10 tips for homebuyers and sellers in 2014

Goodness, is it 2006 again? At the dawn of 2014, it feels like it. 

Homeowners enjoyed double-digit price growth in the first half of 2013, greatly exceeding experts' predictions of a year ago and even settling into pre-recession values in many markets. Though there was some softening in the second half, sellers remain in their element and are turning the screws on anxious buyers who fear further price spikes and escalating interest rates. New-construction home sales are up, previously underwater properties are in positive equity again and investors are turning their attention to "secondary markets" to find value. Economists expect house prices to rise another 4 percent to 5 percent in 2014, meaning remaining bargains will get even more sparse.
With that in mind, here are 10 tips befitting the up-market of 2014.

Sellers: Jump-start the process.You may be an avowed procrastinator, but if you want to sell a house this year, start planning now. The process, say sellers, always takes longer than expected. So get your home inspected now; there may be unseen major repairs to address. Declutter, clean closets and shelves, store extraneous possessions and furnishings and other stuff that might keep sellers from picturing themselves in your space. Attend an open house or two to get an idea of how to stage yours. And move along: Owners still waiting for the market to peak should beware that this real estate cycle may be shorter-lived than last.
Check mortgage interest rates available in your area.

Buyers: Be credit-ready.

There's a lot of competition out there for homes, so tarry not. Get your credit report and start repairing any blips. If your scores are below 620 or so, a conventional loan will be a challenge. But if they're under 740, you still might not get the best rates. Many buyers get a prequalification letter from the lender, but you can one-up them with a preapproval, which comes after a more thorough evaluation of your finances. A preapproval letter shows the seller that you're good to go and can close quickly.

Sellers: Vet your real estate agent, then follow the agent's advice.

Sellers lose time and money by hiring poorly. Interview several potential agents. You'll want a full-timer who is Web savvy and uses mobile technology, because at least 4 in 5 buyers view their homes first online. Your agent should be a proven performer in your submarket and be willing to walk you through the financial aspects of your deal. The more the agent knows about schools, commutes and other local details, the better. Once vetted, accept your agent's advice on pricing, marketing and negotiation.

Buyers: Adjust your negotiating expectations.

Lowball offers are off the table in this environment and could eliminate you from consideration. Respond to counteroffers quickly to keep other buyers from entering the picture; you don't want to encourage a bidding war. If one breaks out, be prepared to get fewer concessions and pay more money. And have a few other homes in mind so you can be willing to walk away if the price soars.
 Sellers: It's your market (finally) so make the most of it.At long last, it's a seller's market! While you're interviewing agents, be wary of those offering too-good-to-be-true price opinions because they may be trying to "buy" your listing. And don't jump at that first (seemingly) generous offer, especially if sellers are getting multiple offers. If you're getting your price and then some, give something back to the buyer in good faith, such as an early move-in date or some personal property you're not attached to. Never let the buyers' agents know what you're willing to do, though. Make them ask.

Buyers: Find life after foreclosure.

Have a foreclosure in recent years? Join the crowd. Though you might think you have to wait seven years to get another conventional mortgage, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHA say they actually require just a three-year waiting period if the foreclosure was caused by extenuating circumstances. There are plenty of nonconforming lenders -- often called "shadow bankers" -- out there if you can endure a big down payment (around 20 percent) and above-market interest rates. Or consider a lease-purchase or lease-option where you pay the homeowner a monthly premium above your rent for the right to buy at a set price later.

Sellers: Hesitate to renovate.

We hear that newly renovated homes are easier sells, and that's true. So is it time to remodel that outmoded kitchen? Not if you plan to sell soon. According to remodeling surveys, the average renovation project returns only about two-thirds on investment. For example, a major bathroom remodel costing $15,000 yields about $10,000 in resale value. The same goes for a major kitchen remodel. In most cases, it would be cheaper to issue credits to buyers or drop your price a few grand. Lighter jobs like new doors are more practical and return about 85 percent. But feel free to spend a bit on paint (basic colors), curb appeal and fence replacement to enhance exteriors.

Buyers: Ask and you won't receive (an unpleasant surprise).

