Real Estate Information Archive

Are you wondering if you can write off your home improvements? Home improvements in Albuquerque can have tax implications, but only in certain situations. For taxes, a home improvement is defined as any work that significantly increases your home's value, extends its useful life, or enables new uses for the property. The specifics of when home improvements impact taxes are examined below.

Home Improvements vs. Repairs

The money you spend on your home in terms of taxes can be divided into two categories: improvements and repairs.

The cost of capital improvements made to your home can be added to the tax basis, which is the amount subtracted from the sales price to determine your profit. However, you can only benefit from this tax basis increase when you sell the home.

A capital improvement in this context refers to anything that adds value to a home, adapts it to new uses, or prolongs its lifespan, as mentioned previously. Examples of capital improvements include installing a new roof or central air conditioning.

While capital improvements don't need to be major purchases, installing small upgrades like storm windows or a home security system can also qualify. However, repairs cannot be added to your basis. Repairs may include painting your home or fixing gutters. If you make any improvements to your home, be sure to keep thorough records of everything in case you sell the property in the future.

Tax Deductions for a Home Office

One way to save on taxes and improve your home is to build a home office. You can claim a deduction for improvements when converting an area into a dedicated workspace, which many people now do as more work from home.

The cost of any home repairs that improve the part of your home used as an office can also be deducted, based on the percentage of your home that is used for business.

Likewise, if you rent out part of your home, you may be able to deduct the cost of improvements made to that rented area. For example, if you were to add a bathroom to the portion of the home you rent out, you may be able to deduct the full cost of that renovation.

Medical Modifications

If a health care provider suggests modifications to your home to help you or to allow you to provide care for your family member, such as an aging parent, the expenses of these updates may be deductible. Examples include adding a wheelchair ramp or modifying your doorways. If the improvement adds value to your home, on the other hand, it’s not deductible.

Upgraded Energy Systems

If your health care provider suggests home modifications to help you or allow you to care for a family member such as an aging parent, you may be able to deduct the costs of these updates as medical expenses. Deductible improvements include adding a wheelchair ramp or widening doorways. However, you cannot claim the costs as a medical deduction if the modification increases your home's value.

The residential energy property credit covers several home improvements that increase energy efficiency, including installing energy-efficient windows, doors, skylights, metal or asphalt roofs, insulation, and heating and air conditioning system upgrades.

Upgrading your home opens opportunities to lower your tax bill, but restrictions apply. If any part seems unclear, consult a tax advisor since rules vary annually.

HOT ALBUQUERQUE LISTING OF THE WEEK

2109 Palenque Drive SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

Lots of entertaining spaces in this beautiful 4BDR/3BA/3CG home! Open floor plan features a large living room with wet bar, cabinets & wine rack, formal dining room plus a huge loft/recreation room! One bedroom or office on the main level! Huge primary suite with room for sitting area, large walk-in closet, dual sink vanity, garden tub & separate shower! Spacious kitchen features lots of cabinets, large island, breakfast bar & nook with bay windows. Outdoor living space with pergola to relax, unwind and entertain family & friends. In the heart of Rio Rancho, excellent location close to parks, schools, shopping, Intel, Presbyterian Rust Medical Center, Cottonwood Mall!!

Learn More!

Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

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When it comes to home renovation projects in Albuquerque, working on a budget can be challenging. However, there are ways to achieve great results without breaking the bank. Here are some frugal renovation hacks that can help you save money while still maintaining quality and aesthetics.

Plan Ahead

Before starting your renovation project, it is essential to carefully plan. Assess your space, make a comprehensive list of materials needed, and create a detailed renovation timeline. Additionally, it is crucial to consider unexpected costs and potential delays, as these are common in home improvement projects. By taking these steps, you can efficiently manage your resources and avoid unnecessary waste.

DIY: Your Best Friend

To save money and add a personal touch, take on as much of the work as possible. DIY projects can be guided by countless online resources, covering everything from painting walls to installing flooring. By doing it yourself, you can customize the project to your style and taste while reducing labor costs.

