Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Make a Strong Offer as Lexington MA Homebuyer

Lexington MA Homebuyers
In today’s competitive market, it’s important that as a Lexington MA homebuyer, you make a strong, competitive offer on the house you want to purchase! Homes are selling fast in the Lexington MA real estate market this year. As your Lexington MA real estate agent, allow me to offer some tips:

1.  Get preapproved for a mortgage loan. Do this before you begin your home search, so you know exactly what you can afford, and sellers will take your offer seriously.

2.  Know what you need. This isn’t the time to be picky, but write down your absolute must-haves in a house so that you’re only viewing listings that fit your criteria.

3.  Make a fast offer. Once you find a home that meets your criteria and price range, put in an offer immediately. Many listings are gone in weeks, or even days!

4.  Stand out with your offer. Pay in cash, offer asking price or over, add an escalation clause, be flexible with move-in dates and contingencies, write a letter to the seller. These are all great ways to stand out.

As your Lexington MA real estate agent, I am here to help guide you through the entire home-buying process, and to help you make an informed decision when it comes time to make an offer! When ready to buy in the Lexington MA real estate market, give me a call! Let’s find you your dream home!

Theresa D'Antuono

Friday, November 6, 2020

Sell Your Lexington MA House This Winter!


With the holidays approaching, this is typically when the Lexington MA real estate market slows down and picks back up in the spring. Not this year! Buyers are still out and eager to buy. As your Lexington MA real estate agent, let me fill you in on some reasons why this winter is a great time to sell:

1. There is a pent-up demand of buyers from the shutdown in the spring.

2. Buyers’ homeownership needs are changing due to the pandemic. Many want to upsize.

3. Mortgage rates are at record lows, causing buyer demand to stay in full swing.

4. Inventory is low, which means the ball is in the sellers court. Sellers are typically selling very fast and with multiple offers.

5. Sellers can get top dollar for their homes. Low supply and high demand keep shooting up home prices. With multiple offers, that could increase what buyers offer you even more!

As you can see, there are many conditions right now that make this winter a great time to sell. Whether wanting to sell, buy or both in the Lexington MA real estate market, as your Lexington MA real estate agent, I am here to help! Give me a call!  

Theresa D'Antuono

Thursday, October 8, 2020

Price Your Lexington MA Home Right

If you’d like to sell your Lexington MA home this fall, pricing it right is essential, and something you should do right from the start! As your Lexington MA real estate agent, I can help.

The Lexington MA real estate market is hot! Buyer demand is high and inventory is low, which is great news for sellers. However, this doesn’t mean that you can price your home as high as you want. This could drive buyers away and toward other listings priced lower. Pricing high may mean your house will sit on the market longer, you could deter buyers, or you could get stuck negotiating with one stubborn buyer.

On the other hand, if you price too low, buyers may wonder what is wrong with the house, and this could also deter them. You could lose money off a low bid, which in turn decreases your own future buying power.

The key is to price your home right! When you do this, you increase visibility to your listing and drive up buyer interest, which may result in bidding wars and offers made over your asking price. How do you know what is market value? Work with a Lexington MA real estate agent! I know the Lexington MA real estate market and can help you list your home based on what other homes in the area similar to yours are selling for.

Ready to sell? Give me a call!

Theresa D'Antuono

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Add Value To Your Lexington MA Home

Are you gearing up to sell your Lexington MA home this fall? As your Lexington MA real estate agent, I am here to share some simple ways for you to add value to your home. These are surefire ways to appeal to potential buyers and to increase your listing price.

1. Upgrade your appliances if they are old and outdated. Invest in energy-efficient appliances. Unless you’re selling a luxury home, designer appliances are unnecessary. Stainless steel is still most popular!

2.  Declutter. This is the cheapest way to add value to your home and to appeal to buyers. Remove anything unnecessary that you don’t use, and pack up anything you won’t use until after your move.

3. Clean up your outdoor space. A flourishing backyard can add 10 percent to the value of your home. Make sure your lawn is mowed, shrubs are trimmed, weeds are pulled and pathways are swept.

For many more simple ways to add value to your Lexington MA home, check out this list from MSN Real Estate. When ready to sell or buy in the Lexington real estate market, give me a call, your Lexington real estate agent! I am here to help!  

