All Forum Posts by: Kate B.

Thanks Stephen!  I'll try that.

I agree with speaking to a pro, so you feel confident going forward.   But, FYI, I've had a home office for a very long time and had some worries, and I noticed the IRS has relaxed some of the rules over time.  

I own three properties in different states bordering each other. I run the numbers for selling and renting very often. To my surprise, if I don't sell but improve and rent them, I have a very nice income, before taxes. In this discussion, I am NOT discussing the income and expenses for the properties (whether it's a good idea to keep them or how I ran the numbers), but only the taxes.

Do accountants regularly cover more than their own state's laws and regulations? Can I hire one accountant to do my taxes for three states? This will be needed NEXT year, but I want to budget the money so I want to figure this out ahead.

If I can't, I'll ask my tax lawyer brother to help me out, but I don't want to. His plate is too full most of the time.

Thanks!

I put this in the wrong forum category, but so far haven't figured out how to delete it.

I own three properties in different states bordering each other.   I run the numbers for selling and renting very often.   To my surprise, if I don't sell but improve and rent them, I have a very nice income, before taxes.   In this discussion, I am NOT discussing the income and expenses for the properties (whether it's a good idea to keep them or how I ran the numbers), but only the taxes.

Do accountants regularly cover more than their own state's laws and regulations?   Can I hire one accountant to do my taxes for three states?   This will be needed NEXT year, but I want to budget the money so I want to figure this out ahead.

If I can't, I'll ask my tax lawyer brother to help me out, but I don't want to.   His plate is too full most of the time.

Thanks!

I discovered when I worked in Family Court that there is a difference between the stress that situations and other people cause, and the stress I create for myself.   It was very valuable to learn this.

So, now, I am a new landlord and let an acquaintance rent part of the second floor.   He's a great guy ( a cop).   But he's a magnet for sad situations.  He meets people all over who need a place to live.   I can handle it.   But yesterday I met a nut case on the phone, the payee (mom) for her daughter who wants to live here, and I decided to put my foot down after she tried to strong arm me into different things.  I had my first stressful night as a new landlord -- contractor sh*t and repairs do not bother me.   Crazy people accusing me of sh*t do bother me.  (She accused me of having a rooming house, violating the law, when I don't.)   So I decided I have to learn how to protect myself, and I called my great lawyer for his down to earth advice.

Exercise and playing with dogs and calling friends make it easier too.

I've lived most of my life in NE New York state, SW Vermont and central MA.   Born in NY and all family still there (and I bought a house), family homes in VT too (and I bought a house), and college and work took me to central MA ( and I bought a house).    I am here because it is where most of my roots are.   I love the changing seasons, I am comfortable with people here, I don't care if the tenant wins because I rent to decent people and budget for it and have the best lawyer.   BUT I take many opportunities to travel all over.   I am buying a new car soon, and I will probably find one that fits sleeping dogs and sleeping me, so we can hit the road.   No more buying where I go.   Except....

Thanks for the tips Marcia!   I appreciate it!   I have a new washing machine somewhere else and the vibration is crazy.

Thanks for the reply.   I actually had the sizes already but was unsure about the space needed between them.  LG makes a good sized narrow washer, and someone else has a narrow dryer.

For example, once when I put a new dishwasher in another kitchen, the Maytag guy insisted on a wall between the dishwasher and the stove it was next to.  There is no stove issue here, but it dawned on me I don't know about clearance issues next to appliances.

I have a newbie question and it's about my own place on the ground floor of a three family building I own, built in 1890 in urban Northeast USA.

The space has a good sized pantry off a large kitchen.   At the time the house was built, meal prep, clean up and storage was in the pantry.

My plan is to take out the lower drawers and cabinet in the pantry and put in a dishwasher, a washing machine and a dryer.    The dishwasher will be next to the sink already there, then the washer, and then the dryer venting outside.   I will have room to leave space between the appliances if that is needed, but I'd rather not.   My long range plan is to take out the tall window next to the end of this row of future appliances and put in a door directly outside and I want all the space there, at the end of the row.  (I think the window is big enough to just put in a door, but dogs and people need space.   There is plenty of space in front of the door, which will open out, but it will work better with more space to the side, where the appliances will be.)  Currently, my two doors lead to too many doors to get out (four at each end).    I want a regular door, which opens to let my dogs out and for me to go out and play with them.

So, my question is about appliance clearance, so I can put all the space by the future door.  Any advice on what to do?