Sunday, March 26, 2023 / by Steve Ticknor
When asked about their least favorite subject in high school on a Thomas B Fordham Institute survey, students overwhelmingly chose math. But we actually do use math for all kinds of things as an adult. Balancing our checkbook. Making sure that we get the correct change back on a purchase. And when buying a home, to calculate its total square footage.
How Square Footage is Determined
What is Square Footage?
First of all, we've all heard this term before. But do you actually know what it means? In real estate terms, this is the total actual dedicated living space inside of a home. According to Bankrate, "livable space" must include walls, a ceiling, a floor, and heat. That means garages, unfinished basements, and patios/porches do not count as livable space. However, hallways and stairwells (for multiple-story homes) do count.
How to Calculate It
Determining the square footage for a whole house? Before you freak out, think about your house in terms of several smaller boxes. MeasurZ ...
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lake havasu real estate, home buying tips, home selling tips, havasu homeowners
Thursday, February 23, 2023 / by Steve Ticknor
Benjamin Franklin once said that "nothing is certain except death and taxes". Well, Uncle Sam expects you to file your 2022 income taxes by April 18th this year. Taxpayers needing more time may file for an extension. This allows you to file as late as October 16th, 2023. If you sold your Lake Havasu house last year, then you may be eligible for some home seller tax deductions.
Home Seller Tax Deductions
Well, "tax deductions" may actually be a little deceiving. Some of these affect your capital gains tax, not your taxable income. If you sold your home and made a profit, congratulations! However, the IRS calls this "capital gains" and views it as income. That means that it is taxable. But the following home seller tax deductions lower your capital gains. In turn, that lowers how much tax you may owe (if any) on this profit.
Capital Gains Exception
First, let's discuss capital gains. This is the difference between what you paid for your home and what you sold it for. So, if. ...
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lake havasu real estate, home selling tips, havasu homeowners
Thursday, January 5, 2023 / by Steve Ticknor
New year. New home? Whether you plan on selling your Lake Havasu home in 2023 or just want to give your living space a facelift, you want to make smart decisions as to where you spend your money. Kitchens and master bathrooms sell houses. Therefore, focusing your efforts on these two areas make the most sense. When it comes to the primary suite, what bathroom updates are today's home buyers looking for?
Bathroom Updates Today's Home Buyers Want to See
Vanity
Buyers like to see a double vanity in the primary bathroom. Not enough room for a double vanity? Try adding a slightly wider vanity that offers more counter space. Also, upgrade from the old builder's-grade vanity to a more custom look with updated fixtures. Adding hardware to the drawers can completely change the look of your entire bathroom as well. Home buyers also like custom upgrades like soft-close drawers and drawer organizers.
Sink
Another one of the bathroom updates to focus on is the sink. Undermount sinks have grown. ...
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lake havasu real estate, home selling tips
Wednesday, November 23, 2022 / by Steve Ticknor
Whether you wish to buy a home or need to sell one, you need a good agent by your side. Their knowledge and expertise help guide you through every step of the way. With over 120 offices and more than 470 active agents in Lake Havasu City alone, how do you know you are hiring the right real estate agent to handle your transaction?
Hiring the Right Real Estate Agent
Determine Your Priorities
Decide what you really want in an agent. Do you need daily updates or would you prefer less communication? How would you prefer your agent to contact you? Text? Email? Face-to-face? Is experience more important to you than a huge amount of sales? Or vice versa? Do you only want to deal with your agent when it comes to your real estate transaction or are you OK with talking to their team? (Most agents come with a team that helps them with different aspects of the deal.) Decide what you need to feel safe and secure throughout the process and find the agent that fits those parameters.
Get Referrals
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lake havasu real estate, home buying tips, home selling tips
Thursday, November 3, 2022 / by Steve Ticknor
It's November. Can you believe it? Where has the year gone? Seems like only yesterday that we welcomed in the new year. In a few short weeks, we welcome in a new one. Many people love to decorate for the end-of-year holidays. But if you plan on putting your Havasu home on the market right now, should you hold off on putting up a tree this year? Short answer? No. However, you do need to show some restraint. Use these helpful home selling tips when you list your property during the holidays.
Home Selling Tips for the Holidays
Keep it Simple, Silly
If lots of silver and gold accessories and over-the-top decorations are your "normal", tone it down this year. Instead of loud and garish, keep things simple. Emphasize nature with pinecones, fruit, gourds, and a pretty fir garland draped over the mantel. A bit of silver and gold should act as accent pieces instead of the main focus. Just keep them to a minimum (three to five per large room). Also, instead of a huge seven-foot Douglas fir . ...
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lake havasu real estate, home selling tips
