Blog
N. Mark Kramoltz, JD, GRI, CIPS writes blog articles on the metro Phoenix, Arizona, national and global real estate markets. Written from his perspective as a designated broker and real estate attorney, his articles avoid the inaccuracies and vacuous industry propaganda common to most real estate writings. He also blogs about animals (mostly dogs in the military) due to his love of pets and military history.
Who Are Making Home Renovation a Priority?
In a survey conducted between January and March of 2020 of more than 87,000 homeowners by Houzz, renovations remain a popular activity, particularly among older age groups. Baby boomers accounted for more than half of owners who renovated in 2019. Gen Xers (ages 40 to...
Solar Tax Credits Are Disappearing!
Prior to January 1, 2020, an owner of solar panels was entitled to a 30% credit against federal income tax owed. In 2020 the credit was reduced to 26%. In 2021 the tax credit drops to 22%, and after that year it disappears. To qualify, a system needs to be “placed in...
Rin Tin Tin, Part 1.
The Aborted War Dog. The original Rin Tin Tin was a German Shepard that was intended to be a war dog. He was found by Lee Duncan, an American airman in WWI as a puppy in an abandoned German army kennel. Lee was scouting the county side after the front advanced when he...
Appraisal Concepts, Part 2.
The Cost Approach. One of the three classic methods of valuing commercial real property is the cost approach. In the cost approach, an appraiser values the value of the land and then adds what it would cost to build a new, roughly identical structure. Unless the...
Where to Staycation during COVID-19.
Places that offer plenty of options for entertainment and relaxation at the right price point make the best spots for staying local during the Corona virus pandemic. WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 15 key metrics to determine where to staycation. The...
Millennials Should Buy in Phoenix.
The National Association of Realtors identified 10 markets with favorable conditions for millennial home buyers during the Corona virus pandemic. The NAR analyzed current housing affordability, local job market conditions, the share of millennials in the area and...
Its IRS Form 8840 Time Again.
Canadians who received money in 2019 from a U.S. source while here may have to file a U.S. tax return. But if you are a snowbird or spend a limited amount of time in the U.S., you can establish your tax “home” as Canada, avoiding that requirement. You would then be...
Labradors in Combat.
Despite the perception that only so-called fierce breeds were used as war dogs, America’s most popular dog got into the action in WWII. Although Labs aren’t known for having war dog properties, a black Labrador Retriever named Skipper performed admirably on Guam in...
Moving Abroad?
Are you moving out of the country? The best source I’ve found for the information you need to know is MoveHub. It has guides on the cost of a global move, articles on what it takes to move to various destinations, and guides for moving to Canada, New Zealand,...