CLIENT LOG IN

Margo Borkin

Persistent Perserverance, Consistent Results

248-419-3160
Cell: 248-318-4776
Fax: 248-419-0930
margo@movewithmargo.com
  • Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • About Margo Borkin
    • Client Reviews
    • Margo Vs The Market
    • Professional Resume
  • Communities
    • Berkley
    • Beverly Hills
    • Bingham Farms
    • Birmingham
    • Bloomfield Hills
    • Bloomfield Township
    • Commerce Township
    • Farmigton
    • Farmington Hills
    • Ferndale
    • Franklin
    • Huntington Woods
    • Keego Harbor
    • Novi
    • Oak Park
    • Orchard Lake
    • Royal Oak
    • Southfield
    • Sylvan Lake
    • Walled Lake
    • Waterford
    • West Bloomfield
    • White Lake
    • Wixom
    • Wolverine Lake
  • Property Search
    • Address Search
    • Basic Search
    • Advanced Search
    • Map Search
  • Home Buyers
  • Home Sellers
  • Blog
  • Contact

Tax Return Depressing? Owning a Home Could Help

Tax Return Depressing? Owning a Home Could Help | Simplifying The Market

Many Americans got some depressing news last week; either their tax return was not as large as they had hoped or, in some cases, they were told they owed additional money to either the Federal or State government or both. One way to save on taxes is to own your own home.

According to the Tax Policy Center’s Briefing Book -“A citizen’s guide to the fascinating (though often complex) elements of the federal Tax System” – there are several tax advantages to homeownership.

Here are four items, and a quote on each, from the Briefing Book:

1. Mortgage Interest Deduction

“Homeowners who itemize deductions may reduce their taxable income by deducting any interest paid on a home mortgage. The deduction is limited to interest paid on up to $1 million of debt incurred to purchase or substantially rehabilitate a home. Homeowners also may deduct interest paid on up to $100,000 of home equity debt, regardless of how they use the borrowed funds. Taxpayers who do not own their home have no comparable ability to deduct interest paid on debt incurred to purchase goods and services.”

2. Property Tax Deduction

“Homeowners who itemize deductions may also reduce their taxable income by deducting property taxes they pay on their homes.”

3. Imputed Rent

“Buying a home is an investment, part of the returns from which is the opportunity to live in the home rent-free. Unlike returns from other investments, the return on homeownership—what economists call “imputed rent”—is excluded from taxable income. In contrast, landlords must count as income the rent they receive, and renters may not deduct the rent they pay. A homeowner is effectively both landlord and renter, but the tax code treats homeowners the same as renters while ignoring their simultaneous role as their own landlords.”

4. Profits from Home Sales

“Taxpayers who sell assets must generally pay capital gains tax on any profits made on the sale. But homeowners may exclude from taxable income up to $250,000 ($500,000 for joint filers) of capital gains on the sale of their home if they satisfy certain criteria: they must have maintained the home as their principal residence in two out of the preceding five years, and they generally may not have claimed the capital gains exclusion for the sale of another home during the previous two years.”

Bottom Line

We are not suggesting that you purchase a house just to save on your taxes. However, if you have been on the fence as to whether 2017 is the year you should become a homeowner, this information might help with that decision.

Disclaimer: Always check with your accountant to find out what tax advantages apply to you in your area. 
Source: KMC

Posted in: Housing Market Updates Tagged: Real Estate

© Margo Borkin Real Estate 2010

Post navigation

« Weekend Wanderings | Earth Day Events This Weekend in Oakland County
Slaying Home Buying Myths [INFOGRAPHIC] »

Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Margo Borkin Real Estate
2 months ago
Margo Borkin Real Estate

8740 Wise Rd Commerce Twp.
4 Bedrooms
2 Baths
1682 SqFt
.61 Acres
Stop by and see for yourself!
... See MoreSee Less

Message Page

8740 Wise Rd Commerce Twp.
4 Bedrooms
2 Baths
1682 SqFt
.61 Acres
Stop by and see for yourself!
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Margo Borkin Real Estate
2 months ago
Margo Borkin Real Estate

Join me this Sunday from 2-4pm at 6135 Anne in West Bloomfield for an open house tour! ... See MoreSee Less

