Buying a home for yourself and your family is a beautiful experience. All of us work so hard in our lives to live a comfortable, happy life. A big part of that life is having a home of your own where you can make beautiful memories with your friends and family members. Whether you are looking for a big home, small home, or a modern-looking home, if you are a first-time home buyer, it is essential that you take assistance from experts. Many homebuyers unknowingly make a lot of mistakes, which ruins their experience of buying their dream home. However, when you work with experienced real estate agents, you get to know precisely what type of property you need, what price range would be suitable for you, and how to handle the home buying process properly.
If you are currently looking for a beautiful home, we will advise you to consider the Woods Subdivision properties for sale. These properties are situated on Lake Tahoe in Incline Village and are prefect for those who are looking for moderately priced homes in this scenic place. The best part is, these properties are close to schools, Incline library, Preston Field, Raley’s Shopping Center, and Athletic Club, which means you will be living close to all the action. Apart from the Woods Subdivision, there are 11 other Subdivisions, namely Eastern, Lakefront, Lakeview, Lower Tyner, Mill Creek, Ponderosa, Ski Way, Upper Tyner, Championship Golf Course, Mountain Golf Course, and Jennifer Subdivision. All these are amazing neighborhoods to live in Lake Tahoe. However, you will have to work with a real estate agent to buy the best property. Below are some reasons why you should hire a real estate agent to buy property in Lake Tahoe.
You Will Get Access to Great Properties
When you work with an experienced local real estate agent, you’re working with someone who knows everything about the market inside and out. You may think the only way of knowing what properties are available for sale in the Woods Subdivision is through listings available online. This is obviously not true. There are many sellers who do not want to sell their property by putting out ads online and offline. They prefer selling their property privately for reasons such as financial problems, noisy neighbors, divorce, and other similar reasons. Experienced real estate agents are usually in touch with these types of sellers, which means if you work with them, you get to check out properties that others cannot. You get exclusive access to certain properties.
Negotiation With the Sellers Will Become Easier
As a first-time home buyer, you might not be able to control your excitement when you see a property that exactly meets your expectations. Your immediate reaction is to say yes to the seller and get your hands on the keys as soon as possible. However, this would be a huge mistake as you may risk paying more for a property that requires expensive repairs. And this is where experienced real estate agents come in. Since they are objective in their approach and have no emotional attachment to a property, they inspect a property thoroughly. They will look for issues in the property so that they can get it repaired by the seller. If the seller does not agree to make the repairs, your real estate agent will then try to get the property owner to bring down the price of the property to accommodate for future renovations. All in all, first time buyers, no matter how level-headed they are, get excited when they see a good property. An experienced real estate agent will make sure you look at a property objectively, not subjectively.
You Won’t Have to Worry About Paperwork
One of the most dreaded aspects of home buying process is paperwork. Buying a property involves dealing with a lot of key documents. Some examples of those documents are written offer, deed, transfer tax declaration, bill of sale, seller’s affidavit, repairs, etc. As a first-time home buyer, handling all these documents will not be easy for you. There’s also a risk of making some mistakes while singing and completing these essential documents. But the good news is, if you have got an experienced real estate agent by your side, buying a home in the Woods Subdivision, and handling all the paperwork will become super easy for you.
As you can see, working with a real estate agent to buy your new home is quite beneficial. If interested, you can get in touch with Alvin Steinberg to buy a property in Lake Tahoe. With almost 5 decades of experience in real estate, Alvin can help you find your dream home in beautiful Lake Tahoe. He and his professional team has helped many home buyers purchase properties in Lake Tahoe as well as sell properties at a good price. If interested, call us at 775-832-1888 to know more about our services in detail.
Once you visit the Lake Tahoe region, the place stays with you forever. Almost everyone who visits Lake Tahoe desires to have a house in this beautiful region. After all, who would not want to have a real estate property in this paradise to enjoy a peaceful time season after season with their loved ones. The best thing about this region is, it has something for everyone. You can ski powder, do paddle boarding, enjoy the wilderness, and do much more. Some folks love the beauty of Lake Tahoe so much that they buy a property anywhere in the 12 Subdivision, which is located on the Northern portion of Lake Tahoe and offers amazing view of the lake, mountains, and canyons. In this blog, we will tell you in some detail why so many people are buying properties in Lake Tahoe. If you are too considering purchasing a property in Lake Tahoe but are not sure whether you should invest money in this region or not, below-mentioned reasons will make the decision easier for you.
