Renee H. Kraft Realtor(s)

Kailua-Kona November 2012
Alii Networkers Chapter

If you are looking to increase business for yourself then consider becoming a member of Business Networking International. BNI has provided me with a very positive, supportive, and structured environment for the development of my business networking and marketing. I have built personal relationships with dozens of other qualified business professionals throughout Kona, the State of Hawaii, across the US, and Internationally with BNI. Developing relationships among other quality professionals worldwide has really helped me develop my real estate business here in the State of Hawaii.

One of the strongest chapters in the State of Hawaii the Alii Networkers encompasses great talent in their respected fields. Besides building professional relationships great friendships are also created among the members. As in any successful business networking requires commitment. Without commitment how will you succeed? The most successful chapters worldwide are comprised of participants who are sincerely committed to helping one another through business networking. We are a team. We look to bring in only the best in their respected fields. As a member in BNI, I am held responsible for complying with the policies and guidelines of the organization, weekly meetings, members need to arrive on time and stay for the entire meeting. Only one person from each professional specialty is accepted into a chapter of BNI. All participants must represent their primary occupation. Attendance is critical and if you cannot attend a meeting, you may send a substitute but substitutions are limited making the commitment that much greater.

Our chapter, “Alii Networkers” will be having an open house the first week of February 2013, but, if you are interested in sitting in sooner on one of our meetings please call me to inquire. We meet every Wednesday. We are looking for strong candidates to fill positions in our chapter. For information call me at 808.345.2108. There is an initial application fee, annual membership dues, and chapters may have a venue fee. When you apply to participate in BNI your application will be reviewed by the chapter’s Membership Committee and you will be notified of the status before the next meeting.

Some of the benefits include increased exposure to many other business professionals, substantially increase business, learn to effectively talk about your business, sharpen your presentation skills, participation in up to 52 networking meetings per year, Success Net newsletters with educational material on networking, public speaking, and business, member Success Program workshop, advanced Education Series workshops, leadership team training, participation in business trade shows, participation in local conferences, connecting to BNI members globally. In my industry connecting with other BNI chapters globally in real estate has really made an impact. I am really looking forward to continuing to build these relationships in other countries and see what develops.

Until Next Time…A Hui Hou…Renee

Renee H. Kraft Realtor(s)
MacArthur & Company | Sotheby’s International Realty
78-6831 Alii Drive Suite 163
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
t-808.345.2108

The National Association of Realtors prepared this summary expalining the 3.8% tax effective in 2013. Here are the top 10 things you need to know about the 3.8% tax that’s part of health care reform:

1-When you add up all of your income from every possible source, and that total is less than $200,000 ($250,000 on a joint tax return), you will not be subject to this tax.

2-The 3.8% tax will never be collected as a transfer tax on real estate of any type, so you’ll never pay this tax at the time that you purchase a home or other investment property.

3-You’ll never pay this tax at settlement when you sell your home or investment property. Any capital gain you realize at settlement is just one component of that year’s gross income.

4-If you sell your principal residence, you will still receive the full benefit of the $250,000 (single tax return)/$500,000 (married filing joint tax return) exclusion on the sale of that home. If your capital gain is greater than these amounts, then you will include any gain above these amounts as income on your Form 1040 tax return. Even then, if your total income (including this taxable portion of gain on your residence) is less than the $200,000/$250,000 amounts, you will not pay this tax. If your total income is more than these amounts, a formula will protect some portion of your investment.

5-The tax applies to other types of investment income, not just real estate. If your income is more than the $200,000/$250,000 amount, then the tax formula will be applied to capital gains, interest income, dividend income and net rents (i.e., rents after expenses).

6-The tax goes into effect in 2013. If you have investment income in 2013, you won’t pay the 3.8% tax until you file your 2013 Form 1040 tax return in 2014. The 3.8% tax for any later year will be paid in the following calendar year when the tax returns are filed.

7-In any particular year, if you have no income from capital gains, rents, interest or dividends, you’ll never pay this tax, even if you have millions of dollars of other types of income.

8-The formula that determines the amount of 3.8% tax due will always protect $200,000 ($250,000 on a joint return) of your income from any burden of the 3.8% tax. For example, if you are single and have a total of $201,000 income, the 3.8% tax would never be imposed on more than $1,000.

9-It’s true that investment income from rents on an investment property could be subject to the 3.8% tax. But: The only rental income that would be included in your gross income and therefore possibly subject to the tax is net rental income: gross rents minus expenses like depreciation, interest, property tax, maintenance and utilities.

10-The tax was enacted along with the health care legislation in 2010. It was added to the package just hours before the final vote and without review. NAR strongly opposed the tax at the time, and remains hopeful that it will not go into effect. The tax will no doubt be debated during the upcoming tax reform debates in 2013.

Source NAR

Until Next Time A Hui Hou…Renee

I represent Sellers and Buyers of real estate in the State of Hawaii. I am not a professional photographer, however, using a professional photographer is a must when showcasing property to sell. I am fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful and isolated places on earth. The Hawaiian Islands and all its beauty in the land and exceptional distinctive properties can offer potential Buyers amazing photos that span worldwide with quality high impact photos. The photo feature is very important to me as well as my brokerage as we have strict quality control standards to the photographs and resolution we input into our websites. If you are reading this and have a property either on the market for sale or are considering listing your property for sale ask yourself this question, “Is my agent showcasing my property to the world with the very best photos possible?” And whats that answer? Your photographs need to be spot on when exposed to the world. This is one of the important pieces to the equation in getting your property exposed and sold. Listings that have high impact strategic photos showcase a properties strengths not the properties weaknesses. The opportunity is there to showcase your property at its finest. Reaching Buyers in countries you may have never imagined reaching. Remember photos sell. The right photos sell. The right photos present online curb appeal. A front seat of your home to the Buyers screen connecting them to click for more information.

Four common mistakes to avoid a missed click or missed call:

-One or NO photos displayed
The number one way to turn off online buyers is featuring only one or no listing photos. Serious Buyers need those photos to develop an emotional connection with a property and evaluate whether or not they could see themselves living there. The more photos online the more time a Buyer will spend viewing and connecting with your listing.

-Less than Adequate Lighting

Its all about the first impression and lucky we live Hawaii. You can actually click sometimes faster than you blink (TRY IT). Who wants to look at gray, grainy, dark images focus on the bright, clear, professional images for a warm first impression.

-The Top Photos to Showcase a Property

#1 Kitchen
#2 Indoor Living Area
#3 Closets
#4 Outdoor living space
#5 Bathrooms
#6 Unique Features of the Property

-Clutter is Chaos
Clutter equals Doom to prospective Buyers to your property. Promote your property with only the basics of a living space. Peak the warmth and interest to the Buyer by staging an impeccable ready to sell property. Simply “simplify” the space. Counter space clean, open up corners of a room to open up the space. Remove cars from the driveway or garage unless there’s a lamborghini in the driveway you may reconsider.

Contact me at 808.345.2108 or via email at renee.kraft@MacArthurHawaii.com.