Message Page

Join me this Sunday from 2-4pm at 6135 Anne in West Bloomfield for an open house tour!
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 9
  • Shares: 1
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Margo Borkin Real Estate
3 months ago
Margo Borkin Real Estate

... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 1
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Margo Borkin Real Estate
4 months ago
Margo Borkin Real Estate

... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Margo Borkin Real Estate
4 months ago
Margo Borkin Real Estate

Ahhh, spring is here, and with it longer days, warmer temps, and a return to outdoor living. Yesss! Spring also means it’s also time to give that home sweet home a serious once over. To help, here’s an April home maintenance checklist to get you started:⁣
⁣
Declutter, declutter, declutter. Yep, I’m beating that drum…again. You didn't think I’d have a home maintenance checklist without decluttering as numero uno, did you?⁣

Replace air filters and schedule a maintenance check of your cooling system to ensure it’s ready for the steamy months ahead.⁣

Wash windows and doors, and don’t forget your porches. Clean out corner cobwebs and spruce up your front porch or stoop with a colorful wreath, a cutesy welcome mat, and stately planters.⁣

Clean and organize your garage; while you're at it, go on and rinse out your trash cans and recycling bins.⁣

Rent or borrow a pressure washer to give your siding, sidewalk, and driveway a fresh look. Check for widening cracks and chipped paint as you go, making a note to come back and address them later.⁣

Clean and repair your gutters and downspouts to ensure they’re in prime condition for spring downpours.⁣

Test your sprinkler or irrigation system and give that lawnmower a good ole crank. (Trust me, your grass will thank you later!)⁣

Clear brush and fallen limbs away from the house and clean out your beds to make room for spring color.⁣
⁣
Join me in rolling out the welcome mat for the easy, breezy season ahead!⁣
... See MoreSee Less

Ahhh, spring is here, and with it longer days, warmer temps, and a return to outdoor living. Yesss! Spring also means it’s also time to give that home sweet home a serious once over. To help, here’s an April home maintenance checklist to get you started:⁣
⁣
Declutter, declutter, declutter. Yep, I’m beating that drum…again. You didnt think I’d have a home maintenance checklist without decluttering as numero uno, did you?⁣

Replace air filters and schedule a maintenance check of your cooling system to ensure it’s ready for the steamy months ahead.⁣

Wash windows and doors, and don’t forget your porches. Clean out corner cobwebs and spruce up your front porch or stoop with a colorful wreath, a cutesy welcome mat, and stately planters.⁣

Clean and organize your garage; while youre at it, go on and rinse out your trash cans and recycling bins.⁣

Rent or borrow a pressure washer to give your siding, sidewalk, and driveway a fresh look. Check for widening cracks and chipped paint as you go, making a note to come back and address them later.⁣

Clean and repair your gutters and downspouts to ensure they’re in prime condition for spring downpours.⁣

Test your sprinkler or irrigation system and give that lawnmower a good ole crank. (Trust me, your grass will thank you later!)⁣

Clear brush and fallen limbs away from the house and clean out your beds to make room for spring color.⁣
⁣
Join me in rolling out the welcome mat for the easy, breezy season ahead!⁣
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

Load more

Blog by Category

  • Baby Boomers (25)
  • Buying Myths (108)
  • Demographics (38)
  • Distressed Properties (15)
  • Down Payments (58)
  • First Time Home Buyers (574)
  • For Agents (1)
  • For Buyers (838)
  • For Sellers (672)
  • Foreclosures (17)
  • FSBOs (30)
  • Gen Z (6)
  • Generation X (16)
  • Holidays (3)
  • Home Decor (1)
  • Home Maintenance (2)
  • Housing Market Updates (448)
  • Infographics (183)
  • Interest Rates (145)
  • Investment (1)
  • Local Market Updates (3)
  • Luxury Market (13)
  • Millennials (75)
  • Move-Up Buyers (629)
  • New Construction (30)
  • Pricing (207)
  • Rent vs. Buy (96)
  • Selling Myths (50)
  • Senior Market (15)
  • Short Sales (1)
  • Time-sensitive (6)
  • Uncategorized (14)
  • Weekend Wanderings (1)

Recent Posts

  • Ready to Buy in 2022?
  • What you can expect from me as a buyer
  • Is your home ready to sell? Answer these quick questions to find out!
  • What do I offer for free? Glad you asked!
  • Preparing Your Home for Winter