You Get To Enjoy Nature
If you are someone who likes recreation and being outdoors, then there aren’t many regions in the country that can match Lake Tahoe in terms of natural beauty and healthy living. You might not know this, but Lake Tahoe is one of the purest water lakes in the world. And the best part is, if you get a property there, you will find a lot of people who share the same passion as you and love skiing, climbing, biking, trail running, etc. You will get to breathe in fresh air, stay active and fit, and enjoy the majestic views.
You Get To Own A Valuable, Tangible Asset
As you might be aware, there are different ways of investing money. You can put your money into stocks, gold, bonds, FX, and whatnot. While all these investment areas are good, the only problem with them is, they are not tangible. One of the chief reasons to buy a real estate property in Lake Tahoe is, you get to own a tangible asset in a region that attracts a lot of tourists all year round. With this investment, you can enjoy a fun time with your friends and family members whenever you want. Unlike volatility of the stock market and global currencies, your Lake Tahoe real estate property will stay the same with the potential of offering you a solid return in the future if you ever decide to sell it.
You Can Earn Income
As we mentioned above, Lake Tahoe is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country because of the recreation options it offers. Real estate in the region is highly desirable. If you are considering buying your second house in this region, we want to tell you that you can earn a considerable amount of income from your second house in Lake Tahoe. After living in your property for some weeks or months, you can then place it on a vacation rental program. For many people, owning a house in Lake Tahoe is not easy. You can ease the financial burden by marketing your property for rent and let the renters help you pay for your second home. Many property owners in Lake Tahoe are covering their taxes, utilities, and enjoying a good ROI through short-term rentals. If you are doubtful whether your property will produce profits in the future or not, you can always take assistance from local real estate agents in Lake Tahoe as they have thorough knowledge about the potential of properties in different areas of the region.
You Can Peacefully Spend Post Retirement Days
Many people from all over the country have invested in properties in Lake Tahoe. Most of them have finalized Lake Tahoe as their retirement destination because the region is known for its mild winters, comfortable summers, and 275 days of sun every year. So, if you are planning for your retirement in advance and looking for the perfect place for the same, we will strongly advise you to consider Lake Tahoe. It is always good to plan ‘s and buy a property 10 to 20 years before your retirement because interested rates and housing costs will go up in the future.
As you can see, it makes sense to buy a property in Lake Tahoe. If interested, you can contact Living Lake Tahoe for buying a property that is in your budget. Whether you’re looking for home for sale in any of the 12 Subdivision, and either Incline Village for Crystal Bay or anywhere around the entire Lake which encompasses not only Nevada but also California, Alvin Steinberg and his team can help you find the ideal property for your specific needs and budget. To know more, feel free to call us at 1-800-666-4718.
Whether you love tax season or hate it, you can’t put off preparing and filing your return. One thing that can make the task more pleasant is maxing out all the various tax deductions your business qualifies for.
Claiming deductions can save your business money at tax time if it reduces your taxable income (and hopefully, your tax bill). But just what can you deduct?
This guide covers everything you need to know about writing off business expenses.
Defining deductible expenses
“Generally, all deductible expenses must be ‘ordinary and necessary’ to the business per the IRS,” says Kaylee Wold, a certified public accountant at ALL CPAs in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
Ordinary expenses are common to your industry or business.
Necessary expenses are ones that are helpful to or appropriate for your business.
The IRS doesn’t require an expense to be “indispensable” to meet the necessary standard. Uncle Sam also distinguishes deductible business expenses from these expenses:
Expenses used to figure the cost of goods sold – such as raw materials, labor costs, and factory overhead.
Capital expenses – including startup costs, business assets and improvements to the business.
Personal expenses – meaning living or family expenses.
While you might be able to write any of these off elsewhere on your return, they wouldn’t technically qualify as deductible business expenses.
What’s deductible for businesses this year?
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made some changes to business deductions. This table highlights the most significant expenses you can deduct for the 2018 tax year:
Tax season 2019: Main deductible expenses
Deductible expense
Qualifying rules
How much is deductible?
