Rental Property (Including Rental

Tax Topics - Topic 415 Renting Residential and Vacation Property (formerly Renting Vacation Property and Renting to Relatives) Home | Contact IRS | About IRS | Site Map | Español | Help Advanced Search Search Tips IRS Resources Compliance & Enforcement Contact My Local Office e-file Forms and Publications Frequently Asked Questions News Taxpayer Advocacy Where To File Topic 415 - Renting Residential and Vacation Property (formerly Renting Vacation Property and Renting to Relatives) If you receive rental income from renting to others a dwelling unit, such as a house or an apartment, you may deduct certain expenses. These expenses, which may include interest, taxes, casualty losses, maintenance, utilities, insurance, and depreciation, will reduce the amount of rental income that is taxed. You will generally report such income and expenses on Form 1040 (PDF) and Schedule E . If you are renting to make a profit and do not use the dwelling unit as a home, your deductible rental expenses can be more than your gross rental income, subject to certain limits. Your rental losses, however, may be limited by the "at-risk" rules and the passive activity loss rules. For information on these limits, refer to Publication 925 , Passive Activities and At-Risk Rules . However, if you rent a dwelling unit that you also use as a home, your deductible rental expenses will be limited. You are considered to use a dwelling unit as a home if you use it for personal purposes during the tax year for more than the greater of: 14 days or 10% of the total days it is rented to others at a fair rental price. It is possible that you will use more than one dwelling unit as a home during the year. For example, if you live in your main home for 11 months, your home is a dwelling unit used as a home. If you live in your vacation home for the other 30 days of the year, your vacation home is also a dwelling unit used as a home unless you rent your vacation home to others at a fair rental value for 300 or more days during the year. A day of personal use of a dwelling unit is any day that it is used by: You or any other person who has an interest in it, unless you rent your interest to another owner as his or her main home under a shared equity financing agreement; A member of your family or of a family of any other person who has an interest in it, unless the family member uses it as his or her main home and pays a fair rental price; Anyone under an agreement that lets you use some other dwelling unit; or Anyone at less than fair rental price. If you use the dwelling unit for both rental and personal purposes, you generally must divide your total expenses between the rental use and the personal use based on the number of days used for each purpose. However, you will not be able to deduct your rental expense in excess of your gross rental income. If you itemize your deductions on Form 1040, Schedule A (PDF), you may still be able to deduct mortgage interest, property taxes, and casualty losses on that schedule. There is a special rule if you use a dwelling as a home and rent it for fewer than 15 days. In this case, do not report any of the rental income and do not deduct any expenses as rental expenses. Another special rule applies if you rent part of your home to your employer and provide services for your employer in that rented space. In this case, report the rental income, but do not deduct any expenses as rental expenses. Refer to Publication 527 , Residential Rental Property (Including Rental of Vacation Homes). More Tax Topic Categories Accessibility | FirstGov.gov | Freedom of Information Act | Important Links | IRS Privacy Policy | U.S. Treasury

