General

Dodd-Frank Legislation Part 1

2012-08-06T18:03:00Z

Two years ago Congress passed massive reform act coined the Dodd-Frank Act, named after its two authors. The act is more than 2,300 pages long and includes 16 titles. It was meant to strengthen the Financial Sector and protect consumers from another financial crisis like the one in 2008. Passing the laws was just the first step of many included in the Dodd-Frank package and there are many steps still yet to climb. Some believe that America and our financial situation is stronger now than prior to the 2008 downturn because of the Dodd-Frank reform. There are others experts in the field not as confident that the massive amounts of regulations are really helping to solve anything. This will examine the different effects of the Reform Act.

One goal of the reform act was to take some of the power away from the larger banks. There was an unintended consequence for smaller banks and Credit Unions, the cost of implementing all the new "checks and balances" are cost prohibitive. It becomes impossible for these smaller financial institutions to make loans especially to small businesses and farmers, those people overlooked by the larger banks. Therefore these smaller banks and credit unions, without further legislation, are wiped out. Shifting power back to the bigger banks and all but shutting out small businesses and farmers. H.R. 3336, the Small Business Credit Availability Act, revised Dodd-Frank and provides smaller banks and Credit Unions with relief the regulations governing the banks' ability to offer low-rate fixed loans to small businesses.

There are many of these "exception" regulations going through the legislature to help offset the wide sweeping effects of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Ace of 2010, over the next few weeks I will be taking a look at "where we are now".

Daylight Savings Time 2012

2012-03-06T23:09:00Z

Friendly Reminder. It is time to "Spring Forward!" Daylight savings time is March 11, the second Sunday in March, and we set our clocks forward one hour at 2:00 AM. We will "Fall Back" on November 4, and the clocks will need to go back an hour.

Joy and Peace

2011-12-19T22:05:00Z

All of us at Oregon Opportunities wish you and your loved ones a joyous Holiday Season and prosperous New Year! To allow us to spend time with our families for the holidays, our office will close at noon on Friday December 23rd through Monday December 26th. We will also close at noon on December 30th through January 2nd.

Happy Holidays

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T20:33:00Z

All of us at Oregon Opportunities would like to wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving. Our office will be closed Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday so that we are able to spend time with our families.

Electronic Progression

2011-08-10T22:46:00Z

In the last 20 some years, there have been many changes in real estate. Most notably is the way Listings are advertised and how property details get retrieved and delivered.

There was a time when the compilation of relevant listing information took virtually a week to assemble, then called the "MLS Book". Now, all that information and generally much more can be gathered electronically in the morning and uploaded to a virtual MLS Book that only exists in the "Cloud" by the afternoon. The electronic progression continues with the introduction of QR Codes into the real estate realm.

Quick Response (QR) Codes are square bar codes that enable smart phone users with the proper app support to snap a scan of the code and be taken directly to the product listing, listing broker, or listing company that the user is interested in. Users can also quickly add "business card" information into their contacts.

One will find us using QR Codes with greater frequency. Listing flyers and flyer boxes will have an associated code attached as well as company signs, business cards and other promotional materials will have codes directing to our company and our brokers. We know we are only scratching the surface of utilizing QR Code technology, we do recognize their importance in helping us to propagate information to a greater number of people and in a media that is user driven.

How can we make QR codes fit your needs?

First Time Homebuyer!

2010-03-30T21:01:00Z

The IRS "First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit"! Time is running out.

Here is what you need to know-

You must buy – or enter into a binding contract to buy a principal residence – on or before April 30, 2010.

If you enter into a binding contract by April 30, 2010 you must close on the home on or before June
30, 2010.

Here is a link to a PDF document on the IRS website to give you the detailed information: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4819.pdf.

