Archives for March 2021

Selling Your Home, The Tax Angle

March 31, 2021 by chorton Leave a Comment

The buying and selling of homes are the largest financial transactions you may make, and as with most financial transactions, there’s a tax angle. If you know what your tax implications are as you go into the deal, you’re better able to plan and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Unlike with most other capital gains, the government gives you a big break when selling your principal home for a profit. You can exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 if married filing jointly) of the profit from the sale. This exclusion is available for an unlimited number of times. And it applies to houses, apartments, condominiums, stock cooperatives, and mobile homes fixed to land.

However, there are other rules and limitations. To take advantage of the exclusion, you must own and occupy the home as your principal residence for at least two years before you sell it. Owning it and occupying it are two different things, however, and although you have to meet both tests, you don’t have to do this simultaneously. As legal site Nolo explains, “As long as you have at least two years of ownership and two years of use during the five years before you sell the home, the ownership and use can occur at different times.” This is an eligibility break for renters-turned-buyers, who can count rental time before the purchase as part of the “occupy” time.

Also note the word “principal.” This is your main home, where you spend most of your time. You can only have one principal residence at a time. If you have a townhouse in the city where you work but spend August in your country home, your townhouse is still your principal residence.

The IRS also imposes conditions to be eligible for the larger $500,000 married exclusion. You must meet all the conditions below:

You are married and file a joint return for the year.
Either spouse meets the ownership test.
Both spouses meet the use test.
During the two-year period ending on the date of the sale, neither spouse excluded gain from the sale of another home.

If a spouse is deceased, under what conditions can the surviving spouse use the $500,000 exclusion? You have to meet all of the following conditions:

You sell your home within two years of the death of your spouse.
You haven’t remarried at the time of the sale.
Neither you nor your late spouse took the exclusion on another home sold less than two years before the date of the current home sale.
You meet the two-year ownership and residence requirements (including your late spouse’s times of ownership and residence if need be).

Getting a Break on Improvements

If you’re single and buy a house for $300,000, you’re limited to a sale later of $550,000 before you start having to pay taxes. However, any improvements you made will increase that $300,000 basis, and the IRS is generous in what it considers an improvement. You can add a new room, landscaping, a heating system, new siding — even a satellite dish. General repairs, like fixing a broken windowpane, do not add to the basis. But fixing the windows as part of a larger renovation project will count.

The bottom line? When selling a home, work with professionals to make sure your plans are aligned with tax rules.

Contact our office to speak with one of our knowledgeable agents.

Make Your Safe For Pets

March 30, 2021 by chorton Leave a Comment

Whether you have cats or dogs — or maybe both — in your house, you want to keep them safe, healthy and happy. And your home extends to your yard. It is important to consider the common hazards to pets outside your home and learn what you can do to make your yard safe. Following are ideas to get you started.

Remove Dangerous Tools

Dogs can be curious and can easily get into the tools you leave out in the yard. Make a space to properly store items that you would use for gardening or lawn maintenance so that your dogs can stay safe. Keeping these tools in a shed, garage or basement is a good first step.

Avoid Toxic Plants

Many plants are toxic to dogs and cats. Avoid planting these plants where your pets might decide to snack on them. Some popular but dangerous plants include the following:

Lilies
Begonia
Chrysanthemum
Daffodil
Iris
English ivy

Check with your local nursery to identify plants that are safe for your pets.

Remove the Dangers of Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks pose a dangerous health threat to your dogs and cats. Make sure your pet is on a preventative medication if they will be outside. You also can restrict the habitats for fleas and ticks by removing long or dry grasses and keeping the lawn well maintained.

Install a Fence

The surrounding neighborhood also can pose hazards. Cars, other dogs and even some humans can pose additional threats to your pets. Installing a fence can give your dogs a place to exercise without the dangers of escaping or getting lost.

Build a Catio

The safest place for a cat may be indoors. But if you want to give your cats an outdoor experience, consider building a catio. This is a completely enclosed outdoor structure with plenty of places to climb that will enrich your cat’s experience while also keeping them safe from predatory animals, cars and feline diseases.

If you and your furry friends are looking for a new home, call us today.

Thinking Of Selling Your Home? Ask Yourself These Questions…

March 26, 2021 by chorton Leave a Comment

Should I Sell My House?

If you are located in a seller’s market, have enough saved up for moving expenses and you have equity in your current home then your likely ready to sell.

When Is A Good Time To Sell My Home?

Now is a good time to sell! Mortgage rates are low, it’s a sellers market and inventory is low with a high demand of buyers.

Do You Have Equity In Your House?