Real Estate Investment

Interest by real estate investors cooling? - Dec. 7, 2005 Web CNN/Money Home News Markets Technology Commentary Personal Finance Autos Real Estate News Jobs & Economy SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY | Real estate investors bailing out? Report: Speculators could hasten the real estate cool-off by putting properties on the market. December 7, 2005: 1:12 PM EST Video More video Appliances, materials, even landscaping is being stolen from U.S. home construction sites. CNN's Randi Kaye reports. (November 30) Play video NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Recent economic data may point to a cooling housing market and some investors are already dashing for the exits, according to a news report published Wednesday. Speaking with real estate brokers and analysts from such hot real estate markets as Las Vegas, Miami and Washington, D.C., The Wall Street Journal reported that fewer people are buying property as an investment vehicle. A researcher at Arizona State University told the paper that in the hot market of Phoenix, as many as 30 percent of the properties for sale on the market right now are owned by investors, while Sandra Geary, a real estate broker in Sonoma County in California said that her sales to investors have dipped by over 75 percent. "Now that the market is slowing down, it's scaring investors away," Geary told the Journal . Citing data from the mortgage analysis firm LoanPerformance, the paper reported that in some regions such as Redding, Calif., investors made up 22.01 percent of the purchases made through September. Recent industry reports have hinted at a slowdown in the real estate market. On Tuesday, the National Association of Realtors said that pending home sales in October dipped by 3.2 percent, while the Federal Reserve reported last week in its "beige book" summary of economic conditions that some housing markets have cooled. "Generally, residential real estate market activity remained high, but many districts reported a slowing or cooling of activity," the Fed said in its report. Even the latest data from the agency which oversees the mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, reported slower growth in home prices as the average price for a U.S. home rose 12.2 percent for the 12 months through Sept. 30 from a year earlier, compared to 14.2 percent in the period ending June 30. Even interest in condos has waned in regions such as Washington D.C., as cancellation rates have been rising, the National Association of Home Builders told the paper. "It's largely because of investors" pulling back, Gopal Ahluwalia, the organization's staff vice president for research told the Journal . If demand by investors weakens, that could hasten any slowdown in the market, David Berson, chief economist at Fannie Mae told the Journal . According to his estimates, home sales will fall by 10.4 percent over the next two years due to a drop in the number of investors and the number of second home purchases. _______________________ "Take this house and shove it" -- Click here . The Hot List Most profitable renovations How risky is your 401(k)? Big new tax credits for hybrid cars More Economy Risky business in 2006? Could be Home sales fall Jobless claims edged higher last week contact us | magazine customer service | site map | glossary | RSS | press room OTHER NEWS: CNN | SI | Fortune | Business2.0 = Money subscribers = Premium content -- * - Time reflects local markets trading time. † - Intraday data is at least 15-minutes delayed. Disclaimer © 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Terms under which this service is provided to you. privacy policy Reprints of site stories are available. Top Stories Most overvalued housing markets Risks to the economy in 2006 Which was the worst ad of all in 2005? After the ride, a rest Hilton brands reunite after 40 years YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Follow the news that matters to you. Create your own alert to be notified on topics you're interested in. Or, visit Popular Alerts for suggestions. Manage alerts | What is this?

Property Search

Allegheny County Assessment ALLEGHENY COUNTY REAL ESTATE WEB SITE 12/29/2005 3:44:16 PM Help Home Legal Disclaimer The values contained herein have been provided by the Office of Property Assessments and are updated bi-weekly. All values represent the estimated market value of the property as of January 1, 2002, unless otherwise updated due to permits, appeals, corrections, flood loss or catastrophic loss. Annually, in July, the State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) releases a sales ratio study comparing the County assessed values to current sales prices. The most recent STEB ratio, for the year 2004, was 91.3%. That means for 2004, on average countywide, the assessed values were within 91.3% of the sales prices. When released, the STEB ratio for 2005 will be posted on this site. Both the 2005 and 2006 values are subject to ongoing maintenance throughout the course of the year. In accordance with County and State statutes, values may be adjusted in the following ways: The Office of Property Assessments can adjust values by way of the administrative change process for factual, mathematical or clerical errors. Values can also be adjusted due to a change in the physical nature of the property due to building permits for additions or demolitions. In addition, the Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review and the Board of Viewers are distinct and separate entities from the Office of Property Assessments and have the authority to hear appeals and make decisions that can change assessed values. In these cases, the property owner and the taxing bodies are notified and the appeal decisions are regularly posted on the website. All property data has been provided by the Office of Property Assessments and does not include minor, detached structures such as garages, swimming pools and sheds. Sales prices are for the latest recorded sale and may not reflect invalid sales such as sheriff sales, love and affection sales or multiple parcel transactions. In the case of newly constructed buildings, the amount of the sale may reflect only the purchase of the vacant land. Therefore, sale to assessed value comparisons can be misleading. Local and County values may differ due to various abatement programs. To see information on the abatement programs for which you may qualify, please go to http://www.county.allegheny.pa.us/opa/abate.asp These applications are designed to be viewed using Internet Explorer 6.0. You may experience difficulties when using other browsers. For best printing remove left and right margins (consult help for more details) --

