Why Hire a Real Estate Team?

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You may be asking yourself how you will go about choosing a Realtor® to help you achieve your real estate goals. The truth is that this part of your home buying or selling process is quite possibly one of the most important aspects of the process.

What is the difference between working with an entire team of professionals versus having one agent for all your needs? The answer lies in the following list of benefits you get from choosing to work with a solid team that has years more of combined experience and expertise in specific areas of interest.

Everyone Has an Area of Expertise

Particularly when it comes to marketing, transactions coordination and communications – each person on a team will be devoted and dedicated to doing their part of the job perfectly. This means you won’t have to fish for answers or wait for the single agent to seek out the correct answers anytime you ask them something outside of their comfort zone.

Everything Runs Smoothly and Efficiently

When there is a dedicated team member to handle all transaction coordination, for instance making sure all county requirements are complete or that all inspections are scheduled within the inspection period – you know it will get done. To rely on just one person to handle all of his or her clients’ needs and each step of the process at that – is potentially damaging to your transaction.

Individual Departments Specialize In Specific Transactions

If you are selling your home and a non-client buyer comes in to look at it – it would be important for that client to be able to work with a buyer’s agent. Similarly, you would rightfully expect the utmost level of service and attention to your needs as a home seller.

More Team Members Ensures Less Mistakes

The more complex a situation becomes, the more ideal it is to have a team of professionals to share and bounce ideas. Once again, regardless of whether you are a seller or a buyer – you want the person handling what is likely one of the largest financial transactions of your lifetime – to handle it effectively without any mistakes.

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Remember, there are over 400 steps in the home buying and home selling process. If you have one person that is managing all of those steps, the likelihood of something getting overlooked is very high.

To hear more on topics like this, we invite you to listen in on our weekly radio show on AM830 KHVH for the Teal Lally Real Estate Show. And as always, we look forward to being the team that helps YOU achieve your real estate goals!

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Why Go Solar?

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Today everyone is looking for a way to increase their bottom line.  One major expense is energy costs.  No surprise, but energy costs are soaring and there’s no end in sight.  In fact, the cost of powering your home or business has risen approximately 60% since 2000, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.  In Hawaii, residents pay the most in the country for electricity and fuel—three times the national average.  Ouch!  

RevoluSun, a locally owned company, uses a rooftop solar system to generate electricity.  The system makes no noise, requires very little maintenance and is clean for the environment. The company has a lot to offer with a highly skilled workforce of approximately 100 employees who have completed thousands of installations.  Their project managers are NABCEP-certified and their installers are separated into two teams—roofing and electrical—all with at least 450 hours of training before they step foot onto your property.  No other local company can say that so you can trust them to work on your home like the state of Hawaii entrusts them with large-scale projects.  

You can also be sure your project will be done on time and within your budget.  Speaking of your budget, be sure to put the federal tax credits to work, which can put up to 65% of the system’s cost back in your pocket.  No need to wait for tax time. 

Beyond the impressive staff, the company has its roots in Hawaii and is currently expanding to the mainland.  In turn, a lot of solar companies are coming to Hawaii from the mainland to get in on the solar boom.  When the boom is over, however, those companies may be long gone, but RevoluSun is committed to the long-term.  You can count on them!     

For more information, you can visit their website: Click here >>

To listen to an interview with Gregg Murphy, Director of Sales for Revolusun, Click Here >>

For a free quote, call (808) 633-1444 in Maui, (808) 345-4867 in the Big Island, or (808) 748-8888 in Oahu.  If you want to learn about the best deals on homes in 2013, call us at (808) 687-8921.  Also, remember to listen to the Team Lally Real Estate show at 11 a.m. on Saturdays on 830 on KHVH. 

How the Fiscal Cliff Has Impacted the Real Estate Industry

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At long last, a deal was reached with the Fiscal Cliff situation in Washington as far as the tax cut aspect of the fiscal cliff discussion. But as real estate agents, one of our concerns is how does it impact our clients and the real estate industry overall? Particularly in terms of capital gains taxes and other taxation issues, the Fiscal Cliff deal has created some changes for the better in the real estate industry. Here are some major points to keep in mind that will indeed have an impact on how you make your real estate decisions in 2013 and beyond.

Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act Extended Through 2013

One of the most beneficial programs set up to help boost the housing industry and help homeowners with underwater mortgages has been the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act. With the latest discussions, through the end of the current year homeowners that face short sales are still able to write off forgiven debt as opposed to being taxed on what is considered taxable income.

Tax Deductions for Mortgage Insurance Premiums Still In Place

Borrowers earning $110,000 or less annually that pay expensive mortgage insurance premium can still deduct that annual amount when they file their taxes. Had this conclusion not been reached while Congress was settling all issues at hand, homeowners with less than 78% equity would be taxed on the PMI payments made every month. This has been extended through 2013 and is retroactive for 2012.

Energy Efficiency Tax Credits Available to Homeowners

Energy efficient homes continue to create tax benefits for homeowners choosing to install approved home improvements in their existing homes. The tax benefit is a credit of 10% (up to $500) and is retroactive to cover 2012.

No Change in Previous Capital Gains Tax Rates

As it was in the previous year, capital gains rate will remain at 15% for individuals making $400,000 and households earning $450,000. After that, the tax rate is 20%. There are no changes to the tax exclusion for the sale of a single-family home for gains of $250,000 for individual and $500,000 for couples.

Estate Tax Guidelines Allow For Additional Leniency

The first $5M in individual estates and the first $10M in family estates are now exempt from estate taxes. After that, the tax rate is 40%, up from 35% in the previous years.

Leasehold Improvements Have Been Accounted For 2013, Retroactive to 2012

Qualified leasehold improvements on commercial properties can continue to receive a 15-year straight-line cost recovery.

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We hope this update will assist you in making informed decisions in your real estate endeavors. As always, we invite you to contact us for any of your real estate needs, whether buying, selling or investing in a property.

Don’t forget to listen in on our radio show on Saturday mornings between 11am and 12noon on AM830 KHVH!