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On another note entirely, my wife, sick and tired of cold and damp, decided we had to get away to sun and warm. I suggested getting in the car and driving south randomly until we encountered same but, instead, she has booked flights to Lost Wages.
I don't gamble - unless the odds are hugely in my favor, in which case it's not exactly gambling, eh? - and I'm not much into spectacle. All suggestions for worthwhile entertainment are welcomed.
I do figure I could have a lot of fun visiting desperate realtors or condo projects. I have cash. I could write pretty substantial offers without financing contingencies but only at lowball prices. What's a decent haircut? 40% off asking? 60% off asking?
In fact, some landlords would chase us away even before we parked. Luckily we found something a couple of days later for the low price for just $1750 (2 BR 2 BA) in Santa Clara.
Wow... I wasn't as lucky in the year 2000. I ended up paying $2000 with a 2 year contract for a 1.5/1.5. :(
"Which Sci-fi/Fantasy character are you?"
Yoda.
---
eburbed - I had a nice 2br in MV for $2000 back in 2000. I pay less than that now for an even nicer place in a better neighborhood.
Yesterday I said:
Don’t forget to do this with appreciated stock. Then the little ones can sell in 2008-10 and get the gains tax free. (see Anthony’s post above).
Then StuckInBA asked:
Interesting. What if they already own the stock ?
To follow on further to Punchbowls reply, if the childs unearned income is above $1700, the parents tax rates apply (this is, I believe, the "kiddie tax"). So you (well, your child) may be able to get away with selling the stock in small bits from 2008 to 2010 to keep the earned income (cap gains) under the limit. Not much help if the stock is greatly appreciated.
All this is giving me a headache. Anybody want to give a plug for the best state 529s....
Definitely NTA.
See below for more info on kiddie tax changes:
http://www.smallbusiness.adp.com/accountants/newsletter/af_sept06_2.asp
I would probably be Ford Perfect, with just a touch of Marvin.
Punchbowl, Zion and Grand Canyon are both within a few hours' driving of Los Vegas. If you don't mind the cold and enjoy communing with nature alone, that's certainly a possibility.
ubermonkey Says:
> FormerAptBroker, In a more charitable interpretation,
> gentrification also often implies ethnic/cultural changes
> in a neighborhood. When a group starts being pushed
> out by higher land values.
I often hear people say that we need to stop gentrification so long time residents of the area will not get “pushed outâ€. Homeowners in California can not get “pushed out†since property taxes have nothing to do with land values. In San Francisco and Oakland rent control prohibits landlords from “pushing out†long term renters and the value of the land has almost nothing to do with the rent the landlords can charge…
> often long-established social institutions (churches, nightclubs,
> service organizations, specialty stores, etc.) are driven out
> early and are replaced by ones that are unfamiliar or hostile
> to the existing group.
With rare exceptions participation in “Long Established Social Institutions†have been dropping since the turn of the century (the book Bowling Alone talks about this). With the exception of a few Asian families and maybe a black family or two the area I grew up in on the Peninsula has not changed much yet attendance at all churches is down and most “service organizations†have all but died (most Catholic parishes used to have chapters of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters of America and Sisters of Mary Immaculate and now they struggle to just keep the lights on). Like the rest of the country chain stores are replacing the little local stores in record numbers…
Peter P
2007 Feb 9, 5:34am
I would probably be Ford Perfect, with just a touch of Marvin.
Did you take the test?
Marcus Cole. I have no idea who he is. :-?
But then I was never a SciFi person. My introduction to it was Foundation Trilogy. Became a fan of Asimov. The original Trilogy is on my list of best books ever. But nothing else came even close. I wasn't impressed with 2001 Space Odyssey (book) and thought other books by ACC were just OK.
Liked Start Trek, but after TNG, everything else seemed so ordinary. I have given up on SciFi TV series completely.
I am a big Star Wars fan. But I thought Fifth Element was quite idiotic. I shocked my friends by saying it and they shocked me by getting shocked.
I simply dislike fantasies. Except LOTR - which I think is awesome.
So I am not that Marcus Cole - whoever that it is. I am "love one, nothing else" person.
Peter P
2007 Feb 9, 5:38am
I always loved SciFi.
I never liked Star Wars though, so you can hate me now.
Star Trek was my favorite, until I have found Serenity.
Peter P
2007 Feb 9, 5:40am
I do not like the idea of a hero (or a small group of heroes) saving the world (or the universe). It is just too ... you know.
For this reason, I did not fall in love with Star Wars and 24.
Punchbowl :
What’s a decent haircut? 40% off asking? 60% off asking?
Aren't you concerned that they might actually accept your offer ? ;-)
Well, it looks like I'm Data. :(
SIBA: Except LOTR - which I think is awesome.
Tried Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast trilogy?
Aren’t you concerned that they might actually accept your offer ?
Most certainly. But, at say 60% off and no leverage, how bad could it be?
If I buy two, will that screw up the comps for everybody? LMAO.
Peter P,
Hate is a very strong emotion. I reserve it only for terrorists and criminals of worst sort. (No I do not _hate_ REIC.)
And you like food, and you are not vegetarian ! So we have something in common.
On other things, I think it makes sense. I like 24. So there is a pattern here.
Tried Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast trilogy?
Never heard of it. Will google it.
If I buy two, will that screw up the comps for everybody?
Try the anti-fraud technique. Buy it for cash and less it for less to your wife. Then she will turn around and sell it for even less back to you. All cash transactions. That will definitely stir the pot.
Peter P
2007 Feb 9, 5:50am
Hate is a very strong emotion.
