Buyers::::::: Please read the article below. This is very significant information about why to buy now and take the tax deductions allowed!
May 9, 2008
Realty Viewpoint: Show HomeBuyers How Rewards Outweigh Risks
by Blanche Evans
As we've hammered home the point before, Americans have been scared witless by economists, most with personal agendas, that housing still has a long way to go before it hits bottom.
That puts the housing industry in a bad spot. Not only do Realtors, builders and sellers need to convince buyers that now is a good time to buy, the industry also has to go one step further -- prove to buyers that purchasing real estate is a sound investment.
We're assuming that buyers are moving to the sidelines because they're waiting for bargains. But that's not the reason. They're so focused on risk, they're missing out on the rewards.
As a buyer, you get to choose the location, characteristics and price you want to pay. When you sell, you get to take back the equity built, like cashing out a savings account.
But the best benefit is that homeownership, unlike no other investment, is heavily subsidized by the U.S. government in tax relief, which more than offsets most if not all equity losses incurred by falling markets.
From inheriting a house to owning a vacation home to selling a house, Uncle Sam and your friendly local taxing authority lay on the benefits of homeowning so thick, that yearly benefits more than make up for temporary losses in equity. Standard deductions aside, just add up these goodies: mortgage interest payments private mortgage insurance, points paid in purchase and equity loans, property taxes, homestead exemption, capital gains exemptions, and much, much more.
Let's just take one of those. Let's say you lost $4,000 in value on your home during the economic turndown. In that same period, you were able to deduct $12,000 in mortgage interest, the bulk of your housepayment. You're just reduced your taxable income by $8,000. If you're in the 15 percent bracket, you just saved $1,200. Now let's pretend you sold a home, and cleared $20,000. You got to keep all of it without paying the 15 percent. You just pocketed $3,000 in capital gains relief.
Are you beginning to get the picture? As a renter, you get nothing. All you're doing is making your landlord's house payment for him.
So if you're waiting to buy, you're losing money.
Copyright © 2008 Realty Times. All Rights Reserved.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Pictures: Great Dock Canoe Race 2008
Check out those GAMS!!!!!!
These guys had the BEST TABLE!!!!!
Everyone was smiling, having a great time...the weather was perfect. HOT!The crowd was enthusiastic and friendly. Events like this one prove Naples Versatility as a Hometown!
Naples Finest>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Check out these Dolls.........!
Naples Finest>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Check out these Dolls.........!
Saturday Morning gave way to tons of fun and smiles at The
Dock sponsored Great Dock Canoe Race. Families, Couples, Athletes, and even the Potato Heads joined in the festivities.
Dock sponsored Great Dock Canoe Race. Families, Couples, Athletes, and even the Potato Heads joined in the festivities.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Hurricane Preparedness
Florida mitigation inspections program gets good review
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – April 30, 2008 – A recent survey of My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) participants revealed that 97 percent of homeowners in the program found the application process easy, 80 percent had a good or excellent experience, and 82 percent were interested in recommending the program to neighbors.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink said the program inspects homes and provides grants to homeowners interested in retrofitting their homes to withstand hurricanes. Only single-family homes are eligible for the program, however.
The program, which was relaunched in 2007, provides free wind inspections to homeowners and provides them with recommendations on how to hurricane-proof their homes.
Sink stated that 60 percent of participants learn they are eligible for insurance premium discounts, averaging about $226 in savings. Thirty-four percent of those homeowners took advantage of the discounts without making further improvements to their homes.
Source: National Underwriter (Property & Casualty - Risk & Benefits Management Edition) (04/29/08)
© Copyright 2008 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – April 30, 2008 – A recent survey of My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) participants revealed that 97 percent of homeowners in the program found the application process easy, 80 percent had a good or excellent experience, and 82 percent were interested in recommending the program to neighbors.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink said the program inspects homes and provides grants to homeowners interested in retrofitting their homes to withstand hurricanes. Only single-family homes are eligible for the program, however.
