices decreased 19% for the month and were down 48% from year ago figures.

Default notices, scheduled auctions of homes and bank repossessions were reported on 225,101 U.S. residential properties during the month, marking a 14% drop from January, and a 27% decline from a year ago. The drop marks the biggest year over year decrease since RealtyTrac has been keeping track of foreclosure activity in 2005.

“While a small part of February’s decrease can be attributed to it being a short month and bad weather, the bottom line is that the industry is in the midst of a major overhaul that has severely restricted its capacity to process foreclosures,” said RealtyTrac CEO James Saccacio. “We expect to see the numbers bounce back, but that will likely take several months. And monthly volume may never return to its peak in March 2010 of more than 367,000 properties receiving foreclosure filings.”

Some 63,165 properties received default notices for the first time in February, a 16% decline from the previous month and a 41% drop from a year ago as default notices hit a four year low.

Related posts:

1. Martha’s Vineyard Real Estate More good news for the residential housing market.  Warren Buffett...
2. Martha’s Vineyard Real Estate It is a sad week here because all our island...
3. Luxury Real Esate Market, Martha’s Vineyard The new York Times Sunday, October 31, 2010 Square Feet...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

56 Whalers Walk Edgartown

You must see for yourself why this great home on almost one acre has something for everyone. A nice screened in porch for outside living room for 3 season living. A great wood stove for cold winter nights. A large island in the kitchen for the serious cook who needs prep space and a gas stove. Basement play are for ping pong table and more for the kid in all of us. Large maser bedroom, 2 living rooms with bonus space for overnight company. Asphalt basketball court and large shed for outside storage. Central location and easy access to town, beach, bike path, bus route.

Exclusive $649,000

Related posts:

1. Edgartown Real Estate for sale This Edgartown Vacation home compound has been only on...
2. South Beach Vacation Home- Sold $725K This beautifully appointed Katama beach house located 1 1/2...
3. Two Acres in Katama with Water View This well planned vacation home on 2 acres has...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.