What The Homes Of The Future Will Look Like

The National Association of Home Builders predicts homes of the future will look like this:
* Ceilings will be high and flat or have decorative panels or domes.
* Living rooms will be gone, replaced by a den, parlor, or library.
* Dual closets will be standard in the master bedroom.
* Entry doors will be at least 6 inches wider han the 3-foot doors of today.
* Bigger garages with front-to-back parking.
* Open floor plans defined by ceiling panels, floor coverings, or pillars.
* Shower stalls will be bigger and may have multiple shower heads.
* Outdoor kitchens and fireplaces will be common.

Information courtesy of the "House Notes" newsletter provided by The Inspection Company.

Is Your Home Office Tax Deductible?

Is Your Home Office Tax Deductible?

You can deduct certain expenses if your home office is the principal place where your trade or business is conducted or where you meet and deal with clients or patients in the course of your business. Your home office will qualify as your principal place of business if you use it exclusively and regularly for the administrative or management activ- ities associated with your trade or business. There must be no other fixed place where you conduct substantial administrative or management activities.

Generally, the amount you can deduct depends on the percentage of your home used for business. Your deduction will be limited if your gross income from your business is less than your total business expenses.

Here are some basic facts to consider if you work at home:

A home office may qualify for deductions if you use it for administrative or management activities of your trade or business if there is no other fixed location to conduct such activities.
The home office deduction is available to you whether you rent or own.

If you rent, figuring your home office deduction is relatively simple. Just multiply your annual rent payment by the percentage of the total space occupied by the office. That prorated portion can also be applied to utilities, insurance, repairs and maintenance.

There are limitations to home office deductions based on your income. The taxpayer must be able to itemize deductions, using Schedule A. The home office deductions - along with other miscellaneous deductions - must exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income.

If home office deductions exceed net self-employment income, those deductions may be carried forward to the next year, again, only if the self-employed has sufficient net income.
For telecommuters, the business use of an employee's home must be for the convenience of the employer, and the employee must not be renting the office space to the employer.

5 Tips on Understanding Home-Office Deductions

Take advantage of every legal opportunity to reduce your taxes. Recent changes in the law benefit business owners who use their homes as an administrative and management base but work at other locations.

Ask your tax professional to analyze your business regularly so you don't miss important deductions.

Document deductible items. These usually include such costs as computers and other equipment, telephone charges, furnishings, and prorated portions of rent, utilities and home insurance. You may not deduct expenses for lawn care or those related to rooms not used for business.

If you are a homeowner, discuss with your tax advisor whether or not to take a depreciation deduction for the office space.

For detailed information, go to the Internal Revenue Service website, and download IRS Publication 587, Business Use of Your Home.

If You've Got It, Deduct It...Maybe.

Running a home-based business can offer many beneficial tax deductions that other businesses sometimes may not claim. Unfortunately, too many small business owners end up paying extra taxes every year because they are unaware of several small business deductions that are available.

Each business may be different, however, so be sure to discuss any possible deductions with your tax advisor or accountant.

If you join any business or purchase into any franchise, the expenses, such as kits or franchise fees, may be claimed as deductions.

Be sure to save all receipts for any supplies you purchase for your business use. Computer paper, business cards, pens, catalogs, or any other items you purchase and use for your business.

Most advertising and giveaways can be claimed on your taxes. Keep all receipts for any newspaper ads or any advertising you do online.

If you have a phone line or internet connection for business use, save all receipts for each bill paid.

If you incur fees from customers' bounced checks, those amounts may be deductible. Be sure to keep the returned check, the letter from your bank and your bank statement to show the fees you were charged.

Keep receipts for all shipping supplies and postage.

Computers, copiers and fax machines may also be deductible.

The Trivia Block

When did the income tax become a permanent fixture in the United States?

In 1913, with the 16th Amendment. (Tax rates started at 1%!).

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Finally! We got snow! About 3 1/2 - 4 inches of beautiful soft, white, fluffy snow! So just after breakfast we all bundled up and went out to play! We've got the best driveway for sledding too! It was a little too deep at first and the sleds were more like snow scoops, but once we packed it down some, you could really catch some speed! I think Tony and I had more fun than the kids! They were much more involved with building their snowman and making snow angels! So, I thought I'd share a few picks..... Enjoy!