You'd be dismayed at the things sellers aren't obliged to disclose in most states, including on-premises felonies, suicide, murder or a neighboring sex offender. Don't be afraid to thoroughly question the selling party in writing before signing the contract. Some questions: Is there a cell tower, water tower, natural gas well, oil well or other non-residential construction scheduled to be built in this neighborhood (then define "neighborhood")? Is there commercial zoning on nearby vacant land? Is the yard prone to flooding? Are train whistles or other regular loud noises audible there? Did known criminal activity occur in the house? Have there been reported hauntings? Are there loud neighbors, dogs or other noise pollution? Are there registered sex offenders or other known criminals living nearby? If the selling party refuses to answer any of these questions, that's a bright red flag.

Sellers: Tailor your local game.

Folks who base their selling decisions on trends on cable news are often left wondering, "Why can't I sell at this price?" The truth is, all markets are different and all real estate is local, and prices can vary greatly even in adjacent subdivisions. Home prices are dictated largely by demand, land availability, foreclosures and employment. Most local real estate offices will provide market stats and at least a few recent comp sales in hopes of earning your business. Additional trend data can be found online or in local newspapers and business journals. A polite call or email to a local real estate appraiser might net more info or links to local statistics.

Sellers and buyers: Heed changing trends.

Pay attention to trends and react accordingly. Thinking of laying carpet? Agent surveys in the past few years show homes with hardwood floors or faux wood laminate floors are far faster sells. You still want to be in suburbia? Millennials don't. Numerous cities -- such as Austin, Texas; Portland, Oregon; and Minneapolis -- have watched this more environmentally conscious generation flock to "mixed-use" urban districts served by trendy cafes, nightclubs, bike paths, civic events and mass transit. For now, they're not buying condos, which haven't recovered like the single-family market. They're renting -- but watching the condo market ever so carefully.

Why it pays to use a Realtor

Economic update for week ending February 21, 2014

Stocks were mixed this holiday-shortened week responding to a mixed bag of news. Inflation reports show inflation remains low. In January, overall prices rose 1.6%  from a year ago. Prices of most commodities rose modestly while the shelter index was up at 2.6%  compared to a year ago because rents are rising. 

 

The Dow closed out the week at 16,103.30 down -0.32%  from last week’s close of 16,154.39. The Nasdaq was up, ending the week at 4,263.41 up 0.45% from last week’s 4,244.03 close. The S&P 500 was down very slightly, closing the week at 1,838.63, down -0.13% from last week’s 1,838.63 close.

 

The  10-year Treasury note yield rate was down slightly to 2.73% after ending last week at 2.75%. It was 1.99% a year ago. 

 

Mortgage Interest rates rose slightly this week. The Freddie Mac Weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed that the 30-year-fixed rate up to 4.33% from 4.28% last week.  The 15-year-fixed inched up to 3.35% from last week’s 3.33%. A year ago the 30-year fixed was at 3.56% and the 15-year was at 2.77% interest rates on loans over $417,000 are around 4.625% for 30 year fixed and 3.625% on 15 year fixed.

Low inventory continues to have a constraining effect on California home sales. The California Association of Realtors^® reported that closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 363,640 units in January, marking the third straight month that sales were below the 400,000 level and the sixth straight decline on a year-over-year basis. Sales in January were up 0.3% from a revised 362,430 in December but were down -13.8%  from a revised 421,780 in January 2013. Inventory at the higher end of the market, priced $1 million and higher did increase 11.1% from last year. The statewide median price of an existing, single-family detached home fell -6.2%  from December’s revised median price of $438,090 to $410,990 in January.  January’s price was 22.1% higher than the revised $336,650 recorded in January 2013, marking 23 consecutive months of year-over-year price increases and the 19th straight month of double-digit annual increases. The available supply of existing, single-family detached homes for sale rose in January to 4.3 months, up from December’s Unsold Inventory Index of 3 months. The index was 3.5 months in January 2013.  The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home also increased to 44.3 days in January, up from 40.2 days in December and from a revised 36.7 days in January 2013.

In Los Angeles County alone, the median sold price of existing homes was down -3.7% in January from December’s $439,830 to $423,570 which is up 21.1% from January 2013’s $349,720 median price. Total sales were down- 21.2% month over month and down -13.3% from January 2013.