2009 Stimulus Act

2009-07-08T00:08:00Z

Recently, I read an article relating to national commercial real estate conditions and the 2009
Stimulus Act. Many real estate owners and developers are negotiating with their lenders to modify
existing debt and the Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides some beneficial tax relief.
With tight finance, increased vacancies, downward pressure on rents, owners are looking for relief.
The move to negotiate with lenders for debt relief, including forgiveness, has become a popular
means of capital preservation. However, debt restructuring can result in cancellation of debt
(COD) income for tax purposes, especially when the loan is reduced or the owner pays off the
loan at a discount. Most often, the cancellation is taxed as income at the borrower’s ordinary rate.
Let’s say an owner owes $500,000 on a mortgage and the lender agrees to reduce the principal to
$350,000. Unless there is an exception that applies, the owner will recognize $150,000 of ordinary
income.
The Stimulus Act gives owners an alternative. The new provision allows them to defer COD
resulting from 2009 and 2010 transactions until 2014. The owner must recognize 20% of the COD
in 2014, and in each of the next four years. The new alternative is simpler and has fewer
restrictions.
Applying this new rule to our example, if the principal of a $500,000 mortgage were reduced to
$350,000, instead of immediately paying tax on $150,000 of income, the owner can now defer the
income until 2014 and recognize $30,000 in each year from 2014 until 2018.
Secured and unsecured debts are eligible. Property value isn't considered. The basis of an owner's
property isn't reduced, and he continues to depreciate 100% of his original cost. The property
must be used in the owner's “trade or business”.
Many commercial property owners are now asking their lenders for debt relief. The 2009 Stimulus
Act alternative will allow them to restructure debt on their troubled assets without the punitive
tax consequence as before.
Information gathered from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. It is recommended that
individuals check with all appropriate professionals for legal, accounting, and development advice
Curt Johnson, SIOR

Jackson County

2009-03-24T22:09:00Z

JACKSON COUNTY INCLUDES 2,801 SQUARE MILES! The counties principal industries are lumber, agriculture, manufacturing, and recreation. Its major points of interest include the Shakespearean Festival, Historic Jacksonville, Southern Oregon University, the Peter Britt Festival, the Rogue River, and many parks. Rural land owners with small acreage (nine acres or less) make up 27% of the rural landownership in Jackson County. Those with 49 acres or less account for 70% of the rural landownership. The natural and cultural history of Jackson County is diverse and fascinating. The landscapes we see today were formed over millions of years by glacial ice migrations, massive floods and red-hot lava flows. The Native peoples, include the Modoc, Shasta and Rogue River tribes who lived in the region now defined by Jackson County. Did you know that acorns were used to produce flour used in bread, puddings and soup. Did you know that Jackson Counties Agricultural has grown to over a 60 million dollar industry and the first commercial orchards were planted in 1885. There are many hiking and riding trips you can take to enjoy the Southern Oregon region. ( information obtained from the Jackson Country Rural Living Handbook).

Staging Your Home For Sale

2007-05-30T21:06:00Z

Staging a house for sale is a concept foreign to many home sellers. But it has been immensely popular in the San Francisco Bay area where sellers have reaped huge benefits from their efforts. In a recent Inman News article, they said the sellers don't have to fix up their home before selling if the home is priced right. There are basically two reasons why sellers should prepare their home for sale, a sales price closer to the listed price and a quicker sale. A few quick and easy cosmetic improvements ideas that can really make a difference: remove old window coverings and leave them off, remove some furniture, change out olders light fixtures, paint outdated cabinets and change cabinet knobs, and even think about painting the walls a trendy decorator color. The goal of fixing up a ahouse for sale is to get it into move-in ready condition. Fixer-uppers appeal only to certain buyers who usually want a break on the price to compensate for the condition of the property. By sprucing the property up for sale, you appeal to a much broader audience.

Welcome to Oregon Opportunities Blogs

2007-02-27T11:33:00Z

A weblog (blog) is an online journal to share updates, ideas, project status, or anything else you want. Blogs allow everyone to be a contributor rather than just a bystander.

Postings are arranged chronologically and can be categorized depending upon how the administrator has configured the system. You can view a post by clicking on the title from the home page where all users' posts are collectively shown. Once viewing a blog you can read other posts by that person or provide comments on postings.

Creating new posts is quick and easy. If you have the ability to post you should see a link (usually on the left) on your weblog's home page: new post. Clicking on this link takes you into your blogs administration pages for creating new posts.