Theresa D'Antuono

Monday, August 10, 2020

Moving In or Out of Lexington MA?

Lexington MA Real Estate
Are you wanting to relocate in or out of Lexington MA? You’re not alone! A recent study found that more than a quarter of homebuyers are seeking out-of-town moves, an all-time high. As a Lexington real estate agent, I am here to help you with all of your Lexington MA real estate market needs!

Buyers are in high demand, thanks to record low mortgage rates. Due to the pandemic, many buyers want to move closer to family or friends. On the other hand, with travel down, buyers want to move closer to destinations that interest them, especially with the ability to work from home.

Due to working from home, buyers are also looking for homes with features that better suit their needs, such as large backyards or private home offices. Therefore, some homeowners who live in expensive markets are choosing to move to less expensive markets where they can afford a bigger house.

What are your home-buying or home-selling needs? Whether looking to relocate, or looking to move within your same metro area, give me a call, your Lexington MA real estate agent! I am here to help make all of your Lexington MA real estate goals a reality this summer.

Theresa D'Antuono

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Improve Your Lexington MA Backyard

Lexington MA Home Improvement
If you feel you've been cooped up inside your Lexington MA home for too long, now is the time to splurge on improving your outdoor space! As your Lexington MA real estate agent, I’m here to share some simple ways to do so. Bonus: It could increase your home value!

Furniture – Invest in treated aluminum or wood, or coat furniture with waterproofing oil. Canvas cushions make them extra comfortable, and furniture covers protect against the elements.

Outdoor Kitchen – Entertaining has never been easier when you have an outdoor kitchen set up. This could be as simple as a grill and cocktail corner, or as elaborate as a built-in full kitchen or bar.

Plants – Flowers, herbs, trees… foliage makes a space feel cozier, more private and somewhere people want to hang out. Add planters around your deck/patio for extra color and added shade.

Add an inflatable pool, a playground, a fire pit, etc. for extra family fun or entertaining options. Enjoy your outdoor space this summer! When ready to achieve your Lexington MA real estate goals, contact me, your Lexington MA real estate agent!

Theresa D'Antuono

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

LexReopen




Town Facilities and Services
Our Return to Work Task Force has developed a plan for the safe re-entry of Town staff, and the public, into Lexington’s public buildings.

The Task Force’s plan incorporates the input of staff representatives from each of our public buildings, local public health officials, and our Department of Public Facilities. It also incorporates State safety standards and is in accordance with the Governor’s four-phase ‘Reopening Massachusetts’ plan.
The plan outlines the Town’s minimum standards for safety and hygiene, and serves as a guiding document for specific departments to begin their reopening processes. To meet the unique needs of their visitors, individual departments, such as the Library and Recreation Departments, will develop specific plans for reopening their facilities, reflecting the standards of the Town’s overarching plan.


Recreation
  • All tennis and pickleball courts are now open to the public, and the online reservation system is now up. Guidelines will be in place for how the public can use these facilities once they open. If you still need to purchase your tennis/pickleball membership for the season, you may do so online.   
  • Unfortunately, the Town Pool and Old Res will not be open this summer. Registration for a new set of summer programs is now available, including day camps, therapeutic recreation, virtual options, and more!
  • A limited number of athletic fields will be opening for permitted use in the coming weeks!  The Recreation and Community Programs Department is working with DPW to prioritize and prepare the most requested fields to ensure fields are ready for use. 
    • Lincoln Park is anticipated to open the week of June 22, with the natural grass fields at the Center Recreation Complex to follow during the week of June 29. 
Visit the Recreation Department's web page for more detailed information, and the guidelines that must be followed.

Cary Library
Staff have returned to the Library to process the backlog of new and returned materials and patron holds.
Cary Library is preparing for curbside pick-up to begin on Tuesday, June 30.

Future Phases
Subsequent phases will include precautions, such as meetings with Town staff by appointment, curbside service, reduced building hours, and limited access to certain functions of the building. Everyone will be required to wear a face covering (unless otherwise exempted by the Governor’s order), and will need to be logged in, once the public is allowed back in Town buildings.
The determination of moving to future phases will depend on public health metrics trending in a positive direction.
**Plans for opening our facilities will always be in accordance with what the State allows, but in some cases we may need wait longer to safely open them.