Selling Home

FCIC: Selling a Home Return to Federal Citizen Information Center Home Page Printer-friendly page -- Life Advice About... Selling A Home This Life Advice section about Home Improvement was produced by the MetLife Consumer Education Center reviewed by the Real Estate Educators Association and the U.S.D.A. Cooperative Research, Education and Extension Service. If you've decided to sell your home, chances are you're caught up in a host of emotions. You may be looking forward to moving up to a new dream house or facing the uncertainty of a major move across country. You may be reluctant to leave your memories behind or eager to start new adventures. Whatever turbulent feelings you're experiencing right now, there are plenty of practical matters that need your attention. Keep in mind the following considerations to help the whole process go more smoothly. Time Becomes Money It's a good idea to place your home on the market as far in advance as possible of purchasing a new one. If you find a new home first and then try to sell your present home, you may wind up with two mortgages. If this does happen, ask your real estate agent or banker about a bridge loan to help you make the double payments. Lenders use the same criteria for offering bridge loans as they use for mortgages. Should you qualify for a bridge loan, beware of the expense; during the term of the loan you must continue to pay both mortgages. Shop around for the best terms. Keep in mind that when people move, sell and buy, there usually is a domino effect. Closing and moving dates have to be coordinated, and the more firmly everyone commits to a window of dates and sticks to them, the better for all involved. Put all agreements about dates in writing, and protect yourself by negotiating financial penalties for failure to comply. Check Your Curb Appeal A home that's visually appealing and in good condition will attract potential buyers driving down the street. Use this checklist to view your property through an outsider's eyes. Are the lawn and shrubs well maintained? Are there cracks in the foundation or walkways? Does the driveway need resurfacing? Are the gutters, chimney and walls in good condition? Do the window casings, shutters, siding or doors need painting? Are garbage and debris stored out of sight? Are lawn mowers and hoses preperly stored? Is the garage door closed? On the Inside Strong curb appeal will lure potential buyers inside, where you have to live up to their expectations. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy improvements you can make to your home's interior without spending a lot of money. Cleaning is No. 1. Your windows, floors and bathroom tiles should sparkle. Make sure you have clean heating and air conditioning filters. Shampoo dirty carpets, clean tubs and showers, repair dripping faucets and oil squeaky doors. Keep your home neat, clean and picked-up at all times. It may not seem fair, but a peek in the oven may be the hallmark by which a buyer judges how well you have kept up your home. Remove unnecessary clutter from the garage, basement, attic, closets and straighten stored items. Also remove any items that might make a statement that would be offensive to others who may not share your same views, beliefs or sense of humor. If your home is crowded with too much furniture, consider putting some things into storage. If a room needs a fresh coat of paint, use a neutral off-white. Think, too, about how your home smells. You may be used to the smell of a pet or cigarettes, but such odors can be a strong turn-off to others. Be certain to remove valuables such as jewelry and other items from view. It might be wise to put these items in a safe deposit box before showing your home. Finally, set a mood for the buyer. Make your house homey with live flowers and fresh guest towels in the bathroom. Place scented potpourri around the house or, on the day you're expecting a potential buyer, pop a batch of frozen cinnamon rolls into the oven for a welcoming aroma. Remember, cosmetic changes do not have to be expensive. In fact, costly home improvements do not necessarily offer a good return on your investment when you sell. It's attention to the basics—anything that says “this home has been carefully maintained”—that will help you get the price you want. Go It Alone Some homeowners decide to sell their homes themselves in order to save the commission charged by a real estate agent. The commission rate may vary, depending on where you live or what agency you choose, but it is generally upwards of 5%. However, handling your own sale means you will be responsible for placing ads, answering phones and showing your home to strangers. What's more, buyers who know you are saving on an agent's commission may offer less for your home, wiping out the financial incentive to do it all yourself. You may decide an agent's commission is a bargain the first time that a would-be buyer shows up unannounced at dinnertime. Also, be aware that a real estate agent probably knows a lot more about the business of selling a home than you do. Here are some of the advantages professional agents offer: They will help you establish a fair asking price for your home. They will promote your home to other agents and list your property in multiple listing services. A multiple listing service is a book or computer database that all real estate agents who subscribe to the service can access. Your home will get exposure to all those agents, one of whom may have the perfect buyer. They will create, pay for and place advertising for you. They will schedule appointments to show your home to prospective buyers even when you are not there. They can weed out buyers who will not qualify for a mortgage. They can refer you to sources for insurance, inspections, legal counsel and financing. They will help you negotiate with the buyer. They can make suggestions to help make your home more attractive to a potential buyer. If you decide to sell through an agent, ask friends and neighbors for recommendations. Talk to several agents before picking the one you want to work with. Taking a walk through your home with an agent should give you a feel for how that person will handle prospective buyers. Ask prospective agents