rental property, Personal use

Publication 527 (2005), Residential Rental Property 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 Index A Accelerated Cost Recovery System (ACRS):, MACRS (see also Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)) Effective date, Depreciation Methods Accounting methods: Accrual method, When to report. Cash method, When to report. Change of method, Changing your accounting method. Constructive receipt of income, When to report. Accrual method taxpayers, When to report. ACRS (Accelerated Cost Recovery System): Effective date, Depreciation Methods Active participation, Active participation. Activities not for profit, Not Rented for Profit Additions to property:, Additions or improvements to property. (see also Improvements) Basis, Increases to basis. , Additions or improvements. MACRS recovery period, Additions or improvements to property. Adjusted basis: MACRS depreciation, Adjusted Basis Adjusted gross income (AGI) Modified (see Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)) Advance rent, Advance rent. Advance rent: Security deposits, Security deposits. Advertising, Other Expenses Allocation of expenses: Change of property to rental use, Property Changed to Rental Use How to divide expenses, How To Divide Expenses Part of property rented, Renting Part of Property , How to divide expenses. Personal use of rental property, Personal use of rental property. , Personal Use of Dwelling Unit (Including Vacation Home) Alternative Depreciation System (ADS): Election of, Election. MACRS, MACRS , Table 4-D. Alternative minimum tax (AMT): Accelerated depreciation methods, Alternative minimum tax. Amended returns, Filing an amended return. Apartments: Basement apartments, Examples Dwelling units, Dwelling unit. Appraisal fees, Settlement fees and other costs. Assessments for maintenance, Assessments for local improvements. Assessments, local (see Local assessments) Assistance (see Tax help) Assumption of mortgage, Assumption of a mortgage. At-risk rules, Limits on Rental Losses Attorneys' fees, Settlement fees and other costs. , Increases to basis. Automobiles: MACRS recovery periods, Recovery Periods Under GDS B Basis: Adjusted basis, Adjusted Basis Assessments for local improvements, Assessments for local improvements. Basis other than cost, Basis Other Than Cost Cost basis, Cost Basis Decreases to, Decreases to basis. Deductions: Capitalization of costs vs., Deducting vs. capitalizing costs. Not greater than basis, No deduction greater than basis. Fair market value, Fair market value. Increases to, Increases to basis. MACRS depreciable basis, Depreciable Basis Property changed to rental use, Basis of Property Changed to Rental Use C Capital expenditures: Deductions vs. effect on basis, Deducting vs. capitalizing costs. Improvements, Improvements. Local benefit taxes, Local benefit taxes. Mortgages, payments to obtain, Expenses paid to obtain a mortgage. Cars: MACRS recovery periods, Recovery Periods Under GDS Cash method taxpayers, When to report. Casualty losses, Casualties and Thefts Change of accounting method, Changing your accounting method. Charitable contributions: Use of property, Donation of use of property. Cleaning and maintenance, Other Expenses Closing costs, Settlement fees and other costs. Comments on publication, Comments and suggestions. Commissions, Other Expenses Computers: MACRS recovery periods, Recovery Periods Under GDS Condominiums, Condominiums and Cooperatives , Dwelling unit. Constructive receipt of income, When to report. Cooperative housing, Cooperative , Dwelling unit. , Cooperative apartments. Cost basis, Cost Basis Credit reports, Settlement fees and other costs. Credits: Residential energy credit before 1986, Decreases to basis. D Days of personal use, Dwelling Unit Used as Home , Figuring Days of Personal Use Days used for repairs and maintenance, Days Used for Repairs and Maintenance Deductions Depreciation (see Depreciation) Passive activity losses (see Passive activity) Deductions:, Rental Expenses (see also Rental expenses) Capitalizing costs vs. effect on basis, Deducting vs. capitalizing costs. How to figure rental deductions, How To Figure Rental Income and Deductions Limitations on, Limit on deductions. , Limits on Rental Losses Property not used as home, Property Not Used as a Home Property used as home, Property Used as a Home Depreciation, Depreciation , Election. Alternative Depreciation System (ADS) (see Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)) Basis (see Basis) MACRS (see Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)) Depreciation: Change of accounting method, Changing your accounting method. Change of property to rental use, Property Changed to Rental Use , Personal home changed to rental use. Claiming correct amount of, Claiming the correct amount of depreciation. Declining balance method, Depreciation