A Dozen Quick Fixes or Short-Cuts for Preparing a Home For Sale

by: HomeStaging by Cynthia, Inc.


Crusty stove burner plates.
FIX: Replacements are cheap and look good for showings; keep the old crusty ones to switch out before cooking.

Worn out cabinet hardware.
FIX: If replacing the kitchen hardware, keep the less-worn hardware and switch them out with worn bathroom hardware.

Dingy bathroom floor tile grout.
FIX: Use a scrub brush and Comet—it’ll look like new again!

Stained shower floor.
FIX: After taking a scrub brush and Comet to it, tape the drain closed, add an inch or two of water, add a bit of bleach and swish then let stand a couple of hours.

The dog’s nose prints and a toddler’s hand prints on the front storm door glass.
FIX: Keep the door closed.

Dusty silk trees and greenery.
FIX: Take it outside, aim the leaf blower on it and power on!

Nowhere to quickly stash things before a showing.
FIX: Empty a kitchen drawer or cabinet shelf for daily items.

Wet towels hanging everywhere.
FIX: Hang decorative towels, don’t use them, then toss wet towels into the dryer before leaving for work (if everyone uses a different color towel it’s easier to identify them later).

In the process of getting rid of things.
FIX: Use your car trunk to store items that will be taken to charity.

Keeping up with a clean house for showings.
FIX: Everyone use one shower, preferably one with a shower curtain (you don’t have to squeegee a shower curtain).

You’re dashing out the door for a scheduled buyer tour and discover your child has pulled every toy onto the floor.
FIX: Store many toys behind a closed door or up high where you decide when it comes out for play.

Smudges on the wall paint.
FIX: While Mister Clean Magic Eraser can be a miracle-worker, it can also take off the paint. Apply a little Baking Soda with a wet white cloth and gently…gently… rub off the smudge. Don’t forget to rinse away the powdery residue!

Meanwhile, keep telling yourself, “This will all be over soon… this will all be over soon…”

Let me know how I can make your life easier—I can stage existing furnishings, provide a consult with detailed notes, and/or provide rented furniture/accessories!

Cynthia Black (aka “The House Whisperer”)
HomeStaging by Cynthia, Inc.
816-444-5352
www.HomeStagingByC.com

“Over 2,500 Homes Staged!”

* * *

“Because the Way We Live in our Home is Different From the Way We Sell our Home.”

My life in the new year- 2007!

Hi! It's me. I'm still alive and kicking. Just busy with a busy new year. No real resolutions though. I thought about some, but since they're so hard to keep it's really more of a let down than something refreshing and motivating.... I did hear that you really have until the 10th though to decide if you're really going to make any or keep them too for that matter. So, no real announcements till then either. That way you know deep if you're really committed. You know- are you the chicken or the pig? Anyway....

Real Estate is rocking! I think it's going to be a great spring to start a FANTASTIC new year! I'm currently working on my first "short sale" in Real Estate. Not exactly the most fun sale ever, but if it can help keep my sellers out of foreclosure, I'll do them all day long. It's just a slow and tedious process, frustrating and costly at times, but hopefully in the end it will also generate a paycheck! Like I said though, it does help eliminate a complete foreclosure, so it's a win-win-win situation. So be sure to tell your friends and your family and anyone else who might know someone who needs to beat a foreclosure before it's too late, it doesn't have to happen!

Ok, now for my big news... No I'm not pregnant! My reason for my lack of posts so to say.... I've been involved in several new projects, most of them Real Estate related or with knitting or even keeping up with my dad's books, but this one that will give back in more ways than imaginable. I've joined a new group, NAWS, it's the Northland Animal Welfare Society. We're brand new and dedicated to helping animals in the Kansas City Northland. I've been working on creating our website, so please take a minute and check it out and let me know what you think! I'd appreciate any and all of your support, comments and feedback! www.pcnaws.com

Thanks so much and have a Happy New Year!