See the list of businesses now open. Please call individual business for specific information.



Monday, June 8, 2020

Top Reasons to Own A Lexington, MA Home

Lexington MA Homeownership
Have you been putting off your goal of homeownership in Lexington, MA because of these uncertain times? Now is the time to act! Sales are picking up and mortgage rates are near historic lows. Plus, there are so many perks to homeownership that you can start enjoying right away.

Financial perks include net worth and financial security. Net worth of homeowners has increased 15 percent since 2013, while net worth of renters has decreased 9 percent. Financial security comes from having equity, value appreciation, and predictable monthly mortgage payments.

Non-financial perks include pride of ownership, increased civic engagement and community involvement, privacy, increased comfort, personal expression to do what you want with the space, the feeling of accomplishment, increased feeling of safety, and ability to put family needs first.

When you’re ready to buy, sell or both in the Lexington MA real estate market this summer, give me a call, your Lexington MA real estate agent! I am here to help!

Theresa D'Antuono

Friday, May 8, 2020

Test Drive a Lexington MA Neighborhood

Lexington MA Neighborhood Search
When buying a Lexington MA home, you’re not just investing in the home, but the neighborhood as well! This might be even more important, as you can make changes to the house, but not so easily the location it’s in.

Normally, as your Lexington MA real estate agent, I suggest that homebuyers take a drive to the neighborhood, walk around, meet some neighbors. If you’re wondering how you can ‘test drive’ a neighborhood while sheltering-in-place during the COVID-19 pandemic, here are some suggestions:

-Use Google Street View to browse the neighborhood from your couch.
-Read local news publications and join local social media groups.
-View local neighborhood/community statistics, safety ratings and local school data.
-Use Google Maps to determine average commute times at different times of the day.
-Ask your agent any specific questions you may have; they are familiar with the area.

Thanks to technology, there is still plenty we can do virtually, and real estate is no different! When ready to accomplish your Lexington MA real estate market goals this spring, contact me, your Lexington MA real estate agent. Let’s discuss your options!

Theresa D'Antuono

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

What To Do In Lexington MA During COVID-19

While we safely stay home in Lexington MA during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still plenty of local ways to keep busy. As your Lexington MA real estate agent, here’s a guide I put together.

Support your favorite local businesses. Check out this list, which shows which Lexington MA businesses have takeout, delivery or both. There is also a list of shops, which may have online shopping options. Call and ask how to best support them!

Cary Library has all sorts of virtual offerings, such as book clubs, crafting clubs, storytimes, movie discussions and more. They also have tons of eBooks and digital media to enjoy. The Lexington MA rec department has virtual fitness, sports, attractions, kid learning and more. This week is Spirit Week, where you can share themed photos each day with your community!

Help your community. Donate to the Fund for Lexington, which will be exclusively dedicated to those impacted by COVID-19 until Sept. 1, 2020. You can also donate food to local food pantries, donate books to the More Than Words bin at the Composting Facility, and donate household goods to the Goodwill trailer at the corner of Bedford and Worthen. It’s a great time to spring clean!

We’re in this together! Reach out to family and friends, stay connected virtually as much as possible. If you have Lexington MA real estate needs this spring, contact me, your Lexington MA real estate agent! Real estate never stops. Let’s discuss your needs virtually and see what we can do.
  
Theresa D'Antuono

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Deep Cleaning Your Lexington Home


We all know those cleaning tasks we avoid until it’s absolutely necessary – when the oven makes smoke signals, or the inside of the microwave looks like your kids finger painting project. While it may be greasy, the payoff is huge. So, stop putting those deep cleaning tasks aside! Molly Maids offers this advice below.


What Do I Need to Deep Clean My Home?
  • Disposable rags, scrub pads or towels that you don’t mind throwing away
  • Two buckets: one for the dirty/greasy water and another for fresh clean water
  • Your favorite degreaser, dish soap and disinfectant spray
  • A pair of rubber gloves
  • An abrasive scrub pad
  • A spray bottle with 1:1 vinegar and water
  • A scrub brush or an old toothbrush


Deep Cleaning the Entire Home
Dust and vacuum: Hard-to-reach ledges, windows, light fixtures and above cabinets. Basically, all the places that are too hard to reach during your normal cleaning routine. Break out the stepladder! Just be careful.