Methods , Declining Balance Method Duration of property expected to last more than one year, What Property Can be Depreciated Eligible property, What Property Can be Depreciated Excepted property, What Property Can be Depreciated First-year expensing, Section 179 deduction. Methods, Depreciation Methods , MACRS Depreciation Under GDS Ownership of property, What Property Can be Depreciated , Property you own. Placement in service, Property Changed to Rental Use Rental expense, Depreciation. Rented property, Rented property. Section 179 deduction, Section 179 deduction. Straight line method, Depreciation Methods , Straight Line Method Useful life, What Property Can be Depreciated , Property having a determinable useful life. Vacant rental property, Vacant rental property. Discount, bonds and notes issued at (see Original issue discount (OID)) Dividing of expenses (see Allocation of expenses) Dwelling units: Definition, Dwelling unit. Fair rental price, Fair rental price. Personal use of, Personal Use of Dwelling Unit (Including Vacation Home) , Dwelling Unit Used as Home , Figuring Days of Personal Use E Easements, Decreases to basis. Equipment rental expense, Rental of equipment. Expenses (see Rental expenses) F Fair market value (FMV), Fair market value. Fair rental price, Fair rental price. , How To Divide Expenses Fees Points (see Points) Fees: Loan origination fees, Points. , Settlement fees and other costs. Settlement fees and other costs, Settlement fees and other costs. Tax return preparation fees, Other Expenses , Tax return preparation. First-year expensing, Section 179 deduction. Form 1040: Not rented for profit income, Where to report. Part of property rented, Renting Part of Property Rental income and expenses, How To Report Rental Income and Expenses Schedule E, Schedule E (Form 1040) Form 1098: Mortgage interest, Form 1098. Form 4684: Casualties and thefts, How to report. Form 4797: Sales of business property, How to report. Form 8582: Passive activity losses, Limits on passive activity deductions and credits. , Form 8582 not required. Free tax services, How To Get Tax Help G Gains and losses: At-risk rules, At-Risk Rules Casualty and theft losses, Casualties and Thefts Limits on rental losses, Limits on Rental Losses Passive activity losses, Passive Activity Limits Rental real estate activities, Losses From Rental Real Estate Activities Sale of rental property, Sale of rental property. , How to report. General depreciation system (GDS) (see Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)) H Help (see Tax help) Home Use as rental property (see Use of home) Home: Main home, Main home. I Improvements, , Improvements. Improvements:, (see also Repairs) Assessments for local improvements, Assessments for local improvements. Basis, Increases to basis. , Additions or improvements. Depreciation of rented property, Rented property. MACRS recovery period, Additions or improvements to property. Indian reservation property, Qualified Indian reservation property. Insurance, Other Expenses Insurance: Casualty or theft loss payments, Decreases to basis. Change of property to rental use, Property Changed to Rental Use Fire insurance premiums, cost basis, Settlement fees and other costs. Part of property rented, Renting Part of Property Premiums paid in advance, Insurance premiums paid in advance. Title insurance, cost basis, Settlement fees and other costs. Interest payments:, Interest expense. (see also Mortgages) Loan origination fees, Points. Rental expenses, Other Expenses L Land: Cost basis, Land and buildings. Depreciation, Land. Leases: Cancellation payments, Payment for canceling a lease. Equipment leasing, Rental of equipment. Limits: Passive activity losses and credits, Exception. , Passive Activity Limits Rental expense deductions, Limit on deductions. Rental losses, Limits on Rental Losses Loans: Assumption fees, Settlement fees and other costs. Charges connected with getting or refinancing, cost basis, Settlement fees and other costs. Low or no interest, Loans with low or no interest. Origination fees, Points. Local assessments, Assessments for local improvements. Losses (see Gains and losses) M Material participation, Exception for Real Estate Professionals Minimal rental use exception, Exception for minimal rental use. Missing children, photographs of, Reminder Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS), MACRS , Election. Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS): Additions or improvements to property, Additions or improvements to property. Adjusted basis, Adjusted Basis Alternative Depreciation System (ADS), MACRS , MACRS Depreciation Under ADS Basis other than cost, Basis Other Than Cost Conventions, Conventions Cost basis, Cost Basis Declining balance method, Declining Balance Method Depreciable basis, Depreciable Basis Determination of deduction, MACRS Effective date, Depreciation Methods Excluded property, Excluded property. General Depreciation System (GDS), MACRS , Recovery Periods Under GDS , MACRS Depreciation Under GDS Nonresidential rental property, Recovery Periods Under GDS Personal home changed to rental use, Personal home changed to rental use. Property used in rental activities (Table 3), Table 3. MACRS Recovery Periods for Property Used in Rental Activities Recovery periods, Table 3. MACRS Recovery Periods for Property Used in Rental Activities , 5-, 7-, or 15-year property. Residential rental property, Recovery Periods Under GDS , Residential rental property. Straight line method, Straight Line Method Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), Modified adjusted gross income. More information (see Tax help) Mortgages, Expenses paid to obtain a mortgage. Mortgages: Assumption of, cost basis, Assumption of a mortgage. Change of property to rental use, Property Changed to Rental Use End of, OID, Loan or mortgage ends. Interest, Interest expense. , Property Changed to Rental Use , Renting Part of Property Mortgage insurance premiums, Settlement fees and other costs. Part of property rented, Renting Part of Property N Nonresidential real property, Recovery Periods Under GDS Not-for-profit activities, Not Rented for Profit O Original issue discount (OID), Points. , Loan or mortgage ends. P Part interest: Expenses, Part interest. Income, Part interest. Passive activity, Limits on Rental Losses Passive activity: Maximum special allowance, Maximum special allowance Personal property: Rental income from, Property or services. Personal use of rental property, Personal Use of Dwelling Unit (Including Vacation Home) , Days Used for Repairs and Maintenance Personal use of rental property:, Property Changed to Rental Use (see also Property changed to rental use) Placed-in-service date, Placed-in-Service Date Points, Other Expenses , Points. , Settlement fees and other costs. Pre-rental expenses, Pre-rental expenses. Principal residence (see Home) Profit, property not rented for, Not Rented for Profit Property changed to rental use, Property Changed to Rental Use Property changed to rental use: Basis, Basis of Property Changed to Rental Use MACRS depreciation, Personal home changed to rental use. Property not used as home: Rental income and deductions, Property Not Used as a Home Property used as home (see Use of home) Publications (see Tax help) R Real estate professionals, Real estate professional. Real estate professionals: Passive activity rules, exception to, Exception for Real Estate Professionals Real estate taxes, Real estate taxes. Real property trades or businesses, Real property trades or businesses. Recordkeeping requirements: Travel and transportation expenses, Travel expenses. , Local transportation expenses. Recovery periods, Recovery Periods Under GDS Rent, Settlement fees and other costs. Rent: Advance rent, Advance rent. Fair price, Fair rental price. Rental expenses, Rental Expenses Rental expenses: Advertising, Other Expenses Allocation between rental and personal uses, How To Divide Expenses Change of property to rental use, Property Changed to Rental Use Cleaning and maintenance, Other Expenses Commissions, Other Expenses Deductions, how to figure, How To Figure Rental Income and Deductions Depreciation, Depreciation. Dwelling unit used as home, Dwelling Unit Used as Home Equipment rental, Rental of equipment. Home, property also used as, Rental of property also used as a home. , Property Used as a Home Improvements, , Improvements. Insurance, Other Expenses , Insurance premiums paid in advance. Interest payments, Other Expenses , Interest expense. Local transportation expenses, Other Expenses , Local transportation expenses. Not used as home, Property Not Used as a Home Part of property rented, Renting Part of Property Points, Other Expenses , Points. Pre-rental expenses, Pre-rental expenses. Rental payments, Other Expenses Repairs, Repairs and Improvements , Repairs. Sale of property, Expenses for rental property sold. Tax return preparation fees, Other Expenses , Tax return preparation. Taxes, Other Expenses Tenant, paid by, Expenses paid by tenant. Travel expenses, Other Expenses Utilities, Other Expenses Vacant rental property, Vacant rental property. Rental income Uncollected rent, Uncollected rent. Rental income: Advance rent, Advance rent. Cancellation of lease payments, Payment for canceling a lease. Dwelling unit used as home, Dwelling Unit Used as Home Figuring, How To Figure Rental Income and Deductions Lease with option to buy, Lease with option to buy. Minimal rental use exception, Exception for minimal rental use. Not rented for profit, Not Rented for Profit Not used as home, Property Not Used as a Home Part interest, Part interest. Property received from tenant, Property or services. Reporting, When to report. , How To Report