Saturday, March 18, 2017

The (Taxing) Joy of Home Ownership

The (Taxing) Joy of Home Ownership

A robust housing market means many newcomers are joining the homeowner ranks. Along with

the joy of home ownership, comes the pain of costs such as mortgage payments, repairs and

maintenance.

The good news is that some of those home-related expenses are tax deductible if you opt to

itemize your tax-deductible expenses on Schedule A. For most homeowners, the additional work

of collecting statements and keeping track of expenses is worth it.

Unfortunately, some costs associated with owning a home are not tax deductible. Those include

fire or earthquake insurance, homeowner’s association dues and local assessments for sidewalks

or utility connections.

Here are a few homeowner expenses you can deduct on Schedule A:

Mortgage interest: One of the most substantial deductions for many homeowners is the interest

you pay on your mortgage. Not only can you deduct the interest you paid throughout the year,

you also can deduct any points you paid when you took out your mortgage. And, if you have a

home equity loan or line of credit, you can deduct that interest as well even if you didn’t use the

money for home improvements. There are limits to the amount you can deduct so be sure to

consult your tax professional or check out IRS Publication 530.

Property taxes: All state and local property taxes can be deducted. For individuals who bought

or sold their home during the year, property taxes will be pro-rated based on your closing date.

If your property taxes are impounded, check your year-end statement to determine the amount

paid on your behalf.

Mortgage insurance: If your insurance contract was issued after 2006, the cost of your

mortgage insurance is tax deductible. However, the deduction is reduced once your adjusted

gross income exceeds $100,000 on a joint return or $50,000 for married filing separately.

Capital gains: If you sold a home in 2016, you can claim up to $250,000 of profit ($500,000 on

a joint return) without paying capital gains on it. However, you will be taxed on any profits

above those amounts. Certain ownership and residency requirements apply.

Solar energy credit: Homeowners who installed residential solar systems in 2016 are eligible

for a 30 percent tax credit.

Keep in mind, these are just suggestions. Make sure to consult your tax professional to confirm

that these write-offs are right for you.

Need a great Tax Advisor or CPA? Ask us we always have a fantastic network of professionals! 


HOW CAN WE HELP YOU MAKE YOUR NEXT MOVE?  
About  – Lori Alvarez is the CEO of Lori Alvarez & Team, kw Realty East Foothills who has been building her family legacy since February 2007. Where by the blessings and graces of God she has taken her team to be #1 TOP AGENT in Listing and / or Sales Agent for 2011-2016 in her Glendora office. She uses the MREA (Millionaire Real Estate Agent) models as an operations manual, many other amazing mentors, and her faith in God! Lori Alvarez can be reached by e-mail at Lori@Lorialvarez.net OR friend me on facebook OR Tweets available on Twitter! However my favorite is by phone at 909-227-4196Rock with us on Youtube - click here!  To check out Lori's Listings click here! 



'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11





Monday, March 6, 2017

Homeowners are expected to spend a near-record $317 billion!!

HIGH-TECH HOME IMPROVEMENT TRENDS FOR 2017
Homeowners are expected to spend a near-record $317 billion on home improvements and repairs in 2017.
The 6.7 percent increase in spending from 2016 is partially driven by consumers’ growing appetites for high-tech gadgets.
Indoor gardens and self-cleaning toilets are among the high-tech home improvement trends to look for this year, according to Consumer Reports.
Along with eco-friendly composite countertops and luxury vinyl floors, no kitchen is complete without a climate-controlled, irrigated indoor garden like the Urban Cultivator.  Such products include everything you need to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables in your own kitchen.  All you need to provide is water and electricity.
Installing self-cleaning toilets in your bathrooms will free up the additional time you will need to cultivate and harvest produce for that night’s salad. Companies like Toto and Kohler are using a combination of electrolyzed water and an integrated UV light to sanitize toilet bowls keeping them fresher and cleaner longer than the old-fashioned brush, cleanser and elbow grease.
Consumer Reports suggests other home improvement trends to look for including:
  • Home security systems and security cameras connected to your smartphone. In 2015, Ring  introduced the Ring Video Doorbell that allows you to answer the door from anywhere using your smartphone. Now, the company is adding a motion-activated camera with built-in floodlights, a siren alarm and two-way, talk.feature.
  • Voice-activated appliances. All GE WiFi-ready appliances feature a digital assistant called Geneva that communicates with Amazon’s Alexa. So if you’re within earshot of an Echo, you can issue commands such as, “Alexa, ask Geneva when the dishwasher will be finished,” or “Alexa, tell Geneva to preheat the oven to 350 degrees.”
  • Appliance drawers.  Typically 24 or 30 inches wide, these drawers house everything from dishwashers to microwaves to mini-refrigerators. A 30-inch appliance drawer from Viking Range is the first of its kind that doubles as a slow cooker, including a built-in meat probe and heavy-duty glides that can handle up to 200 pounds of meat.  

While some of these products have been available in limited quantities in recent years, the good news is that access is increasing and the cost is decreasing.


HOW CAN WE HELP YOU MAKE YOUR NEXT MOVE?  
About  – Lori Alvarez is the CEO of Lori Alvarez & Team, kw Realty East Foothills who has been building her family legacy since February 2007. Where by the blessings and graces of God she has taken her team to be #1 TOP AGENT in Listing and / or Sales Agent for 2011/2012/2013/2014 /2015 in her Glendora office. She uses the MREA (Millionaire Real Estate Agent) models as an operations manual, many other amazing mentors, and her faith in God! Lori Alvarez can be reached by e-mail at Lori@Lorialvarez.net OR friend me on facebook OR Tweets available on Twitter! However my favorite is by phone at 909-227-4196Rock with us on Youtube - click here!  To check out Lori's Listings click here! 

'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11