For example, if you buy and live in your house for two out of the past five years, you can make up to $500,000 on the sale of that house and pay no federal income tax. This is if you are married, it’s up to $250,000 if you are single. But it’s pretty amazing, the first time I heard this I could hardly believe my ears. I mean you have to actually live there as your primary residence, so please don’t try this on a rental.

Did you know that moving expenses related to a new job may be tax deductible? It’s been raised to 18 cents a mile just last year. There is some fine print; such as your new job must be at least 55 miles from your previous home. There is also requirements for a “time test.” You can read more about that on the IRS website.

Some other ways to save is by deducting the interest on up to one million dollars of home mortgage debt, this can also be used for a second home. You can also deduct the interest on home equity debt, up to $100,000; even it is not used for home improvements.

The last little tidbit I picked up from the IRS is helpful when you have to pay off your mortgage early. For example, if you have to move for work or personal reasons and it is necessary to pay off your mortgage early there is typically a “Pre-Payment Penalty.” You can actually deduct that penalty as home mortgage interest. Of course it cannot be a penalty for a specific service performed or cost incurred in connection with your mortgage loan.

These are only a few of the possible ways to take advantage of the tax deductions. You’d definitely want to talk to a tax professional to find out how much you can save. It’s time to start enjoying all the tax advantages of home buying.

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When I was researching the event I found that the State of California has been involved since 1985. To date over 750,000 Californians have removed more than 12 million pounds of debris from California’s shorelines and coast. In 2006, Orange County alone had 6500 volunteers participating. They picked up 91,000 pounds of trash and recyclables. I’m really curious to see how many people helped out this year, and to see how much trash in weight was picked up.

The Coastal Cleanup Day is a partnership between the Coastal Commission, non-profit groups, cities, and counties throughout the state. It is a part of the International Coastal organized by The Ocean Conservancy. The whole idea is to preserve, protect, and enhance our coastal resources and surface waters. They provided disposable gloves, trash bags, water, snacks and t-shirts for volunteering. It was a fun experience.

Branndon and I worked alongside many families with younger children and Boy Scout troops. They did a great job getting plastic soda bottles and plastic bags, but there was a lot of heavy metal there that physically they couldn’t pick up. Branndon and a few of the stronger men pulled up a big rig tire, brake drums, and random metal pieces. There was a lot of rebar. I mean a lot.

We spent about 2 ½ hours Saturday morning picking up any trash we saw. I was very surprised to see some of the items down there that were half buried in the dirt or cemented in. We found a shopping cart! Unfortunately we couldn’t remove it because it was in the middle of the water and ¾ buried in concrete blocks. But it was surprising to see what gets washed down there during the rainy season.

Next year it will be taking place on Saturday, September 20, 2008. It’s going to be 9 am to Noon. We hope you can join us.

The easiest answer is to Stage your home. Staging has been gaining popularity by Real Estate Agents for years. It really can help you achieve your goals and get top dollar. The problems are where to start and how much is this going to cost. The truth is, sometimes you have to spend money to make money. I know this isn’t what you probably want to hear, so I’ve come up with two solutions that shouldn’t cost a penny.

The first is a no-brainer, clean. And I mean really clean, not just sweep it under the rug. Your house should sparkle, as if your mother-in-law were coming to town. Make sure the wastebaskets are always empty. Keep your soap dish pretty, keep a new one around to switch when your house is being shown. No one wants to see someone else’s trash or dirt.

You will also need to clean out your closets and cabinets. If something falls out, it will leave an impression, just not a good one. Clutter makes your house appear small. People today need storage space. If your clothing doesn’t fit in there, how is theirs supposed to?

And another part to cleaning, make sure your house smells great. Strong odors such as pet and cigarette smells have a strong impact on buyers. I have personal experience with this. I don’t smoke, so when I’m showing a house or walking into an open house filled with the smell of smoke I want to leave as soon as I can. We become so accustomed to certain smells that we no longer notice them, but someone else always does. And the same goes with pets. I have a dog and two cats, so I’m comfortable in a house that smells like it has pets. Some of you are the opposite of me. I understand. The best way to find out if your house smells is inviting someone over who either is a non-smoker if you are or a non- pet owner if you are. Ask them for their opinion. Ask for their honest opinion and don’t let your feelings get hurt. They are helping you in your house sale.

