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How Does The Gift Tax Work When Using Gift Funds To Buy A Home By Raleigh Mortgage Broker Kevin Martini 

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Are you thinking of using gift funds to purchase a new home? It can be a great way to make the dream of homeownership a reality, but most people don’t realize that it comes with its own set of rules and regulations. The gift tax is one such rule – have you heard of it? The Martini Mortgage Group is passionate about helping their clients understand how the process works so they can confidently begin their journey towards homeownership. This special article, will walk through everything you need to know about the gift tax when using gift funds to buy your first home in Raleigh or any city for that matter.

$17,000 Annual Exclusion

Every year, the federal government give each of us allowance to gift anybody $17,000 per year without incurring any gift tax in 2023 – this is up $1,000 from 2022! It is important to note, it is $17,000 per person per year not $17,000 in total.

The good news is that, if you are the one giving the gift, there is no time limit on when you can give it. You can give gifts any time during the year, up to a total of $17,000 for 2023. In other words, you could give $10,000 in February and another $7,000 in December and there would be no gift taxes due.

$12,920,000 Lifetime Exclusion 

What most people don’t realize, is that there’s a second allowance of $12,920,000 called the Lifetime Exclusion!

Let me illustrate by example: you want to help your child buy a home and you want to give them $117,000. Wait, that is $100,000 more than what you can give you out of $17,000 annual exclusion – no problem thanks to the Lifetime Exclusion.

With the Lifetime Exclusion and in 2023 the Lifetime Exclusion is $12,920,000 you can use any of it during your lifetime.  When you use it, it simply reduces your estate tax exclusion by that amount.

So in our illustration, if you gift you $117,000 to your child, you would take $17,000 out of your Annual Exclusion and $100,000 out of your Lifetime Exclusion. It is critical to highlight, your Annual Exclusion replenishes each year however your Lifetime Exclusion does NOT replenish).  With this illustration, assuming it is 2023 and you have never used your Lifetime Exclusion you will have maxed out your 2023 Annual Exclusion for your child and your Lifetime Exclusion would be reduced from $12,920,000 to $12,820,000.

Now, if your estate is less than $12,920,000, this would not be a problem at all, because your heirs would have no estate tax anyhow. However, if my estate is more than $12,920,000 then your  heirs would have to pay estate taxes on anything inherited above $12,920,000.

Yes, the Lifetime Exclusion is used for both gift and estate tax purposes. So every time it use it to not pay gift taxes, you’re reducing your estate tax exclusion. 

Need To Know By Certified Mortgage Advisor and Raleigh Mortgage Broker Kevin Martini

  • No Relationship Required: You don’t have to be related to use either the Annual or Lifetime Exclusion. You could  gift $17,000 a year to a complete stranger and you would have no gift tax. You can also gift money to a complete stranger using your Lifetime Exclusion, and you would have no gift tax.
  • No Tax to the Gift Recipient: Everything we just talked about applies to the person GIVING the gift. What about the person RECEIVING the gift? Well, here’s some more good news: there is no tax due by the gift recipient!
  • $25,840,000 Total Exclusion for Married Couples: One thing to keep in mind about the Lifetime Exclusion is that the amount changes each year. In 2023, the exclusion is $12,920,000, but it is scheduled to go up in the years ahead because it is indexed to inflation. Also, keep in mind that you can ‘port’ over your $12,920,000 to your spouse if I’m married. This would mean, a married couple could have a total joint exclusion of $25,840,000! Hence, if you are married and your net worth is less than $25,840,000, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for you to concern yourself with the gift tax. That’s because even if you gift your entire net worth during your lifetime, you would pay $0 in gift taxes and your heirs would pay $0 in estate taxes. This is why the gift tax is really a non-issue for most people!
  • Additional Paperwork May be Required: If you’re using the $17,000 annual bucket, the gift doesn’t need to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if you follow the proper procedures. However, if you’re using the $12,920,000 Lifetime Exclusion, you would need to file a gift tax return with the IRS (even though no gift tax would be due). This is done to simply notify the IRS that you’re using part of your gift/estate tax exclusion.
  • Use Separate Checks: Make sure the checks are written by the specific individuals who are giving the gift. In other words, if mom is gifting you $17,000, and dad is also gifting you $17,000, you’ll need two separate checks: one from mom and one from dad. NOTE: during the mortgage process, you both may need to “source” these funds from a mortgage underwriting standpoint. Please consult with Martini Mortgage Group before you do anything so that we can discuss the specific details of your situation and make sure this is all done properly.
  • Eligible Gift Donors With Conventional Loans: “A gift can be provided by: a relative, defined as the borrower’s spouse, child or other dependent, or by any individual who is related to the borrower by blood, marriage, adoption or legal guardianship; or a non-relative that shares a familial relationship defined as a domestic partnership (or relative from a domestic partnership), individual engaged to marry the borrower, former relative or godparent.” Fannie Mae Seller Guide B3-4.3-04 Personal Gifts (12/14/2022)

Being informed and armed with knowledge is vital in making sure that you make the best decision for yourself and your family when it comes to homeownership. The Martini Mortgage Group stands ready to help navigate you through all aspects of this process giving you the confidence needed to purchase your dream home. We are here to carefully explain rules and regulations regarding using gift funds to secure secure the proper mortgage.