The program, which was relaunched in 2007, provides free wind inspections to homeowners and provides them with recommendations on how to hurricane-proof their homes.
Sink stated that 60 percent of participants learn they are eligible for insurance premium discounts, averaging about $226 in savings. Thirty-four percent of those homeowners took advantage of the discounts without making further improvements to their homes.
Source: National Underwriter (Property & Casualty - Risk & Benefits Management Edition) (04/29/08)
© Copyright 2008 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688
What a wonderful program...especially if you own one of the many 1970's homes here in Collier or Lee County. Free Program.....I love this Country!
Joani Alderuccio RN, BSN, Realtor
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Collier County Floodplain Update
Taken from the Collier County Newsletter April 24, 2008
The Community Development and Environmental Services Division’s
Engineering Services Department is offering Floodplain Management Plan seminars to discuss updates concerning Collier County’s flood maps. Federal fl ood maps are used to determine flood zones in unincorporated Collier County. An improper flood zone designation can require homeowners to purchase flood insurance unnecessarily, costing them hundreds of dollars each year. Current FEMA flood maps are based solely on coastal surge flooding. In 1998, the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided the county with draft copies of their intentions to update the county’s flood maps. Both the county and City of Naples expressed concerns with the Floodplain Management proposed revisions of fl ood
zone heights and locations. Consequently, in 2004, the Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized Collier County government and the City of Naples to conduct a new Flood Insurance Study for
use in the development of the updated FEMA Flood Insurance Rate
Map. The county is working diligently to update the maps and
incorporate both coastal surge and inland rainfall-induced fl ooding
to accurately determine flood zones in unincorporated Collier County. The current schedule for completion of the ongoing study and production/implementation of new maps is early 2010.
The next fl oodplain management public information meeting will be
May 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church, 625 111th Avenue, Naples. For more information, visit www.colliergov.net/floodplain.
What this means folks, is that the new floodplain plan will assist in saving the homeowners money in their insurance rates. YEAH!!!!
Joani Alderuccio RN, BSN, Realtor
Alderuccio Realty Group, LLC
239-821-7408
joani@alderuccio.com
www.alderuccio.com
The Community Development and Environmental Services Division’s
Engineering Services Department is offering Floodplain Management Plan seminars to discuss updates concerning Collier County’s flood maps. Federal fl ood maps are used to determine flood zones in unincorporated Collier County. An improper flood zone designation can require homeowners to purchase flood insurance unnecessarily, costing them hundreds of dollars each year. Current FEMA flood maps are based solely on coastal surge flooding. In 1998, the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided the county with draft copies of their intentions to update the county’s flood maps. Both the county and City of Naples expressed concerns with the Floodplain Management proposed revisions of fl ood
zone heights and locations. Consequently, in 2004, the Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized Collier County government and the City of Naples to conduct a new Flood Insurance Study for
use in the development of the updated FEMA Flood Insurance Rate
Map. The county is working diligently to update the maps and
incorporate both coastal surge and inland rainfall-induced fl ooding
to accurately determine flood zones in unincorporated Collier County. The current schedule for completion of the ongoing study and production/implementation of new maps is early 2010.
The next fl oodplain management public information meeting will be
May 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church, 625 111th Avenue, Naples. For more information, visit www.colliergov.net/floodplain.
What this means folks, is that the new floodplain plan will assist in saving the homeowners money in their insurance rates. YEAH!!!!
Joani Alderuccio RN, BSN, Realtor
Alderuccio Realty Group, LLC
239-821-7408
joani@alderuccio.com
www.alderuccio.com
Prepare your home for showing
There is an art to preparing your home for showing.
Curb appeal means how attractive your home looks when viewed from the street. It is the first impression a potential buyer has of your home. Giving the outside of your home a fresh coat of paint before you put it on the market is a good idea. Keep your lawn green and mowed, sidewalks swept, plant some flowers and keep kids' toys picked up.
