Members of the 100% Club qualify by having earned between $100,000 and $249,999 in gross commissions during the preceding calendar year. Approximately 25% of all Sales Associates affiliated with RE/MAX win the 100% Club award each year.
Food, Entertainment, and Arts
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
RE/MAX 100% Club
I am very pleased to be joining this year and a huge thanks to all my wonderful clients that made this possible.
Members of the 100% Club qualify by having earned between $100,000 and $249,999 in gross commissions during the preceding calendar year. Approximately 25% of all Sales Associates affiliated with RE/MAX win the 100% Club award each year.
Members of the 100% Club qualify by having earned between $100,000 and $249,999 in gross commissions during the preceding calendar year. Approximately 25% of all Sales Associates affiliated with RE/MAX win the 100% Club award each year.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Salvage Materials
Tips for Shopping for Salvaged Building Materials
- Published: August 22, 2011
- By: Dona DeZube
Buying your sinks, mantels, windows, and other remodeling materials from a salvage yard or one of Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores pays double environmental dividends.
When shopping for salvaged windows or doors, make sure they're square and the hardware is functional. Image: Liz Foreman for HouseLogic
First, using recycled and salvaged building materials keeps those products out of a landfill. Second, you reduce demand for the energy and raw materials needed to manufacture a new fixture or building component.
On the big plus side: salvaged building materials are beautiful examples of a bygone era when craftsmanship was king.
Successful salvage shopping takes some savvy to get what you need and avoid headaches when it comes to fitting your salvaged treasures into your remodeling project. Try these tips for remodeling with repurposed materials:
On the big plus side: salvaged building materials are beautiful examples of a bygone era when craftsmanship was king.
Successful salvage shopping takes some savvy to get what you need and avoid headaches when it comes to fitting your salvaged treasures into your remodeling project. Try these tips for remodeling with repurposed materials:
- Measure, then re-measure, then ask someone to check your measurements before you buy so you’re confident the materials will fit into your home.
- Check to make sure old windows and doors are square, and that small parts, such as hinges and door hardware are functional, or at least can be repaired or replaced.
- Balance your budget. Unusual and antique materials aren’t necessarily cheap — you could pay more trying to fit a vintage pedestal sink into your small bath than you would for a modern pedestal sink on sale at a home store.
- Check dimensions carefully. Standard sizes, such as door thickness and the size of framing lumber, have changed over the years. Ask the store manager about the product you plan to use and how it compares to modern materials.
- Is there enough? You may love a set of vintage oak cabinets, but you might need more than what’s available at the salvage store. Get creative by mixing old and new materials, or using fill-ins, such as shelves.
- Watch for hidden hazards. Years ago, folks didn’t recognize the dangers of lead paint and asbestos. Old wiring may not meet modern electrical codes. Ask the store manager if they examine and test their products.
- Get an expert. Hiring a contractor who has experience working with recycled materials can help you overcome most of the challenges of working with repurposed materials. Ask the manager of your local salvage store, or friends who’ve done similar projects, who they’d recommend.
Dona DeZube has been writing about real estate for more than two decades. She lives in a suburban Baltimore Midcentury modest home on a 3-acre lot shared with possums, raccoons, foxes, a herd of deer, and her blue-tick hound. Follow Dona on Google+.Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/blog/green-living/salvaged-building-materials-shopping/#ixzz2rhwdpcjS
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
Happy hour at Muddy Rudder 24/7
Happy hour at Muddy Rudder on route 1 in Yarmouth runs 3 to 6 pm every day with $3 wine and $3 appetizers like pot stickers and mussels! Try to go on weekends and ask for bartender Nat--the best!!
Monday, January 20, 2014
101 Things I Love about Portland Maine
340. The Portland Hunt and Alpine Club
Industrial but mood lit bar with $6 happy hour specialty drinks and snacks.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
2013 Tax Tips for Homeowners
What You Should Know About Your Home and Your 2013 Taxes
- Published: December 12, 2013
- By: Dona DeZube
It’s the last year for three sweet home tax benefits, but the first for a way simpler home office deduction.
These days few things start a fight on Capitol Hill faster than taxes. Despite the fact that three important tax benefits used by millions of American homeowners are days from expiring, Congress is unlikely to do anything to re-up them any time soon.
So if you’re eligible, tax year 2013 is possibly the last time to claim the private mortgage insurance (PMI) deduction, the energy tax credit, and debt forgiveness benefit, all of which all expire on Dec. 31, 2013.
At least there’s one piece of good news for homeowners: If you have a home office, there’s a new, simpler option for calculating the home office deduction for which you may qualify on your 2013 taxes.
Meanwhile, here’s what you need to know about those expiring benefits as you ready your taxes:
PMI Deduction
This tax rule lets you deduct the cost of private mortgage insurance, which is what you pay your lender each month if you put down less than 20% on a home. PMI protects the lender if you default on the home loan. Your deduction could amount to a couple hundred dollars depending on your tax bracket and other factors.
Find out if you qualify for and how to take the PMI deduction.
Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
This sweet little tax credit lets you offset what you owe the IRS dollar-for-dollar for up to 10% of the amount you spent on certain home energy-efficiency upgrades, from insulation to water heaters. On the downside, the credit is capped at $500 (less in some cases). But on the bright side, the right improvement could lower your utility bills indefinitely.