Rental Income and Expenses Security deposit, Security deposits. Services received from tenant, Property or services. Used as home, Rental of property also used as a home. , Property Used as a Home Rental losses (see Gains and losses) (see Passive activity) Repairs, Repairs and Improvements , Repairs. Repairs:, Repairs and Improvements (see also Improvements) Assessments for maintenance, Assessments for local improvements. Personal use of rental property exception for days used for repairs and maintenance, Days Used for Repairs and Maintenance S Sale of property: Expenses, Expenses for rental property sold. Gain or loss, Sale of rental property. , How to report. Main home, Sale of main home used as rental property. Section 179 deductions, Section 179 deduction. Security deposits, Security deposits. Settlement fees, Settlement fees and other costs. Shared equity financing agreements, Shared equity financing agreement. Spouse: Material participation, Participating spouse. Standard mileage rates, Local transportation expenses. Suggestions for publication, Comments and suggestions. Surveys, Settlement fees and other costs. T Tables and figures: Declining balance depreciation rates, Declining balance rates. Improvements, examples of (Table 1), MACRS optional tables (Table 4–D), Table 4-D. MACRS optional tables (Tables 4–A, 4–B, and 4–C), Tables 4-A, 4-B, and 4-C. MACRS recovery periods for rental activity property (Table 3), Table 3. MACRS Recovery Periods for Property Used in Rental Activities Tax credits: Residential energy credit allowed before 1986, effect on basis, Decreases to basis. Tax help, How To Get Tax Help Tax return preparation fees, Other Expenses , Tax return preparation. Taxes: Deduction of, Other Expenses Local benefit taxes, Local benefit taxes. Real estate taxes, Real estate taxes. Transfer taxes, Settlement fees and other costs. Taxpayer Advocate, Contacting your Taxpayer Advocate. Theft losses, Theft. Title insurance, Settlement fees and other costs. Transfer taxes, Settlement fees and other costs. Travel and transportation expenses: Local transportation expenses, Other Expenses , Local transportation expenses. Recordkeeping, Travel expenses. Rental expenses, Other Expenses Standard mileage rate, Local transportation expenses. TTY/TDD information, How To Get Tax Help U Uncollected rent Income, Uncollected rent. Use of home: Before or after renting, Use as Main Home Before or After Renting Change to rental use, Property Changed to Rental Use , Personal home changed to rental use. Days of personal use, Dwelling Unit Used as Home , Figuring Days of Personal Use Fair rental price, Fair rental price. Minimal rental use exception, Exception for minimal rental use. Passive activity rules exception, Property used as a home. Personal use as dwelling unit, Personal Use of Dwelling Unit (Including Vacation Home) Rental income and deductions, Property Used as a Home Utilities, Other Expenses , Increases to basis. V Vacant rental property, Vacant rental property. Vacation homes: Dividing of expenses, How To Divide Expenses Dwelling unit, Dwelling unit. Fair rental price, Fair rental price. Minimal rental use exception, Exception for minimal rental use. Personal use of, Personal Use of Dwelling Unit (Including Vacation Home) Valuation: Fair market value, Fair market value. 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Real Estate Investment Software

Real Estate Software: Commercial Real Estate Software/Residential Real Estate Investment Software Excel Templates - Excel Training - Excel Add-ins Real Estate Software For Free 24/7 Microsoft Office Support See: Our Free Excel Help & VBA Help Forum . See Also our: Free Excel Newsletter Real Estate Software Real Estate Software Home - Real Estate Software Invest - Real Estate Investment Software Real Estate Investment Software for Real Estate Investors and Home Buyers. For Real Estate Loans, Mortgages, Calculate Amortization & More! See: Property X - Property Investment Analysis Software AND Real Estate Investment Analysis Software Our Most Popular Real Estate Investment Software products Back to: Financial Calculators | Financial Software | Excel Templates | Excel Add-ins | Software Categories | Search All Software Real Estate Investment Software Index Free Choice of Complete Excel Training Course OR OzGrid Add-ins Collectio n on ALL purchases totaling over $70.00. 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PropertyX is a complete property investment analysis software that comes with more than 12 investment analysis calculators, up to 40+ year projections, and investment analysis reports with graphical illustrations. Super Amortization Loan Software The Super Amortization Loan Software is full featured loan software that works for fixed rate, variable rate (up to 3 adjustments), principle and interest payments, interest only payments, interest only payments later switching to principle and interest payments the month you specify, and it can accept up to 30 balloon payments. This software is ideal for anyone wanting full featured loan software for law practice, real estate, or other purposes. Download Shareware Version from Download 1 or Download 2 . 