Business use of your home
Must regularly use part of your home for business.
Your home must be the principal place of business.
Simplified method: $5 per square foot (up to a max of 300 square feet).
Regular method: Percentage of the home used for business.
Business use of a vehicle
Business owners can claim a standard mileage deduction, OR actual expenses, but not both.
Standard mileage deduction applies to business miles only, not commuting miles.
Standard mileage: 58 cents per mile.
Actual expenses: Determined by the percentage of use, based on miles that the vehicle is used for business.
Depreciation (Section 179 Deduction)
Applies to:
Assets used in the business or held to produce income.
Assets expected to last more than one year.
Assets that lose value over time.
Up to $ 1,020,000, adjusted for inflation in subsequent tax years.
Employee compensation
Applies to:
Compensation paid to employees.
Fringe benefits, such as health insurance, sick pay, vacation pay.
Additional employee benefits, such as group-term life insurance premiums, adoption assistance, employee use of a vehicle and reimbursed employee travel expenses.
Amounts that meet the “reasonableness” standard – in other words, the amount of compensation paid to employees must be fair and appropriate for their position and duties.
Bad business debts
Debts must meet these three requirements:
Someone (i.e., a vendor, client, etc.) is legally obligated to repay it to you.
They must be uncollectible – you must be able to prove you attempted to collect.
You must have sustained a loss because of the debt.
Amounts meeting the standard for a bad business debt.
Business travel and meals
Travel and meals are deductible when:
Business duties require you to be away from home longer than a typical workday.
You need to sleep or rest to keep up with the demands of your work while you’re away.
Travel expenses: 100% of the cost of qualified business travel expenses.
Meals: 50% of the cost of business meals.
Business interest
Applies to interest paid for business debts, such as loans, lines of credit, equipment financing, inventory financing and credit cards.
30% of taxable business income.
Insurance
Applies to insurance premiums paid for:
Coverage for losses from unpaid debts.
Casualty and theft insurance.
Professional liability or malpractice insurance.
Accident and health insurance.
Vehicle insurance for business use.
Overhead insurance.
100% of qualified insurance premiums.
Taxes
Applies to:
Worker employee taxes.
Real estate taxes.
State and local income tax.
State and local property tax.
100% of the qualified tax amount paid, excluding state and local property tax, which is limited to $10,000
Advertising expenses
Includes:
Online advertising, such as pay-per-click marketing, social media ads, and SEO services.
Costs associated with webpage design and online promotional events.
Print advertising expenses.
Direct marketing expenses.
100% of the qualified advertising expenses.
Charitable donations
Applies to:
Cash contributions.
Gifts of property.
Mileage and travel expenses associated with volunteering for a qualified charity.
60% of adjusted gross income.
Other deductible expenses
Other deductible expenses include education expenses, rent, professional dues or subscription fees, office supplies, stamps and postage, professional licenses or regulatory fees and outplacement services for employees who are laid off.
There’s also a deduction for contributions to small business retirement plans, including:
Simplified Employee Pension Plans (SEP IRA).
Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE IRA).
Individual 401(k) plans – these are reserved for sole proprietors or business owners whose only employee is their spouse.
Traditional 401(k) plans.
Tax deductions and retirement contributions
One thing to watch out for is how claiming other business deductions affects the amount you can save in a qualified retirement account. Small business retirement plans limit your contributions to a certain amount, based on your income.
“When you have a lower income you typically have lower taxes, but one of the benefits of having a higher income is that you can contribute more to a pension or retirement plan,” says Paul T. Joseph, a certified public accountant and founder of Joseph & Joseph Tax & Payroll in Williamston, Michigan. “Once you lower that income, you also lower the amount you can invest in a retirement plan.”
In other words, claiming more business expense deductions could mean paying less in taxes but it could shrink your retirement contributions. That’s potentially the biggest downside with deducting expenses.
There may be another drawback if you plan to apply for a business loan or a personal loan, such as a mortgage. On paper, deductions can significantly reduce your business income, which might make you appear riskier to lenders.
Business expenses you can’t deduct
While there’s a lot you can deduct for your business, certain expenses are off-limits.