Data from the National Association of Realtors^® showed that existing-home sales fell by -5.1%from December to January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.62 million the lowest level since July 2012. Home sales were also down -5.1% year over year. The cold weather, low inventory, and rising mortgage rates are cited as potential reasons for the lower numbers. Inventory improved modestly, up 2.2% month over month to 1.9 million homes and up 7.3% from January 2013. The current inventory supply rate is now 4.9 months, up from 4.6 months in December and 4.4 months a year ago. The median existing home price for all housing types nationwide in January was $188,900, up 10.7% from January 2013. The median time on market for all homes was 67 days in January, down from 72 days in December and 31%  of homes sold in January were on the market for less than a month. Existing-home sales in the West dropped -7.3%  to a pace of 1.01 million in January, and are -13.7% below a year ago. The median price for the West was $273,500, up 14.6% from January 2013.

The latest foreclosure data from RealtyTrac shows that one in every 1,058 U.S. homes received a foreclosure filing in January. Foreclosure filings are down -18% from January 2013 but up 8% from December 2013. The rise in foreclosure activity was caused by a surge in starts, properties just entering foreclosure, as well as scheduled foreclosure auctions. The report did show that foreclosure starts in California actually rose 57% from a year ago after 17 consecutive months of annual decreases.

 

The extreme weather that has hammered much of the country seems to have also impacted homebuilder confidence. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Builder Sentiment Index is now 46, down from January’s 56 reading and the lowest level since May. Economists had been predicting a number similar to the one they saw in January. Generally a reading below 50 indicates that more builders see sales conditions as poor rather than good. Builders’ prediction for sales over the next six months also fell by six points to 54.

 

U.S. housing starts saw their biggest drop in nearly three years last month. The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that single-housing family starts were down -16% in January to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 880,000 units below economists’ predictions of 950,000. This was attributed to the unusually cold weather gripping much of the country and in fact in the hard-hit Midwest, starts were down a record -67.7%.  Groundbreaking for single-family homes, the largest segment of the market, fell 15.9 percent to a 573,000-unit pace in January, the lowest level since August 2012. Permits to build homes were down by -5.4% in January, the largest drop in since June.

The National Housing Trend Report from realtor.com® showed that the median list price for January rose 8.3% compared to last year but only up 0.1% from the previous month. The number of properties for sale was up 3.1% for the year but down -3.3% from the previous month. The median age of inventory was essentially unchanged. For the Los Angeles-Long Beach MSA the median price was $449,000 up 25.1% from a year ago but down -0.20% from the previous month. The amount of total listings was 18,600 up 3.40% from the previous year and up 5.10% from the previous month. The median age of inventory was 74 days, down -5.1% from the previous year and down -1.3% from the previous month.

We are heading into the selling season which will be a welcome relief when it comes to real estate related data. Expect to see the month over month indicators pick up after March! Not only do they pick up at that time every year, we are beginning to see the pick up in the marketplace.  

While inventory levels are still near record lows we are beginning to see many more homes listed in many of our markets. That alone should increase the number of sales as we still see stronger demand than inventory supply which is evident by the high number of multiple offers. Obviously, not all homes are getting multiple offers, there is a limit to how high a home can be priced. Homes that are not well priced are sitting on the market. 

Five Tips to Win a Multiple Offer Situation on a Home

Don’t lose your game face. Though multiple offers aren’t quite the jungle they were back in 2012, homes in popular neighborhoods continue to face stiff competition. In August 2013, 60.5% of offers written by agents across the country faced bidding wars, a drop from 63.3% in August 2012. It signals a welcome trend for buyers, but tight inventory conditions and relatively low mortgage rates mean that multiple offer situations are still a reality. 

1. Be realistic

If you’re looking for a home in a sought-after neighborhood, be aware that a winning offer will likely be at or above asking price. This knowledge will help you construct a competitive offer at the outset that is still within your comfort zone. In early 2013, many buyers waived inspection and financing contingencies in an effort to win the bid. This approach can be effective, but it can also be an uncomfortable level of risk for some buyers. Knowing what you’re willing to do in advance will make it easier to make decisions when the timing demands it.