Second-hand Finds

Vintage and pre-loved pieces can add a unique charm to your space. Look for second-hand furniture or fixtures in thrift shops in Albuquerque, yard sales, and online platforms. Don't be discouraged by worn-out items; a lick of paint or a good polish can rejuvenate them.

Clever Use of Tongue and Groove Paneling

Tongue and groove paneling is a frugal hack that can create a big impact in your space. This classic technique adds depth and visual interest to any room. You can use it to cover up unsightly walls, add texture to plain ceilings, or create a stylish kitchen backsplash. It is a cost-effective way to introduce style into your space.

Repurpose and Recycle

Repurposing everyday items can lead to unexpected and unique results. Take, for instance, an old ladder that can be transformed into a quirky bookshelf, or a vintage suitcase that can be repurposed into a charming side table. By exploring the possibilities within your own home, you may uncover hidden gems just waiting to be upcycled or repurposed.

Opt for Multi-Purpose Spaces

Creating multipurpose spaces is a cost-effective way to maximize your renovation. For example, you can use a guest room as a home office or utilize your kitchen island as a dining table. This approach saves money and optimizes limited space.

Affordable Alternatives

High quality doesn't always mean expensive. Affordable alternatives exist for pricey materials and appliances. Laminate or vinyl can mimic hardwood flooring at a lower cost. Stainless steel appliances are stylish and budget-friendly options.

Keep it Simple

A minimalist design approach offers cost savings and creates an elegant, modern space. By choosing neutral colors and functional furniture, you achieve a timeless aesthetic and have the flexibility to update your decor without a full-scale renovation.

Prioritise Your Renovations

When working with a limited budget, it is crucial to prioritize renovations. Identify projects that require immediate attention and those that can be delayed. Prioritize addressing structural issues and fixing leaky pipes over cosmetic changes. By focusing on necessity before desire, you can avoid unnecessary expenses in the future. This approach also allows you to allocate funds wisely to different aspects of your renovation, ensuring that your money is spent where it is most needed.

Don’t Skimp on Quality

When it comes to budgeting, it's important to prioritize quality in certain areas. Fixtures and fittings, for example, should be durable to withstand wear and tear over time. Investing in higher quality items can save you money in the long run, as they often require less frequent replacement. Additionally, quality pieces can enhance the overall look and feel of your home, even on a budget.

Seek Professional Advice

When it comes to tackling more complex tasks, seeking professional advice is a wise move. Hiring a contractor for a consultation can help prevent costly mistakes and potential mishaps down the line. While taking the DIY route is great, it's important to recognize the value of expert guidance.

Creating your dream home on a budget is achievable through clever planning, creativity, and a hands-on approach. It's not about the amount of money spent, but rather how it is spent that matters. By rolling up your sleeves and implementing frugal hacks, you can turn your dream home into a reality.

HOT ALBUQUERQUE LISTING OF THE WEEK

Learn More!

Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

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Do you enjoy removing wallpaper? Of course not! It's a task that never reaches the top 10 "fun things to do" list for most people.

But if you're planning to sell your home in Albuquerque, then removing old wallpaper really is a must. So how do you remove it without removing your sanity as well?

Check to See If Your Walls Were Primed

Hopefully your walls were primed when the wallpaper was applied. This will certainly speed up removal.

This was a more common practice in the 1990s, as it kept the glue from forming too strong of a bond with the plaster.

It's easy enough to check if your walls are primed. Just loosen a corner or seam with a putty knife and pull. If it comes off in one sheet, success!

With well-primed walls, dry stripping should work for the entire job and you could finish a room in a couple of hours at most.

Water Works Miracles

Wallpaper glue is water-based, so you can still remove it if your walls are not primed.

It's a technique the pros use, it works so well.

Here’s what to do with water:

• Score or perforate the paper and its backing in sections so water can soak through and loosen the glue. The pros recommend a scoring tool called the PaperTiger (under $20) because it doesn’t harm the wall.
• Douse the perforated paper with hot water using a pump or compression sprayer. The big mistake most people make is using a regular old spray bottle or damp rag to wet the paper. This leads to hours of fruitless scraping because the paper and its backing don’t get sufficiently saturated. The sprayer, on the other hand, gives you the firepower to really soak the glue.
• Let the paper soak for about 15 minutes and scrape it off with a putty knife.

