Democrats Could Triple Dividend Taxes making Real Estate more attractive. Calling all Tax Shelters. #Tax #Taxes

Everyone knows tax increases are coming.

But a Wall Street Journal editorial explains that these hikes will be bigger than expected, with taxes on dividends nearly tripling.

Last week, the Senate Budget Committee passed a fiscal 2011 budget that includes a 164 percent increase in the top dividend tax rate to 39.6 percent from 15 percent now.

Fed Keeps Short-Term Interest Rates Near Zero

The Fed reiterated its expectation that the benchmark fed
funds rate would remain “exceptionally low,” as it has since
December 2008, for “an extended period,” despite growing
concerns among policy makers that the stance was too
constraining.

Hope For Those Looking to Get on the Property Ladder: Lease with an Option to Buy.

It has never been easy to get your foot onto the first rung of the property ladder but in these economic times, it seems harder than ever. Fortunately, these tough times have brought about some more creative ways to get into property. We are talking about rent to buy schemes.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION ACTIONS in #Weho

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION ACTIONS in West Hollywood, CA.

Bernanke says poor regulation, not monetary policy, led to housing bubble

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Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said that the central bank’s low interest rates didn’t cause the last decade’s housing bubble and that better regulation would have been more effective in limiting the boom.



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If proper procedures are followed, a homeowner association assessment fee increase is legally binding

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Question: There are 58 units in our common-interest development. Last January our homeowner association annual assessment fees went up $52. Is a ballot vote consisting of 27 owners legally binding to approve that increase?


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Gallup’s Winners & Losers of ’09

In this season of retrospection, a poll from Gallup asking respondents to identify the winners and losers in politics from 2009.

Proposed guidelines for reverse mortgages spell out potential pitfalls for homeowners

Too often, regulators say, seniors are poorly counseled in advance and don’t comprehend what they are getting into. If you, your relatives or friends are contemplating applying for a reverse mortgage in 2010, check out the new guidelines proposed this month by the federal regulatory agencies for financial institutions.