What Entrepreneurs Are Learning From This Recession

Get Really Creative!

The wake up call of contracted money flow calls entrepreneurs to focus, plan strategically, acquire new skills, reinvent our business models, ourselves, our relationships, and prioritize -- not only money but, more importantly, our most precious personal resource: Time. 

 

Aysha's contribution to: http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/blog/the-lessons-learned-by-entrepreneurs-from-this-recession

NO 4.0% "SALES TAX" ON HOME SALES IN HEALTH REFORM BILL

Contrary to reports and newspaper articles circulating widely on the Internet, there is not a 4.0% "sales tax" or "transfer tax" on the sale of a home included in the recently signed health care reform bill. 

The analysis underlying these reports not correct and fails to take into account the interplay of the bill's provisions with already existing real estate tax laws that remain unchanged.  

Included in the health bill is a provision that imposes a new 3.8% Medicare tax for some high income households that have "net investment income." Any revenue collected by the tax is dedicated to the Medicare hospital insurance program. This new tax will only apply to households with Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of more than $200,000 for individuals or more than $250,000 for married couples. 

Since capital gains are included in the definition of net investment income, an additional tax obligation might result from the sale of real property.  In the case of the sale of a principal residence, the existing $250,000/$500,000 exclusion from capital gains on the sale of a principal residence remains unchanged. 

Consequently, even when the AGI limits are met, the new tax would not be applied to all capital gains that result from the sale of a home. Rather, it would only apply to any home sale gain realized in excess of the $250K/$500K existing primary home exclusion that pushes the filer's AGI over the $200K/$250K adjusted gross income limit. 

The new Medicare tax will not take effect until January 1, 2013
(from article sent to members of the Santa Fe Association of Realtors)

60 Seconds to Being a Better Entrepreneur

Hold That Thought

Spend 60 seconds with eyes closed focusing on your ultimate goal. Watch how your mind wanders, contradicts, raises objections. Holding a clear unobstructed idea/image for even 15 seconds is a challenge to most people. When you can do it for 15, go for 30, then 45 seconds. If you practice and can truly stay focused for a minute, seeing and feeling your goal with your whole body and mind, it will manifest with great ease. Worth a try, eh?

Article About GreenRoads in the Santa Fe New Mexican Home managzine

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Home Monthly Real Estate Magazine
04 Apr 2010

Santa Fe New Mexican Features GreenRoads Realty!

GreenRoads Realty is delighted to be featured in the "Santa Fe New Mexican"'s Easter Sunday paper, in the monthly Real Estate magazine insert.

In the article by editor Paul Weideman, I am interviewed about the reasons for an eco-real estate agency and my vision for a sustainable future.

Unfortunately, there is no link to this article on the newspaper's site. As soon as we can scan it, we'll post it. There was also no link to our website or phone number, so please visit our GreenRoads Realty website or our eZine, Green Living New Mexico, or call us to talk about Santa Fe real estate: (505) 995-0195.

If you read this article in the New Mexican, please leave us a comment. Thank you!

Free Resources for Entrepreneurs

Barbara Findlay Schenck at Entrepreneur.com offers these no-cost marketing resources:

Market research: MapStats. Don’t rely on guesswork to determine whether the region you serve can support your growth goals or whether new markets are good choices for business expansion. Instead, tap into government-assembled facts about any U.S. state, county, city or congressional district. With just a few keyboard clicks you’ll see the region’s population and demographics, as well as facts about growth, housing, income, employment, number and nature of businesses, and business activity by sector. Through this single source you can gather valuable information to weigh as you plot your next marketing moves.

Customer research: Zoomerang and SurveyMonkey. These resources let you create customized surveys and view responses to them, giving you knowledge of how your products and services are perceived by consumers so you can improve your business offerings accordingly. Higher-level services are available for a fee.

Marketing-plan resources: U.S. Small Business Administration. Business advisors agree on one thing: Businesses with marketing plans market better. For help getting your marketing in order, the SBA provides a rich array of advice on a single Web page. Links lead to how-to instructions for conducting competitive analyses, writing marketing plans, placing advertising and more. For additional information, visit the Palo Alto Software site Mplans.com for marketing-plan advice, tools, and what’s described as “the largest single collection of free sample marketing plans online.”

Hot Water Heater Device Cuts Your Heating Bills

If you are looking to take advantage of the 30% tax credits to cut your energy bills, there's a simple retrofit that attaches to your water heater, costs about $500 and can reduce your heating bill by 50% to 70%. If you have in-floor radiant heat, rather than forced air, it could save you be up to 70%, because radiant heating uses hot water to heat your house.

Made by Texas-based AirGenerate, their AirTap device was demonstrated at the Solar Decathlon, and helped the University of Illinois earn their perfect score for hot water energy efficiency.

This product claims to turn any conventional gas or electric water heater into an affordable, effective, heat-pump water heater, more than doubling the energy performance compared with a standard electric water heater.

The unit is 18″ wide by 14″ deep by 14″ high, and weighs 48 pounds. It saves energy by drawing heat from the surrounding air and transfers the heat into fluid within a sealed copper coil that is inserted into the hot water tank, heating up the water, so the gas does not have to work as hard.

The $500 cost can be reduced not just by the 30% tax credit, but may qualify for additional rebates, subsidies or tax credits.