Second, de-personalize. I know you love your knick-knacks and personal belongings; the problem is the buyers coming into your house might not. Your treasured salt and pepper shaker collection all over your house might distract the buyers. You want them to imagine their clutter in your house and their pictures on the walls, so make it easy for them. De-clutter.

There’s another part to this that might cost you money. It’s totally optional. Do you have a cherished family chandelier hanging in your dining room? Do you want to keep it? Then you should seriously consider packing it up and replacing it now. If a buyer walks through that door and loves the chandelier, they might fight for it in negotiations. You don’t want to lose a treasured family heirloom over a technicality or a potential buyer in the end. And this goes for any curtains, built-in appliances or fixtures you want to take with you.

I hope this gets you started on the right track. There’s always more; painting your walls neutral colors, fixing anything broken, or maybe replacing worn carpets. I know we all don’t have the money needed for these types of fixes, so I wanted to give you some ideas that should help. One more thing, it’s never too early to start these things when you are thinking about selling your house. Good luck.

Everyone knows moving to a new house can be nerve-racking. Even if it’s just down the street, your canine companion can become just as stressed as you. So how can you reduce this stress? For starters, good planning never hurts.

But if you’re like me, your dog is part of your family. You want to make it a happy time. Branndon and I purchased our Golden Retriever from a local breeder while shopping for our Wedding Reception site. Believe me, it was not planned to leave with a new puppy. But with a little pout on my future husband and I was a goner. We had a new puppy, Tobey. Branndon and I still laugh about how we got him, and neither of us would change a thing. He’s family.

When Branndon and I moved back to Orange County after a couple of years in Santa Barbara, we didn’t have too long of a drive. Tobey is always with us, we take him where ever we can, so he was used to being in the car for long periods of time. We’ve all been to Monterey, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Cambria… they all have accommodations for dogs. I like to search online at PetsWelcome.com for pet-friendly places to stay. Some hotels like to pamper them with dog massages and special plates from Room Service. One of my favorites is the Fess Parker in Santa Barbara.

“What can I do to make the move easier?” you might ask. Now, I do things that are pretty simple, but I think they go a long way. I make sure to stop at least every hour to let Tobey relieve himself and stretch his legs, not to mention my own. I’ve read that you’re not supposed to give your dog water before the trip, because they might have an accident in your car. I’m bad and don’t listen; I give water and food. But, I know Tobey, we’ve taught him to let us know when he needs to go and I know he can hold it for at least 8 hours when we go to bed. So, for me if something happened it would be my fault. I think you need to know your dog. You know whether they should or shouldn’t eat or drink on a road trip.

Having treats on hand can always bring a smile to your canine companion. Bringing their favorite bed or blanket can make their transition easier. And don’t forget; always bring extra disposable plastic bags. I always seem to run out at the most inopportune times. Learn from my mistakes and have a happy move.

I’ve always wanted to volunteer, but never got off the couch to do anything. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who dragged my feet when it comes to volunteer work. I finally went out and did something. I volunteered us for the Huntington Beach CAL-Pal Days, and ever since I’ve been hooked. For three days, Branndon and I worked alongside the California Police Activities League, Off-Road Pals, and CORVA. Not only did we have a great time setting up ATV courses with hay bales, but the kids had a blast. Most of these kids had never been to the beach, let alone seen the ocean before. It blew my mind. When you have the ability to make a difference in a child’s life, it really is a positive and rewarding experience. They were all so polite and very enthusiastic.

 
Branndon and I helped out with the preparation the day before and the clean up the day after, so we did a lot of physical labor loading and unloading hay bales. We were the only volunteers on those days, the newbies. All the seasoned volunteers showed up to help out with the actual event. I’m sure you can imagine there wasn’t as much physical labor on that day. And it was wonderful because personally I love to get involved and get my hands dirty. I’ll definitely be there next year and can’t wait to get in the mud this weekend at Santiago Creek.