Don’t wait any longer – contact the Martini Mortgage Group today!

kevin martini best raleigh mortgage broker

Kevin Martini

NMLS 143962 | Certified Mortgage Adviso

Martini Mortgage Group at Gold Star Mortgage Financial Group, Corporation | NMLS # 3446 | 507 N Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27604 | (919) 238-4934 | www.MartiniMortgageGroup.com | Kevin@MartiniMortgageGroup.com | Equal Housing Lender

    PLEASE NOTE: THIS OVERVIEW IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE. PLEASE CONSULT WITH A QUALIFIED TAX ADVISOR FOR SPECIFIC ADVICE PERTAINING TO YOUR SITUATION. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS, PLEASE REFERENCE IRS PUBLICATION 559. ALSO, THIS ARTICLE REFERENCES THE FEDERAL GIFT TAX. YOUR STATE GIFT TAX LAWS MAY BE DIFFERENT.

     Recession, Rates and Real Estate in Raleigh

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    When there is a conversation about a recession coming to Raleigh, North Carolina it is natural to be curious about what it means for mortgage rates and real estate values.

    Episode 142 of the the Martini Mortgage Podcast with Certified Mortgage Advisor Kevin Martini is called Recession, Rates and Real Estate. In this special episode, Kevin Martini unpacks what experts believe will happen to Raleigh real estate and Raleigh home loan rates when there is a recession because there will be one — it is not a question of ‘if’, it is ‘when’ it will happen.

    recession rates and real estate martini mortgage mortgage group best raleigh mortgage lender

    There is a lot of chatter recently about the thoughts of a recession coming to visit us. There are a lot of conversations about the upward movement in mortgage rates in 2022. And about the Federal Reserve, increasing the Fed funds rate and reducing their balance sheet. There is the reality that homebuyers are facing challenges finding the right place to call home. Welcome to Episode 142 of the Martini mortgage podcast. My name is Kevin Martini, and I’m a certified mortgage advisor with the Martini Mortgage Group, which is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, however, myself, along with a very talented crew of mortgage professionals, help families in all 100 counties in North Carolina, and pretty much in every state in the US to I’m calling this special episode of the Martini mortgage podcast recession rates and real estate recession rates and real estate. Oh, my, let us start with the recession. What is it simply put it is when there’s a decline in economic activity for two consecutive quarters, as reflected by the GDP and other economic indicators. GDP in the US dropped 1.4% In the first quarter of 2022. And this drop is an indicator of the potential recession coming. When will it come? I do not know. I do know this as it relates to a recession. It’s not if a recession is going to happen. It is when will a recession happen? And when the recession happens, what will happen to mortgage rates and real estate home values. When the recession rears its head. Historically, real estate performs very well. Since 1960, in the US, there have been nine recessions. In eight out of nine recessions, real estate values increased during the recession. The anomaly was during the Great Recession, which was during the housing crisis. Today, it is nothing like it was in 2008. Today, there were requirements to get a home loan. And back then the only requirement to secure a mortgage was to make sure you were breathing. Let me highlight before the Great Recession. If you had a low credit score with no job, you were getting a home loan, and in many instances you are able to get multiple home loans. It is critical to highlight to you the housing crisis led us into the recession, home values have not declined because of the recession. They declined because of the housing crisis. Let me say this again for the people in the back. The housing crisis led us into recession, home values did not decline because of the recession. They declined because of the housing crisis. Today, the home loans on the books are nothing like the ones that were on the books during the housing crisis. In addition, during the housing crisis, there was an excess inventory back then which amplified the situation. Recession does not mean reduction of home values. Also I feel obligated to highlight this deceleration of home values does not mean depreciation of home values. It is expected that values will not appreciate at the rate they have appreciated, hence deceleration. However, homes are still forecasted to appreciate. According to the home price expectation survey, home values over the next five years are projected to appreciate cumulative about 25% With the current inflation, some have the opinion that this cumulative 25% appreciation we’re five years is a conservative prediction. Here’s why.