how they plan to market your home. Don't sign with an agent just because he or she suggests the highest asking price. Negotiate the broker's commission prior to listing your home, and sign for a limited period of time—usually three to six months. Setting a Fair Price Naturally, you want to get top dollar for your home. But, at the same time, you don't want to scare off potential buyers with a price tag that's too high. Setting an artificially high price may cause your property to languish on the market for months. Reducing your asking price later on may lead buyers to wonder if there is something wrong with your home. Here are some of the factors to consider in pricing your home. Your location Economic conditions Supply and demand in the local housing market Seasonal influences Local schools Average home prices in the neighborhood Your home's extras -- pool, fireplace, central air, etc. To determine the value of your home, you probably will want the advice of a real estate agent or appraiser. Ask an agent to prepare a market analysis for you, showing the recent selling prices of three neighborhood properties comparable to your own. The agent can help you adjust for the unique features of your own property. Qualifying a Buyer Either you or your agent will want to quickly weed out potential buyers who cannot really afford to purchase your home. A number of factors will help determine whether or not you are wasting your time negotiating a sale. The buyer's debt and credit history The buyer's current income and employment The buyer's cash position and availability of a down payment The length of time the buyer needs before closing on your home How interested the buyer appears to be in your home versus others Seek Legal Representation When selling your home—particularly if you are selling on your own—it's a good idea to be represented by an attorney. Look for an attorney with expertise in real estate transactions. When a potential buyer puts an offer in writing and you accept it, the signed acceptance becomes the sales contract. Your attorney will be present at the actual closing to protect your interests and can assist you with the following elements of a sales contract: The sale price What is included in the sale price -- draperies, carpeting, light fixtures, heating oil, etc. The amount of the down payment The date of closing and possession date Contingencies to the sale--inspections (e.g. structural, lead-based paint, radon), required improvements, legal review of the contract by the buyer's or seller's attorney, etc. The amount and length of the mortgage loan, interest rate and time limits to secure the loan Determining which closing costs are to be paid by the buyer and which by the seller Tax Implications Selling a home can have a major impact on your federal and state tax returns. Check with your tax consultant on the factors that may affect taxes resulting from the sale of your home. For example: Whether you purchased the home or acquired it by gift or inheritance Whether you used your home partly for business or rental Costs associated with selling your home Home improvements or additions, which may help to offset capital gains The sale of your home. In certain cases you can exclude up to $250,000 in gain ($500,000 for married couples filing a joint return) on the sale of property that was your principle residence for at least two years. Generally, you can use this exclusion every two years. Congratulations! You've successfully weathered the logistics of selling your current home, and you're ready to move on to a new and exciting chapter in your life.As you prepare for the coming changes, check out the Life Advice sections Moving and Buying a Home to aid you in this transition. For More Information 100 Questions Every Home Seller Should Ask Ilyce R. Glink, Times Books $14 Life Advice price $11.20 Call 1-800-793-2665 to order and mention reference number 032-02. Price and availability subject to change without notice. The American Bar Association Family Legal Guide Times Books$34.50 Life Advice price $28 Call 1-800-793-2665 to order and mention reference number 032-04. Price andavailability subject to change without notice. How to Sell Your Home in 5 Days William G. Effros, Workman Publishing $14.95 Life Advice price $8.97 The Consumer Bible, 1001 Ways to Shop Smart Mark Green, Workman Publishing $14.95 Life Advice price $8.97 Tips and Traps When Selling a Home Robert Irwin, McGraw-Hill $12.95 PAMPHLETS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT The quarterly Consumer Information Center Catalog lists more than 200 helpful federal publications. For your free copy write Consumer Information Catalog, Pueblo, CO 81009, call 1-888/8-PUEBLO, or find the catalog on the Net at www.pueblo.gsa.gov . A Home for You and Your Family Publication Series, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, Housing & House Furnishings, Box 7605, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7605 (single copies free). Also contact the Extension Service office listed in the white pages of your phone book. Related Life Advice pamphlets See the following related Life Advice pamphlets: Buying a Home, Moving, Home Improvement, Homeowners Insurance, Renting an Apartment, Enjoying Retirement and When Your Children Leave the Nest. Helpful Links HomeWEB You'll find consumer information on selling a home from this comprehensive real estate and relocation source. Topics include info on real estate agents, marketing your home, financing & mortgages, sales contracts, pricing your home and more. Basically, this is a great place to start, if you're thinking about selling your home. Audrie's Advice Audrie provides a complete check-list for selling your home without an agent and thereby retaining all the profit for yourself. SellYourHomeYourself.com SellYourHomeYourself.Com is a unique site that helps the For Sale By Owner seller save money. On this FSBO web site you'll find all the resources you need to sell a home yourself. * Because the content of newsgroups and Websites changes constantly, it is impossible for us to review it all. We are not responsible for the content of any of the above links. Return to Federal Citizen Information Center Home Page Printer-friendly page --

