Category Archives: News you can USE!

White Oak Landing!

01 Saturday Jun 2019

Posted by in News you can USE!, Real Estate For Sale, Real Estate Listings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

IMG_7201

If a View of the Amite River is on your wish list, then you will want to schedule your private tour of this spectacular ONE OF KIND home in White Oak Landing. This SIX bedroom / SEVEN & HALF bath home, with over 5300 Sq.ft of living offers space but oh so much more! The Views from the Den, Master Bedroom, open and screened Patios are spectacular from the vast wall of windows. You will have access to viewing nature in its full view on the banks of the river. Upon entry you will be greeted with a Grand Plantation Style Foyer and exquisite Mexican style flooring. The large formal / dining area have Oak wood floors, chair rail, and Crown molding. The home has a private wing for the master Bedroom featuring new paint and flooring, and wood burning fireplace with a gas starter. Amazing PRIVATE BATH SUIT for her and one for him, Claw foot tub, dressing and sitting area on her wing, and an extra large whirlpool spa, separate shower, and sauna on his wing with large walk in closets for both. The right side of the home host a private wing to the other five bedrooms & Private baths, with walk in closets, new upgrades, paint, ceramic tile and parquet flooring. The kitchen has cabinets galore with new slab granite and butcher block island. Newer upscale appliances with double door sub zero refrigerator, separate ice maker / trash compactor, wall oven, microwave, and dish-washer. The Breakfast area has a tranquil view overlooking the large in-ground gunite pool and the view of the river. The Great Room is massive with 5’ Oak Hardwood flooring, Large brick wood burning fireplace/gas starter, and raised hearth, beautiful built-ins, and two station doors leading to the covered patio and pool. Once outside you will enjoy the privacy and seclusion that this home has to offer. There is an outdoor kitchen and a 361 sq. Ft. POOL house with brick floors and an additional private 1/2 bath (sq.ft not included) The Sub offers estate size lots, hiking, fishing lakes, & security.

Continue reading →

Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge

04 Friday Jan 2019

Posted by in Around Town, News you can USE!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

assorted color mask

Photo by hitesh choudhary on Pexels.com

Mardi Gras Day – Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge is an annual celebration attended by thousands each year who join in and experience the exciting activities hosted in the Red Stick. Baton Rouge offers a variety of parades, and it has become a favorite place for families celebrating Mardi Gras. 

2019 BATON ROUGE MARDI GRAS PARADE SCHEDULE

Start planning your trip now to indulge in all of the Mardi Gras festivities, Baton Rouge restaurants, attractions and more! The family-friendly Baton Rouge Mardi Gras kicks off with traditional floats, fancy balls, excitement and entertainment for everyone. The annual parades include everything from beautifully designed floats, marching bands, costumed canines, lawn mower-pushing krewes and dancing for all to enjoy! Get here early so you don’t miss out on any of the fun and snag a front row seat to a fun-filled Baton Rouge Mardi Gras parade this year.

noodles soup with meat on bowl

Photo by Buenosia Carol on Pexels.com

And once Mardi Gras season rolls around, every bakery, restaurant and food store in Baton Rouge will create their own spin on Louisiana’s traditional King Cake – including King Cake themed bread pudding, martinis, cake balls, cupcakes, popsicles, ice cream, donuts and many more creative desserts. However, Baton Rouge’s dessert scene goes far beyond that, so come down and satisfy your sweet tooth, or bake this King Cake at home!

 

Source: 2019 Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Parade Schedule

10 BestWeekend Getaways in Louisiana

03 Thursday Jan 2019

Posted by in Around Town, Helpful Information, News you can USE!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

teal fujifilm instax mini camera near white ceramic mug

Photo by Element5 Digital on Pexels.com

“There are so many reasons to love Louisiana, from its fantastic food and jazz to moss-draped swamps and bayous, stunning mansions and more. No matter what type of getaway you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it among these great options.”

man and woman hugging each other

Photo by Jennifer Murray on Pexels.com

Trips to Discover …

https://www.tripstodiscover.com/best-weekend-getaways-in-louisiana/

 

Reduce Refinancing Costs

27 Monday Aug 2018

Posted by in News you can USE!, Timely Advise

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

There is much more than a lower rate and payment to determine whether to refinance a mortgage.  Lenders try to make refinancing as attractive as possible by rolling the closing costs into the new mortgage so there isn’t any out of pocket cash required.