“Entertainment expenses are not deductible anymore,” says Wold, “even if the entertainment involves a relationship between a business and a client.”
If you previously wrote off club dues, sporting event tickets or concert tickets related to client outings, for example, that’s one tax break you won’t be able to claim moving forward.
“Additionally, there’s no longer a deduction for employer-provided transportation fringe benefits provided to employees,” says Wold, such as parking or public transit passes.
To round out the list, you can’t deduct these expenses either:
Federal income tax payments.
Political campaign contributions or lobbying expenses.
Fines or punitive damages associated with a civil or criminal case.
Claiming the 20% pass-through deduction
One important addition to the tax code is the 199A or qualified business income deduction for pass-through entities.
“Generally, the deduction is 20% of qualified business income before limitations,” says Wold. Qualified business income just means net business income after business deductions or losses are taken out. This deduction is available to pass-through entities, including s-corporations and partnerships, but there are two big limitations, says Wold.
“If a business performs services within certain IRS-specified industries, they generally can’t take the deduction,” she says.
If you run a service business in the health, law, accounting, actuarial, performing arts, consulting, athletics, financial services or brokerage services industries, you wouldn’t make the cut for this deduction. Businesses that do qualify may be limited on what they can deduct.
“The deduction can’t exceed the greater of either 50% of the company’s wages or 25% of those wages, plus 2.5% of the basis in the company’s tangible, depreciable property,” says Wold.
There’s an exception for single filers with taxable business income of $157,500 or less, and married couples with taxable income under $315,000. Those business owners would be able to take the full 20% deduction.
Using a rewards credit card to pay for deductible business spending
A business credit card can offer convenience in paying for business expenses, as well as miles, points or cash back on purchases.
“Paying for business expenses, including the purchase of equipment, inventory, charitable donations, etc. have the same treatment as if the business paid with cash or checks,” says Wold. “You can use a credit card to pay deductible expenses in [2019] to claim the deduction. Even if you don’t pay off that credit balance until [2020], it will still be deductible on the [2019] return.”
If you’re planning business spending for this year, consider these cards for covering deductible expenses:
Earning points on airfare purchased directly from airlines, gas, restaurants, shipping, online advertising purchased through select media, computer hardware and software, cloud services.
Any interest expense you pay on the card wouldn’t be deductible until it’s added to the balance, says Wold. Just know how much interest you can deduct.
“The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act did impose some new limits on deducting business interest, primarily related to a new cap on deducting interest of 30% of adjusted gross income,” says Mark Luscombe, federal tax analyst at Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting. He notes that there’s an exemption from that limit for businesses with average annual gross receipts of $25 million or less.
One rule remains the same: “If it’s a personal purchase, there’s no deduction for the interest charge,” says Luscombe.
That’s important to take heed of if you use your business rewards card for both business and personal spending.
Pay close attention to record keeping
When paying for deductible business expenses, make sure you leave a paper trail.
“Documentation is the key to being able to deduct any expenses in the eyes of the IRS,” says Joseph. “Accordingly, business owners should painstakingly document the deductions they plan on taking on their returns.”
Using a credit card for business spending simplifies the process.
“By using a credit card to pay for these purchases, you have an immediate source of documentation that typically itemizes what each purchase is,” says Joseph. “There are certain credit cards that will combine and compile all the expenses by category on an annual basis and provide that report to you, which you can use to document your expenses.”
That can make deducting business expenses less stressful once tax season gets underway.
I think it’s safe to say that if you are about to embark on a new kitchen or bath project there’s never been a better time to get educated on the trends. As a designer I’m not a big fan of following trends, however, I have a trained eye and know how to navigate the challenging waters of a large investment like a remodel or new build. While you should always select things you like, there are some rules you must adhere to in order to ensure your investment takes you the distance; otherwise you end up spending thousands of dollars that could instantly date your space ten years without you even realizing it.
About a year ago I was contacted by a gal who was building a three million dollar home in Northern California. Her husband was adamant about installing espresso cabinets and stainless steel appliances with travertine. Ummm, where’d you get that idea, 2005? If they had moved forward with their plans they would have dated their brand new kitchen almost twenty years by the time they moved in, not to mention regretted spending $75K on their kitchen design. This is why it’s important to have an understanding of trends. You don’t have to adhere to all of the “it” things, but you do have to play by some of the rules so you don’t blow your money in an uninformed way, and regret it.
