Archive for Austin Real Estate
Family and Friends’ Mortgages
It all seems perfectly reasonable: one person is not satisfied with what he can earn currently in the market and another wants to find the most attractive mortgage to purchase their home. It can be a good match but the IRS has specific rules that govern the transaction.
The loan must be done in a business-like manner with a written note specifying the loan amount, interest rate, term and collateral. IRS requires that the mortgage be a recorded lien in order to allow the interest deduction.
Sometimes, these friends and family situations have a less than normal interest rate on the mortgage. However, the rate charged in the note is regulated by the minimum applicable federal rate which is published monthly by IRS according to current Treasury securities. For October 2011, the rate is 2.95% for terms over nine years.
The seller must report the interest paid to them along with the name, address and Social Security number on schedule B when the buyer uses the property as their principal residence.
A mortgage between family and friends can be good for both parties. It may allow the borrower a slightly lower rate without the expenses of a traditional lender while giving the note holder a higher rate than they can earn in available investments. Your tax professional can guide the transaction whether you’re a buyer or seller and your real estate professional can help arrange to have the documents drawn and filed.
Real Estate Update, Affordability Driving Buyers Market
Examining the nation’s real estate uncovers that people buying real estate are doing so because of the incredibly high affordability levels. While mortgage rates have been dipping and rising in recent weeks, housing prices have continued to drop, if ever so slightly in comparison to a year or two ago. The high inventories in most markets are keeping prices from rising and sellers are forced to swallow the fact that if they want to sell they have to do so for less than originally thought.
Low home values, low mortgage rates and high inventories have created an ideal time to buy real estate. These are the best affordability levels with respect to real estate that have been seen in years and those buying are the people who do not want to look back in a few years and think if only I had bought then.
The best investments are those that are timed right. Buying low and selling high is the motto, and those that can get it right are those that stand to make the most profit over time. In a nutshell, there couldn’t be a better time to be a real estate investor.
Sourced from: Kinetic Content Library
Is Now the Right Time to Upgrade a Home?
Headlines touted the infamous line once again Friday that mortgage rates are at historic lows, inciting the b
urning question, “Is now the right time to upgrade my home to a bigger, better one?” Affordability is at an all-time high at many places throughout the Country and if one has the ability to acquire and secure a mortgage, the cost of buying a home is better than it has been in years. That being said, wanting to move up and being able to move up are two different things, and it is a great time to take a hard, honest look at what makes sense for your particular situation.
Finances. If your current mortgage is a stretch financially then you should hardly consider taking on more. If you have a solid steady income and can afford more, it is a great time to start looking for a housing upgrade. Affordability is seen as housing costs taking up 30% of a household’s monthly income, if a new mortgage will keep you there a new home makes sense.
Current home. Do you need to sell your current home to buy a new one? If you can hold on to your current home and rent it until the market is fully recovered, your investment can be sold at a bigger profit. This is especially wise if your current home can be rented for more than the mortgage payment every month.
It is not a wise idea to upgrade to a new home if it does not make financial sense for your future. If it does make financial sense there could never be a better time to jump into a new home. It is a great time to discuss a possible move with a financial advisor or a qualified real estate professional.
Sourced from: Kinetic Content Library
Keep Track of Your Home Improvements
Keep Track of Improvements
People are staying longer in their homes according to the National Association of Realtors and the U.S. Census. Over time, even a modest appreciation could result in a significant gain and homeowners should have a strategy to minimize possible taxes.
Maintenance on a principal residence is not deductible but improvements can add to the basis which can reduce the gain in the sale. Improvements are easily identified if they add to the value of a home, prolong its useful life or adapt it to new uses.
Receipts and other proof, such as pictures, should be kept during ownership and for several years after the sale of the home. They can include the closing statements from the purchase and sale of the home and all receipts for improvements, additions or other items that affect the home’s adjusted basis or cost.
For a principal residence, basis includes the price paid, plus certain acquisition costs and capital improvements made. When the property is sold for more than the basis, there is a gain. Currently, homeowners that meet the requirements can exclude up to $250,000 of gain if single or up to $500,000 if married filing jointly.
A simple strategy is to put documents that affect the basis of the home in one envelope. Any receipt for money spent on the home that isn’t the house payment or utilities, goes into the envelope. Your tax advisor will be able to sort through them to determine the capital improvements.
For more information on determining basis or capital improvements, see IRS publication 523, Selling Your Home.
Remodeling Trends Have Changed In All Markets Including Austin, Texas
When it comes to home ownership the remodeling trends of the recent past appear to have changed. These changes are showing up in the Central Texas housing market as well as other markets . The recent recession has left a permeating lifestyle change, one that has swapped over-indulgence with down-to-earth necessity. In other words, if it isn’t a necessity many people won’t do it.
It is a buyer’s market out there which means that the buyer is in control. Though in some of the Austin, Texas neighborhoods, the resale homes inventory is so well balanced that buyers barely have an advantage. A seller can no longer pass off a roof in poor condition or a faulty wiring system. If a homeowner wants to sell he will either have to make necessary repairs to his home or credit the buyer at closing. Even if the seller has realistically priced his home for it’s condition and acknowledged the market valuations for his neighborhood, many buyers are still able to negotiate a reasonable discount off of the list price.
Remodeling is on the upswing and for the first year since the height of the real estate market, the amount of money spent on remodeling is expected to increase. The only difference is what kind of remodeling is occurring, in other words if it needs fixing it is going to be fixed. Savvy sellers are recognizing that condition does matter to buyers and the better maintained, well groomed home is more likely to win in the resale beauty contest. In the Austin market, selling homeowners will brag about the green improvements such as the appliances with better energy star ratings, double paned window replacements , insulation and siding upgrades, tankless hot water heaters all in the name of energy efficiency because it has finally become a necessity to homeowners.
The days of bigger and better have passed, being replaced with the motto of living within one’s means and embracing the basics, and real estate is no exception to this rule.
Click here to read a recent article from the Wall Street Journal regarding the current state of remodeling.
January, Shmanuary, Look Ahead When it Comes to Austin Real Estate
The latest real estate headlines for the US are that home sales were down in January, some of these headlines even use the word “plunged”. However, there are a few areas scattered around that managed to buck this trend and no media frenzy can change that. Think about it, is it really a surprise that sales are down in January? January is the coldest month, even if you live in a southern state like Texas, who wants to move in to a new house in January.
Does anyone really feel like shopping in January when they have just completed a major holiday season that began with Thanksgiving at the end of November? Most people are just plain worn out by the time New Year’s Day is over, the last thing they feel like doing in packing up and moving. It is a month to relax and observe.
The original First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit was meant to expire in November and when it got extended and expanded people realized that they had more time to make a decision. January data is showing a dip because people wanted to stop and take a look at what the new year would bring. Now that 2010 is here and people can see that mortgage rates and property values are staying low, housing is bound to show a steady increase in sales and eventually prices as well. Even Warren Buffet appears optimistic, stating that he believes that housing problems will soon be behind us.
Click here to view Warren Buffet’s stance on the economy and real estate as a whole.
Sourced from: Kinetic Content Library
