TAX BENEFITS OF HOME OWNERSHIP - SOMETHING TO CONSIDER

     Since personal income tax was introduced by the 16th amendment in 1913, U.S. taxpayers have enjoyed specific tax benefits for home ownership, the American Dream, right?  While tax benefits might not be the only reason that motivates a person to buy a home, they are still tangible and not available to renters. 
     The exclusion of capital gains tax on the profit made from a home is unique from other investments and provides owners significant savings. Single taxpayers can exclude up to $250,000 gain and married taxpayers up to $500,000 gain. During the five-year period ending on the date of sale, a taxpayer must have: owned the home for at least two years; lived in the home as their primary residence for at least two and have used the address accordingly as it pertains to filing their income tax.  Gain on the sale of a principal residence in excess of the allowed exclusion are taxed at the lower long-term capital gain rate of the owner.
     A homeowner may take the standard deduction or itemized deductions in any tax year based on which will create the largest deduction. Property taxes and qualified mortgage interest are allowable itemized deductions.
     For more information, see your tax advisor or see IRS Publications 523, Selling Your Home and 936, Home Mortgage Interest Deduction.    For additional information locally, Bond Bookkeeping and Tax is located in Henderson at:  50 W. Pacific Ave, Henderson, NV  89015 (702) 471-6511 and they take walk-ins.  Feel free to call with questions and ask for Don.
     You can still take advantage of low interest rates, tax benefits and have independence thru home ownership - call today and let's get started.
      Find a house with your mouse, go to: http://www.callkim.net today!

Kim Duclos          Elite Realty

702-521-3939

 

       Las Vegas Real Estate -

It is a hot market and rates are still low!

ACT NOW!

Find a house with your mouse at www.CallKim.net

 

 

 

 

Kim Duclos

702.521.3939

Why you should always put a coin in the freezer before you leave home

I have clients that left town and have a refrigerator in the house, another in the garage and a freezer - YIKES!  The electricity went out while they were away and did it stink!  Have you ever come home from vacation, business trip or maybe a weekend away with the family - and noticed your digital clocks flashing the wrong time?

You quickly realize that you had a power outage while you were away, but it's basically impossible to tell when it occurred or how long it lasted. It's therefore also impossible to tell just how long the food in your freezer may have thawed, gotten destroyed, and then frozen again.   Or is it?

A woman that had experienced a hurricane disaster here in the United States, she shared a clever trick on Facebook with anyone who was forced to evacuate their home. 

But the trick is certainly also good to know in case of any prolonged departure from your home - and will ease your mind about whether or not the food in your freezer is good to eat - or best be thrown out right away.
The trick lies in the magical combination of three simple but effective tools everyone already has at home: a mug, a coin and some tap water.


It's called the one cup tip. You put a cup of water in your freezer. Freeze it solid and then put a quarter on top of it and leave it in your freezer. That way when you come back after you've been evacuated you can tell if your food went completely bad and just refroze or if it stayed frozen while you were gone.
If the quarter has fallen to the bottom of the cup that means all the food defrosted and you should throw it out. But if the quarter is either on the top or in the middle of the cup then your food may still be ok. It would also be a great idea to leave this in your freezer all the time and if you lose power for any reason you will have this tip to fall back on. 

If you don't feel good about your food, just throw it out. The main thing is for all to be safe.


Call Kim for all your real estate needs!

Kim Duclos

702.521.3939

The holidays can feel like a never ending non-stop RUSH. And while that's much of what makes the season such a joy, it's also why it's important to guard against mishaps that commonly crop up during the hustle. Here are a few key safety tips to keep in mind:


Don't fall while decorating. Do you go all out, like Clark Griswold, when stringing lights? Each season, nearly 6,000 people visit emergency rooms after falling while hanging holiday decor. (More than half of those falls occurred outdoors from roofs or ladders.) Unwieldy extension cords can also trip up individuals and lead to injuries. I have a neighbor that wears a bike helmet to avoid a head injury in case she falls while stringing lights!


Keep clear of flames. Home fires spike around the holidays, with candles, cooking and Christmas trees being common culprits. Keep decorations away from heat sources, don't leave burning candles unattended, check that electrical cords are in good condition and stay in the kitchen while cooking.  and..... be careful with space heaters and fire pits too.


