Since the first quarter of 2013, more than 3 million homeowners have regained positive equity, as home prices have shot up, CoreLogic reported.
In the third quarter, 791,000 more residential properties moved into positive equity, the data aggregator said. But CoreLogic reported that there were still 6.4 million homes with underwater mortgages remaining, or 13 percent of all properties with a mortgage. That’s down from 14.7 percent in the second quarter.
There’s nothing more stark or empty looking than a blank wall. Before you start buying and hanging art, check out these simple design ideas and art hanging how-to’s.
Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor with the Midas touch, has a message for Main Street stock investors: “Don’t beat yourself.”
“The nice thing about investing in stocks is that, over time, equities are going to do well,” Buffett tells USA TODAY. “American business is going to do well. America is going to do well. So you have the tide with you.”
Building wealth in stocks is still the way to go, even though the ride can get bumpy from time to time, Buffett, 83, says.
Cold nights and reports of snow are signs that winter is just around the corner. Prepare now to avoid problems related to winter weather, both at home and at work.
We’ve been looking at the new IRS regulations on how to classify repairs and improvements for tax purposes. The voluminous regulations contain some things that are pretty good for owners of residential rentals and commercial properties, and some things that aren’t so good.
Among the good things is a safe harbor for materials and supplies. An expense for any property that comes within this safe harbor may be currently deducted.
Exactly what are materials and supplies? Find out…
Pendo Rent, a rental management software application for landlords with just a handful of properties to keep track of, launched earlier this month, with the ability to collect and track online payments, create to-do alerts and manage finances.
The Vancouver-based firm is targeting “citizen landlords,” those property owners who want a simple, organized way to manage tenant applications, and maintain tenant profiles, advertising and other aspects of renting a property.
A recent column (“IRS finally provides guidance on building repairs vs. improvements“) explained that the IRS has finally issued the final version of its monumentally long and complex regulations explaining how to deduct improvements and repairs to business property, including commercial buildings and residential rentals.
The final regulations, which take effect Jan. 1, 2014, contain several pleasant surprises for small-business owners, including owners of rental properties. One of these is the “safe harbor for small taxpayers” (IRS Reg. 1.263(a)-3h).
This new reg allows a qualifying taxpayer to elect to not apply the IRS’s complex new improvement regs to an eligible building if the total amount paid during the year for repairs, maintenance, improvements and similar expenses does not exceed the lesser of $10,000 or 2 percent of the unadjusted basis of the building (usually, its cost).
Fall can be a focal time for your garden. Rather than pruning back perennials and cleaning up tools, take some time to scrutinize your entire outdoor environment. Here are four areas that may help your garden get a jump on spring…
The federal government wants to encourage homeowners to make their homes as energy efficient as possible. To do so, back in 2005 Congress enacted a tax credit for “nonbusiness energy property.”
This was a tax credit (subject to a $500 lifetime cap) for certain energy efficiency improvements to a taxpayer’s existing principal residence. The credit expired at the end of 2011, but was brought back from the dead by the fiscal cliff tax deal back in February. It was made retroactive to apply to 2012 and then expire at the end of 2013.
So, if you haven’t used up your lifetime $500 limit already, 2013 could be your last chance to do so.
Home prices have rebounded so rapidly that RealtyTrac is reporting 8.3 million borrowers who’ve been underwater are on track to have enough equity to sell their home within the next 15 months-without resorting to a short sale.
Metro markets that boast the highest percentage of homes with resurfacing equity include Omaha, Nebraska; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Raleigh, North Carolina.
Managing The Real Estate Details 