Five things to get over right now that are OUT, OUT, OUT!
The all-white kitchen and the all-white bathroom are out!
Stainless steel appliances are OUT!
Spaces devoid of color – Out!
Spaces devoid of beautiful details – OUT!
Grey is OUT!
I think it’s safe to say that our country has been swept away by the Marie Kondo way of living. Simplify, organize and beautify your life. Built-in organization is making a massive come back. Walk into any home built in the early nineteenth century and built-in cabinets with clever storage were through out the house. While many homes today no longer build cabinets into the wall, that doesn’t mean your cabinets can’t have incredibly clever gadgets to help you stay organized. All in all many of the trends that were peeking out in last years KBIS kitchen and bath show have now made their grand entrance, and they are here to stay! Here are the 5 trends you need to know about as you prepare your new space:
1. Organized Cabinets
– clever, easy to use storage was everywhere. Have a cabinet that’s too high? No problem! Corner cabinet with dead space? No problem! Junk drawer…no more! Sloppy appliances all over the bathroom counter with messy cords? Not any more! Enter in the new kid to organize, simplify and beautify your inner world.
by Finelineby Rev a Shelfby HafeleAmerica
2. Colored Appliances
– I mean, this has been a growing trend for close to three years now so if you’ve been working with an interior designer, they likely steered you away from Stainless. Stainless has been going fifteen years strong so it’s certainly time for a change. The kicker is, when you start to create your dream space the stuff that’s “out” is likely the stuff that’s on sale or super affordable. This can make it a tough choice when you’re working with a budget. And you may say, but Amanda if I choose a pink stove it won’t be nearly as classic as stainless. The good news is, while color is the “IT” choice for appliances, (side note YELLOW is coming in HOT) white and black are making a huge comeback!
by MadCap Cottage for Bluestar cookingby Smegby Truephoto by Berenson hardwareby Dacorby True
3. The All-White Kitchen and Bath Are Out!
Wood is making a strong comeback and strong color still rules the trends! So if you’re thinking about doing that trendy all-white kitchen you saw on Pinterest, think again! And FYI – tread lightly on Pinterest. It’s a great source for inspiration but the platform is now 10 years old and so are many of it’s photos. So just because an all-white kitchen is popping up, doesn’t mean it’s a new photo.
photo by NKBA British Columbiaby KBIS official custom cabinetrycustom cabinetsby Christopher PeacockUnknown
4. Mosaics Full of Pattern and Design
– Gone are the day of boring shiplap, white walls and zero detail. The mosaic trend is on the rise and pattern and color abounds! As more and more people grab onto the color trend and embrace drama through the details, mosaics are the way to wow factor!
Dazzleby Dazzle Mosaicby Dazzle Mosaic
5. Details and Drama-
While simplicity still reigns supreme as we learn to get more organized, declutter and downsize our lives, that doesn’t mean we want to be devoid of delightful, dramatic details. Now is the time for the unexpected wow factor! In the early 2000’s the gluttonous mediterranean trend was full of color and detail to the extreme, so it’s vast white, stark counterpart with rustic details mended our cluttered hearts. It was much easier on the eyes until boredom set in. Low and behold those much needed details are peeking back through. Textured hardware, gold hinges, carved corbels, painted sinks, mosaics, and black as the sky’s night d r a m a – these moody, delightful shiny and textured details abound to surprise our senses and extend wow factor beyond the front door.
Rohl Faucetsphoto by Christine Kohut Interiorsby Dodby Brown WoodPhoto by JNJ Homesby Emtek
This year is predicting that our upcoming spaces are going to be far more organized, simplified but full of color and details. Black is the new grey, blue is on it’s way out and green is still a big trend replacing blue. Gold is still the number one finish choice to add that extra elegance to your space. Wood cabinets are on the rise and if you dare invest in an all-white kitchen with stainless steel appliances, your pocket book will regret it!
It’s all about the details so invest in the things that matter, and the things that wow you. I mean seriously, who has a coral refrigerator? When your guests arrive and delight in your details that is the BEST energy you can have to elevate your space – not to mention make that investment stick for the long haul!