Visiting Family in Iowa

This week we've been visiting family in Iowa at the in-laws. We've been staying at Kristi's with her two kids- Jonah (6 1/2) and Olivia who's 5. The kids have been having a blast with their cousins! But even better than that was during the days we've been at Nana & Papa O's where their other 2 sets of aunts and uncles have been staying with the other 11 grandkids! Yes, I said 11 more! FIFTEEN kids all together! They range in ages from 23 (I think) to my daughter who just turned 3. Needless to say, it's great to get together and see everyone as that just doesn't happen much. It's hard to find a time when everyone is available at the same time. Especially for the Prichard's who have 4 of their 7 kids in college right now!

All of the "big cousins" have now left and it will just be us with the little cousins now through New Years. Tony will have the weekend off when he too will finally get to come and join in the festivities. It's sad to say that he had to miss everything and his family too. But the kids are finally napping and as everyone is trying to clean up and catch up, I thought I would do the same. Enjoy some snapshots!

Our Family "Camp-Out"

Saturday night was "camp-out" night at our house. A night where we get out the sleeping bags and this time we blew up the air mattress, then we camp out in mommy and daddy's room by the fireplace watching movies and eating popcorn (upstairs!). Something that we all enjoy and look forward too! Our new family tradition?! The movie: Barnyard! The kids loved it, but had to watch the ending in the morning... I think they pooped out earlier that night than half the nights I just try to get them to go to bed. Oh what a difference a nap makes! Hee hee.

The next day after church and learning about Christmas~the celebration of Jesus's Birthday, we made Christmas cookies with lots of sprinkles and decorations! Yummy!

Christmas Crayola Playland

Today we saw Santa at Crown Center! What fun the kids had at the Crayola playland there too! So, what did they ask for this year from Santa? Anthony asked for a Power Ranger Kick set and a Power Ranger game and some Transformers while Bella asked for a stroller. She also told me that she wanted him to bring her a rocking chair and some flowers. Our friend Sarah told him that she wanted some toys to play with. Trust me, that girl has toys! But it truly makes me think and to reflect upon the simplicity and innocence of the desires they have, while we commercialize the holidays so much and try to buy them everything that we can possibly afford. And then the sweetness and tenderness within my son was really brought out when he pleaded with me to go back to see Santa again as there were some things that he forgot to tell him, of course I agreed, and when we got there, he told Santa that he needed him to bring mommy a cash register and daddy a robot and not to forget nana and papa too- that they really needed a plate and a fork as they really enjoy cooking. And that was why he needed so badly to go back, to see Santa to ask him to bring thing for others. So sweet and so thoughtful. I hope you enjoy the pictures. (I'll keep working on them- uploaded twice, but still nothing....) Third time was NOT a charm... I guess it was the fourth time that made it work! :P

What a GREAT Time to Sell Real Estate!

*NAR Economist, David Lereah says:

"We now have the most favorable market for home buyers in several years, and most sellers- who've been in their home for a normal period of homeownership - are still seeing very healthy returns on their investment. Conditions for buyers have improved because sellers are flexible now and mortgage interest rates are near historic lows. The market promises to be more balanced between buyers and sellers by early spring, supporting future price growth,"

Existing-home sales, expected to fall 8.6 percent to 6.47 million this year - the third-best performance on record - are projected to be essentially even in 2007 with a 0.6 percent decline to 6.43 million according to RealTrends

New poll finds consumers still confident of home values

Americans remain highly confident about the nations's housing prospects, with more than four out of five homeowners expecting the value of their home to appreciate over the next five years and nearly seven out of 10 calling it their most valuable investment, according to results from a new nationwide survey conducted by RT Strategies. The polling found that 81 percent of homeowners believe that the value of their homes will rise over the next five years.

New poll finds consumers still confident of home values

The poll clearly debunks the more sensational media reports speculating on the demise of the housing market," said David Pressly, president of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). "It is interesting to note that other polls conducted by major news organizations have come up with similar results, indicating that despite the current housing market downturn Americans resoundingly believe that buying a home is the best investment they can ever make."

2 weeks till Christmas!!!

