Last year, 21 percent of all U.S. homes were purchased by unmarried women, up from 10 percent in 1985, according to the National Association of Realtors. The association’s figures include single-family houses, condos and town houses.

Married taxpayers filing jointly can avoid tax on up to $500,000 of gain when they sell their principal residence. For single taxpayers, the gain exclusion is $250,000. However, all gain is taxable if the residence was acquired during the previous five years as part of a tax-free like-kind exchange. The 2005 Tax Act clarifies the gain exclusion rule for such residences.

One effect of the real estate boom, especially in recent years, is that more homeowners have attempted to sell their homes without the help of a real estate agent. For some, the process worked out. The home sold quickly, and the money which normally would have gone toward an agent’s commission was pocketed by the seller. For many sellers, however, it didn’t go so well. Either the sale took longer than anticipated, or the final selling price was significantly lower than the initial asking price. In some cases, sellers encountered both difficulties.

There are many benefits to cleaning up damaged credit scores, even if you already own a home. By improving your credit score, you could save money on items such as car insurance, automobile loans, or any other type of loan. This is especially true when it comes to refinancing a home loan, because higher credit scores will always work in your favor. The goal is to secure the best interest rate available and save money. It’s that simple.