– Eric Fox – VP of Statistical and Economic Modeling – Veros Real Estate Solutions
In 1929, the Reno City Council decided that, rather than dismantling the steel sign arching over the road into town, they would replace the wording that promoted the 1927 Nevada Transcontinental Highways Exposition with a slogan to promote the town. A contest was launched, and out of 200 entries the $100 prize went to “The Biggest Little City in the World.”
The updated sign did its job. During the past 90 years Reno has become a much bigger little city and today its 1.5% annual population growth, twice the national average, is driving real estate values.
With nearby Sparks, Reno is an anchor city of the Reno-Sparks, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The latest VeroFORECAST from Veros Real Estate Solutions predicts that real estate in the MSA will appreciate over the next year, ranking it sixth out of the 354 MSAs included in the report.
The neighboring Carson City, NV MSA is also projected to see property values which rank it fifth on the list. Their mid-Top Ten slots show an acceleration in rising values, as neither was in the Top Ten for the first quarter 2018 report, released in late March.
In the 2010 U.S. Census, the Reno-Sparks, NV MSA had over 425,000 residents divided between its two counties: 90% in Washoe and the balance in Storey. Carson City MSA, made up of one county – and the state capital – both named Carson City – had a 2010 population of 55,274. By comparison, the last census put the population of the state’s largest MSA, Las Vegas-Paradise, at 2 million.
This puts these two Nevada MSAs in high-flying company. They follow four markets boosted by technology employment: three Washington State MSAs – Seattle at 11.1%, and Olympia and Bremerton-Silverdale, both at 9.8% – and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at 9.5%.
It is solid evidence that Nevada continues to rebound strongly from the financial crisis a decade ago. Nevada’s “Biggest Little City” is now the state’s third largest, behind Las Vegas and Henderson. Sparks and Carson City are fifth and sixth after North Las Vegas.
A TECH BOOST FROM TRIC
In the past five years, the Reno-Sparks MSA has benefited from a successful campaign to attract tech to the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center (TRIC), which claims to be the largest industrial park in the world. There’s more than 15,000 acres of “pre-zoned, fully entitled, and in active development” land is the site of the Tesla Gigafactory 1, and TRIC sees more to come from Blockchains, Google, Jet.com, and Switch.
Mike Kazmierski, president and CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, said that, while job growth and favorable business and tax conditions had made the entire state attractive to companies and residents, in Northern Nevada, “the arrival of big-name companies such as Apple, Tesla and Google is helping dispel old stereotypes of Reno as a poor man’s Las Vegas. Costs that remain lower compared to next-door neighbor California remain a factor as well.”
The impact can be seen in Reno Metro’s year-over-year job growth, which, according to the June 2018 Nevada Economy in Brief, a monthly review of workforce and economic information, grew 3.7% from June 2017 to June 2018. That compares to Carson City’s 3.3% and 2.7% for both Las Vegas MSA and the state as a whole. The nation’s rate was 1.6%. The Reno-Sparks MSA’s unemployment rate of 3.5% is not only a half-point lower than the national average, but more than a full percentage point lower than the state and the Las Vegas MSA.
What’s more promising, according to a study by the University of Nevada, Reno’s Center for Regional Studies, is that a healthy percentage of those arrivals are younger people. Nearly 45% of those moving into Washoe County during the first half of this decade were 18 to 34, which is nearly twice that age group’s percentage of the U.S. population.
The 354 MSAs used to generate this data, which projected a national average of 4.4% appreciation, include 1,005 counties and 13,877 zip codes, and account for the residences of 82% of the U.S. population. That is a dozen more MSAs than were used for the first quarter report.
If you or someone you know is interested in relocating to the Silver State, contact me and I am happy to help them with their real estate needs.
Energy saving efforts don’t just make sense, they make dollars and cents. While that’s not exactly a newsflash for most homeowners, it’s high time to get ‘er done with winter fast approaching.
Below are just a few winter energy saving tips that vary in cost and effort from ‘a big fat zero’ to ‘not very much’.