2. Prepare your financing

Whether you’re planning to get a mortgage or are paying in cash, make sure you have financial documentation ready to send. If you’re getting a mortgage, you’ll need a pre-approval letter. Being pre-qualified doesn’t cut it, since it doesn’t formally verify your income, assets and credit. If you’re paying in cash, be ready to submit proof of funds, which can be an original bank statement, open equity line of credit, copy of a money market account balance, or certified financial statement. Pre-approval or proof of funds need to be available at a moment’s notice and are expected, not optional. In addition, offering earnest money (often 1-3% of the purchase price) is another signal to the seller that you’re serious, so think about how much you’re willing to pledge.

3. Do a pre-inspection

In the past, inspections typically happened right after a seller accepted a buyer’s offer. However, the rise of bidding wars prompted savvy buyers to schedule inspections before placing an offer, giving them more knowledge about the home and making it easier to waive inspection contingencies. Doing a pre-inspection can put you ahead of other buyers by removing complexity from your offer, and also shows a seller that you mean business.

4. Be flexible

Selling a home can be a whirlwind. Any flexibility a buyer can offer a seller has the potential to reward them. Being lenient on closing or possession dates might make an offer more palatable to a seller in the midst of one of life’s most stressful times; moving.

5. Personal touch

Though it isn’t standard practice in every market, personal notes from potential buyers can humanize a transaction and tip the scales in your favor. I’ve seen several instances where offers were accepted based on the letter, even though they weren’t the highest. This works particularly well if the sellers are attached to their home, but not always so well for estates, where family members may have competing priorities and be less emotionally attached to the home.
If you’re anticipating a multiple offer situation, be sure to discuss your strategy and the risks involved with your real estate agent. With the right attitude and approach, you can get the house you’re looking for. 

A First Look at the Big Plans for South Park's Metropolis

Friday's record-setting pour at Wilshire Grand wasn't the only big news downtown this weekend. The groundbreaking for the long-awaited Metropolis development was a lot more exciting than shovels in the dirt because it also included a big reveal of never-before seen conceptual renderings and models. So many of downtown's notoriously halted projects have been in the news recently because they're no longer stalled. Big development is moving forward in downtown, often times because of foreign investment, as is the case with Gensler-designed Metropolis, which is backed by the Chinese group Greenland USA. The first phase of development at Metropolis will see two high-rises--a residential tower and 19-story fancy hotel--join the skyline; no word on when you'll be able to move into the residential units (also undecided: whether they'll be condos or apartments), but Brigham Yen over at DTLA Rising says the hotel is planning to open in February 2016. 

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Deductions for Homeowners

What's Deductible? -- A to Z

Acquisition debt. See Mortgage interest.

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Boats as homes. A boat that has eating, sleeping and sanitary facilities can qualify as a first or second home, so you can deduct mortgage interest paid on the loan secured by the boat to buy it. However, if you are subject to the alternative minimum tax, this write-off is not allowed.

Cancelled debt on foreclosure or short sale. Generally, when a debt is canceled or forgiven, the borrower is considered to have received taxable income equal to the amount of the canceled debt. However, through 2012, up to $2 million of debt discharged on a mortgage on a principal residence -- in a foreclosure, for example, or short sale -- can be tax-free.

Casualty loss. If your home was damaged or destroyed -- by fire or storm, for example -- you may be able to get financial help from Uncle Sam by deducting a casualty loss on your return. Your deduction for a 2010 loss is generally the total of your unreimbursed loss reduced by $500 100 and further reduced by 10% of your adjusted gross income.

Depreciation on home. Profit due to depreciation claimed on your residence before May 7, 1997 -- because you had a home office, for example, or at one time rented out the property -- qualifies for the rule that lets you treat $250,000 of home sale profit as tax-free income. (The limit is $500,000 if you're married and file a joint return.) Profit due to depreciation after May 6, 1997, is taxed at 25%, unless you're in a lower tax bracket, in which case that rate applies.

Discharged debt. See Cancelled debt on foreclosure or short sale.