Real Estate Agent! --

Find a Real Estate Agent Real Estate Agent Home faq contact sitemap Home Buy a Home Sell a Home Directory Glossary FAQ Contact Us Dec 29,2005 Find a Real Estate Agent! -- Whether you're planning on buying or selling a home, choosing the right Real Estate Agent is one of the most important decisions youll make. Let Real Estate Agent.com help. Please enter in your zip code of interest below or browse our city and county directory to find a local real estate agent. Buy a Home Enter Your Zip Code of Interest: Sell a Home Enter Your Zip Code of Interest: You can also browse our Directory to find a Real Estate Agent in your State, County, and/or City. Real Estate Agent .com is one of the fastest growing directories of Real Estate Agents on the Internet, so if you are unable to find an agent in your area, contact us and we will find an agent to contact you shortly! Advanced Search Buy a Home Sell a Home City OR County State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Why Use A Real Estate Agent? When selling a home , a real estate agent can be an indispensable resource. Real estate agents can give you up-to-date information regarding prices, financing, terms and conditions of competing properties, and information about the housing market in general. A real estate agent will market your property to other real estate agents as well as to the public, and will know the best way to go about doing so. A real estate agent can also help you objectively evaluate buyer proposals, and then, finally, help you close the sale. In fact, a 2002 study on Home Sellers reports that the median sales price of an agent-assisted home was 27% higher than one sold "by owner". When buying a home , having the assistance of a real estate agent can be equally as important. Real estate agents have access to resources for assisting you in your home search not available elsewhere. A real estate agent can also provide you objective information about each property, and give you advice based on years of experience. A real estate agent will help you negotiate and also steer you through the closing process to make sure everything goes smoothly. We understand how difficult it can be to buy a home for your family or to sell your home on today's real estate market. We aim to build the bridges between people like you and your local real estate agent professional to ensure that you receive the help you need on a one on one basis. Down payment on a home will be 3% or more, depending on the type of financing you get. 5 Most Popular Questions How big is an acre? Why should I use a real estate agent? What is equity? What is a REALTOR? What is comprehensive homeowners insurance? Mortgage Calculator Real Estate Investment Software Moving Supplies Advertise Link Exchange About Us Testimonials Contact Us Links RealEstateAgent.com 2003 - 2005 Privacy Policy Terms Of Use Client Login Developed by Volico Web Consulting RealEstateAgent.com is a method of advertising for Real Estate Agents and Agencies. In no way is RealEstateAgent.com responsible for the services provided by the advertisers on this site, nor can it be held liable for any damages resulting from the services, contracts, or deals resulting from agents found within this site. Please view our Disclaimer for more details.