Obama’s Real Estate Tax is Not As Bad As Most People Think
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There is a lot of confusion centered on the health care bill’s impact on real estate transactions and the talk is not exactly accurate. Let me first clarify one thing: yes there is a new tax on real estate. But what most people don’t tell you is that the tax is only on applied profits earned above and beyond the capital gains tax limits and this is not a blanket tax applied to all real estate sales.
Additional Taxation Only on Applicable Capital Gains
First, let me explain the capital gains tax limits in the State of Nebraska. Like most states, we have a $250,000 threshold on capital gains for single persons and a $500,000 cap for married couples. What that means is that if you are a single person and after the sale of your home if there is a profit over and beyond $250,000 – that amount will be taxed an additional 3.8%. Let’s go over this with an example. Say you bought a home for $300,000 and then sold it for $375,000. The profit amounts to only $75,000 (well within the $250,000 limit for non-married property owners) so you will not be taxed on that profit.
Now, here is an example of a married couple that sold their lakefront home: Originally bought in 2002 for $100,000. They renovated the home and now it is a gorgeous and very desirable property. Assuming that other homes consistently gained value and sold for a lot more in recent years, the couple in our example sold their home for $650,000 (Wow! Show me an investment opportunity like THAT!). This couple received a total of $550,000 profit on the sale of their home and given the $500,000 married people exemption on capital gains, the taxable amount would be $50,000. How much does it add up to? The total amount of additional tax this couple will pay at 3.8% would be a mere $1,900 – a far cry from the thousands of dollars the rumors would have you believe.
Generous Income Requirements Prior to Tax Imposition
Another important aspect of the new real estate taxes is that the tax only applies to individuals with at least a $200,000 annual income and couples with a joint income of at least $250,000. That automatically eliminates about 97% of the American population right there.
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So you see? It’s not all that bad. The only thing I can think of that is important to remember about the capital gains tax exemption is that it must be a primary residence of the person or people filing for the exemption. Here is a document generated by the National Association of Realtors with some more scenarios showing how the real estate tax would impact people.
How a Down Payment on a New Home Makes a Molehill Out of a Mountain!
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Believe me, your down payment on a new home affects nearly everything you can think of in the buying process - the loan programs you're able to qualify for, the size of the interest rate, the amount of closing costs, etc.
This rule is true because, like all lenders, mortgage lenders dislike risk. They're in the business of making money by lending money. So, the more money you put down, the lower the risk, and the more lenders like your deal.
And, that's not all. If you have enough cash for a large down payment, then more choices open up to you! You can choose conventional fixed rate loans, adjustable rate mortgages, VA, FHA, graduated payment mortgages and all the variations of each of these programs.
By the way, when you combine a good-to-excellent credit score with a large down payment, you'll definitely get positive attention from loan officers!
Acceptable Sources for Down Payment Monies
In general, lenders want to see adequate funds available for a period of at least sixty (60) days in your account. The usual methods of proof of these funds are either a Verification of Deposit form or two months' worth of your most recent bank account statements.
So, if you're person who keeps money "under the mattress" or somewhere in your home, this isn't acceptable. It has to be deposited in an account (bank or investment) for at least two months (preferably longer).
In technical terms, this is called "seasoning." And the reason behind it is this: First, by having money in an account, it shows you have to ability and discipline to save money and, thus, are a good risk from the lender's point of view. Second, it demonstrates that the money is likely yours and not a personal loan from a family member or a friend. Lastly, and obviously, it shows you have enough money on hand for a down payment.
In general, here are sources you can use for a down payment:
• Checking account
• Savings account
• 401k account
• IRA account (have to meet specific guidelines)
• Money market account
• Stocks
• Bonds
• Mutual funds
• Certificates of deposit and other liquid assets.
• Sale of an asset, etc.
Frankly, in this New Age of Frugality, the safest method is to simply save the money for a down payment. This teaches you financial discipline which is good for all aspects of your life, and it means you don't have to rob other assets to pay the down payment.
I'd be happy to discuss and suggest many different ways of obtaining down payment money. Contact me today.
Be Un-Emotional When Buying a Home In Order to Get the Best Value!
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Want to break your heart and your bank account at the same time? Then buy a new home based on the fact that you've fallen in love with it!
Needless to say, you should never do this!
In some cases, when you fall in love with the "pretty face" of a house, you fail to look underneath and find problems like bad wiring, leaky roofs, bad foundations, etc. This is an extremely expensive way to buy a home!
A funny and sad example of this is shown in the 1986 film, The Money Pit, starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long. They make the mistake of falling in love with a home and think they're getting a $1,000,000 property for only $200,000.
Once they get into the home, they find out it'll cost a million to repair it! It's got wood rot, a bad roof, bad plumbing, bad electricity, even bad raccoons!
Well, that's Hollywood exaggeration, of course. After all, The Money Pit was a comedy. But, when things like that happen to you, it's no joke. Repairs can cost you a lot of money and heartache, not to mention dangerously rising blood pressure!
So, again, never ever fall in love with a house at first sight! Easier said than done, you say? How do you avoid this tendency? Below, I offer some solutions to the problem!
Solutions 1: Get Cold Hard Facts about the Home!
When I talk about "cold, hard facts," I'm talking about getting the house evaluated by a certified home inspector.
It's well worth the money to have this job done because the inspector will cast the objective eye you lack on the property. He or she will evaluate every aspect of a house - roof, plumbing, wiring, foundation, etc.
The cost of a home inspection varies with the region of the country. Nationally, they range from $200 to $400. But, for the investment of, say, $200, you prevent yourself from losing thousands of dollars in repairs in two ways.One, you can simply walk away from the deal. Or, two, you can require that seller fix all items before you sign a contract!
Bonus: Often, you can ask that the seller pay for the home inspection!
Solution 2: Cool Off and Take Your Time!
Infatuation with a home is fun and exciting, and you can have the overwhelming temptation to buy an attractive home practically "on the spot."
My advice - walk away and come back several hours later, especially after you've viewed other properties! By then, it's likely you'll have a more objective eye.
Solution 3: Keep It Simple!
By this I mean that you should stick within your price range. You want the best hom e at the best price within your means! So, if you see an outwardly gorgeous home at, say, $10,000 above your price limit, say, "I love you, but you're way too pricey for me!" and walk away from the temptation!
Solution 4: Rely on Your Realtor!
At heart, I and other professional realtors like me, want you to have a home that meets your needs in the best way possible. That means preventing you from buying a home that's in substandard shape and/or beyond your means.
To be perfectly blunt about it, I rely on great word of mouth from satisfied customers to make the most of my real estate career. So, you have my promise that I'll do my absolute best to get you into the house of your affordable dreams!
Need that objective eye to help you make a smart home-buying decision? Contact us today.
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