D.C. first-time homebuyer credit. If you bought a home in the nation's capital during 2010, you may be eligible for a $5,000 tax credit. It doesn't really have to be your first home ... just a home you purchased in the District of Columbia after not owning one in D.C. for at least one year. It doesn't matter if you have owned a home elsewhere. This break phases out as income exceeds $70,000 on single returns and $110,000 on married filing jointly returns. See first-time homebuyer credit. If you bought during the part of 2010 when the nationwide homebuyer credit was available (see below), you must choose between the two credits. You can’t claim both.

Energy credits. You can earn a 2009 tax credit for installing energy-saving home improvements such as new doors, new windows, energy-efficient furnaces, heat pumps, hot water heaters, air conditioners, etc. The credit is 30% of the cost of installing such energy savers, up to a top credit of $1,500. For windows and doors, the credit is based on the cost of the materials; for furnaces and air conditioners and the like, you can count the cost of installation, too. A bigger credit is available for more ambitious projects – like solar hot-water heating systems, geothermal heat pumps and, yes, even residential wind energy systems. Start generating your own power and Uncle Sam will rebate 30% of the full cost of your system…with no dollar cap.

First-time homebuyer credit. If you bought a home during the first four months of 2010, you may qualify for either an $8,000 or $6,500 home buyer credit. And, you don’t really have to be a first-time home buyer to qualify for either credit. To qualify for the $8,000 credit you (and your spouse if married) must not have owned a home in the three years leading up to the purchase of your new home. The credit is 10% of the purchase price of the home, up to a maximum credit of $8,000. No credit is allowed for homes that cost more than $800,000.

To qualify for the $6,500 credit, you must be a long-time homeowner, defined as owing and living in the same principal residence for five of the eight years leading up to the purchase of your new home. The credit is 10% of the purchase price of the home, up to a maximum credit of $6,500. No credit is allowed for homes that cost more than $800,000.

Timing is everything. To qualify for either credit, you must have signed a binding contract on your new home before May 1, 2010, and you must have closed on the deal by September 30, 2010.

Unlike a first-time home buyer credit available in 2008 – which had to be paid back over 15 years by adding $500 in each of those years to the taxpayer’s tax bill – the 2010 credit does not have to be paid back, as long as you live in the principal residence for at least three years.

First-time homebuyer credit repayment. The $7,500 first-time homebuyer credit that was available for qualifying purchases after April 8, 2008, and before January 1, 2009, must be repaid starting with your 2010 tax return. To repay this “interest-free loan”, you must add $500 each year to your tax bill until the full $7,500 is repaid. If you sell or otherwise stop using the house as your home before the credit is fully repaid, any remaining balance must be repaid with your tax return for the year of the sale.

Foreclosure. See Cancelled debt on foreclosure or short sale.

Home-equity debt. Interest on up to $100,000 of debt secured by your first or second home -- using a second mortgage, say, or home equity line of credit -- can be deducted, regardless of how the money is used. The use of home-equity debt gives homeowners an opportunity to skirt the rules that generally block the deduction of debt used to buy automobiles, for example, or pay for vacations.

Home-office deduction. You can deduct the costs of a home office that you use exclusively and regularly for business. This includes depreciation, utilities and insurance for the office portion of your home. To qualify for the tax break you must either meet with clients there regularly, or the home office must be your principal place of business (unless it is not attached to your house).

Home-sale exclusion. Up to $250,000 of profit from the sale of your home can be tax free; $500,000 if you are married an file a joint return. To qualify, you must own and live in the house for periods totaling two years out of the five years leading up to the sale. A reduced exclusion is available if you fail the two-year test due to unforeseen circumstances such as a move resulting from a job change, for example, or divorce. You can use this exclusion any number of times but no more frequently than once every two years.

IRA payouts for first-time homebuyers. You can withdraw as much as $10,000 from a traditional IRA before age 59½ without penalty if the money is used to buy the first home for yourself, a child or grandchild, or your parents or grandparents. Although the payout avoids the normal 10% early-withdrawal penalty, it is taxed. Different rules apply to tapping a Roth IRA for the purchase of a home. See Roth IRA payouts for first-time homebuyers.