Hate is not as strong as fear though. ;)
Looks like Ohioan FB’s are getting some aid!
Is it coming out of tax revenue ?
FAB,
The best example of nutty rent control in SF that I can think of is that the stables in Golden Gate Park were under rent control until the stables were condemned and stopped operating.
People had leased stables in the 1970s and were subletting them to other horse owners at market rate.
The Parks Trust and the Stables Foundation are working to get the stables and an arena rebuilt, and get community riding back in the city. They are both very aware of the astoundingly stupid former rent control on stables and are making sure that the business model is superior this time.
I just find it amazing that there was rent control that allowed subletting on public stables here.
Wow - I came out as Raistlin Majere. I am shocked! Not too sure if this is a good thing. Perhaps learning about it know will help prevent me from his fate...
**Insert Evil Laugh here**
Peter P
2007 Feb 9, 6:41am
Wow - I came out as Raistlin Majere. I am shocked!
Wow.
I was also shocked that I came out as Harry Potter. :)
Looks like Ohioan FB’s are getting some aid!
Is it coming out of tax revenue ?
It's from the Department Of Development which is funded by the State so it must be.
"Once-In-a-Lifetime" what a joke, but hey you can get a free sandwich!
I actually don't see in this ad what I heard on the radio this morning which was 40k off. I guess they want to wait until the last second to decide how desperate they are and therefore how much to discount.
40k is 20% down as most of these places are around 200k. Even the low end is falling fast!
StuckInBA,
I love it; paint the tape down! As you know, others have done this on the way up for years.
Paul
SiBA: Buy it for cash and less it for less to your wife. Then she will turn around and sell it for even less back to you. All cash transactions. That will definitely stir the pot.
That's the sort of advice I've been looking for. That is truly inspired thinking.
Will it lower the property's assessment too? ROFL
Correction to my previous post:
So you (well, your child) may be able to get away with selling the stock in small bits from 2008 to 2010 to keep the unearned income (cap gains) under the limit.
Also, does anyone here utilize Utah's 529 plan?
Forbes says:
"The Utah Education Savings Plan continues to set the standard for low costs among 529 plans," Morningstar said. "Over five other states that offer cheap Vanguard index funds, Utah earns kudos for keeping total costs down by tackling the administrative burden itself--charging only 0.25%--and it doesn't levy anything at all for choosing its money market option."
EBGuy :
This no cap gain period might be a good time for me to convert my kid's UTMA account to a 529 account in their name. When I did UTMA - I wasn't aware of 529. The 529 is not as much a hindrance in getting aid as UTMA is. Since 529 accept only cash, I will have to sell UTMA holdings for conversion. The no cap gain tax might just be the right window to do it.
If I do it - assuming there no other tax gotchas, then I will go to Vanguard for 529, that much is sure.
Not advice of any kind.
Punchbowl Says:
Well, it looks like I’m Data :-( .
Don't feel too bad, I came up as Wesley Crusher.
Peter P
2007 Feb 9, 8:03am
Don’t feel too bad, I came up as Wesley Crusher.
Well, at least I am not Darth Bubblehead. Where is Fake P?
allah Says:
I think the middle class will be tomorrow’s welfare recipients.
Then we are really screwed. Because it is the middle class that contributes to production in exchange for wages. If you remove the incentive for this class to work, you are well and truly f’cked.
SP
Sorry, this may only apply to Long Island New York; I keep forgetting who my audience is.
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Please help the REIC and banksters! (for those unfamiliar with the term, please refer to the Housing Bubble Glossary).
They need our help. Signs their beloved mega-global housing/credit bubble is beginning to falter are now everywhere and unmistakable. No matter how low toxic-mortgage lenders lower "standards", it appears that they've exhausted their supply of typical FBs (innumerate 'tards and Marshall Reddick-worshipping specuvestors) and now they're even running short on falling-knife-catchers.
Sure, they're counting on a taxpayer-funded federal bailout of banks/lenders and GSEs --after all isn't that what taxpayers are for? They don't call it "Privatize profits, Socialize Risk" for nothing, do they? That's a gimme. Problem is, even with suckers like YOU footing the bill for some f***ing idiots' mistakes, there's still no way to avoid some pain for the industry players. Some toxic lenders have already gone out of business, while others are restating incomes/losses and teetering on the edge of insolvency --and this is only the beginning! Plus, lots of newly minted Realthwhores, fly-by-night mortgage brokers and hit-the-number appraisers are now facing unemployment.
This just will not do! Pain and negative consequences are for thrifty, responsible suckers like you --not the REIC!! Oh, the humanity... what to do, what to do?
Wait --I've got it!:
The biggest problem right now with maintaining that permanently high plateau is that rents cannot easily be inflated with debt, the way housing prices can. There is no such thing as a fraudulent cash-out refis, HELOCs or neg-ams for renters --they must pay their rent with real earned income and/or savings (yes, some people out there still have savings --can you believe it?!). Since renters must pay rent using real money vs. monopoly bubblebucks, there's no way to ignite crazy bidding wars on rentals. And global wage arbitrage is keeping wages firmly in check --no inflation happening there (crooked CEOs excepted, of course). Sadly, there's currently no way to funnel huge amounts of Fed/MBS/Chinese liquidity into the hands of renters, so they can bid rents to the sky.
And herein lies the solution: the REIC must create new debt vehicles for RENTERS!
Your assignment: How can the REIC and banksters create enormous new debt vehicles for renters, capable of inflating rents as high as house prices, thereby cancelling the rent-vs.-buy imbalance --without having to resort to any of that pesky wage inflation?
Discuss, enjoy...
HARM
#housing