Comments on: The Little Footnote on the 2008 Tax Stimulus Package http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html personal finance blog with anecdotes, advice and commentary. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:30:41 +0000 hourly 1 By: Nicholas A.& Ilia SERIO http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html/comment-page-1#comment-246907 Nicholas A.& Ilia SERIO Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:57:29 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html#comment-246907 We received our check in the mail today and it was for $600.00 dollars. Wer were expecting $1200.00. Can you explain the difference? We received our check in the mail today and it was for $600.00 dollars. Wer were expecting $1200.00. Can you explain the difference?

]]> By: ?? http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html/comment-page-1#comment-229299 ?? Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:19:48 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html#comment-229299 If I am over 18 years old and filed a tax return with the status of single and paid in federal tax. But am a student and my parents claim me on there taxes as a dependent will I receive a stimulus check and if so how much? If my parents don't get the $300 due to being over 17 years old why wouldn't I receive the $300.00? If I am over 18 years old and filed a tax return with the status of single and paid in federal tax. But am a student and my parents claim me on there taxes as a dependent will I receive a stimulus check and if so how much?
If my parents don’t get the $300 due to being over 17 years old why wouldn’t I receive the $300.00?

]]> By: Jay http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html/comment-page-1#comment-229113 Jay Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:02:43 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html#comment-229113 This whole housing situation is so strange. It shocks me to still watch & listen to folks act as if they're entitled to "own a home". Not so, never been so. Particularly before "condos", many, many people rented their entire lives, particularly in densely populated areas -like SoCal. You really cannot expect purchasable (price, volume) homes to keep in step with the population, nor should it. That's just the way it is. This whole housing situation is so strange. It shocks me to still watch & listen to folks act as if they’re entitled to “own a home”. Not so, never been so. Particularly before “condos”, many, many people rented their entire lives, particularly in densely populated areas -like SoCal. You really cannot expect purchasable (price, volume) homes to keep in step with the population, nor should it. That’s just the way it is.

]]> By: Todd http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html/comment-page-1#comment-229112 Todd Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:02:10 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html#comment-229112 Thanks for bringing this aspect to light. It's interesting, and I don't see much wrong with it as long as the mortgages are prudently underwritten. Thanks for bringing this aspect to light. It’s interesting, and I don’t see much wrong with it as long as the mortgages are prudently underwritten.

]]> By: Adfecto http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html/comment-page-1#comment-229096 Adfecto Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:58:14 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html#comment-229096 This does work out to be a financial boon to the wealthy (even if it feels middle class in So Cal). It also perpetuates exaggerated home prices. At some point people need to face the pain. Politicians need to stop meddling and let home prices come back in line with incomes. As an example, the average household income in Orange County, CA ranges from $31,212 in Laguna Woods to $203,091 and the overall median income is $75,700 county wide. At the same time the median home price is $650,000. Even the most wealthy community in the county can barely expect to afford the median home (based on the home being 3.25x income). Instead the median home is 8.5x the average income. Clearly, sooner or later, prices must fall. This does work out to be a financial boon to the wealthy (even if it feels middle class in So Cal). It also perpetuates exaggerated home prices. At some point people need to face the pain. Politicians need to stop meddling and let home prices come back in line with incomes. As an example, the average household income in Orange County, CA ranges from $31,212 in Laguna Woods to $203,091 and the overall median income is $75,700 county wide. At the same time the median home price is $650,000. Even the most wealthy community in the county can barely expect to afford the median home (based on the home being 3.25x income). Instead the median home is 8.5x the average income. Clearly, sooner or later, prices must fall.

]]> By: Jim http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html/comment-page-1#comment-229091 Jim Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:33:22 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html#comment-229091 Yes I think this change is really aimed at areas where housing costs are very high. Median home price in California is now well over $400k and thats down from the peak it hit over $500k. SO that means half the houses in California sell for $400k or more. This change is not exactly a handout for the ultrarich, since typical middle class income families would stand to benefit from it in many areas. Jim Yes I think this change is really aimed at areas where housing costs are very high. Median home price in California is now well over $400k and thats down from the peak it hit over $500k. SO that means half the houses in California sell for $400k or more. This change is not exactly a handout for the ultrarich, since typical middle class income families would stand to benefit from it in many areas.

Jim

]]> By: Stngy1 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html/comment-page-1#comment-229083 Stngy1 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:47:57 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-little-footnote-on-the-2008-tax-stimulus-package.html#comment-229083 For those of us living in areas with really expensive housing (our 1000 SqFt home is CURRENTLY valued at $518,000) this "footnote" in the stimulus pkg makes a lot of sense. It reflects the reality of the housing market. It would make more sense, though, if these numbers, as with a lot of things, reflected the varied costs of living in different parts of the US (my husband makes the same salary, in his Govt job, as someone in the same position living in Mississippi. Crazy. AND I don't think they really would WANT him to move to Miss.; he's needed here. Crazy). For those of us living in areas with really expensive housing (our 1000 SqFt home is CURRENTLY valued at $518,000) this “footnote” in the stimulus pkg makes a lot of sense. It reflects the reality of the housing market. It would make more sense, though, if these numbers, as with a lot of things, reflected the varied costs of living in different parts of the US (my husband makes the same salary, in his Govt job, as someone in the same position living in Mississippi. Crazy. AND I don’t think they really would WANT him to move to Miss.; he’s needed here. Crazy).

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