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Financial Advisor for Borrowing, business profitability, discounted cash flows, financial planning, investing, bonds, cost of capital, options, valuation and more! Home Buyers Calculation Suite Real Estate Calculator Suite is an integrated collection of real estate calculators for Windows that gives you the ability to play with the numbers. Back To Real Estate Software. Top^ Home, Car, Loan, Mortgage .... Calculator Software that offers financial management software solutions for mortgage calculation, loan calculators, and real estate calculators. Financial planning and investment calculators are the Software's expertise. Loan Advisor for Excel Loan Advisor for Excel is a special loan toolbox derived from Financial Advisor for Excel with many loan calculators for users who need a tool to establish and compare different loan options. This powerful set of calculators will help you in many loan calculations and determine the better loan for you. 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Real Estate Listing

Real Estate | Homes for Sale | Houses for Sale | RealEstate | REALTORs ® | Real Estate Agent BUY A HOME SELL A HOME HOME LOANS NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION ABOUT US MY ACCOUNT FREE HOME PRICE CHECK ® Learn the Market Value of Your Home! NEW CONSTRUCTION Search for a New Home and get 1% Cash Back EXISTING HOMES Receive a Gift Card Worth up to $1,000 or more.** HOUSEWATCH SM Get notified by email as new home listings come on the market. PRE-QUALIFICATION Get up to 4 Mortgage Offers in Minutes HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTER Find Pre-Screened Home Contractors in Your Area. REALESTATE.COM IN THE NEWS SEARCH OVER 1 MILLION HOMES GET YOUR CREDIT SCORE REAL ESTATE AGENTS View and Save homes easily. Please Choose Alberta, AB Alaska, AK Alabama, AL Arkansas, AR Arizona, AZ British Columbia, BC California, CA Colorado, CO Connecticut, CT District of Columbia, DC Delaware, DE Florida, FL Georgia, GA Hawaii, HI Iowa, IA Idaho, ID Illinois, IL Indiana, IN Kansas, KS Kentucky, KY Louisiana, LA Massachusetts, MA Manitoba, MB Maryland, MD Maine, ME Michigan, MI Minnesota, MN Missouri, MO Mississippi, MS Montana, MT New Brunswick, NB North Carolina, NC North Dakota, ND Nebraska, NE New Hampshire, NH New Jersey, NJ New Mexico, NM Nova Scotia, NS Nevada, NV New York, NY Ohio, OH Oklahoma, OK Ontario, ON Oregon, OR Pennsylvania, PA Rhode Island, RI South Carolina, SC South Dakota, SD Tennessee, TN Texas, TX Utah, UT Virginia, VA Vermont, VT Washington, WA Wisconsin, WI West Virginia, WV Wyoming, WY Lenders will look at your credit score. And so should you. Partner with a fast-growing online network today. CLICK HERE Buying a Home | Selling a Home | Homes for Sale | Credit Report & Score | House Prices at Domania New Home Construction | Find a Mover | Find a REALTOR ® | Home Financing | Real Estate Learning Center Customer Service | Publications | For the Media | News Releases | Join Our Real Estate Network | Post Home Listings Privacy | Security | Terms of Use | Jobs | Disclosures and Licenses | Sitemap | Loans | Commercial Real Estate Houses for Sale in: Atlanta | Austin | Boston | Charlotte | Chicago | Dallas | Denver | Houston | Las Vegas | Los Angeles Miami | Minneapolis | New York | Philadelphia | Phoenix | San Antonio | San Diego | San Francisco | Seattle Washington, DC | Real Estate in More Cities LendingTree technology and processes are patented under US Patent Nos. 6,385,594 and 6,611,816. © 1998 - Real Estate.com, a service of LendingTree, LLC. All Rights Reserved.This site is directed at, and made available to, persons in the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii only. Conversion to LendingTree, LLC We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. REALTOR ® -- A registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS ® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Not all of the real estate professionals participating in the "Agent's Competing" program are REALTORS ® , which are members of the National Association of REALTORS ® . The Home Depot ® is not affiliated with LendingTree, LLC. The Home Depot ® is a registered trademark of Homer TLC, Inc. RealEstate.com is not sponsored by or affiliated with the parent franchisor companies of any of the participating members of its network. * Represents amount of consumer incentives and rebates (in the form of gift cards or other incentives) paid to consumers since August, 2000. ** Full Terms and Conditions Partner Sites: Citysearch | Expedia | Hotels.com | Ticketmaster.com | Hotwire.com | Entertainment.com | Match.com Home Shopping Network | ReserveAmerica | LendingTree.com | iNest | ServiceMagic | Ask Jeeves | Gift Ideas Mortgage Calculator | Refinance at GetSmart | LendingTree Mortgage | Free Online Credit Report | Home Equity Loans