Identify and remove toxins. Plants can add a festive touch to your home, but some seasonal favorites can also pose a threat to children and pets. The leaves and berries of mistletoe, for instance, are toxic if eaten, and poinsettias can irritate skin. If you choose to decorate with these plants, keep them safely out of reach and promptly clean up fallen berries and leaves.


Travel safely. Vehicles riddle the roadways at this time of year, so safety is a big concern. Take your car in for winter maintenance, check the weather forecast before road trips, stash a well-stocked emergency kit in the trunk, and keep shopping bags out of sight to avoid break-ins.  If traveling into colder weather from mild weather like our SUNNY LAS VEGAS families traveling to Denver (brrrr!), bring appropriate clothing in case your end up being stuck in snow/and in your car.  Carry glove, boots, blankets etc...


Use these and other safety tips to keep you and your loved ones happy and healthy through the holiday season.


Call me for your real estate needs and questions.
visit www.callkim.net for your online home shopping spree.

Kim Duclos

702-521-3939

Fire Safety isn't important until something happens to you.  Keep you and your family safe and ready. Tips to keep in mind when being fire safe:

Test fire alarms once a month and teach your children what sound they make and what to do when they hear it. It is recommended to replace fire alarms every 10 years. Keep all fabrics or flammable items away from electrical outlets or any item that heats up. Fires can be started without an open flame. As little as a spark too close to a curtain can start a large house fire. Teach your children about fire safety. Curiosity can get the best of a child at a very young age and the more you discuss with them before they decide to learn by themselves, the more likely you can prevent them from being injured or accidently starting a fire. Designate an outdoor meeting area for once every member is out of the home. Practice escaping from the home at least two times a year. Use the smoke detectors to familiarize you and your family to the sound and teach safe evacuation techniques such as: having two exits from the home, never touching the doorknob, crawling below the smoke, and STOP, DROP, & ROLL! The 2016 Fire Safety week begins October 9, 2016 - Sunday http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/campaigns/fire-prevention-week Call Kim for your real estate questions! Kim Duclos 702.521.3939

Fire Safety isn't important until something happens to you.  Keep you and your family safe and ready. House and property fires are something most people do not know how to deal with or prepare for until it is too late. Being prepared and having a plan will make the difference between a small life lesson and losing your home.  Tips to keep in mind when being fire safe:

Test fire alarms once a month and teach your children what sound they make and what to do when they hear it. It is recommended to replace fire alarms every 10 years. Keep all fabrics or flammable items away from electrical outlets or any item that heats up. Fires can be started without an open flame. As little as a spark too close to a curtain can start a large house fire. Teach your children about fire safety. Curiosity can get the best of a child at a very young age and the more you discuss with them before they decide to learn by themselves, the more likely you can prevent them from being injured or accidently starting a fire. Designate an outdoor meeting area for once every member is out of the home. Practice escaping from the home at least two times a year. Use the smoke detectors to familiarize you and your family to the sound and teach safe evacuation techniques such as: having two exits from the home, never touching the doorknob, crawling below the smoke, and STOP, DROP, & ROLL! The 2016 Fire Safety week begins October 9, 2016 - Sunday http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/campaigns/fire-prevention-week Call Kim for your real estate questions! Kim Duclos 702.521.3939

Find your phone.

Just in case you misplace your phone, or lose it all together, there is hope!

You can enable location access services on your phone, you can sign in to your phone's account from any Web browser to pinpoint the phone's location. (Apple users who have the Find My iPhone app on the missing device can sign into their account at www.icloud.com; Android users can go to www.android.com/devicemanager; and Windows users can visit http://account.microsoft.com/devices.)

You can make your phone ring loudly (even if it's set to silent) and, if it's within earshot, you can follow the sound to its hiding place. If it is farther away and it's still on, you'll be able to see where it is on a map. Apple users can set a message that will appear on the lock screen with instructions on how to contact you. If you suspect the phone is stolen or could fall into the wrong hands, you can erase your data remotely.

For up to date and current real estate information, please give Kim a call!

Call Kim at 702.521.3939