Loan prepayment penalties. If your lender charges you a penalty for prepaying your mortgage early, the charge is deductible as mortgage interest.

Mortgage interest. You can deduct interest on up to $1.1 million of loans used to buy or build or improve your first or second home and secured by the property. Up to $1 million of such debt is called acquisition debt, which must be used to acquire or improve the property, and up to $100,000 more is called home equity debt, which can be used for any purpose.

Mortgage interest credit. If you received a mortgage credit certificate from a state or local governmental agency, you can claim a tax credit of up to $2,000 of mortgage interest paid.

Moving expenses. If a move is connected with taking a new job that is at least 50 miles farther from your old home than your old job was, you can deduct travel and lodging expenses for you and your family and the cost of moving your household goods. If you drive your own car, you can deduct 24 16.5 cents a mile for 2009 2010 moves. (For 20102011, the standard mileage rate for moving is 16.519 cents a mile.) If you moved to take your first job, the 50-mile test applies to the distance between your old home and your new job. The deduction is allowed even if you do not itemize deductions.

Parsonage allowance. For members of the clergy, the value of a home provided by the church is a tax-free fringe benefit. A housing allowance is also tax-free.

Points. Points you pay to get a mortgage for your principal residence are generally fully deductible in the year paid, even if you persuade the seller to pay your points for you. They are not deductible if paid as part of a refinancing a mortgage on your principal home or on a second home; in that those cases, you deduct the points over the life of the loan.

Presidentially declared disaster. If your home was damaged or destroyed in an area that the President declared a disaster area, special rules apply to the casualty loss deduction. For one thing, for 2009 losses the law waives the requirement that you reduce your loss by an amount equal to 10% of your adjusted gross income to arrive at the deduction. And, youYou may choose to deduct your loss in the year it occurred or the previous year, whichever is more advantageous. If you claim a 2010 loss on a 2009 amended return, for example, you’ll get your tax savings via a refund check from the IRS.

Property taxes. See Real estate taxes.

Real estate taxes. You can deduct state and local real estate taxes paid during the year on any number of personal residences you own. (A 2009 break that allowed homeowners who claimed If you choose to claim the standard deduction rather than itemize deductions, you canto boost their standard deduction to include some of the property tax they paid was not renewed for 2010.)add $500 if single or $1,000 if married filing jointly to the regular standard deduction amount if you paid at least that much in state and local real estate taxes. If you own rental properties, real estate taxes on them are deducted on Schedule E where you report rental income.

Real estate taxes when you buy a home. If you bought a home during the year, check to see if the seller had prepaid property taxes for a period you actually owned the home. If so, include that amount in your property tax deduction for the year . . .even if you did not reimburse the seller.

Recreational vehicle. If your RV has cooking, sleeping and sanitation facilities, interest on a loan used to buy it can qualify as deductible mortgage interest on a first or second home. If you are subject to the alternative minimum tax, interest on an RV loan is not deductible.

Refinancing points. Generally, points paid when refinancing are deducted over the term of the loan. But if you refinanced a loan that you previously refinanced, you can deduct in full the as-yet-undeducted points remaining on the prior loan. There's a catch, however: If you refinanced with the same lender, the remaining points must be amortized over the term of the new loan.

Rehabilitation credit. If your residence is certified by the government as a historic building, you can claim a tax credit for 20% of the cost of renovating it. The renovation must be substantial, and the expenses must be incurred within a 24-month period.

Reverse mortgage. Amounts received under a reverse mortgage -- either a lump sum payment or periodic payments -- are tax free. Interest that accrues on a reverse mortgage is not deductible until it is paid, and then only interest on up to $100,000 of debt can qualify.

Roth IRA payouts for first-time homebuyers. Because the rules for the Roth IRA allow you to withdraw contributions at any time without penalty, the Roth can be a powerful tool for saving for a first home. Say you and your spouse each put $5,000 a year into a Roth for five years. The entire $50,000 could be withdrawn tax- and penalty-free for a down payment and, because the accounts have been opened for at least five years, up to $10,000 of earnings can be withdrawn tax- and penalty-free if used to buy your first home.