The closing costs associated with a new loan could add several thousand dollars to your mortgage balance.  The following suggestions may help you to reduce the expense to refinance.

?         Tell the lender up-front that you want to have the loan quoted with minimal closing costs.

?         Check with your existing lender to see if the rate and closing costs might be cheaper. 

?         Shop around with other lenders and compare rate and closing costs.

?         If you’re refinancing an FHA or VA loan, consider the streamline refinance.

?         Credit unions may have lower closing costs because they are generally loaning deposits and their cost of funds is less.

?         Reducing the loan-to-value so mortgage insurance is not required will reduce expenses and lower the payment.

?         Ask if the lender can use an AVM, automated valuation model, instead of an appraisal.

?         You may not need a new survey if no changes have been made.

?         There may be a discount on the mortgagee’s title policy available on a refinance.

?         Points on refinancing, unlike a purchase, are ratably deductible over the life of the loan ($3,000 in points on a 30-year loan would result in a $100 tax deduction each year.)

?         Consider a 15-year loan.  If you can afford the higher payments, you can expect a lower interest rate than a 30-year loan and obviously, it will build equity faster and pay off in half the time.

A lender must provide you a list of the fees involved with making the loan within 3 days of making a loan application in the form of aLoan Estimate and a Closing Disclosure Form.  Every dollar counts, and they belong to you.

A Word Homeowners Need to Understand

09 Monday Jul 2018

Posted by in Helpful Information, News you can USE!, Timely Advise, Who New?

≈ Leave a comment

Acquisition Debt is the amount of money borrowed used to buy, build or improve a principal residence or second home. Under the new tax law, mortgages taken after 12/14/17 are limited to a combination of $750,000 on the first and second homes. The mortgage interest on this debt is tax deductible when itemizing deductions.

12844696-250.jpg

It is a dynamic number that is reduced with each payment as the unpaid balance goes down. The only way to increase acquisition debt is to borrow money to make capital improvements.

Prior to the new law, homeowners could additionally borrow up to $100,000 of home equity debt for any purpose and deduct the interest when itemizing deductions. Mortgage interest on home equity debt is no longer deductible unless it is for capital improvements.

Acquisition debt cannot be increased by refinancing. Some confusion occurs because mortgage lenders are concerned in making home loans that will be repaid according the terms of the note and using the home as collateral. That does not include making a tax-deductible mortgage.

Another thing that adds confusion to the issue is that the lenders will annually report how much interest was paid in a year but only the amount that is attributable to acquisition debt is deductible.

Even if the interest on the cash-out refinance is not deductible, it may be advantageous to pay off higher interest debt such as credit card debt and replacing it with lower mortgage debt.

It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to know what part of their mortgage debt is deductible. The challenge becomes more difficult after a cash-out refinance. Homeowners should keep records of all financing and capital improvements and consult with their tax professional.

Waiting Will Cost More

18 Monday Jun 2018

Posted by in Helpful Information, News you can USE!, Timely Advise

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

An economist responded when asked how interest rates would change: “They may fall some and then, rise and after that, they’ll fluctuate.”

43276292-250.jpg

Just because interest rates have been low for ten years doesn’t mean they are supposed to be low. The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates twice this year and are expected to go up twice more plus three times next year.  Mortgage rates have risen from 3.95% to 4.62% since the first of January.

Increased rates directly affect the payments on homes but so does the price. With inventory levels remaining low, the prices will continue to go up. When interest rates and prices rise at the same time, it costs buyers a lot more.

If the mortgage rates go up by one percent and prices increase by five percent in the next year, the payment on a $250,000 home could go up by $200 a month. In a seven-year period, the buyer would pay $18,000 more for the home.