This process will take about 6 hours for an average room, but it's better than how long it would take if you didn't know how to do this.

Avoid Chemical Strippers Because of the Fumes

Pros will use chemical strippers, as they work even faster than water. But the downside is the fumes, and it costs more than using water (of course).

Don't Try the Fabric Softener Trick

There's a rumor going around that fabric softeners, diluted with water, is a great way to remove wallpaper. Yet, no expert agrees with that method.

In fact, fabric softener makes removing wallpaper even more complicated and messier than just using water, as it ends up mixing the glue with the fabric softener. The fabric softener can also harm drywall. 

So when it comes to removing wallpaper, the happiest journey (assuming your walls aren’t primed) involves water — and patience.

HOT ALBUQUERQUE PROPERTY OF THE WEEK!

2220 EDNA Avenue NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104

Beautiful North Valley location in the historic old town area. Lot is ready to build on. Water meter is purchased, city water and sewer are hooked up, electric and gas are in the street. Seller has even paid for the curb cut. Seller has spent over $15,000 on improvements to the lot to make it build ready. Enjoy the charm and convenience of the North Valley with close proximity to Old town and sawmill district.

Learn More!

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

There’s nothing better than granite countertops for your kitchen, right? That seems to have been the prevailing opinion for years now. But times change, and so do design trends. Now the new material of choice for kitchen counters is turning out to be quartz. It’s now the choice of homebuyers and renovators, as well as design shows and flippers.

If you're getting ready to redo your kitchen or are building a new home in Albuquerque, here are all the reasons to go with quartz.

1. Endless options

Quartz offers a wide range of choices, whether you're looking for something super sleek or want to achieve the look of natural stone without having to deal with the maintenance.

"One of the main reasons quartz has exploded in popularity is due to appearance," said HGTV. "Quartz has the look of stone while also allowing homeowners to customize the design. While granite offers many options in terms of appearance, you may have to search for the right piece that matches your color scheme. With quartz, the selection process is much easier."

2. May be better for larger surfaces

Today's trend in kitchens is an open space with a large island. But large slabs of granite to cover an entire counter are hard to find and expensive if they are found. For a large island or expansive counter, more than one granite slab will likely be needed. Quartz is engineered, so it can be made into large slabs. And if more than one slab is needed, seaming them together is, well, seamless because there is no need to carefully color-match natural elements together as you do with granite.

3. Easy maintenance

Granite needs to be sealed once a year, which is not a big deal for most people. But granite's requirement for daily care could push people toward quartz. "With quartz, cleaning the counter is easy. The quartz washes off with soap and water and looks as good as new. You also don't have to use special bacteria-preventing soaps.

4. No staining

A main consideration for many people when choosing countertops is stain resistance. Food and drinks including juice and wine can permanently stain granite. According to HGTV, "Some oils and acids can stain" as well.

5. Scratches and burns

Granite can scratch and burn, ruining the look. Quartz is scratch resistant and avoids discoloration from hot pots, though it is not advised to put them directly down on either surface.

6. Cost

Granite can be less expensive than quartz depending on whether it is of a high or low grade, but quartz is less expensive when it comes to exotic granite.

7. Eco-friendliness

"The only way granite ends up in your kitchen is if it's quarried and that uses a lot of energy. If you opt for a high-end slab from Italy, for example, there will be considerable transportation involved. Try using indigenous stone when possible or visit salvage shops for pieces that can be cut to fit your needs," said HGTV. "Since quartz is engineered, it can be more environmentally-friendly than granite if you use regionally manufactured stone and local fabricators. This cuts down on the distance the material needs to be transported."