Equity is the difference between the market value of your home and your mortgage balance. Equity allows you to successfully pay off your existing mortgage and apply what’s left over toward a new down payment and moving expenses. If you have enough equity, you may be in a good place to sell.

Do You Have Debt Outside Of Your Mortgage?

If selling your home means buying a new home, and buying a new home means a new mortgage, you’ll want to take a look at your other outside debt — things like car payments, credit card minimum payments, child support, or student loan debt. Lenders will take a look at your whole financial situation using what’s called a debt-to-income ratio to determine if you’ll be approved for a new loan. If your debt-to-income ratio is less than 43 percent (an industry average that varies by lender and loan type, so be sure to check with your lender), you may be prepared to sell.

Do You Have A Down Payment Saved For A New House?

The standard down payment is 20 percent, but there are loan options available that require as little as 3 percent down. If you have savings accessible to apply toward a new down payment, you’re in a great position to start shopping for a new home before selling your current home. If not, you’ll have to sell your first home before being able to put money down on a new home.

Do You Have The Extra For Home Improvements?

If you have cash available to complete any necessary home improvements before listing, you’re likely ready to get serious about selling your home. If you decide to pursue without improvements you won’t need to worry, you can list your home as-is.

Can You Accept Negative Feedback From Buyer About Your Home?

Sellers usually end up hearing feedback about what potential buyers think of their home, and it’s not always positive. If you can keep yourself from taking critical feedback on the condition and style of your home personally, you’re emotionally ready to make a sale happen.

Have You Outgrown Your Home Or Are You Ready To Downsize?

Whether you’re in need of more space or have more space than you care to maintain anymore, major life circumstances are good indicators of an appropriate time to sell.

Are Homes In Your Neighborhood Selling Fast?

In a seller’s market, inventory is low and homes sell quickly, often with multiple offers. In a buyer’s market, listings can sit for a while before the right buyer comes along. If the market is hot, you may find it’s the perfect time to take the leap and sell your home.

Bottom line: Now is a great time to sell! With low inventory and low mortgage rates, your house may be worth more than what you think.

Contact our office to find out just how much your home is worth in today’s market.

Investing In Vacant Land

March 24, 2021 by chorton Leave a Comment

Investors looking for relatively secure opportunities should think about devoting some of the money to invest in vacant land. Vacant land investing can supply you with several ways to profit. Some people purchase property, wait for the value to increase and sell the property in a much higher price at a later date. Others that invest in vacant land generate revenue and seek pleasure in the home while they await the property’s worth to rise. There are also many different methods to invest in land. However you choose to invest in vacant land, you should consider the details before you spend money on any property.

The value of vacant land can grow fast. Individuals are moving from urban to suburban areas for generations. As households accumulate more wealth or move into retirement, they often wish to break free from crowded urban areas so they may enjoy the privacy of suburban and, better still, rural houses . As more people move to the cities, the boundaries of suburbs will continue to reach further inducing a requirement for vacant property to build homes on later on near the outskirts of large metropolitan regions. In spite of all the new pandemic there has been an increase in the need for rural residential land and hobby farms.

The COVID-19 pandemic can hasten the trend away from urban lifestyles. Anyone residing in nyc during the pandemic, for instance, has seen the challenges of living in a crowded town. As resources become increasingly scarce and growing quantities of infectious men and women make going outside in public dangerous, an increasing number of people are trying to get from urban centers.

The sudden interest in rural property should increase property values. If you already possess vacant land, you can gain in your growing interest in hobby farms and recreational property .

Not everyone will want to reside in rural regions exclusively. People who can afford to purchase rural retreats are more inclined to do this now that they’ve seen the problem of living in towns throughout a pandemic.

Developing empty land can increase its value. Undeveloped, vacant land becomes an undeniable investment chance when you are willing to devote time and money adding infrastructure, buildings, and other capabilities. By way of example, you can increase the value of vacant property by installing the utilities that the majority of people search for when purchasing homes. A slice of property that nobody wants becomes much more desirable as soon as you add electric lines, water, and sewer.

Other features that may increase the value of vacant land comprise:

Houses and Houses.
Barns and sheds.
Ponds and lakes.
Meadows and trees which attract wildlife.
Tree Stands.
Vacant land can generate revenue before you market.

If vacant land already has some desired characteristics, you can use it to generate revenue while awaiting the house’s value to rise. You could earn a living from property with fertile soil and a water source by leasing or renting your property to farmers. You can also earn money from transitional land by:

Selling wood .
Charging a fee for hunters.
Renting cottages and houses to vacationers.
Selling nutrient rights.
Supplying an Agritourism attraction.

