Tag Archives: investment

Real Estate

Gold Drops, Real Estate Shines Again

Chart credit: Blanchard http://www.blanchardonline.com/market_charts/
Chart credit: Blanchard http://www.blanchardonline.com/market_charts/

 

Now that gold prices have dropped like a brick, real estate is starting to shine again.  Back in August 2011, when gold was at its peak, investors were asked where they’d want to keep their money long-term. According to a Gallup poll, 34% said gold was the best investment.

Now, only 24% of investors say gold is a good investment..  Real estate essentially ties gold for the best investment currently, at 25% to 24%, respectively. In August 2011, 19% of those surveyed listed real estate as their top choice.

Stocks also are more popular, with about 22% saying the market is the best long-term place for their investment dollars. In August 2011, 17% had that view.

“Stocks have been booming and real estate has been recovering in recent months, likely contributing to the decline in gold’s perceived investment status,” Gallup researchers noted in a prepared statement released late Tuesday.

Gold still has its standard bearers, of course. Though investors no longer are rushing to gold, solid support comes from men over 50 years old, while Americans who consider themselves politically independent favor gold over stocks almost two-to-one: 26% to 15%.

Source: Market Watch

 

For all your real estate needs
Email or call today:

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE#00669941

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Business, Real Estate

Facts On The 3.8% Health Tax

 

Tax
Tax (Photo credit: 401K)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A 3.8 percent levy on certain investment income was included in healthcare legislation two years ago, and now misinformation about the tax’s application to home sales is being passed along over the Internet and e-mail, throwing some prospective home sellers into a panic. In actuality, very few owners will be affected by the new tax taking effect in 2013.

The tax will only be on investment income of upper income taxpayers. Included in the definition of investment income is capital gains from home sales above a certain amount and for households whose income is above a certain amount.  This means individuals who make $200,000 a year or more, or married couples who earn at least $250,000 a year are affected. Additionally, the tax is only applied to home sales if the proceeds exceed $250,000 for an individual, or $500,000 for married couples. And there still are other income and tax particulars that are considered before the 3.8 percent tax is triggered.

The National Association of REALTORS® recommends that members become familiar with the tax, but avoid coaching their clients on the policy because the amount of tax will vary from individual to individual as the elements that comprise adjusted gross income differ from taxpayer to taxpayer. NAR has published a brochure on how the tax works, which is now available online.

Download the 3.8% tax brochure (PDF).

Source:NAR and “Realtors Say Despite Efforts, Tax Rumor Keeps Spreading,” Glens Falls Post-Star (NY) (03/10/12)

 

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For all your real estate needs:
Call or email today
John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Real Estate Broker
Civil Engineer
General Contractor
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE #00669941

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Real Estate

Confidence in Value of Homeownership Persists Through Bust

Source: LA Times

Despite the decline in home prices, 81 percent of U.S. adults believe buying a home is the best long-term investment a person can make, according to a national survey by the Pew Research Center.

  • Home ownership topped the list of long-term financial goals for Americans, according to the study.  Respondents rated home ownership, as well as living comfortably in retirement, as more important than sending children to college or leaving offspring an inheritance.
  • “Owning a home is really a part of the American dream, and that is just part of the American psyche and something that people aspire to,” according to one of the study’s authors.
  • Although the vast majority of adults surveyed are in favor of owning a home, the public’s faith in real estate has somewhat declined compared with the last time a comparable survey asked people about the wisdom of investing in real estate.  In the Pew Research Center survey, 37 percent of respondents said they “strongly agree” that home ownership is the best investment a person can make, while 44 percent said they “somewhat agree.”  The same question was asked by a CBS News/New York Times survey in 1981, and at that time, 49 percent “strongly agreed,” and 35 percent “somewhat agreed.”
  • While home prices have entered a renewed decline after showing some improvements last year, many economists believe that the worst of the housing crisis is probably over, which could help explain the resiliency in Americans’ optimism.
  • Homeowners in the survey were more positive about the financial wisdom of owning a home than were renters.  Among renters, the desire for homeownership remains strong.  According to the survey’s findings, 24 percent of renters surveyed said they rent out of choice and 81 percent said they would like to buy.

Read the full story

For all your real estate needs, call or email:

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

Business

That free lunch for doing your financial or estate planning

Donna Robison, Esquire
Donna Robison, Esquire

. . could just be the costliest lunch you ever had. People are duped out of their life savings by trusting the wrong person. Legal documents prepared by phantom “legal staff” fail and folks end up with a 50-page trust document that has no value because it was never funded.

Outside these salespeople appear charming, polished and smooth, making up in their mastery of the art of persuasion what they lack in knowledge and education. The decision you get pressured in making could unleash a devastating financial nightmare for yourself and later on for your family from which you may never recover.

There are few things in life more bruising than having your confidence betrayed. Even worse is losing your hard-earned savings at a time when you need them most. Before you rush into a decision you may not be able to later unravel, stop, breathe, and simply ask yourself if you will be better off if you decide to work with this person. You are the only one who can protect yourself and your assets by taking the time to educate yourself and investigate before you blindly trust. There is no time for regret. And no amount of regret can turn back the clock.

If you’d like to find out more about financial and estate planning scams, there is an event on April 25th, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at the Senior Center in Auburn. This event is part of a statewide effort by the California State Bar to educate and inform senior citizens about these scams happening not only across the State of California, but nationwide.Call Donna Robison, a local estate planning and probate attorney at (530) 305-3808 to find out more information. There is a wealth of information if you just take the time to investigate . . . Take it to heart. It’s about you. It’s about your financial safety. It’s about your future. 

This blog was written by Donna Robinson, Esquire