Sell House

Tips on Buying and Selling Your House Remarked out per Bob Gent 4/11/02 -- TIPS TO HELP YOU SELL YOUR HOME MORE QUICKLY Owners can help expedite the sale of their home by following a few guidelines to make the house more attractive to potential buyers. A thorough self-inspection and a walk-through with your real estate agent can reveal imperfections that might hinder a sale. (Please note: in Washington state, as in many other states, the seller must complete a "Real Property Transfer Disclosure Statement" form about the condition of property being offered for sale. Material defects must be disclosed.) House-hunters typically begin their inspection of a property bypreviewing its "curb appeal." A surprising number ofhomes are eliminated from consideration before potential buyersget out of their car because they find the exterior appearanceunsightly or uninviting. Following are some basic suggestions for improving the marketabilityof your home. Examine the lawn and flower gardens, making sure the lawnis mowed and free of drainage problems. Colorful flowers andshrubs can enhance the home's attractiveness. Check the sidewalks and driveway to make sure they're freeof weeds and clutter. Inspect the home's exterior, looking for loose, missing ordamaged siding and brickwork, a cracked and uneven foundation,and gutters, downspouts or fences that are in disrepair. Paintor repair any problem areas. Clear the decks! Clean decks, patios and steps, removingunnecessary furniture, toys and debris. Tidy up any pet areas. Inspect the front door. A fresh coat of paint or stain anda clean doormat can help create an inviting "first impression." Check lighting, making sure pathways and entry have adequateillumination. Inside the home, you should conduct an equally thorough inspection,since potential buyers are likely to open doors and cupboards,look into, look behind and operate everything to make sure thehome offers the space, layout and features they need. Extensiveredecorating isn't usually recommended, but all rooms should beclean and clutter-free. Think "light," "bright,""open" and "airy." Clear rooms (including closets and storage areas) of everythingbut the basics. Arrange furniture so rooms look spacious. Remove clutter from the basement and garage. Sweep floors,degrease spots and dust. Have carpets and drapes professionally cleaned. Patch walls and ceiling cracks, then repaint or wallpaper,using neutral shades. Check the basement for musty smells and signs of mildew orleaks, correcting any defects. Inspect bathroom and kitchen fixtures to make sure they sparkle,are leak-free and are otherwise functioning well. Remove stainsfrom countertops, sinks, tubs and showers. Test major mechanical components, including the furnace, waterheater and electrical system. Make sure windows and doors open and close easily. Replacecracked or scratched glass. Be aware of the amount and type of insulation. DETERMINING HOW MUCH HOUSE YOU CAN AFFORD Low mortgage rates and special incentives for first-time buyersare making the dream of home ownership a reality for more individualsand families. As you begin your search, you'll want to determinehow much house you can afford and what type of mortgage is bestfor your budget. In general, four factors will influence your ability to buy thatdream home. They are: how much of a down payment you will make. The more cash youput down, the less you'll have to borrow. the amount you need to borrow (your mortgage) to cover a monthlypayment for the loan principal (amount borrowed), interest ("price"charged for your use of the lender's money), taxes ( a portionof property taxes), and insurance. the mortgage interest rate. the repayment terms of your loan. When applying for a mortgage, your current earnings and expectedincome during the next few years may influence your borrowingpower. Outstanding long-term debt and how long you expect tostay in the home you're buying may also be considered. Most realty agents recommend getting preliminary approval fora loan, usually by getting "pre-qualified" or "pre-approved"for a certain monthly payment. Getting approved for a loan requireshaving a lender verify your financial situation, including yourcurrent assets (income, savings, investments and other sourcesof revenue) and your liabilities (existing loans, credit cardbalances and other obligations). Using this information, thelender will evaluate whether there are sufficient funds for thedown payment, whether you have adequate income to make monthlypayments, and your overall credit-worthiness, which