As a property investor you may be paying too much in taxes if you're not taking advantage of the following deductions:Interest you've paid on a mortgage whether from a lending institution or a seller financed deal.Depreciation: decreasing a property's value over time, normally 27 ½ years.Repairs can be fully deducted in the year in which they occur.Local travel: (Example) You drive to a hardware store to pick up supplies and then driving to a property to complete the repair.Long distance travel: (Example) Overnight travel for your real estate investing business. You may deduct hotel, meals, airfare, etc... But be careful the IRS may scrutinize these deductions.Home office is only devoted to workspace.Employee and independent contractor wages.Casualty and theft loses: The entire amount o... 12/15/2007

Do you have a tenant who receives monthly assistance from a government agency (social security, welfare, disability) and they claim their check is late. If, so do you believe that their story can be collaborated with the public assistance office? Unfortunately the answer is no. People who receive assistance have an even higher level of financial privacy than you or I do.Employers and landlords may verify the applicant's information as long as the questions are relevant to their employment or rental history. These sources may answer your questions without fear of legal liability. Some overly protective landlords and employers won't even speak to you without the applicant's permission also known as a "release". A "release" is a signed authorization to disclose information to third parties... 12/15/2007

The newest addition to The Prudential Bunch team, Britney, has a great project going on and any help would be truly appreciated.  From what I understand, it started when Britney and her husband went "Reverse Trick or Treating".  I had never heard of that concept, but they went door to door and passed out candy to kids who, for various reasons, couldn't get a costume and go Trick or Treating themselves. I was already impressed! Anyway, while they were at the Marcum Terrace development, some residents commented how much their playground was in need of repairs and improvements.  Britney and her husband went into action.  Their Facebook site explains more.  Any volunteering or funding would be helping a great cause.  Britney rocks!!  More to come... 12/04/2007

One of the biggest obstacles a Landlord or Property Manager faces is tenants sneaking in pets. As we all know pets can cause a lot of damage to the rental. Granted most people take very good care of their pets, but for the few who don't there is where the issues lay.  As a Landlord or Property Manager if you come across a tenant who has moved in a pet, even though the tenant was notified with a clause in the lease and/or advertisement stating NO PETS, then you must act swiftly. The tenant will be bound by this rule unless otherwise indicated verbally or in writing. Basically you have two options in order to enforce the NO PET policy.  1. Notify the tenant in writing about the NO PET policy and the pet must be removed. Normally this notice is called Cure to Quit or a Letter to Cure. In t... 10/28/2007

A few days ago, the Herald Dispatch ran a front page article covering the progress of residential availability in downtown Huntington. Today, they published another report on another revitalization project. Between 10th Street and 13th Street, new features are being added to 3rd Avenue. Better parking options, new sidewalks, brighter street lighting and appealing landscaping are being used to help bridge the Marshall campus and downtown retailers. 10/24/2007

On a recent Saturday morning, I took my family on a field trip to Huntington, West Virginia.  We visited the Pink Bridge at Ritter Park, had lunch and shopped at Pullman Square and then on the way out, stopped at Frostop for a root beer. There is no better root beer.  Period. Frostop takes me back to my teenage years, when cars were a novelty and we had nothing but free time and lots of friends to share it with.  One sip of that super creamy root beer took me back in time.  Funny how a taste can make you feel free, with the whole world ahead of you.  I would say they should bottle it, but I think they already have.  My Tall One loves root beer.  She was so impressed by theirs that it wasn’t even funny.  It is seriously delicious.  I promised to drive her back up for lunch sometime.  It... 09/25/2007

Ritter Park , Huntington, WV Click to View Show My family and I spent a recent Saturday morning in Ritter Park. The main point of our visit was to see the pink bridge. I have friends who are battling cancer, and I loved the quiet reminder of a pink bridge. I imagine people driving over it on their way here and there, maybe remembering people they love. I love that it provides an awareness in an unusual, public way. We also had a great time exploring Ritter Park. I hadn't been there since I was a child, and it was brand new to me. It's a lovely park and it was getting plenty of use. A big football game was in full swing in the middle. The trail that circles the park was full of walkers and joggers. Kids were chasing squirrels ... OK, MY kids was chasing squirrels. The entrance fountain ... 09/25/2007

We have a pink bridge in Huntington.  It might take some people by surprise, but around here we know what it means.  A guy named Jason Sansom painted one of the bridges at Ritter Park pink to raise awareness about breast cancer.  It makes a subtle statement, and personally I like it and what it stands for. A lot of other people were not amused.  They were offended by the color, they thought it was inappropriate in that setting and they thought it might lower property values.  There was a lot of back and forth, a little debate among local politicians and then some national news coverage.  This little visual statement went a long way. This weekend I took my family to Ritter Park.  It was our first visit there, and I will admit that the reason I wanted to go was to see the pink bridge.  W... 09/24/2007

Lately business has picked up drastically and has placed me into a whirlwind trying to get everything completed.  From several closings, listing several homes, and placing 5 of my listings under contract this week.  I list and sold everyone of them making 10 transactions this week not to mention what is already under contract and closing this month.  Business has picked up tremendously.  Let's just hope  for everyone's sake that all the contracts close on time with no glitches.Sometimes when buyers and sellers get together things do not go smoothly but lately it has been totally different.  I have recently seen that they are not biting like pit bulls but humanity is in the picture and everyone is treating each other with respect and dignity.  I love to work with people like this.  It is... 09/21/2007

We have an affiliate program for people living within 25 miles of Huntington, WV. If you see a property for rent by owner; simply email us the address (include city and state), the phone number, owner's name (when applicable), your name and contact information. If we reach an agreement with the owner to manage the property we will send you $25.00 for your time and effort. 09/19/2007

It seems that summer (3rd qtr) most people think this is when most of the sales are but it seems to me that this is when I am the slowest and most agents I speak to feel the same.  This is when I take more time off with my family but it hurts the check book.  LOLMy business has picked up drastically in the last two weeks, as it always does in the first of September.  My 4th Qtr is starting to take off and I am looking forward to all the business and all the new clients to meet.  09/19/2007

Some bloggers, of all professions, tend to drain their reader's with very useful information but also tend to take the "personal" side out of who the writer is. I feel that although it is very important to provide some kind of useful substance in ones blogs, it is also important to keep your readers entertained. With that in mind, as I begin this journey into Blogosphere I will strive to maintain that necessary balance of professionalism, personality, and downright pure entertainment. I ask my readers to bear with me, for just like anything, it may take practice and a few really boring blogs to get "into the flow" so-to-speak.OK, ENOUGH OF THE EXPLAINING!!!!Southside Huntington Days on Market To a seller, this figure is the most important average for that "sold" sign needs to be in the ... 08/28/2007

Yours truly will be on the big screen soon.   New York filmmaker Kim Spurlock is making a movie titled "Roy G Biv".  I've known Kim for years and I was totally flattered when she asked if I would be interested in a role in the film.  Go to http://www.roygbiv.com/ to read about it.  I have a day's worth of shooting as an attorney.  I need to start writing my Oscar acceptance speech.   More to come...  08/13/2007

It's pretty impressive to see what the West Virginia Thunder AAU Girl's Basketball team has accomplished.  They're on their way to Louisiana to compete in the national championships!  This 5th & 6th grade squad is one of the top teams in the U.S. and each has over a 3.5 GPA.  I have to give extra love to one of their star players - my cousin "Grif" Dempsey (pictured above first row center).  Keep track of their national trek at http://www.wvthunder.com/  More to come...  08/13/2007

During the year, there are several fundraisers to help those who need it.  Some charities have formal galas which can be a bit stuffy.  I did my best to inject some fun a few months ago at the Huntington Museum Ball.  Tracy had the band pull me on stage to sing lead on a disco medley including "Play That Funky Music" and "We Are Family".  Being in front of a crowded dancefloor gave me a flashback to my DJ days in Houston.  I helped raise some quick money for the museum and had a blast doing it.  Coming up on July 14th, American Red Cross is having a luau at Harris Riverfront Park.  Tracy & I went last year and it was a lot of Hawaiian fun.  This year, Prudential Bunch Co. Realtors bought a table so we'll be back again.  Grab your flowered shirt and grass skirt and I hope to see you ther... 08/13/2007

I'm looking forward to connecting with old friends again at the 20-year reunion of HHS.  Visit http://www.1987ponyexpress.com/ for details  More to come... 08/13/2007

Kudos to a friend of mine, Pedro Dejneka.  Here's a link to his very cool program to help disadvantaged job applicants: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070309/NEWS01/703090312/1001/NEWS10  More to come... 08/13/2007

It happened again today.  Someone asked "Why are there so many houses for sale across from Ritter Park?"  I've heard some funny (and not so funny) opinions including:  functional obsolecence (meaning dated floor plans),  co-incidence,  flooding and gang activity (not funny).   What's my opinion?  Since 2005, in the Southside area, only seven homes above $500,000 have sold according to MLS.  As of 3/22/07, five homes in that area and price range are on the market.  There are more if you count sellers trying to sell without Realtor representation.  According to the Huntington MLS, in the past two years, only 1% of residential sales in ALL areas (including Ohio & Teays Valley) sell in the $500K+ range.  So, I say the Ritter Park homes will sell eventually.    More to come... 08/13/2007

21 condos at The St. James are now either under contract or sold.  This is the area's first "vertical development".  It's another big step for the revival of the downtown area.  See more at http://www.saintjamescondos.com/   More to come... 08/13/2007

I've had clients get scared to death about selling their home because of what they saw on "Good Morning America" or read in USA Today.  It's true that home sales in the fourth quarter of 2006 were down over 10% from the same period of 2005.  But that's nationally.  Nationally, home prices were down almost 3% too.THE GREAT NEWS:  According to my Huntington area MLS, home sales were only down 3% from 2005 to 2006.  However, prices went UP 5%.  Since 2004, average sale prices have gone up %12!  The biggest winner seems to be across the Ohio River in Lawrence County, Ohio (don't worry clients, I'm licensed there also).  The number of homes sold has increased by 22% over the last two years.  The new bypass that takes drivers around Proctorville instead of through it should help even more.  A... 08/13/2007