Zero Dollars, Perfect Sense
We love us some free, money-saving energy tips! Here are just a few:
In the meantime, turn your thermostat down 10-15 degrees for eight hours a day when you’re not home or sleeping. This can save 10% on your heating bill annually according to energy.gov.
Close vents in the rooms you seldom use like a guest room. (But be sure to open them before your holiday guests arrive!)
Invite the sunshine in by raising shades and opening curtains. A little solar gain means a little saving on your heating bill.
Spin your fan clockwise. Ceiling fans will force hot air down in the cooler months. (Conversely, counterclockwise rotation in the hotter months will force the warm air up and away from you.)
Keep the damper in your fireplace closed when not in use. Otherwise, the warm air will go right up the chimney. (We’re not heating the whole neighborhood, right Dad?)
Bundle up! Your favorite sweatshirt or a cushy throw blanket could be just what the heat seeker ordered. Add layers before — or instead of —adjusting your thermostat.
Check out our G.E and NV Energy programs designed to reduce energy costs for low-income families if you know someone who might qualify.
Little Cost, Little Effort
Looking for more winter energy saving hacks? We’ve got your back!
Batten down the hatches! From caulking windows to adding door snakes, there are many ways to draft-proof your home.
Make sure your insulation measures up. Not sure what to look for? Read this.
Make your desert home a little less desert-y by adding a humidifier. Moist air feels warmer than dry air and it holds heat better. Oh yeah, and there are other health benefits,
Lights! Action! Any season is the right time to change your incandescent light bulbs to more energy efficient bulbs. Because of the initial expense, we recommend changing out a few at a time.
Joy to the electric bill! When you change your holiday lights to LEDs, you can save. They use 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional holiday lights (according to S. News & World Report).
One Last Tip & Some Jokes
Want a home of your own to save energy in? Here’s another money-saving tip: Check out our Stanford Mortgages First Time homebuyer program that offers thousands in bonus money to use for a down payment or closing costs. If you’re buying, it’s a no brainer.
The State of Nevada offers one of the most tax and business friendly environments of any state. Here are some of the reasons why advisers, celebrities, investment bankers, CEO’s, and athletes call Nevada home:
No personal income tax
No corporate income tax
No gross receipts tax
No franchise tax
No inventory tax
No tax on issuance of corporate shares
No requirements for shareholders or directors to live in Nevada
No tax on sale of transfer of shares
No succession or inheritance with IRS
No sharing of information with IRS
Simple annual requirements
No initial or minimum capital requirements
Nevada is a business friendly environment so if you or someone you know is interested in relocating to the Silver State, contact me and I am happy to help them with their real estate needs.
– Alvin Steinburg
About Living Lake Tahoe
Living Lake Tahoe is a real estate agency that helps buyers, sellers, and renters navigate the Lake Tahoe real estate market. They have extensive data and information on the local real estate market since they are based in Tahoe fulltime and have operated there for decades. Alvin Steinberg, the head of the company, has over 40 years of experience as a real estate professional.
You should always do due diligence before you spend your hard earned fortune on a real estate property. Part of doing due diligence is seeking out recent real estate market reports from unbiased sources and comparing the data with the information your local real estate agent tells you.
Most real estate agencies publish their own market reports using their own data. The reports are often localized and focus on the communities they serve. You can expect that most reports published by local real estate agencies will focus more on the rosy side of things. If you want to get the complete picture, you should look elsewhere.
Luckily for you, there are data sources you can turn to for information on various real estate markets in the United States. The only drawback is that the data is often for bigger geographical areas and is not as localized as those of local real estate agencies. Nonetheless, the data can be very useful and will give you a more complete picture of the real estate market you are targeting.
At the national level, you should check out data from the US Census Bureau. The US Census Bureau publishes a quarterly report on residential vacancies and homeownership. Some of the data points covered by the report include rental vacancy rate, homeowner vacancy rate, homeownership rate, median asking rent for vacant-for-rent units, median asking price for vacant- for-sale units, and housing inventory estimates, among others. You can also find some useful data for counties and neighborhoods on the census.gov website but the data is updated annually and not quarterly.
A significant number of home buyers in Lake Tahoe turn them into vacation rentals. You may want to check both the local and national data on the performance of vacation rentals. For national data, you can turn to Statista. For local data, you can turn to local travel industry players. You can find such data by just googling “Lake Tahoe vacation rentals market report.”