Faucets: De-scale faucets / showerheads throughout the home with vinegar. Clean out aerators.

Vent Covers: Remove HVAC vent covers and wash them in the sink with warm soapy water.

Windows: Vacuum windowsills and window tracks. Remove cobwebs and bugs from window screens

Ceiling Fans: Wipe down ceiling fan blades.

Carpet: Spot clean stains on carpet and upholstery.

Doors: Wipe down doors and doorframes for fingerprints and smudges.

Garbage Cans: Wipe out and sanitize garbage cans, recycling bins and wastebaskets.

Blinds: Give your blinds a deep clean by spraying them with vinegar and scrubbing them down.

Couch & Chairs: Remove all cushions and vacuum the creases where pet hair and popcorn love to call home. Also, move the couch to clean underneath it and behind it if it sits against a wall.

Cabinets/Drawers: Empty cabinets and drawers one at a time and give them a vacuum and wipe with a clean wet rag or your favorite cleaning spray. Wipe down all cabinet faces as well.

How to Deep Clean the Kitchen

Oven: Before you crank up the heat on your “self-cleaning” oven, let’s get out all the stuff that can be a fire hazard. Learn the best way to clean an oven from the Molly Maid blog. Now that all the baked-on food is gone, you can clean the wire racks.

Stovetop: Remove the pot grates from the stovetop and soak in hot soapy water. If you have an electric oven, you can remove/unplug the coils to make cleaning easier. Some oven/cooktops have a slide-out tray beneath the burners to catch food – don’t forget this! Scrub down all surfaces and control knobs with a soapy sponge and then a clean wet rag. Don’t forget the hood fan and the hood fan filter.

Microwave: Before you grease that elbow, loosen the food splatters with lemon and vinegar. If your microwave is tucked into an enclave in the cabinets, or on the countertop, don’t forget to remove it to clean underneath/around it. Use glass cleaner for the microwave face and keypad.

Toaster: Remove the fire hazard (also known as breadcrumbs) in the bottom of your toaster.

Refrigerator/Freezer: Read more about how to clean a refrigerator / freezer. Don’t forget the rubber gasket around the door seals; clean these with warm soapy water and then disinfect. Use this time to throw away expired items.

Sink: This seems like a no-brainer, but after all that cleaning, your kitchen sink is going to be filthy. Wipe it out with hot soapy water, paying attention to the crevices in the backsplash, and around the faucet. A disinfectant spray with bleach can help with stubborn stains.

Dishwasher: Use baking soda and vinegar to clean your dishwasher to remove soap residue and build up that accumulates over time. Just run it empty with a cup of vinegar and ½ cup baking soda.

Deep Cleaning the Bathroom

Grout: White grout can really brighten the appearance of a bathroom. There are many special grout cleaners to make this deep cleaning job easier.

Shower Curtain: Wash your linen shower curtain if it’s washing machine safe. For the plastic curtain behind the linen one, you can either clean it or replace it. They’re cheap and usually cleaning can be difficult.

Toilet:  Wipe all surfaces. Pay attention to the base and behind it as well.





Thursday, March 19, 2020

What to Know About the Spring Equinox


In 2020, the spring equinox (also called the March equinox or vernal equinox) falls on Thursday, March 19, which is earlier than it’s been in over a century! This event marks the astronomical first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. 


THE EARLIEST SPRING IN MORE THAN 100 YEARS
If you’re as calendar-obsessed as we are, you may have noticed something odd about this year’s spring equinox date. That’s right—it’s earlier than usual! But that’s a bit of an understatement.
For much of the last century, the spring equinox has occurred on March 20 or 21. This year, however, the equinox happens on the 19th in all U.S. time zones, making it the earliest spring we’ll have seen in our lives (so far). The last time spring arrived this early was in 1896—a whopping 124 years ago! 

Naturally, this leads to some important questions, like: Why is the equinox so early this year? Will the date keep shifting earlier and earlier? Will the equinox ever be on March 21 again? 

