Did you know that May Day celebrations started with the festival of Flora, Floralia, the Roman goddess of flowers?
A single bloom can be my garden… a single friend, my world. – Leo Buscaglia
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On The Santa Fe Trail
Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen. ~Benjamin Disraeli
Traveling makes for the best subject matter: Check out the link below for my photos of the trip.
Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act
Good Afternoon,
I just thought all of you facing down that “Fiscal Cliff”, homeowners and taxpayers, might breath a little sigh of relief after reading the letter I just received from the California Association of Realtors:
January 8, 2013
Dear Rory,
Last week, I informed you that Congress had reached an agreement in the “fiscal cliff” negotiations and promised to give you more details. President Obama signed the American Taxpayers Relief Act into law last Wednesday.
First of all, I want to recognize and thank the tens of thousands of C.A.R. members who worked to successfully maintain the mortgage interest deduction by responding to the Call for Actions and open letter advertisements in the state’s major newspapers.
As you know, the bill includes a provision to extend the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, which will for one more year exempt the taxation of mortgage debt that is forgiven when homeowners and their mortgage lenders negotiate a short sale or loan modification (including any principal reduction). While debt relief has been extended at the federal level, the California exemption expired at the end of 2012, so forgiven mortgage debt is considered taxable state income for now.
We’re aware of your concerns this could have on short sales, and that’s why C.A.R. is sponsoring SB 30 (Calderon, D-Montebello). SB 30 will conform state law to the federal law passed last week. Upon passage of SB 30, the measure will be effective retroactive to Jan. 1, 2013.
Here are other housing-related provisions included in the federal law:
- The “Pease Limitations” that reduced the value of itemized deductions, including the mortgage interest deduction, are permanently repealed for most taxpayers but will be reinstituted for high income filers. This provision reduces a taxpayer’s itemized deductions by 3 percent of the amount of his or her adjusted gross income (AGI) that exceeds the threshold amount. Under the new law, the Pease thresholds are $300,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly and $250,000 for single taxpayers (i.e., a married couple with an AGI of $400,000 would be $100,000 over the threshold; the couple’s deductions would be reduced by $3,000 which is 3% of $100,000). No matter how high a taxpayer’s AGI, the Pease reduction cannot exceed 20 percent of the amount of itemized deductions otherwise allowable for the year.
- The restoration of a tax deduction for mortgage-insurance premiums, including premiums paid to the Federal Housing Administration and private mortgage insurers. This provision expired at the end of 2011 but has now been retroactively extended for all of 2012 as well as 2013.
- 10 percent tax credit (up to $500) for homeowners for energy improvements to existing homes is extended through 2013 and made retroactive to cover 2012.
- Capital gains rates will remain at 15 percent for those earning less than $400,000 (individual) and $450,000 (joint). Gains above those income levels will be taxed at 20 percent. Gains on the sale of principal residences will remain unchanged and continues to exclude the first $250,000 for single taxpayers and $500,000 taxpayers filing jointly.
Again, a special thank you to those whose actions helped organized real estate preserve the mortgage interest deduction.
Sincerely,
Don Faught
President
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
2012 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 3,500 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 6 years to get that many views.
Most Excellent Surfin’ Safari
Good Evening SD,
I have never hit the waves, but I spent a day with many that have. Checked out the Surf Board Expo with some friends this weekend at the Del Mar Fair Grounds. Beautiful day, beautiful boards, beautiful sunset. What more could I want??? To see the photos go to:
https://picasaweb.google.com/115134639100837182924/SurfBoardExpo2012#
Stick or Ick?
Ever thrown a stick and have your dog bring it back? Well, my dog brought back a stick with a stick! Actually it was an insect that looks like a stick….ewwwww its moving, what IS that????
Sunset Satisfaction
Good Morning San Diego,
Moving can be traumatic, terrifying and totally crazy-making. I have had all of those and more. Saying goodbye to a place I have enjoyed so many good times at was nostalgic, and refreshing at the same time. I have sold, consigned, and given away 30 years worth of memories. Handed them over with much less regret than I thought possible, with a lightening of spirit that was unexpected. I have moved on to even happier expectations, with new places to catch my eye for this blog. So even though it is called “My San Diego Sunrise” I will be sharing my viewsto other vistas. Today I am starting with the sunset last night from my view in Encinitas. I am enjoying the fresh view point.
The Sweetest Things
The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life. ~Robert Louis Stevenson
Good Morning San Diego,
Welcome to the sweeter side of morning. A little fog, a little sun and the start of new day at your feet….
Premature Conflagration
Good Morning San Diego,
And hello to all you locals that will be Jonesing for more “big bang”. Most of you are already aware of the snafu that happened here last night. The linked barges set to simulcast the fireworks over the harbor decided to fire all at once. Hello!!! It did not seem to me that 30 minutes of gunpowder went off in that 30 seconds but that is what the story is and so far they are sticking to it. Anyway, the photos are of the beginning and immediate end of our celebration locally, and then a few long distance time laps of those in south bay. Guess we will just have to wait for the next baseball game to get our fire fix……
Good Morning San Diego,
Then followed that beautiful season… Summer….
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
My San Diego Sunrise 
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