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

13516 Deer Trail Place NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111  $895,000

6 Bedrooms / 4 Bathrooms (3 full, 1 half) / 5893 Square Feet

Perfectly situated with 180 degree views in Glenwood Hills. The frosted glass accented front door greets you and beyond is a wide, open floorplan, with tons of natural light, gas fireplace and wet bar making this home perfect for entertaining. Main level boasts a master suite, 2 spacious bedrooms, formaldining and well-appointed kitchen with breakfast nook and access to one of many patios. Upstairs is another master suite with jetted tub and double sinks, privatebalcony and a fantastic walk-in closet. The garden level is open to the patios and is perfect for rec room/office/gym. Want city AND mountain views this uniqueproperty offers panoramic, breathtaking city views with Mount Taylor in the distance! Hiking, biking and walking trails are just minutes away.

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team

No doubt you are spending more time at home, like so many of your neighbors in Albuquerque and across the nation. And no doubt you're thinking about how you can renovate your home to suit your changing needs. But don't start knocking down walls just yet. You want to make sure that you plan carefully for any renovations you make on your home.

Whether you’re outfitting your home with a new office or classroom, or taking on long-intended improvements such as painting or installing new flooring, here are four tips to help you make sure you’re heading into the right project, the right way.

1. Return on investment

If you plan to sell your home in Albuquerque soon, you should focus on projects that have a good ROI. You can spend thousands of dollars on projects that won't increase the value of your home.

For example, it costs about $50,000 to add a new bathroom, but homeowners typically recoup only about 54% of the cost in increased home value. A minor kitchen remodel, on the other hand, returns about 78% of its cost.

2. Create a budget

The last thing you want to do is run out of money in the middle of your remodel. You need to take care that your project costs don't get out of hand during the process. Add up all of your expenses before you start, and add 10% or 20% to the total to allow for cost overruns.

To get an idea of how much you’ll have to spend on a specific project, look at what others have spent on comparable projects using a project estimate calculator or perusing sites like HomeAdvisor or Remodeling Magazine.

3. Choose the right funding

Over the past year, 34% of homeowners who undertook home improvement projects used cash on hand to fund those projects, 25% used money they had saved for those projects specifically and 14% used money from their economic stimulus check. As long as you're not avoiding more important expenses, using that cash or savings can be a good way to keep from paying interest on your home improvement project.

You can finance your remodel with a variety of options, such as a home equity line of credit, a personal loan, a cash-out refinance or even credit cards. ust make sure to keep an eye on interest rates and the length of the terms, as that will affect the overall cost of the project.

4. Research contractors

If you need a pro to do the work, get written estimates from several Albuquerque contractors. Check references and ask about their credentials, along with licensing. You can also ask about their membership in trade associations. Many reputable contractors belong to professional trade groups such as the National Association of the Remodeling Industry or the National Association of Home Builders.

A good contractor will guarantee the work and offer a warranty. You can check Better Business Bureau ratings to see if others have had complaints about companies you’re evaluating. If there have been complaints, check to see how they were resolved.

When you select a contractor, make sure you get your agreement in writing.

Contact us today to help you buy or sell your next home in Albuquerque. Looking for the perfect home for sale in Albuquerque? Our easy-to-use home search tool can help you start the process. Join us twice a week on our blog for more real estate advice and great reasons to buy a home in Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Follow us on Facebook for the latest Albuquerque real estate updates.

HOT HOME LISTING OF THE WEEK!

6017 CROWNPOINT Drive NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144  $299,000

4 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms (2 full, 1 half) / 3086 Square Feet 

4 BDRS/3BA/2CG PLUS two office/flex rooms! TWO livings spaces! Kitchen features walk-in pantry, island, breakfast nook and bkfst bar. Light, bright and open floor plan! REFRIGERATED AIR! UPDATED WATER HEATER! Large secondary bdrs have walk-in closets & laundry room located upstairs for convenience! Office/flex room on the main level with 3/4 bath! Newly painted interior and new carpet! Master suite features a balcony, walk-in closet, dual sink vanity, garden tub and separate shower. Backyard features a covered patio, balcony off master suite, walled for privacy and easy care rock landscape!

Contact the Sandi Pressley team for additional details! 

Get your Morning Inspiration with the Sandi Pressley Team