WHEN IS THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING?
In the Northern Hemisphere, spring begins with the March equinox, which may occur on March 19, 20, or 21. (In the Southern Hemisphere, the March equinox marks the start of autumn, while the September equinox marks the start of spring.)

Year
Spring Equinox (Northern Hemisphere)
2020
Thursday, March 19, at 11:50 P.M. EDT
2021
Saturday, March 20, at 5:37 A.M. EDT
2022
Sunday, March 20, at 11:33 A.M. EDT
2023
Monday, March 20, at 5:24 P.M. EDT

WHAT DOES “EQUINOX” MEAN, EXACTLY?
The word equinox comes from the Latin words for “equal night”—aequus (equal) and nox (night). 
On the equinox, the length of day and night is nearly equal in all parts of the world. 

WHAT HAPPENS ON THE MARCH EQUINOX?
 On the March Equinox, the Sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north. It’s called the “celestial equator”  because it’s an imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator.
If you were standing on the equator, the Sun would pass directly overhead on its way north. 
Equinoxes are the only two times a year that the Sun rises due east and sets due west for all of us on Earth!

While the Sun passes overhead, the tilt of the Earth is zero relative to the Sun, which means that Earth’s axis neither points toward nor away from the Sun. (Note, however, that the Earth never orbits upright, but is always tilted on its axis by about 23.5 degrees.)
After the spring equinox, the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun, which is why we start to get longer, sunnier days.





Monday, March 9, 2020

Homeownership Skyrockets in Lexington MA!

Lexington MA Homeownership Increases
Even with a lower-than-average inventory of homes for sale, the homeownership rate has skyrocketed across the U.S.! As your Lexington MA real estate agent, I am here to tell you that if you’d like to buy a Lexington home, now is the time to do it. Don’t get left behind!
The United States Census Bureau reported that the homeowership rate increased to 65.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019, the highest level in the past six years.
Reasons for this include the millennial generation hitting the housing market in full force, low mortgage rates making it more affordable for homebuyers, the knowledge that homeownership is a great investment option for the future, and the continued desire of Americans to own their own home.
Ready to buy in the Lexington MA real estate market? Give me a call, your Lexington MA real estate agent! I’m here to help!
Theresa D'Antuono

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Wilson Farm March Events



FARMER'S BREAKFAST
MARCH 14th &15th • 10:00am to 2:00pm

Join us on March 14th & 15th from 10:00am - 2:00pm for our Annual Farmer's Breakfast to support Team Wilson Farm for the Pan Mass Challenge.
Hop from table to table and indulge on delicious breakfast items fresh from Wilson Farm as well as our amazing local vendors. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and this event is not one to miss!

All items will be $1/each and tickets will be available for purchase at the door. (1 ticket = 1 item.) ** Cash Only **
All beverages will be FREE!



SPRING FLORAL ARRANGEMENT CLASS
MARCH 19th • 5:30pm

Grab your friends and join us on Thursday March 19th at 5:30PM for our Spring Flower Workshop. Learn how to make a beautiful Spring Arrangement in a stylish wooden box vase.
Tickets are just $50/per person and includes everything you will need to create your arrangement.
Light snacks will be provided.

Reserve your space today 781-862-3900!



Wednesday, February 26, 2020

8 Quirky Facts about Leap Years



As you know 2020 is a Leap year. What are you going to do with your "extra" day this year? Below are some fun facts about this interesting day.

1. The rule: Leap Day happens every four years unless it doesn’t
The point of leap years is to help adjust our Gregorian calendar (aka, the 365-day calendar you can find on your desk or phone) to the solar calendar, and make sure we celebrate solar events like the spring and autumn equinoxes with some regularity every year. Even adding an extra day to February every four years doesn’t quite do the trick, which is why scientists sometimes call for a Leap Second like they did in 2015 on June 30th at 11:59:60 pm.
How do you remember if it’s a leap year? Simple: If the last two digits of the year are divisible by four (e.g. 2016, 2020, 2024…) then it’s a leap year. Century years are the exception to this rule. They must be divisible by 400 to be leap years—so, 2000 and 2400 are leap years, but 2100 will not be one. As a bonus, U.S. leap years almost always coincide with election years.

2. What’s crazier than February 29th? A woman proposing to a man, says history.
You’re not the only one who thinks leap years are silly. After Pope Gregory XIII instituted the Gregorian calendar in 1582, the idea of adding February 29th every four years seemed so ridiculous that a British play joked it was a day when women should trade their dresses for “breeches” and act like men. The play was meant as satire, but some early feminists must have been inspired; by the 1700s, women were using Leap Day to propose to the men in their lives. The tradition—now called Bachelor’s Day or Sadie Hawkins Day—peaked in the early 1900s and continues today in the UK, where some retailers even offer discount packages to women popping the question.

3. The Salem witchcraft trials are connected to Leap Day
If we’re looking at history a bit closer to home in the United States, then we should focus on Massachusetts. The Salem witchcraft trials weren’t a fun time in colonial America. There was a particularly negative connection with Leap Day. The first warrants for arrest went out on February 29th, 1692 for the Salem witchcraft trials

4. It’s rare to be born on Leap Day…but what about dying on Leap Day, too? 
According to the World Heritage Encyclopedia, in the 1800s, the British-born James Milne Wilson, who later became the eighth premier of Tasmania,  was born on a leap day and died on a leap day. Wilson died on February 29th, 1880, on his “17th” birthday, or aged 68 in regular years.

5. What do Tony Robbins and Gioachino Rossini have in common?
They are both extremely successful in their respective fields—but more to the point, they were both born on February 29th. The odds of being born on February 29th are 1 in 1,461, which makes it particularly rare for one leapling, as they are called, to meet another
Rarer still is the possibility that three children in the same family would be born on three consecutive Leap Days, but that’s exactly what happened with the Henriksen family of Norway. Heidi Henriksen was born on 2/29/1960, her brother Olav four years later on 2/29/64, and baby Leif-Martin four years after that on 2/29/68. According to many government agencies, the siblings would not legally be considered a year older until March 1st on non-leap years, but in 2020, we can officially say, “Happy Actual Birthday, leaplings!”

6. There is an official Leap Day cocktail
And it’s called…the Leap Day Cocktail! This colorful cousin of the martini was invented by pioneering bartender Harry Craddock at London’s Savoy Hotel in 1928. According to the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book, “It is said to have been responsible for more proposals than any other cocktail ever mixed” (see: Sadie Hawkins Day above). Whether or not you’re in the market for a freshly soused spouse, you can make your own Leap Day cocktail with Craddock’s original recipe:
1 dash lemon juice
2/3 gin
1/6 Grand Marnier
1/6 sweet vermouth
Shake, serve, garnish with a lemon peel, and enjoy the flood of bittersweet flavors. It’s like a marriage, in your mouth!

7. Not thirsty? Celebrate Leap Day with travel deals.
How does one celebrate a holiday that’s not really a holiday? By shopping, obviously. Many businesses observe the rarity of Leap Day by offering massive deals. Take a minute to check in with any restaurants, hotels, or cruise lines you’ve been curious about; chances are, they have a promotion running.

8. Is February 29th good luck or bad luck? Depends on who you ask!
According to an old Scottish aphorism, “leap year was ne’er a good sheep year.” The superstition that Leap Days are particularly lucky or unlucky has been debated through history and across cultures, and there’s still no clear winner. For one thing, it’s bad luck if you’re a prisoner on a one-year sentence that spans a Leap Day. Also, bad news if you work on a fixed annual salary; no extra pay for that extra day. On the other hand, Leap Day is great luck if you’re on a fixed monthly rent (one free day of living!).



Friday, February 21, 2020

How to Take a Home Office Tax Deduction When You Work From Home



Of all the tax breaks available, the home office tax deduction is among the murkiest and most misunderstood. And the passage of the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has made things even more complicated.

So if you work at home like I do as a Realtor on most days, what should you do? Allow us to explain exactly who can take the home office tax deduction these days. Here's what you need to know before filing this year.

Who can claim the home office tax deduction?
We've got some good news and bad news. The bad news? In years past, if you worked for a company (and received a W-2) but worked from home occasionally or full-time, you could claim a home office tax deduction. But not anymore.

"There is a major change to the home office deduction: It is no longer available for company employees," says Bill Abel, tax manager at Sensiba San Filippo in Boulder, CO. "This has many remote employees frustrated."