    At the time of this recording of episode 141 of the Martini Mortgage Podcast, inflation is 8.5%. During periods of inflation, fixed assets like real estate perform very well since Owning a home is a hedge against inflation. Let me illustrate using what happened in the 70s During the 70s, consumer prices increased 7.1%. However homes appreciated 9.9%. Too far back. Okay. Let us look at the 90s. during that decade, consumer prices increased 3%. And homes appreciated 4%. When we look back at this period of time that we’re in today, it is my opinion, we will look back at 2022 as the good old days of real estate, we will right now are in a housing boom, not a housing bubble friends. Sure, this market has challenges and I understand it’s not easy out there. However, there are things that I can do as a certified mortgage advisor to put your offer in the pole position by allowing you to make a same as cash offer. Nothing very good for you is easy. If you want to be healthy, you have to exercise and eat right. It’s hard to exercise consistently and eating right is hard to Yes, buying a home for the first time or as a repeat homebuyer is not easy today. However, it’s easier if you follow the proper steps. The first step to homeownership is always the home loan. And the second step is to go find a home. And the third step is to make a same as cash offer with an approval package from the Martini Mortgage Group. I know their inventory challenges, and mortgage rates have drifted upward. And sure it would have cost you last if you purchased 12 months ago. But I’m reminding you that of this old Chinese proverb The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now for all those out there that fear our real estate bubble. Let me talk about inventory for a hot second. In 2007, there were 116 million households. Today there are 130 million households. Simply put, there are 14 million more households. And Freddie Mac estimates 3.8 million homes shortage of single family homes for those 130 million households. Let me compare this to the peak in 2007, where there were 3.7 million homes available for sale. And today there are under 900,000 homes for sale. Again, right now is an opportunity and is worth the effort. Even if mortgage rates are higher today, as compared to this time last year. Let us talk about mortgage rates and the Federal Reserve and what they are doing. As a primer. Mortgage rates are based on mortgage bonds, not on the federal funds rate. The Fed funds rate and mortgage rates are two different things. Remember when the Fed funds rate was zero, and many thought that meant mortgage rates were at zero? Obviously, you know that was not the case. Mortgage rates are based on mortgage bonds. When mortgage bond price moves downward to attract more buyers yield is increased. When yield is increased home loan rates rise between 1231 2021 and the end of April of 2022. The mortgage bond price has deteriorated nine point during that period of time. Why the move? Inflation is one of the key reasons for this move in mortgage rates. Again, home loan rates live in the bond market and the Nemesis to the to a bond is inflation. Inflation is high and high inflation negatively impacts mortgage rates. However, from a historical perspective, mortgage rates are still at a record level. Don’t believe me? Well, let

    me share this fact with you. When my wife Ronnie and I purchased our first home, the rate for our mortgage was in the mid 90s. And that was not even for a fixed rate mortgage. If our first mortgage would have been a fixed mortgage, it would have been in double digits. What I am going to share now Next, it’s just literally going to blow your mind. What the Federal Reserve is doing today, based on history will improve mortgage rates over time. Raising the Fed funds rate is designed to lower inflation, lower inflation means improvement in home loan rates. Now, inflation did not just pop up overnight, it took time, so will take time for the Fed to get inflation under control. But they will. When inflation gets under control, mortgage rates should improve. You heard me correctly, I believe, rates will come down from the current levels. However, they will likely get worse before they get better, they will get worse because the Fed has a very large inventory of mortgage bonds they will be selling off. But when the dust settles, it should be a good thing. When will the dust settle? It is my gas best case by the end of 2022. But that may be too optimistic with the quantity of bonds they have to sell. And based on where inflation is today. But worst case, in the beginning of 2024. So should you wait to time the market? No. timing the market for mortgage rates is insane, because it’s essentially impossible to do. But even if you could wait it out for the pivot to lower mortgage rates, you will be paying a premium for the home since the home would have appreciated why you wait it. Here’s the fact you have three options today. Number one, call your folks and see if your bedroom is still available. Number two as you can keep renting and we all know that rents are up just under 20%. And then you’re subject to future increases. Or number three, take advantage of the housing boom, we are in today and lacking your housing costs. And no if I’m your mortgage advisor, I will monitor the markets for you after closing for the opportunity to lower your fixed housing costs with a refinance. In closing.

    It is not if a recession will happen. It is when it will happen. During periods of recession, home values have done very well. Right now there’s not a housing bubble. Right now there is a housing opportunity. Right now mortgage rates are higher than they’ve been in the past several years. However, they are still very attractive and below the historic average. The Fed is working hard to control inflation, and they will but it will take time. Speaking of time, right now is it time to explore your homeownership options as a first time homebuyer or as a repeat homebuyer. Perhaps you are living in a house that you owe. But you and your family have outgrown it. Now is the time to upgrade. My name is kevin martini and I am a certified mortgage advisor with a martini Mortgage Group. I provide trusted advice with a frictionless process that offers great rates and certainty to you and your family. My number is 919-238-4934 Looking forward to connect. Stay safe out there and wishing you peace and blessings. Now it’s time for the disclaimer. This material has been prepared for marketing purposes only. This is not a loan commitment or guarantee of any kind. loan approval and rates are dependent upon borrower’s credit collateral financial history and program availability at time of origination rates in terms are subject to change without notice. The Martini Mortgage Group at PCL financials the division of celebrity Home Loans NMLS 227765 with a branch address of 507 North London street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 You can contact certified mortgage advisor and producing branch manager kevin martini NMLS NUMBER 143962 by calling the branch and that number is 919-238-4934. For a full list and more licensing information, please visit www NMLS consumer access that or or by visiting www.MartiniMortgageGroup.com equal housing lender