Oh my golly, oh my gee! Can you believe it? How can it be?!

I just got done putting up the decorations and in just 14 days it will all be over?! I guess I need to get on the ball and finish my Christmas shopping and get it all wrapped! My cards are just about done. I made them all this year! 75 cards to be exact! I think I might be just a little bit crazy! But, with my silly ol Christmas poem that I send with them, people have just come to expect it. Be sure to let me know if you want to be added to my Christmas list- just send me an email~ karisma@reeceandnichols.com

Thought I'd also share a few pictures of the season so far.....
We spent an evening out with family Saturday night at Bucca de Beppo's on the Plaza, what a blast! Then Nana and Aunt Cathy joined us for a carriage ride around the Plaza to see the lights, we got the Cinderella Princess carriage and Bella perfected the wave! No coaching, I swear! It was a little colder than we would have preferred, but I think the adults enjoyed it almost as much as the kids!

The Not-So-Stinky House!

Thought you might enjoy an update with curtains and furniture and above all..... CARPET! Stay tuned for more to come. It's a slow and painful process. :P To say the least....

Bella Turns 3!

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby! To celebrate, we threw a Pretty Pretty Princess Dress-Up Tea Party! Sorry, there's not a lot of pix from the party, but I really wasn't sure how other parents my react to pictures of their kids being posted on the web?! The night before, on her actual birthday, she enjoyed opening presents from her grandparents- with her big brother's help of course! That's what big brothers are for, isn't it?! And I'm really not sure who had more fun at the party?! He had a ball playing pin the tiara on the princess, while the three year olds really weren't quite sure what to think of it....... but they had fun watching Sarah and the boys play! The crafts were the hit of the party, making and decorating their own tiaras (and visors for the fellas!) We all had a great time and as usual mom (aka nana jones) got her wish as well- a picture of her four kids...... doesn't happen often so as Tony says: "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit!" I'm just trying to figure out how I got so short?! From left to right- Tim, Me (Karisma), Jay and my little brother Nick! Now if I could just get my house decorated and ready for Christmas, maybe we can get the tripod set up and get some family pix for the holidays!? Wish me luck! Hee hee. In the meantime, don't pout too much if I don't post enough... I'll be busy getting things together and working on the annual Christmas card too- thanks again to Kristen- they'll be handmade this year! I'm stoked, but a little overwhelmed too...... Till then, take care and keep in touch, I'd love to hear back from ya!

Oh, and PS- looks like our quarterly trip to the emergency room was fulfilled once again..... Bella fell out of the van yesterday at mom and dad's on the gravel (AND YES IT WAS PARKED!!) and cut her head open....... no stitches needed, but they did "glue" it and patched her up with some steri strips. FOUR HOURS later we made it home in time for dinner and bed....... tis definitely NOT the season for emergency care! I'm sure there will be pix to come soon.....

Time for some catsup!

Ok, ok, so I've been a little busy lately and thanks to Time Warner, a lot slow on getting back online! Anyway... things are coming along, S-L-O-W-L-Y! But.... I have gotten the tv's set up and the surround sound hooked up (kinda sorta- still need to mount speakers, hide wires and connect the subwoofer..) and we cleaned and refinished the hardwoods- OMG- talk about a lot more work than you'd ever expect! I'm still hurting from it! And they could still use at least a second coat! Someday...Now we're getting ready to celebrate Isabella's 3rd birthday- NEXT WEEK! I just can't believe how fast they grow! Then Thanksgiving, Tony's birthday and Christmas...... does it ever end?! I think it'll be great! But of course I think we're hosting the family Christmas this year?! AAa! And we're having a Pretty, pretty princess tea party just next weekend! Needless to say, I need to get busy! In the meantime, enjoy some recent photo favorites and thanks for visiting!

A little football trivia

This one's for all of you trivia and/or NFL buffs out there:

What team's stadium has a section called "the dawg pound?"

The Cleveland Browns

For more fabulous trivia, click on the link provided to this post........ if it works like that. I don't know I'm trying something new. Good luck and enjoy!

