Did you know, that if you have clients moving outside of Omaha, CBSHOME Relocation is happy to help offer this free service nationwide?  Give us a call at 402.964.4621 to find out how we can help today! 

 MOVE WITH THE BEST!

Below are several items deductible as moving expenses that are sometimes overlooked:

• Tips to the moving van driver or helpers.
• Mileage for driving second or third cars to the new location (in addition to the first car).
• Lodging expenses in the departure location for one night after the household goods are packed, and one night in the new location on the day of arrival.
• Moving household goods from a location other than your main home, up to what it would have cost to move them from the main home.
• Storage of household goods for up to 30 days, including the cost of moving the goods into and out of storage.
• Expenses not reimbursed by your employer, such as extra crating, shipment of unusual items, tips to van line staff, etc.

And remember: You don’t have to itemize to deduct moving expenses.
Other filing season tips:

• If the seller of your new house agreed to pay part of your mortgage points instead of reducing the sales price, IRS says you can deduct those points, even though the seller paid them.
• If you ever refinanced your mortgage, don’t forget to deduct the entire remaining balance of points paid on the refinancing in the year you sell your home.
• If your new job is for a different employer, and you earned more than $106,800 in 2011, you may have had too much deducted as contributions to Social Security. You may be able to take a credit for the excess on line 67 of your Form 1040 tax return.
• If you moved to one of the states with state and local sales taxes but no general income tax (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, or Wyoming) you may benefit from an itemized deduction for state sales taxes.

The foregoing is intended as general information only. Regarding your specific situation, Worldwide ERC® suggests that you consult with your own tax or legal advisor as appropriate.

Peter K. Scott
Peter Scott Associates
Worldwide ERC® Tax Counsel

Congratulations to the Pacific Street Office with their Italian Feast – our First Place winners!  Second place goes to the Bellevue Office with their BBQ spread and third place goes to our Davenport Street Office with the red carpet desserts!

Thank you to all our offices who participated and helped raise donations for their charities.  Every dollar counts and the charities all benefit from your generosity.  The donations were given to the following charities, as selected by there office – Alzheimer’s Association, Nebraska Children’s Home, Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society, Make-a-Wish Foundation and The American Red Cross Flood Relief.

Thanks again for all of your support!

It is hard to believe that kids will be heading back to school in just a few short days!  Summer has flown by and parents (and kids) are starting to get prepared for the upcoming school year.

Looking for a home closer to school?  If you are planning on buying or selling contact your CBSHOME Agent.  If you need an agent, feel free to contact our Relocation Department.

Enjoy these last few days of summer and good luck this school year!

So, why do they like Omaha so much?  Isn’t it obvious?  We’re an affordable and fun city!  Between reasonable housing and several free or low-cost entertainment options, Omaha has lots of things to offer!

• www.CBSHOME.com : Begin your home search!  You can search by map, area, subdivision, search for condos/townhomes and school district.  We have all the listings available in the MLS so you see everything available!
• Jazz on the Green: A summer concert series at MidTown Crossing.  This free event runs through August 11th.
• Joslyn Art Museum: Omaha’s art museum, close to downtown.  While admission is inexpensive, they also offer free admission every Saturday from 10 AM – 12 Noon.
• Lauritzen Gardens: Omaha’s Botanical Garden Center has 100 acres of gardens to explore by foot or tram, and admission is very inexpensive.
• The Slowdown: Omaha’s local band hotspot!  It’s located in the North Downtown area of Omaha, near TD Ameritrade Park.  Also in the area are several restaurants and bars.
• The Old Market: Another popular attraction in Omaha!  Several dining options, shopping, night life and arts and attractions.  This is a favorite spot of Omaha locals!

We know Omaha is a great city to live in!  If you’re new to Omaha, planning to relocate, or just looking for new things to do – explore Omaha – It’s worth it (and we aren’t the only ones who think so)!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Soon we’ll see flowers bloom, lawn mowers roaring and BBQ’s burning. How does that affect the housing market you ask? Well, why it does probably has many reasons as an answer but, the fact is…with the arrival of blooms the ending of “hibernation” and “cabin fever” typically stimulates the sales activity in the housing industry.

This is certainly true in Omaha, Nebraska. We are seeing welcomed signs of activity and pending sales. Usually, anyone waiting to sell is waiting on the spring thaw and market. What I say to you is, STOP waiting. Now is the time to get that sign in the yard and let the world know you want to sell. It’s also a time to start looking for your next home.

We’re hearing loan officers telling buyers to “lock” “lock” “lock” a low rate loan while they can. If you don’t think prices can’t go up for the money to make your move, just take a look at the local gas pumps. We’re still at historically low rates making buying a home the wise thing to do, especially with the motivated sellers left from a long winter with little showing activity. That simply translates into a language we all know…$$$$ in your pocket, now or later (equity build).

If you have been thinking of selling or buying, you need to contact me NOW to find out what you might be in store to gain, or lose by waiting. I’m available by email teri@talk2teri.com or call me at 402-689-4041. I’d be happy to set down with you and show you the numbers and facts. Anyone who knows me will tell you…if you want to know how it really is, just ask Teri. You may not hear what you want to hear but, guaranteed, you hear it straight from me.

Better than the tax credit!

Remember how the Federal tax credits last year were so important? We were all in a frenzie that this was the answer and how we were going to keep the housing market afloat. Buyers felt they needed this incentive to finally say goodbye to their landlords.

Although the tax credit has gone away, prices have continued to decline in the many areas and, in many cases, the first-time homebuyers now are coming out with even better pricing for their purchase. Instead of the $8,000 tax credit that we had in 2010, they’re seeing a $10,000 drop in the price of a home from a year ago and, in some cases, even more.

This story I am sure is being repeated across the country as the tax credit was used to hype sales, not benefit buyers. The market simply took your tax money, credited to the buyers, allowed the sellers to get a few extra thousand, and then move on. We got momentum, but very little value.

Now those same buyers are watching their properties decline in value as the market absorbs the pricing difference. But, here is one problem left in that wake. Instead of the market dropping initially and stabilizing we have to deal with another year of dropping prices and negative reports in the press.

What’s the solution to that? Well, it’s quite simple actually. The real estate market needs confidence to work! Buyers need to feel they are not going to be getting a bad deal. Sellers need to be confident in the price that they are setting will attract buyers who are ready, willing and able to buy.

Until that happens, the real estate market in the United States will continue to struggle. Market value is unique to each neighborhood. If you would like to find out how the market in your neighborhood or desired neighborhood really is, don’t hesitate to contact me anytime email Teri@talk2teri.com or cell 402-689-4041.

Don’t make another move without knowing the facts. Collectively, confidence will benefit everyone!

MOVE with the BEST!

Jonie D. Sturek, CRP, SFR

Director of Relocation

CBSHOME

14769 California ST

Omaha, NE 68154

office 402.964.4621

cell 402.305.8195