Serial refinancers.If you refinanced in 2010 and paid off a home mortgage you acquired when refinancing to pay off an earlier mortgage, any as-yet-undeducted points on the previous refinancing may be deductible on your 2010 return. See Refinancing points.

Tax-free profit. See Home sale exclusion.

Tax-free profit on vacation home. Because you can use the home-sale exclusion repeatedly, it's possible to make profit on a vacation home tax free. If you move into the place and live there for two of the five years prior to selling it, you can qualify to claim up to $250,000 of profit tax free (up to $500,000 if you are married and file a joint return).

A recent change in the law, however, has diluted the potential value of this break. For vacation homes converted to principal residences after December 31, 2008, a portion of the gain will be taxed. The taxable part will be based on the ratio of the time after 2008 when the house was a second home or a rental to the total time you owned it.

Tax-free rental income. If you rent out your home for 14 or fewer days during the year -- when there's a major sporting event or political convention in your hometown, for example -- the rental income is tax-free, regardless of how much you make.

Vacation home. Mortgage interest on your second home is deductible, just as it is for your principal residence. Property taxes can be deducted on any number of homes. If you rent the place for 14 or fewer days during the year, the rental income is tax-free to you. If you rent it for more than 14 days a year, you must report the income, but also may claim deductions for rental expenses.

First Look at the Broad Museum's Restaurant and Public Plaza

• New restaurant on the plaza's Hope Street end.

The pretty cool-looking Broad Museum on Grand Avenue was supposed to open this year, but the museum announced today that they've now pushed the date back to 2015. But as consolation, they've revealed all the details on two amenities: a restaurant developed with super-restaurateur Bill Chait of Bestia fame and a 24,000-square-foot public plaza—designed, like the museum itself, by Diller, Scofidio + Renfro (with Hood Design)—between Grand Avenue and Hope Street.

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The plaza, which is scheduled to open at the end of this year, will host outdoor screenings, performances and educational events, as well as lounging under 100-year-old olive trees. According to the release, the plaza will also serve as a pedestrian-friendly connector for all the cultural stops along "downtown's cultural corridor"; there will be a new crosswalk and traffic signal in the middle of the block to encourage (and protect) foot traffic between the Broad and the east side of the street, where the MOCA and Colburn School are located.

There will also be an elevator and stairs that will connect the museum to the future Second Street/Hope Regional Connector station. No word on the pricey grocery store that was rumored to be joining the complex.

Where Angelinos love to run...

 Now this is a cool map! Check it out to see just where Angelinos love to run.

 

Using data from run-tracking app RunKeeper, Nathan Yau of FlowingData (via Deadspin's Regressing) has created very pretty maps showing where people (who use the app) run in 22 different cities. He writes "If there's one quick (and expected) takeaway, it's that people like to run by the water and in parks," and that's certainly true in Los Angeles, where you can see the path by the LA River, the area around Elysian Park, the Silver Lake reservoirs loop, and Echo Park Lake are all a dark purple. But people apparently also love to run around the Downtown street grid (and down to USC), and on Los Feliz and Sunset Boulevards. Westsiders all run at Equinox apparently. Yau says that besides being cool to look, the maps could also be useful to "city planners who make sure citizens have proper bike lanes and running paths."

More info here:  http://flowingdata.com/2014/02/05/where-people-run/

February Newsletter

Renting vs buying. Khan Academy Video

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 2-2-2014 BRENTWOOD, GOSHEN AVENUE

COME SEE ME TOMORROW AT MY OPEN HOUSE!

12011 GOSHEN AVE #104

LOS ANGELES, CA 90049

$ 749,000

Beds: 2 | Baths : 3.00

Dramatic designer unit, remodeled to the 10th, prime Brentwood location, spacious and open floor plan, separate den(could be 3rd bedroom or office), hardwood floors throughout, granite counter tops, formal marble entry, master bedrooms with 2 walk-in closets, spacious master bath with hot tub and double sinks, second master bedroom suite with walk-in closet, A/C, washer/dryer inside, guest parking, absolute move-in condition, walk to the Brentwood village, shops and restaurants. Bring your most discriminating clients!!!

MLS# 14-731321