Realty World – Corral Hollow Real Estate

 
Are you done with your Taxes yet?  Wait!… With April 15th just around the corner, here are some tips to help you….
 

 
Reap the tax deductible rewards of home ownershipIf you’ve purchased, sold or refinanced your home in the past year, tax season is the best time to reap the benefits of being a homeowner! Take advantage of some of these tax breaks today and you could enjoy a bigger return in April!
Mortgage Interest. For most homeowners, the bulk of your mortgage payment is going towards interest – and that’s a big tax break for you! The mortgage interest on your primary residence is fully tax deductible, unless, of course your loan is more than $1 million.
You can also deduct late payment charges as home mortgage interest as long as the payment was not late due to a specific service received in connection with your home loan. Also, if you pay off your mortgage early and incur a prepayment penalty, you can deduct that penalty as home mortgage interest (subject to the same requirements for late payments).
Property Taxes. Your property taxes – the annual taxes based on the assessed value of your property – can also be deducted. Your mortgage interest statement may list the amount of real estate taxes you paid if your taxes and homeowners’ insurance went into an escrow account when you closed on your mortgage. You can also review your cancelled checks to determine your total real estate tax deduction.
Loan Points. Any points you paid to get a better rate on a home loan, are tax deductible in the year you made the purchase as long as:

The loan is secured by your primary residence and it was used to buy, improve or build the home.
Paying points is an established business practice in your area;
The points are computed as a percentage of the loan principal;
The points are clearly defined on the buyer’s settlement statement; and
You put cash into your home purchase in an amount at least equal to the points you were charged.  

Loan Points on a Refi. The points you paid on a refinanced loan may also be tax deductible, however in most cases, the points must be deducted over the life of the new loan. So if you paid $2,000 in points to refinance a 30-year mortgage, you can deduct $5.56 per monthly payment, or a total of $66.72 if you made 12 payments in one year on the new loan.
Interest on a Home Equity Loan. The interest on a home equity loan may be tax deductible up to $100,000. However, if your home equity loan, when combined with your first mortgage amount, increases the debt on your home to an amount more than the property’s actual value, you’ll face deductibility limits. In these cases, the IRS allows you to deduct the smaller of interest on a $100,000 loan or your home’s value less the amount of your existing mortgage.

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News you can use:  February Newsletter is here and it is, as always, full of useful tips and information that you can use. 
 
 
Topics included in this month’s Newsletter: 

How to repair your home without damaging your wallet
Exterior remodeling proves best bang for your buck
Homebuyer tax credit boosts economy
Understanding the buyers mindset
View current mortgage rates 
January round up: mortgage rate trends

If you have any ideas or tips on topics for next month please share it with me; I would be glad to research it and publish it.
 

In this current real estate market I often hear of home owners who have in the past paid a third party to help them modify their home mortgage.  Many home owners don’t realize that they can go directly to their lender to negotiate a loan modification without paying an upfront fee.  On October 11, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 94 that took effect immediately.
Please click here for more information.