Ok, so I guess I don't really understand the whole "links to this post" and the "link" option under the title line when creating a post, so to visit the appropriate site, just click here-> http://www.chunky.com/NFLtrivia/default.aspx

Did you hear the rumor about the germ?

Oh, never mind..... I hate to spread those things!

Ok, so we're all moved in! Well, all our stuff is at the new house anyway. We're still living out of boxes and searching for a few necessities, but hey, I did find my toothbrush yesterday and my husbands deoderant this morning. We've only been there since Saturday, but who's counting? Don't freak out, we had spares! But seriously, just a word to the wise: pack a suitcase as if you were going on a business trip when you move that way you do have all of those necessities right at hand and some nice clothes too, just in case you have to go back to work before everything's unpacked and put away! Otherwise you could be like me wearing a skirt and boots to work with an old hoodie as a jacket since I haven't found the box with our coats and jackets in them yet! Good thing it's only supposed to drop to 40 degrees this afternoon. :P

What kind of stars go to jail?

Shooting Stars! Duh?!

Ok, so the appliances came today!! And after an all day afair of working on putting in outlets and squishing wires and measuring and drilling and cutting and measuring some more, my brother finally got the daggone microwave installed!! The carpet was finished on Monday and now it really is coming all together! We're shipping the kids off to their cousins tomorrow and moving this weekend. Oh boy, the reality is about to really set in.... there's just still sooooo much to do!

In the meantime, the washer just beeped as it's time to get the clothes in the dryer and another load started and Bella is still reading and singing to her babies as she avoids the heavenly slumber that eagerly awaits.... or should I say eventually comes?

Welcome to my blog?!

I think it's obvious that I'm totally new at all of this, but I thought I'd play and see just what this is all about... My plans, my intents: to create a fun interactive page about Kansas City's Northland area and the people who live here. So, welcome, sit back, relax, interact and enjoy the ride (please excuse any road blocks or bumps along the way...). That's what it's about, "Real Estate For Real Life." Thank you for visiting, let me know what you think!
~Karisma

It's catchy & addictive!

Who would have ever thought what my little blog might have started?! Ok, so it really hasn't started any national craze or anything, but at least I have followers! Hee hee. Thanks Kristen and Bryan! Check out their blogs for more great pix and updates from the Stovall's at http://mylinktotheoutsideworld.blogspot.com/ and http://kolos-thoughts.blogspot.com/. It's fun and it really can be addictive too. Just imagine, maybe this could be our own "6 degrees?!" But you've got to play to win!

Somedays I wonder....

Ok, so I can't believe what a ding dong I am sometimes... I just realized that I haven't updated forever so in my efforts, I finally realize that there is actually a "title" line.... don't ask! And people wonder why I keep the blonde. :P

Anyway... they picked up the carpet and the pad today! So as it gets laid (boy does that just sound wrong?!), the house is really starting to resemble more of a home. I think it helps too having put up the curtain rods and trial curtains. I say trial as we're on the forth set I think. We've also packed the garage full as we cleared out our storage unit and we've started adding a few personal touches here and there. So there it stands- about 2 1/2 weeks out I'm thinking... Well, it's going to have to be as we close on our house on the 25th! And as far as that goes, everything seems to be moving right along... the inspections went smooth- I think the only thing left to fix is a lock on one of the doors. And now we wait. Hurry, hurry, hurry and w....a....i....t.... That's real estate! And I love it!

Sooooooooo, if you're interested, or if you've got a buyer looking for a nice 3 bedroom home, 1 car garage, fully fenced backyard in Gladstone- I just listed one for only $125,000. You've got my info, contact me for more details!

SOLD!

In less than 3 weeks on the market we've got an accepted contract on our house! Whew! And everybody's happy- that's all that really matters! We had inspections today that went pretty smooth from the sounds of it and the appraiser will be out on Friday. I think I'm going to miss it though. Such a great location really- just central to everything! And the kids are really starting to get acclamated to the hood and we just love the things and all the upgrades we've done to the home. But..... the reality is that we've just outgrown the home and need to move on. Which I'm soooooo excited about! Check out a few pix of our progress at hand: