Hello. My name is Erik Martin and I am a reporter for a nationally syndicated real estate section published weekly in newspapers across the country. I’m looking to interview realtors/agents, mortgage/lending professionals, tax planners/accountants, and other housing experts for the following three stories:
STORY #1: IS 2016 THE YEAR? KNOW THE SIGNS BEFORE IT’S TIME TO BUY A HOME. This story will explore how macro factors—such as the Fed raising or lowering rates or even local conditions like a hot real estate market—are out of your control, and how personal needs, financial standing, and goals are what counts when deciding whether or not to purchase a home this year. Below is a list of questions I’m seeking answers to. I can either conduct a phone or email interview (with the latter, please email me back full-sentence written responses that I can use as quotes). My deadline isnoon central time, Tuesday, Feb. 23.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why are macro factors—such as the Fed raising/lowering rates, or local conditions like a “hot” real estate market—not as important as personal needs, financial standing, and goals when you’re considering whether or not to buy a home sooner vs. later?
2. What are the key signs/indicators that people on the fence about purchasing should get off the fence and buy sooner vs. later? Are we seeing any of those indicators/signs now in any way?
3. Why should 2016 be “the year” that a prospective home buyer actually make the purchase instead of waiting until later, in your opinion? What are the risks of waiting/procrastinating? What are the conducive conditions available now, in the first half of 2016 (e.g., low rates, etc.)?
4. What else should prospective purchasers be considering carefully before committing to buy a home?
5. Any other thoughts, tips or suggestions on this topic?
6. What is your full name, title, company, city/state location, and email address?
STORY #2: PRE-SPRING HOUSE CHECKUP: FIXING WHAT OLD MAN WINTER LEFT BEHIND. This story would explain why it's important to inspect your home inside and outside for damage and signs of repair once the winter weather passes and why/how to prepare your exterior and interior for warmer spring weather to come; signs to look for include roof damage, loose/vulnerable exterior siding, water damage to the home's base/foundation, compromised utility lines/cables, shrubs/trees/vegetation that need TLC, and more. Below is a list of questions I’m seeking answers to. I can either conduct a phone or email interview (with the latter, please email me back full-sentence written responses that I can use as quotes). My deadline is noon central time, Tuesday, Feb. 23.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why is it important to inspect your home inside and out for damage and signs of repair once the weather improves a bit? Why should this be an annual tradition that shouldn’t be skipped?
2. How should this inspection be conducted? What’s involved, can any homeowner do it (or should they hire a pro), what tools are needed, etc.?
3. What should homeowners look for (e.g., roof damage, loose siding, foundation cracks, landscaping needing attention, etc.)? Rank these red flags in order of priority needing immediate attention.
4. What steps/tips do you suggest to homeowners as to how they can best prepare their exteriors and interiors for warmer spring weather to come?
5. What kind of budget should homeowners allot for inspections/repairs related to this topic?
6. Any other thoughts, tips or suggestions on this topic?
7. What is your full name, title, company, city/state location, and email address?
STORY #3: HOME SWEET HOMEOWNER TAX BENEFITS: IMPORTANT DEDUCTIONS YOU CAN CLAIM IF YOU OWN OR BUY A HOME. This story would highlight the key deductions/credits that homeowners may be eligible for when they file their tax returns this year, as well as tax benefits prospective home buyers can count on a year from now. Below is a list of questions I’m seeking answers to. I can either conduct a phone or email interview (with the latter, please email me back full-sentence written responses that I can use as quotes). My deadline is noon central time, Tuesday, Feb. 23.
QUESTIONS:
1. If a prospective home buyer purchases a home in 2016, what tax credits/deductions/exemptions can he/she claim a year from now when they file their tax return, if they’re eligible? Any new/expanded ones in 2016?
2. What are the key exemptions/deductions/credits that eligible homeowners can claim on their tax returns now, due April 15, 2016?
3. Which ones are set to expire/go away after this year? Which ones are new/expanded, providing greater potential tax savings than ever before for homeowners?
4. To demonstrate the value, please provide a hypothetical example of a homeowner and how much tax savings he/she can reap if they max out on most of the key deductions/credits available to eligible homeowners this year?
5. What else can homeowners do to reduce their taxes prior to filing their return this year? What can they be doing the rest of 2016 to qualify for more tax savings a year from now?
6. What is your prediction on the exemption for private mortgage insurance, tax credits for energy efficient home improvements, and exclusion for mortgage-debt forgiveness for owners of a foreclosed/short sale home: will these tax benefits be extended for 2017 or longer? Why/why not? Any others worth noting?
7. Any other thoughts, tips or suggestions on this topic?
8. What is your full name, title, company, city/state location, and email address?
Keywords
realtors/agents, mortgage/lending professionals, tax planners/accountants
Share with your colleagues, friends or anyone
