Author: Brad Beckett

As tax season kicks into full gear the IRS recently reminded folks that they are sitting nearly $1.4 billion in tax refunds from an estimated 1.2 million taxpayers who did not file a 2015 Form 1040 federal income tax return.  However, in order to claim these refunds taxpayers must file their 2015 tax returns with the IRS no later than Monday, April 15 (except for taxpayers in Maine and Massachusetts, who have until April 17).  Interestingly, there’s no penalty for or filing a late return if you’re due a refund. “We’re trying to connect over a million people with their…

A new report from Zillow says that rent growth has hit a 10-month high as appreciation in home values is dropping sharply.  Their data show that rent prices grew on an annual basis at their highest rate since April, after decreasing for the first time in six years last Fall.  However their economist says millennials will soon stop renting and move over to the homeownership column.  Indeed… Key takeaways: Rent prices grew 2.4 percent from a year ago. The median U.S. rent is now $1,472. The typical U.S. home is worth $226,300, a year-over-year increase of 7.2%.  This is the…

We have had several posts about property taxes and their importance to your bottom line and your property’s value.  The NAHB’s Eye on Housing says that property taxes can vary widely across states both in terms of annual taxes paid as well as effective tax rates.  There data show some interesting corollaries with those states with high overall taxes and those with lower tax climates.  Indeed…. “State and local property taxes tax more than just residential real estate. State and local governments also collect property taxes on commercial real estate, industrial real estate, and personal property owned by individuals as…

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in the country?  Well, if you have to ask……The data-crunchers over at Realtor.com recently put pen to paper and calculated the median listing price for every ZIP code in America to come up with the most expensive neighborhood in every state.  Does yours make the list? “…There’s no other way to explain our fascination—make that obsession—with the biggest, the best, and the richest. We always desire a glimpse inside the lives of the wealthiest among us, to learn what cars they drive, what clothes they wear, and, most importantly, where they live…” Click here…

With inflation predicted to run well under 2% over 2019, it’s worth taking a look at the past 20 years to see what prices for various goods & services have gone down and what prices have seemingly risen out of control.  The reasons vary are easily debatable but the facts will still remain…Happy Friday!!! Hat tip to howmuch.net.

No one will disagree that there are few deadlier places to be in a tornado than in a mobile home.  However, as a recent Wall Street Journal article (reposted on Realtor.com) pointed out, “The potential for a mobile home to be hit by a tornado is 350% greater in Alabama than in tornado-prone Kansas” mostly because they are spread out and not located in parks or communities.   But there is also another danger, apparently Alabama didn’t routinely enforce installation codes for new mobile homes until 15 years ago, meaning that it is unclear how many mobile homes are securely anchored to…

Which metropolitan areas have the highest rate of homeownership for low income families?  That’s the question that Redfin recently put to the test in a recent report.  Interestingly they do point out that in general, homeownership for people in the bottom income quartile is more common where housing is relatively inexpensive….that’s genius…(just be sure to look at their data set). “Homeownership allows people to share in the prosperity of their communities and gain wealth through home equity,” said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. “In many expensive metros, low-income residents aren’t able to access the benefits of homeownership because of a…

We have had several recent posts about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act’s opportunity zones – one of the most exciting and game-changing investment incentives to ever to come along.  On a recent episode of the Rental Property Owners & Real Estate Investing Podcast, Brian Hamrick talks with Duane Culver about what you need to know about Opportunity Zones as well as shedding light on any lingering questions about your 2018 tax preparation.  Duane is a CPA and President of Culver CPA Group.  Discussion topics include: Qualified Business Income Deduction (QBID) and how it relates to your rental income. Do…

With flipping returns at a 7-year low, Tarek El Moussa, from HGTV’s “Flip or Flop” recently joined CNBC’s Power Lunch to discuss the state of flipping houses and the real estate market.  During the interview he discussed the current housing market as well as revealing the most flips he had going on at any one time – a head-spinning 74.  Interestingly, he said that flipping is getting a lot harder with increased home prices and emphasized that you make your money with the purchase price, not on the sale.  No word on what co-host and ex-wife Christina thought about the…

According to ATTOM’s latest U.S. Home Flipping Report (covering all of 2018 and Q4), there were 207,957 single family homes & condos flipped in 2018, down 4% from 2017.  These flips represented 5.6% of all single-family home & condo sales during 2018.  In addition, the total dollar volume of financed home flips $19.9 billion in 2018, up 8% from in 2017. “With mortgage rates remaining strong and people staying in their homes longer, we have started to see a bit of a flipping rate slowdown,” said Todd Teta, chief product officer at ATTOM Data Solutions. “However, this isn’t to say…