Significant tax reform legislation was signed into law with the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. This legislation replaced both the one-time $125,000 tax-free exclusion for homeowners aged 55 and older, and the "rollover" deferment of capital gains tax requiring the purchase of a replacement home of higher or equal cost within two years of the sale of your principal residence.

With this change, a married couple filing their taxes jointly pays capital gains taxes only on that portion of home sales profits that exceeds $500,000. Single taxpayers, heads of households, and married persons filing separately may exclude up to $250,000. The exclusion is available for all sales of homes that occurred on or after May 6, 1997. Homeowners can use this tax-free provision every two years.

You are allowed to keep these tax-free profits only if you have owned and used the home as your principal residence for two out of the five years prior to the sale of the property. Although the regulations do not require continuous occupancy, the IRS specifies that your principal residence must be the home you use for the majority of time during the year. Consult your tax advisor about your personal circumstance.

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Shelly Reed
Century 21 Cross Roads
9960 Highway 53
Lower Lake, CA 95457
707-994-7100
Fax: 707-994-5879
Office: 707-303-5882
shellyreed@century21.com

Born in Kentucky with southern hospitality and family at the heart of who she is, Shelly pours herself into whatever she sets her mind to do. She is a city girl that grew up in the East Bay of San Francisco. With encouragement from her parents to develop her love for people and energy for life, she attended modeling finishing school and public speaking classes, all the while winning many awards in competition for Creative Young Authors. Coupled with her academic skills she is an outgoing, honest and sincere person. She has an incredible ability to organize and motivate with her humorous energetic personality. With the loving support of her husband, Rich Reed, they relocated to Lake County ten years ago in order for them to pursue their goals. With Her strong background in Insurance and Sales, Shelly went on to become one of Lake County�s TOP Realtors. Starting out in 2003 with a small local brokerage CPS Country Air and then moving up to join the C-21 Alliance Team in 2009. She continues to grow and strives to achieve the highest standard of service in the industry. Shelly loves the real estate business and her clients love her! She believes that in a smaller area like Lake County your reputation is everything! Shelly cares about her clients and their needs. She brings a REAL Approach to REAL ESTATE.... I am proud to be a REALTOR with Century 21 Cross Roads. DRE #01451243

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