is based ona review of your borrowing history. According to many real estate professionals and lenders, the biggestreason people get turned down for a loan is poor credit. Reviewingyour credit status and correcting any mistakes before applyingfor a loan can help you avoid surprises or disappointments. Consumersmay request a copy of their credit report from one of three majorreporting services: Equifax: 1-800-685-1111 Trans Union: 1-800-851-2674 Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (1-888-397-3742) A small fee may apply, although if you've been denied credit recently,federal law mandates that the lender tell you which company suppliedthe information. You have a right to a free copy of your reportfrom that company so long as you request it within 30 days ofthe credit denial. Pre-qualification, based on numbers you supply to a lender, isan indication of the range of what you can afford. Getting pre-qualifiedis neither a commitment to loan you money, nor is it an obligationby you to borrow from a particular lender. Lenders typically use one of two guidelines when evaluating aloan request. Most lenders will limit the loan amount to a percentageof your gross monthly income or to a multiple of your annualhousehold income. As a general rule, individuals or families can usually handlea housing payment that amounts to 25- to-28 percent of their grossmonthly income. Following this guideline, if gross monthly incomeis $3,500, monthly payments (inclusive of taxes and insurance)in the range of $875 to $980 are considered reasonable. Somelenders use an alternate ratio that allows 36 percent of totalmonthly income for housing expenses and other long-term debts,such as car loans, credit card payments and obligations for childsupport. (Monthly living expenses for utilities, groceries, entertainment,medical and auto insurance are not calculated in this formula.) Another guideline, based on gross annual household income, assumesmost borrowers can afford up to 2.5 times their gross annual income. This means a borrower with total income of $40,000 may qualifyfor a loan of up to $100,000. Whether using a "multiplier method" or a "percentagemethod," prospective home buyers should allow for closingcosts and moving expenses. (Closing costs are the fees and taxesthat are paid when the deed is transferred. These usually amountto 5-to-10 percent of the mortgage amount. Moving expenses includecosts for movers, as well as "move-in" deposits forutilities and other "necessities"). Many lenders provide work sheets and charts to help you calculateyour borrowing power, along tables so you can compare paymentsat different rates and for different loan periods. (Some realestate brokers and financial institutions even have "mortgagecalculators" on their Internet site to help you determinewhat you can afford.) Your borrowing power can be increased with favorable interestrates and terms. With lower rates, you can borrow more money. Different types of loans and the duration of the payback periodwill influence the interest rate that will be applied to yourmortgage. In general, the shorter the term of the loan, the lowerthe interest rate. There are dozens of different types of mortgage programs froma wide variety of financial institutions, including mortgage companies,saving and loan associations, commercial banks and credit unions. Prudent consumers will find it pays to compare options to findthe right loan for their particular situation. THE MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE (MLS) A multiple listing service is a system for collecting and organizinginformation on available properties in a given area. Such informationis shared by members who agree to cooperate with each other andto abide by certain operating procedures. This service enablesbuyers to have a vast selection of homes to consider, while sellersbenefit from having their property exposed to a large networkof real estate professionals and their clients. Most brokers in the Seattle-Everett-Tacoma area are members of the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), formerly called Puget Sound Multiple Listing Association (PSMLA). More than 1,300 companies with approximately 15,000 licensed sales professionals currently belong to this independent association. In addition to its primary function of maintaining a comprehensive database on thousands of properties, NWMLS produces various legal forms, publications and reports for its members. The "multiple" also maintains an electronic keybox system, which allows access to listings by authorized agents. Other benefits include an array of computerized services to assist with property searches, financial analysis, communications between offices, and access to data on property taxes, local schools and other information. Ongoing training and technical support are also available to NWMLS brokers and agents.