Pay careful attention to a property’s attributes before you buy it. With water, trees, and other desirable characteristics, you probably can not make much money from it while you await the value to increase.

Before you start investing vacant land, contact our office so we can help you focus on finding properties that match your needs. We may already know about a few properties that you can purchase within the next few weeks.

4 Mortgage Programs That Will Convert Renters Into Buyers

March 22, 2021 by chorton Leave a Comment

Fannie Mae’s 3-percent-down mortgage

Launched a few years ago, Fannie Mae’s Conventional 97 is a brilliant alternative to the FHA-backed loan. In fact, it is “among the most in-demand programs for today’s homebuyers,” according to Dan Green at TheMortgageReports.com .

Conventional 97 is what FHA used to be — ideal for both the first-timer and repeat homebuyer who lacks a large down payment. While borrowers are still required to purchase mortgage insurance, the premiums “are usually less expensive than those of comparable FHA home loans,” according to Green.

What To Do With Old Mulch

March 19, 2021 by chorton Leave a Comment

What should you do with older mulch that was left in addition to annual flower beds or vegetable beds throughout the winter? Be aware this is a different problem from what to do in garden beds which contain live plants (albeit maybe dormant) through winter, in which the attention of this question is primarily about the crops.

The current FAQ, by contrast, relates to empty beds (living plant material has died or has been chosen ), and also the question concentrates on the compost: specifically, if the old mulch remains workable –and, in that case, what you ought to do using it. In regards to this biodegradable material (bark, leaves, straw, etc.), to not mulches which don’t break down easily (rock, plastic, etc.).

Is Old Mulch Still Excellent to Use?
Vegetable garden beds and yearly flower beds won’t have plants in them throughout summer but are mulched in the fall to safeguard their dirt from the harsh elements from the winter. You’ve worked hard to develop the fertility of your garden dirt, which means you wouldn’t want gusty winds or torrents of water taking any off it, do you?

In the event the status of the old mulch hasn’t decomposed considerably from the time spring comes, it will continue to be usable. How can you determine its situation? Well, scoop up some of these mulch in your palms. Has it more or less broken down into fine particles, which means it is not clearly distinguishable from grime? If that’s the circumstance, it will no longer work very efficiently as a mulch; it’s time to replace it. If, nevertheless, it has largely kept the appearance and texture that it initially had, then it’s possible to re-use it. The 1 exception is if your plants in this garden mattress had undergone disease issues last year which you believe could be tracked back into the mulch; in which case you’d like to remove and eliminate stated mulch correctly (consult with the officers from your city to ascertain a suitable method to eliminate such substance ).

If upon review, you decide the old mulch hasn’t, in actuality, decomposed considerably, you need to repaint the old mulch aside for today so you are able to prepare the planting bed. If you have to get it out of the manner, attaching the compost into a wheelbarrow, dumping consecutive loads on a tarp off to the other side. Employ mulch on the vegetable garden bed or yearly flower bed, and until it work it into the soil with a scoop.

You can now see why the very first schooling was to rake the older mulch apart: in the plan of rototilling or spading the mulch to the backyard, the old mulch could have been tilled or spaded beneath, forcing one to get and employ new mulch. That could be a waste of energy, time, and cash.

Now set the old mulch straight back on the planting bed.

This entire procedure can be finished well beforehand of planting time. When it’s time to plant, then gently remove the mulch out of only the region where you have been sowing seeds or transplanting plants. Together with the mulch in place in this fashion, weeds never have much of a opportunity to emerge.

However, what if the old mulch has, in actuality, decomposed considerably over the duration of winter? If that’s the circumstance, work it in the floor as organic matter so that it can function as a soil amendment, together with the compost. Subsequently acquire a load of fresh mulch for a substitute.

What About “Living” Mulches (Cover Crops)?

Though”cover plants ” (that can be so-called”living mulches”) is language more frequently discovered in agricultural circles than in landscaping circles, some homeowners might find cover plants quite beneficial.1

Cover plants are sowed more than vegetable gardens and yearly flower beds at the autumn to protect them from the winter. When spring returns and you’re preparing to plant , you have to receive a cover crop from the way. However, you can kill 2 birds with one stone: tilling cover plants to both free up the garden for spring planting and places nutrients to the ground.

Mow cover plants initially, then conduct a garden tiller within the –a procedure called”tilling under” the protect plants. By mowing , the garden tilling will proceed simpler, as you’ll be tilling shorter plant. After mowingspread compost over precisely the exact same garden bed, and until that beneath, also, as you would with some other beds which did not possess cover plants.

Preferred Properties of Texas