People planning to buy a home, need to investigate the possibilities of accelerating their timetable to take advantage of lower rates and prices. Use the Cost of Waiting to Buy  calculator to see how much more it could cost you to wait.  Call Profile.BusinessPhone} if you have questions about what can be done now.

Cost of Waiting 061818.jpg

Attachments area

The Tax Difference in Second Homes

11 Monday Jun 2018

Posted by in Helpful Information, News you can USE!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

A principal residence and a second home have some similar benefits, but they have some key tax differences. A principal residence is the primary home where you live and a second home is used mainly for personal enjoyment while limiting possible rental activity to a maximum of 14 days per year.

10213246-250.jpg

Under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Mortgage Interest Deduction allows a taxpayer to deduct the qualified interest on a principal residence and a second home. The interest is reduced from a maximum of $1,000,000 combined acquisition debt to a maximum of $750,000 combined acquisition debt for both the first and second homes.

Property taxes on first and second homes are deductible but limited to a combined maximum of $10,000 together with other state and local taxes paid.

The gain on a principal residence retained the exclusion of $250,000/$500,000 for single/married taxpayers meeting the requirements. Unchanged by the new tax law, the gains on second homes must be recognized when sold or disposed.

Tax-deferred exchanges are not allowed for property used for personal purposes such as second homes. Gain on second homes owned for more than 12 months is taxed at the lower long-term capital gains rate.

This article is intended for informational purposes. Advice from a tax professional for your specific situation should be obtained prior to making a decision that can have tax implications.

 

When Neighbors Don’t Seem to Care

05 Tuesday Jun 2018

Posted by in News you can USE!, Who New?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

A home that isn’t being maintained like others in the neighborhood can negatively affect your visual sense of appeal and in some extreme cases, even affect property values. It might be an overgrown yard, a fence in need of repair, excessive noise, unruly pets, paint peeling on the home or even a car or boat parked in front of the home that hasn’t moved in weeks.

2676519-250.jpg

Most people want to be good neighbors and may be willing to correct an issue once it is brought to their attention. A practical but possibly, confrontational solution is to contact the responsible person and describe your perception of the issue. However, they may not always agree with the same urgency and it might be necessary to seek other remedies.

An owner-occupant may be more sympathetic to the neighbors and willing to correct the issue. If you think the home might a rental property, check with the county tax records to identify the owner. They may be unaware of the situation and welcome the notification to protect their investment.

Another alternative might be to notify the homeowner’s association, if there is one. One of the benefits of a HOA is to enforce community appearance standards as set in the covenants or bylaws that specify how properties must be maintained. This could be a less personal method of reaching a beneficial outcome.

If the source of the problem is a code or housing violation, the city may be the ultimate authority. Most cities have a separate code and neighborhood services division and some cities have 311 for non-emergency assistance.

Second Guessing Price

21 Monday May 2018

Posted by in News you can USE!, Timely Advise

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Imagine a homeowner consulting with their agent about the price to place on their home. The agent suggests that the market data indicates that $200,000 to 210,000 would produce a quick sale by pricing it properly. The owner puts a $210,000 price on the home.

76605908-250.jpg

The first person who looks at the home offers $205,000. When the seller receives the offer, he comments that he thinks he priced the home too low and counters for  full price. The counter-offer is rejected, the home stays on the market and at the end of the first month when based on market conditions, the home should be sold, no other offers have been made.

It may be human nature that when an offer is received so quickly, the first thought to come to mind is that it was priced too low. A more appropriate thought might be that it was priced correctly. In some cases, when a home comes on the market, there is increased competition (real or perceived) among the buyers waiting for the “right” home to come on the market. The home can sell for a higher price than if it sits on the market for several months.

There may be stories of sellers who turned down the first offer and ended up receiving a better offer that would net more money. However,  real estate professionals say the first scenario occurs frequently.

The wisdom of experience advises owners to find a real estate professional that they trust and have confidence. Allow that professional to become familiar with your home and compare it to similar homes in the market that have sold recently and ones currently on the market. Determine the demand for homes in the area compared to the inventory. Decide on a price that will allow the home to sell within a relatively short period of time. And lastly, be satisfied if your home sells quickly near the price you put on it.