Once buyers come inside after seeing how attractive the outside of you home is, they need to be able to visualize themselves living here. Keep everything clean and polished. It's important to get rid of any clutter. Keep countertops and tabletops clear of everything except a bowl of fruit and fresh flowers.
We have lots of experience and have lots of ideas how you can make your home attractive to buyers. We would enjoy sharing them with you. Please give us a call or send us an email if this would be helpful to you.
Joani Alderuccio RN, BSN, Realtor
239-821-7408
joani@alderuccio.com
www.alderuccio.com
Curb appeal means how attractive your home looks when viewed from the street. It is the first impression a potential buyer has of your home. Giving the outside of your home a fresh coat of paint before you put it on the market is a good idea. Keep your lawn green and mowed, sidewalks swept, plant some flowers and keep kids' toys picked up.
Once buyers come inside after seeing how attractive the outside of you home is, they need to be able to visualize themselves living here. Keep everything clean and polished. It's important to get rid of any clutter. Keep countertops and tabletops clear of everything except a bowl of fruit and fresh flowers.
We have lots of experience and have lots of ideas how you can make your home attractive to buyers. We would enjoy sharing them with you. Please give us a call or send us an email if this would be helpful to you.
Joani Alderuccio RN, BSN, Realtor
239-821-7408
joani@alderuccio.com
www.alderuccio.com
Importance of setting the right price for your home
As you prepare to sell your home, we would like to help you avoid some of the pitfalls that are out there.
Selling your home profitably requires pricing it correctly. Being realistic here is extremely important.
To set the asking price, the Fair Market Value has to be found. This is the amount your house is worth in the market today and is determined by what price similar homes have sold for. Fair market value is defined as the price an informed buyer will pay and that an informed seller will accept when neither one is under any pressure to act quickly.
Not correctly pricing your home can cost you thousands of dollars.
A good way for you to find out your home's fair market value is to obtain a written estimation, called a Comparable Market Analysis (CMA). If you would like us to prepare a CMA for you, or you would like to know more about how fair market value is figured, just call or send us an email.
Joani Alderuccio RN, BSN, Realtor
239-821-7408
joani@alderuccio.com
www.alderuccio.com
Selling your home profitably requires pricing it correctly. Being realistic here is extremely important.
To set the asking price, the Fair Market Value has to be found. This is the amount your house is worth in the market today and is determined by what price similar homes have sold for. Fair market value is defined as the price an informed buyer will pay and that an informed seller will accept when neither one is under any pressure to act quickly.
Not correctly pricing your home can cost you thousands of dollars.
A good way for you to find out your home's fair market value is to obtain a written estimation, called a Comparable Market Analysis (CMA). If you would like us to prepare a CMA for you, or you would like to know more about how fair market value is figured, just call or send us an email.
Joani Alderuccio RN, BSN, Realtor
239-821-7408
joani@alderuccio.com
www.alderuccio.com
Do you need a Real Estate Agent?
Hi. As you prepare to sell your home, you may be wondering whether you really need an agent to help you sell your home. Some of the things an agent assists with in selling a home are evaluating the market to help you determine how much to ask for your home, getting the word out to buyers, screening for serious buyers, negotiating to get you the highest price, knowing the legal aspects of a sale, and guiding you through a mountain of paperwork.
We have the experience and skill to resolve any challenges that may arise during the sale of your home. If you would like to know how we would go about selling your home, please call or send us an email. We would love to answer your questions.
Feel Free to Call me today.
Joani Alderuccio RN, BSN, Realtor
239-821-7408
We have the experience and skill to resolve any challenges that may arise during the sale of your home. If you would like to know how we would go about selling your home, please call or send us an email. We would love to answer your questions.
Feel Free to Call me today.
Joani Alderuccio RN, BSN, Realtor
239-821-7408
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Where is your gas money going? BY TOM INCANTALUPO
Originally written for the Orlando Sentinal.
Where is your gas money going?
