April 2012

HAPPY EASTER !  - Pysansky by Father Paul -
A  fascinating look into the beautiful Easter egg art of Father Paul Luniw of St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church, Terryville, CT. - ENJOY!

---

Matlacha
There's a small gem of an island called Matlacha (pronounced mat-lah-shay) located on Pine Island Road, somewhere between Cape Coral and Pine Island.  As you travel west on Pine Island Road, you go over the Matlacha Bridge and suddenly find yourself in a fantasyland of restaurants, shops and galleries competing with (and complementing) each other in a fantastic display of quirky designs and tropical colors. Do yourself a favor; pull over and park somewhere. Stroll around and visit. Have a beer, a shrimp basket, an ice cream.  Buy something beautiful at any one of the many shops and galleries. Enjoy the scenery. And don't forget your camera!

---

Real Estate Tax Deductions

With tax  season upon us it’s good to know that there may be some favorable advantages to selling your home.

.

In a recent article in the Washington Post, attorney and columnist Benny L. Kass outlined some of the more important factors to consider when reporting capital gains from a home sale.

.

According to the article, any married couple who have owned and lived in a home for at least two out of the five years before the home is sold may exclude up to $500,000 of the profit made from that sale. If the couple is not married or if they file separate tax returns, the exclusion is reduced to $250,000. This exclusion may be applied every two years.

.

The exclusion law applies to principal residences, whether they are single-family homes, cooperative apartments or condominium units. If your boat or mobile home has sleeping quarters, a toilet and cooking facilities, it will also qualify for the exclusion.

.

And if it ever became necessary to sell the home before the two year ownership requirement there are other factors which may also qualify a home seller for excluding a partial or pro-rated amount of the profit, such as illness, death, divorce, natural disasters and even a change in jobs where the homeowner would have to commute 50 miles farther if not selling the home.

.

One last word of caution; please don’t take my word for it! Each individual case is different and you should always consult your tax professional when dealing with such matters.

.

The IRS has two helpful publications available at www.irs.gov/publications; “Selling your Home,” publication 523, and “Tac Guide 2011,” publication 17.

---

CENTURY 21 BIRCHWOOD REALTY, INC.

4040 Del Prado Boulevard,  Cape Coral, FL 33904
Ph. 239.851.6235 | Fx. 239-542-0993
kathycardet@gmail.com  |  http://kathycardet.listingbook.com

If you or someone you know may be looking for real estate of exceptional quality, please contact me right away;

- I would be more than happy to help! 

---