PARKER  REALTY ASSOCIATES

With its share of tricks and treats, we’re not sure which is more daunting – the Internal Revenue Code or Halloween? During this time of year, a treat worth mentioning is that the Tax Code has provided taxpayers who are attempting a fourth quarter 1031 Exchange with a potion that can alleviate the sting of not completing an exchange if the taxpayer is not able to locate new property. This treat is known as “tax-straddling”. If a 1031 Exchange is successfully completed, the ta

If you dread the negotiating process when buying a home, never fear. Your real estate agent is an experienced negotiator who helps keep the bargaining from becoming emotional and veering off track. Your agent must know your desires by heart and have quick access to you if a negotiation point needs to be made. It's important to stick to the strategy you and your agent have agreed upon -- showing the seller how strong your offer is. First, get preapproved for a mortgage loan. T

That place next door just went up for sale. Your neighbors have lived there since the fifties, and they’re moving to Florida to be closer to the grandkids. They paid off their mortgage years ago, and they’re selling for a song, because they don’t want to wait too long for a buyer. (Those grandkids aren’t getting any younger!) It would be so easy, you think, to buy it and rent it out. You could pick your own neighbors! And have an investment property that, you hope, will appre

You’ve heard horror stories of contractors doing shoddy work and make mistakes homeowners just have to live with. Or worse, costing them thousands of extra dollars. So how do you make sure you’re hiring a great contractor instead of your worst nightmare? Ask them these questions. What qualifications/licensing do you have?: This should be your first question to any prospective contractor. You don’t want just any schmuck off the street working on your house, right? Can I have a

Buying a house is a big investment, and you don't want to pay more than you have to. If you have a mortgage, you'll be living with that payment for a while. It's tempting to offer a much lower price than the asking price, especially if the house you want has been on the market for a while, but there's an art to that. Here’s what you should know before deciding just how low you can go. Are you in a buyer's or seller's market? Ask your real estate agent to explain the market co

 Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) — The interest rate is tied to a financial index making the monthly mortgage payment go up or down over time.  Annual Percentage Rate (APR) — The percent of interest the will be charged on a home loan.  Appraisal — A report highlighting the estimated value of the property completed by a quali-fied 3rd party. This is typically done for the benefit of the buyer to ensure the property is worth what they are paying.  Association Fee/HOA Fee — I

Home warranties are a popular way for home owners to protect themselves against the high cost of unexpected repairs or replacement of home appliances and systems. They are available to all home owners as an affordable way to get peace of mind for your home and excellent service from trusted local technicians.With a home warranty, covered items are repaired or replaced for just the cost of the annual service contract fee plus an affordable servie call fee. Trusted, professiona

Like-kind exchanges help keep our economy rolling. That’s why the political change-up coming to Washington could have significant ramifications for real estate, investors, low-income workers, and more. On November 8, the Republican Party won the presidency and retained majority control over both houses of Congress. This means that federal tax reform in Washington is imminent. Since the news of this electoral sweep broke, I’ve been working — alongside a group of similarly dedi

Buying a home represents one of the biggest purchases that an individual can make in his or her lifetime. As such, the decision should not be taken lightly, and you'll want to review many factors as you search for your dream residence. The U.S. Census Bureau reported 501,000 homes were sold in the United States last year, up from 437,000 homes one year earlier. Furthermore, the U.S. economy continues to rebound from the Great Recession. This means the number of homebuyers may

Make the most of your energy dollar. Just follow these simple guidelines and enjoy lower gas bills this season. Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter. For each degree you raise your thermostat setting, your fuel bill climbs 3 percent. So dress accordingly. Consider slipping into a sweater before you crank up the temperature. Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed. A simple task like this and those in No. 3 could improve your system