Real Estate Prices

Why the world's best real estate investor is cashing out. - Oct. 24, 2005 Web CNN/Money Home News Markets Technology Commentary Personal Finance Autos Real Estate News Newsmakers SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY | The king of real estate's cashing out Tom Barrack is selling most of his U.S. portfolio. Maybe you should be nervous too. October 24, 2005: 7:56 AM EDT By Shawn Tully , Fortune Senior Writer NEW YORK (Fortune) - Tom Barrack, arguably the world's greatest real estate investor, is methodically selling off his U.S. real estate holdings as prices drive the market to nosebleed levels. He likens the current real estate market to a game of polo. "I feel totally safe playing polo on a field full of pros," says the bronzed 58-year old. "But when amateurs are all over the field, someone can get killed. They have more guts than brains. They charge after every ball and don't know when to hold back." It's the same with U.S. real estate right now. "There's too much money chasing too few good deals, with too much debt and too few brains." The amateurs are going to get trampled, he explains, taking seasoned horsemen, who should get off the turf, down with them. Says Barrack: "That's why I'm getting out." Investors take heed. Barrack may be an amateur at polo, but when it comes to judging markets, he's the ultimate pro. Arguably the best real estate investor on the planet, he runs a $25 billion portfolio of trophy assets, from the Raffles hotel chain in Asia to the Aga Khan's former resort in Sardinia to Resorts International, the largest private gaming company in the U.S. Barrack's Colony Capital, one of the largest private equity firms devoted solely to real estate, has racked up returns of 21 percent annually since 1990, handing investors, chiefly pension funds and college endowments, 17 percent after all fees. Barrack bought the Fukuoka Dome, Japan's Yankee Stadium, in part because he calculated that the titanium in the retractable roof was worth as much as the purchase price. His strategy is to buy classy but neglected properties anywhere in the world where prices are low. Then, he'll pour in capital to fix them up, and resell in them in five years of so with their pedigrees fully restored. Says his friend Donald Trump: "Tom has an amazing vision of the future, an ability to see what's going to happen that no one else can match." Right now, Barrack's view of the U.S. market couldn't be clearer: It's a great time to sell, and a terrible time to buy. In fact, he sees signs of the tech bubble mentality in real estate. Too much capital is chasing real estate, he explains, with hedge funds, private equity groups, and rich investors all bidding on the same properties. "They've driven prices to the point where the yields on high-quality properties are like the returns on bonds, around 5 percent or 6 percent," says Barrack. "That's too low." And he sees the bubble deflating soon. Barrack thinks the catalyst will be a trend few others are talking about, a steep rise in the price of building materials and labor. "Construction costs have spiked 20 percent in the past nine months," he says. The reasons: Shortages of labor and materials like lumber because of the building boom, and increases in the price of oil, needed to produce everything from plastic piping to insulation to shingles. The slump will show up first in speculative hot spots like Miami and Las Vegas, he says, where condo developers are preselling their projects for what looks like big profits. When they actually build the units over the next year or two, he predicts, they will end up spending more then the units are now selling for. At that point, says Barrack, the developers will try to raise prices. "But most of these buyers are speculators," he says. "They will either sue the developers to get the original price or take their deposits back and walk away." The developers will then put the units back on the market, and the glut of vacant condos will drive prices down. "It's the busted deals caused by construction costs that will cause the turn in the market," he says. So Barrack is buying just one type of property in the U.S.: Casinos. And in contrast to most gaming titans, he's doing it on the cheap. Extraordinary homes, on the cheap ... click here Colony paid just $280 million for the 3000 room Las Vegas Hilton in 2003, one-tenth of what Steve Wynn paid to build his new casino, which has roughly the same number of rooms. The reason Barrack likes casinos is that he's licensed to operate casinos in all the major markets, while most other private equity firms and other financial players don't have licenses. Hence, they're locked out of the market, and can't bid against Barrack. For Barrack, casinos are a safe, exclusive preserve, far from the frenzied melee that's makes every other part of U.S. real estate such a dangerous place to play. For now, Barrack is getting off the field. But when the din subsides, and the amateurs depart, look for Barrack to ride back in, mallet cocked, ready to play again. ---------------------- To read the full-length article from Fortune, click here . The Hot List Most profitable renovations How risky is your 401(k)? Big new tax credits for hybrid cars More Newsmakers Google, Oprah looking hot in '06 Ex-Enron exec pleads guilty NYC transit deal gets OK 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. 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