About Living Lake Tahoe
Living Lake Tahoe is a real estate agency that helps buyers, sellers, and renters navigate the Lake Tahoe real estate market. They have extensive data and information on the local real estate market since they are based in Tahoe fulltime and have operated there for decades. Alvin Steinberg, the head of the company, has over 40 years of experience as a real estate professional.
Thanks to home exchange programs, seniors now have an opportunity to travel to their favorite destinations and experience those places as a local would. By staying in a private residence instead of a hotel, a traveler earns the freedom to interact with the host community as authentically as possible. They also end up spending very little on accommodation costs.
While there are several great home exchange programs serving the general public, you may want to sign up for specialty senior programs to give yourself a chance to interact with and stay in homes of people who understand exactly what seniors need. Some of the home exchange sites that have dedicated programs for seniors include Home Exchange 50Plus and International Vacation Home Exchange.
To take advantage of these programs you need to have a vacation property that you can exchange with other travelers. Such a home can be your primary residence or vacation home. If you are scouting for such a property right now, Lake Tahoe might be the place you want to be. Lake Tahoe communities are some of the best senior-friendly communities in the United States that also have world-class recreational amenities for vacationers.
Perhaps the most important benefit to living in Lake Tahoe when you are senior who is a fan of home exchanges is that Lake Tahoe is one of a favorite destination of many travelers. There are several seniors who flock to Tahoe to vacation there every year. It is therefore very unlikely that you will lack a prospect for a home swap whenever you want to go on a vacation somewhere else especially if you are using a home exchange program that utilizes credits. Using credits is always a good thing as it will make it easy for you to find a property during the winter months when demand for Tahoe vacation properties falls.
Further, it is actually enjoyable to live in Lake Tahoe. As a resident, you can enjoy the same amenities and activities travelers enjoy without feeling like you are living in a resort community. It is a perfectly normal community with a sizeable population who live there fulltime.
About Living Lake Tahoe
Living Lake Tahoe helps people looking to buy, sell, or rent properties in Lake Tahoe. The agency is headed by Alvin Steinberg who has worked as a real estate agent in the Tahoe region for more than four decades now. All realtors working for the team are based in Tahoe and deeply understand the local market.
The main argument people have against the idea of owning a vacation property is that someone who buys a vacation property commits themselves to vacation in the same place every time. By vacationing at the same spot, critics say, the homeowners miss out on the novelty of travel.
This line of thinking could have been correct 50 years ago. Today, it has no merit at all. The truth is, having a vacation property of your own will open up a lot more opportunities to experience other destinations while staying in other cool properties on the cheap or for free. You can thank the internet for this.
The internet now makes it possible for owners of vacation homes to enter into home swap programs that allow them to stay in other people’s homes for free when they travel. There are several credible home exchange portals that facilitate such home exchanges. In most cases, all you have to do is find someone who has a home in a destination you want to visit and who also wants to visit the destination your vacation home is located. With home exchange sites now housing thousands of homeowners, finding someone is not hard at all.
Vacation Properties in Santorini, Greece.
Further, there are home exchange sites that make indirect home exchanges possible. In this case, the person who owns the home you want to visit doesn’t have to stay at your property. The programs operate using a point-based system where members earn points for letting anyone in the program stay in their property. They can then use the points to stay in any other available property anywhere in the world.
Some of the popular home swap portals worth joining include:
You don’t have to sign up for all the programs. You want to sign up for just a couple of the programs so you have the time to build a reputation for yourself on the site. Making your home appealing to other travelers in these programs takes almost the same process as marketing your home to ordinary travelers. You have to use awesome pictures, get positive reviews, be responsive when communicating with prospects, maintain home cleanliness, and meet your guests or have someone you trust welcome them when they show up.
About Living Lake Tahoe
Living Lake Tahoe is one of the most reputable real estate agencies in Tahoe. The team is headed by Alvin Steinberg who has over four decades of experience in the local real estate market. They are committed to helping people looking to buy or sell Lake Tahoe properties, including vacation homes, do so as smoothly as possible.
Living Lake Tahoe is a real estate agency