Related: Take back your energy bills with these high-ROI energy-efficiency practices.
Debt Forgiveness
When you go through a short sale, foreclosure, or deed-in-lieu, your lender typically lets you off the hook for some or all of what you owe on your mortgage.
That forgiven mortgage debt is income, on which you’d typically have to pay income tax.
Suppose you’re in financial distress and your lender agrees to let you short-sell your home, say for $50,000 less than you owe on the mortgage, and forgive you for the balance. Without the protection of the Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Act, you’ll owe income tax on that $50,000.
It’s likely if you had the money to pay income tax on $50,000, you’d have used it to pay your mortgage in the first place.
New Simplified Option for the Home Office Deduction
This may be the last year for the benefits above, but a new one kicks in for the 2013 tax year. If you work from home, you may qualify to use a new, simplified option for claiming the home office deduction when you file your 2013 taxes.
How much simpler is it? It lets you claim $5 per sq. ft. for up to 300 sq. ft. instead of having to compute the actual expenses of your home office using a 43-line form. To calculate the square footage of your office, just multiply the length of two walls. For example, an 8-by-10-foot room is 80 sq. ft. And at $5 per, that’s $400.
Although using the simplified option is obviously easier, the basic requirements for claiming the home office deduction haven’t changed. Your home office still must be used for business purposes:
Why Might the Tax Benefits Not Be Renewed?
Although the expiring tax benefits were renewed retroactively in past years, that may not happen in 2014 because many in Congress would like to see comprehensive tax reform rather than scattershot renewals of individual provisions. This could delay a decision on the homeownership tax benefits until the big picture budget and tax issues are resolved.
So if you can, enjoy them now!
So if you’re eligible, tax year 2013 is possibly the last time to claim the private mortgage insurance (PMI) deduction, the energy tax credit, and debt forgiveness benefit, all of which all expire on Dec. 31, 2013.
At least there’s one piece of good news for homeowners: If you have a home office, there’s a new, simpler option for calculating the home office deduction for which you may qualify on your 2013 taxes.
Meanwhile, here’s what you need to know about those expiring benefits as you ready your taxes:
PMI Deduction
This tax rule lets you deduct the cost of private mortgage insurance, which is what you pay your lender each month if you put down less than 20% on a home. PMI protects the lender if you default on the home loan. Your deduction could amount to a couple hundred dollars depending on your tax bracket and other factors.
Find out if you qualify for and how to take the PMI deduction.
Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
This sweet little tax credit lets you offset what you owe the IRS dollar-for-dollar for up to 10% of the amount you spent on certain home energy-efficiency upgrades, from insulation to water heaters. On the downside, the credit is capped at $500 (less in some cases). But on the bright side, the right improvement could lower your utility bills indefinitely.
Related: Take back your energy bills with these high-ROI energy-efficiency practices.
Debt Forgiveness
When you go through a short sale, foreclosure, or deed-in-lieu, your lender typically lets you off the hook for some or all of what you owe on your mortgage.
That forgiven mortgage debt is income, on which you’d typically have to pay income tax.
Suppose you’re in financial distress and your lender agrees to let you short-sell your home, say for $50,000 less than you owe on the mortgage, and forgive you for the balance. Without the protection of the Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Act, you’ll owe income tax on that $50,000.
It’s likely if you had the money to pay income tax on $50,000, you’d have used it to pay your mortgage in the first place.
New Simplified Option for the Home Office Deduction
This may be the last year for the benefits above, but a new one kicks in for the 2013 tax year. If you work from home, you may qualify to use a new, simplified option for claiming the home office deduction when you file your 2013 taxes.
How much simpler is it? It lets you claim $5 per sq. ft. for up to 300 sq. ft. instead of having to compute the actual expenses of your home office using a 43-line form. To calculate the square footage of your office, just multiply the length of two walls. For example, an 8-by-10-foot room is 80 sq. ft. And at $5 per, that’s $400.
Although using the simplified option is obviously easier, the basic requirements for claiming the home office deduction haven’t changed. Your home office still must be used for business purposes:
- Exclusively, and
- On a regular basis.
Why Might the Tax Benefits Not Be Renewed?
Although the expiring tax benefits were renewed retroactively in past years, that may not happen in 2014 because many in Congress would like to see comprehensive tax reform rather than scattershot renewals of individual provisions. This could delay a decision on the homeownership tax benefits until the big picture budget and tax issues are resolved.
So if you can, enjoy them now!
Dona DeZube has been writing about real estate for more than two decades. She lives in a suburban Baltimore Midcentury modest home on a 3-acre lot shared with possums, raccoons, foxes, a herd of deer, and her blue-tick hound.Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/blog/tax-deductions/tax-deductions-credits-for-homeowners-2013/#ixzz2q99ANMhb
101 Things I Love about Portland Maine
339. The Salvage BBQ--Chili, slaw, sausages, brined and roasted half chicken--all authentic southern-style cookin'.....http://salvagebbq.com/
101 Things I Love about Portland Maine
338. Admiral Steakhouse in Bath-- delicious juicy steaks, fresh salads esp. the wedge, and good cocktails all in intimate wood paneled dining area!
Saturday, January 4, 2014
101 Things I Love about Portland Maine
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