BY TOM INCANTALUPO
tom.incantalupo@newsday.com
9:20 PM EDT, April 26, 2008
Another day, another high.The average price for gasoline on Long Island is at a record-setting $3.791 a gallon for regular, says the AAA. And diesel? Fuhgeddaboutit: It averaged $4.648 a gallon.But where is all that cash going?According to Ray Dougher, an economist for the American Petroleum Institute, crude oil accounted for 74 cents of every dollar consumers paid for gas, which would work out to $2.765 a gallon, based on yesterday's New York State average of $3.736 for regular. Dougher added that the rest breaks down as such:59.6 cents a gallon goes to state and federal taxes -- of which Uncle Sam gets 18.4 cents a gallon, and the remainder goes to Uncle David in Albany; 26.2 cents a gallon pays for refining crude oil; and another 11.2 cents a gallon goes to distribution and marketing.And, yes, except for the taxes, each of those items includes profit for the oil industry, Dougher said. Last year's tally was about $123 billion.But the industry, including Dougher, hastens to point out that those numbers represent a rate of return of only 8.3 cents per dollar of company revenue -- a rate lower than those of the beverage, tobacco, pharmaceutical, computer, electronic and chemical industries.Those who don't buy that argument are not alone. And they'll be outraged again this week when Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Marathon Oil announce how much they made in the first three months of this year.Experts think $4 pump prices even for the least-expensive regular grade could be commonplace in many areas across the nation in coming weeks, even though a federal government report last week showed increased refinery output. The higher output suggests stronger gasoline supplies and less upward pressure on prices in coming weeks, but the major reason for soaring fuel prices this year has been the rising price of crude oil.And its price jumped again Friday by $2.46 to settle at $118.52 a barrel, for June delivery, at the New York Mercantile Exchange.Not a record, but close.
Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.
Where is your gas money going?
BY TOM INCANTALUPO
tom.incantalupo@newsday.com
9:20 PM EDT, April 26, 2008
Another day, another high.The average price for gasoline on Long Island is at a record-setting $3.791 a gallon for regular, says the AAA. And diesel? Fuhgeddaboutit: It averaged $4.648 a gallon.But where is all that cash going?According to Ray Dougher, an economist for the American Petroleum Institute, crude oil accounted for 74 cents of every dollar consumers paid for gas, which would work out to $2.765 a gallon, based on yesterday's New York State average of $3.736 for regular. Dougher added that the rest breaks down as such:59.6 cents a gallon goes to state and federal taxes -- of which Uncle Sam gets 18.4 cents a gallon, and the remainder goes to Uncle David in Albany; 26.2 cents a gallon pays for refining crude oil; and another 11.2 cents a gallon goes to distribution and marketing.And, yes, except for the taxes, each of those items includes profit for the oil industry, Dougher said. Last year's tally was about $123 billion.But the industry, including Dougher, hastens to point out that those numbers represent a rate of return of only 8.3 cents per dollar of company revenue -- a rate lower than those of the beverage, tobacco, pharmaceutical, computer, electronic and chemical industries.Those who don't buy that argument are not alone. And they'll be outraged again this week when Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Marathon Oil announce how much they made in the first three months of this year.Experts think $4 pump prices even for the least-expensive regular grade could be commonplace in many areas across the nation in coming weeks, even though a federal government report last week showed increased refinery output. The higher output suggests stronger gasoline supplies and less upward pressure on prices in coming weeks, but the major reason for soaring fuel prices this year has been the rising price of crude oil.And its price jumped again Friday by $2.46 to settle at $118.52 a barrel, for June delivery, at the New York Mercantile Exchange.Not a record, but close.
Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Naples as America's Hometown!
Friends who've migrated from Serbia enjoying NaplesWe all come from somewhere. Naples represents a melting pot of individuals from all over the US and even the world. We may have grown up with snow, palm trees, ocean, lakes, or cattle, but we have come here to experience life in a sunny paradise. We build a community here. We raise our families, attend services, work, boat, play softball, date, and occasionally wonder if we made the right choice.....coming to Florida?????? Who would have thought? Life is good here. We may miss our friends from far away...but they come visit, don't they? Funny, many times they find a way to move here too...........
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