But there is a ray of hope for these W-2 telecommuters. You could see if your employer will allow you to change your work status from an employee to an independent contractor (also discuss this option with a tax adviser), which would allow you to continue taking this deduction. Consider the pros and cons of such a move beyond just the tax benefits, however.
Another small loophole also exists, if your employer is willing to play along: Just ask your employer to set up what's called an "accountable plan."

For example, instead of being paid $100,000, your employer could pay you $95,000 in wages plus a $5,000 home office expense reimbursement, making your salary the same—while saving you more on taxes.

As for the good news? If you're one of the 40 million or so people out there who are self-employed—from business owners to bloggers—you can still continue to take this deduction.

How to take a home office deduction if you're self-employed
If you're self-employed, you have every right to take a home office tax deduction, but that's not to say it's easy.

In a nutshell, you'll be writing off part of your home expenses on your tax return by separating out the costs associated with using your home for personal purposes (making pancakes) and business (answering work email).

To claim the deduction, an area of your home has to be designated as your principal place of business, and—the clincher—used exclusively for work. Everything in that designated space needs to be for work purposes only.

What makes an office an office?
To be clear, that room you work in which doubles as a guest room when mom visits won't pass muster, even if you spend 40 hours a week there, says Abby Eisenkraft, a financial expert and author of "101 Ways to Stay Off the IRS Radar." So if you really want to do things right, have mom sleep on the couch!

If, say, your desk is parked in a corner of your bedroom or part of an open floor plan, simply measure the space you use for your office, whether or not there are walls.

The key is that the area must be used only by you, just for work—not to peck out personal email. To make that delineation easier, you can even put up a physical barrier like a partition or shelves.
And according to the IRS, an office can also be a "separate free-standing structure, such as a studio, garage, or barn."

How to claim a home office tax deduction
The IRS offers two ways to calculate a home office tax deduction, one simple, the other a bit more involved, says Jeff Morris, accounting partner at Nathaniel Jacobson, serving Maryland and Washington, DC.

The simple method: Figure out the square footage of your home that you use for business purposes. Each square foot you use for work is worth $5, and you can claim up to 300 square feet, for a maximum annual claim of $1,500, says Morris.

The complicated method: Track all the costs of your home (think maintenance, insurance, repairs, utilities, etc.) and depreciation (normal wear and tear).

Next, separate and allocate those expenses based on the percentage of the home you use solely for business purposes. So if your office space breaks down to 10% of your home's total square footage, you can deduct 10% of your home costs—which could add up to a sizable chunk of change. The key to using this deduction is keeping careful records.

Isn't the home office tax deduction a red flag for an audit?
Nope. In fact, the IRS simplified their method of measuring out your office space to take the audit scare out of the home office tax deduction.

"This might surprise some people, given the fear of an audit that the home office deduction used to strike in the hearts of many taxpayers," says Morris.

The reality is that the deduction is becoming increasingly common, and it doesn't make a taxpayer any more susceptible to an audit than any other deduction a small-business owner may take.

Written by Margaret Heidenry, a writer living in Brooklyn, NY. Her work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, and Boston Magazine. Full Article



Wednesday, February 12, 2020

2020 Lexington Rec Summer Jobs



The Lexington Recreation and Community Programs Department hires approximately 200 seasonal employees and a large number of volunteers each summer and we welcome your interest in our department. We have several job opening for summer 2020.

The following pages provide a brief description of positions available, qualifications required for each position, starting pay, and approximate dates. Please check your schedule in advance as each position requires a time commitment.

Applicants applying for the first time must submit the Recreation and Community Programs application which can be found here:https://www.lexingtonma.gov/recreation-community-programs/jobs-and-volunteering no later than March 1, 2020. 

All applications received by the deadline will be reviewed. Qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview and scheduled to meet with department staff in February or March. Late applications will be held, should positions still need to be filled. Dates and times advertised for positions are subject to change.

All staff (returning and new) must attend a mandatory pre-season staff orientation. Orientations are held in May and/or June based on the position and program/facility you may be assigned to.

781-698-4800
recdept@lexingt onm a.gov www.lexingt onm a.gov/recreation
THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER





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