[svelte]

When fighting for survival (even if it’s just financial survival), most humans toss morals out the window. Sad, but true.

There have been dishonest realtors since the days of selling swampland in Florida 100 years ago.

In the 1970s, my dad made an offer to the seller’s realtor on a house that had been on the market over 6 months. A week or two later, no response. So he called the seller directly and asked why they didn’t accept the offer. The seller said they never GOT the offer, and yes they would accept my father’s terms immediately (they had already moved and were tired of paying two mortgages). My pop still lives in that house today.

Turns out the seller’s realtor had found someone else who would buy that house once they sold theirs – which was also listed with him. He was apparently holding out for getting a commission on two homes, not just one.

Disgusting.

[svelte]

…There is an uncooperative occupant who refuses to give access, and any sale will be subject to the rights of the current occupants(s) until lease ends in April, 2008. NOD has been filed.

I suppose that if I were a tenant and learned that a NOD had been filed on the property, the relationship with my landlord would probably get downright nasty.

At least the seller is being up front. Not sure how many folks are going to lay out a mil on something sight unseen, though.

[svelte]

…There is an uncooperative occupant who refuses to give access, and any sale will be subject to the rights of the current occupants(s) until lease ends in April, 2008. NOD has been filed.

I suppose that if I were a tenant and learned that a NOD had been filed on the property, the relationship with my landlord would probably get downright nasty.

At least the seller is being up front. Not sure how many folks are going to lay out a mil on something sight unseen, though.

[svelte]

…There is an uncooperative occupant who refuses to give access, and any sale will be subject to the rights of the current occupants(s) until lease ends in April, 2008. NOD has been filed.

I suppose that if I were a tenant and learned that a NOD had been filed on the property, the relationship with my landlord would probably get downright nasty.

At least the seller is being up front. Not sure how many folks are going to lay out a mil on something sight unseen, though.

[svelte]

…There is an uncooperative occupant who refuses to give access, and any sale will be subject to the rights of the current occupants(s) until lease ends in April, 2008. NOD has been filed.

I suppose that if I were a tenant and learned that a NOD had been filed on the property, the relationship with my landlord would probably get downright nasty.

At least the seller is being up front. Not sure how many folks are going to lay out a mil on something sight unseen, though.

[svelte]

…There is an uncooperative occupant who refuses to give access, and any sale will be subject to the rights of the current occupants(s) until lease ends in April, 2008. NOD has been filed.

I suppose that if I were a tenant and learned that a NOD had been filed on the property, the relationship with my landlord would probably get downright nasty.

At least the seller is being up front. Not sure how many folks are going to lay out a mil on something sight unseen, though.

[svelte]

Sorry, just got around to re-reading this thread…

Specializing in IP law almost always requires a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering. I can almost guarantee you that these firms are mostly dealing with biotech and hi-tech companies and that many of their lawyers are patent attorneys with engineering/science undergrad degrees. Also, the $700/hour figure is what the firm bills. The attorneys themselves don’t make anywhere near that although they do earn a very nice living.

The article mentions that an engineering degree is typical for these positions. And you’re right, $700/hr is what the firm bills. My company charges customers about double what I make for my consulting time, so I would figure that a lawyer might see about $350/hr of that $700/hr…which equates to making $700,000/yr if working 40 hour weeks. As you say, a very nice living.

[svelte]

Sorry, just got around to re-reading this thread…

Specializing in IP law almost always requires a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering. I can almost guarantee you that these firms are mostly dealing with biotech and hi-tech companies and that many of their lawyers are patent attorneys with engineering/science undergrad degrees. Also, the $700/hour figure is what the firm bills. The attorneys themselves don’t make anywhere near that although they do earn a very nice living.

The article mentions that an engineering degree is typical for these positions. And you’re right, $700/hr is what the firm bills. My company charges customers about double what I make for my consulting time, so I would figure that a lawyer might see about $350/hr of that $700/hr…which equates to making $700,000/yr if working 40 hour weeks. As you say, a very nice living.

[svelte]

Sorry, just got around to re-reading this thread…

Specializing in IP law almost always requires a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering. I can almost guarantee you that these firms are mostly dealing with biotech and hi-tech companies and that many of their lawyers are patent attorneys with engineering/science undergrad degrees. Also, the $700/hour figure is what the firm bills. The attorneys themselves don’t make anywhere near that although they do earn a very nice living.

The article mentions that an engineering degree is typical for these positions. And you’re right, $700/hr is what the firm bills. My company charges customers about double what I make for my consulting time, so I would figure that a lawyer might see about $350/hr of that $700/hr…which equates to making $700,000/yr if working 40 hour weeks. As you say, a very nice living.

[svelte]

Sorry, just got around to re-reading this thread…

Specializing in IP law almost always requires a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering. I can almost guarantee you that these firms are mostly dealing with biotech and hi-tech companies and that many of their lawyers are patent attorneys with engineering/science undergrad degrees. Also, the $700/hour figure is what the firm bills. The attorneys themselves don’t make anywhere near that although they do earn a very nice living.

The article mentions that an engineering degree is typical for these positions. And you’re right, $700/hr is what the firm bills. My company charges customers about double what I make for my consulting time, so I would figure that a lawyer might see about $350/hr of that $700/hr…which equates to making $700,000/yr if working 40 hour weeks. As you say, a very nice living.

[svelte]

Sorry, just got around to re-reading this thread…

Specializing in IP law almost always requires a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering. I can almost guarantee you that these firms are mostly dealing with biotech and hi-tech companies and that many of their lawyers are patent attorneys with engineering/science undergrad degrees. Also, the $700/hour figure is what the firm bills. The attorneys themselves don’t make anywhere near that although they do earn a very nice living.

The article mentions that an engineering degree is typical for these positions. And you’re right, $700/hr is what the firm bills. My company charges customers about double what I make for my consulting time, so I would figure that a lawyer might see about $350/hr of that $700/hr…which equates to making $700,000/yr if working 40 hour weeks. As you say, a very nice living.

[svelte]

When I lived in a MR district, we put the MR tax on our tax return every year, as did our neighbors. At the time, my understanding was that if the tax was to pay for something that would benefit only the MR district residents (ie, a private pool, private roads, etc), then it was not tax deductible. Since this was not the case, we deducted it. As TG points out, it showed up on our 1098 in the “taxes paid” figure and was not a separate tax bill. I just took that 1098 number and plopped it into TurboTax.

All of our neighbors at the time did the same thing. I never heard of anyone getting audited, but then again the MR was not high and I think the difference it made in the taxes we paid was minimal. I didn’t spend any time worrying about it because I didn’t realize there was controversy about it’s deductibility beyond the private vs public as stated above.

I agree with TG that it would probably look suspicious if the number you claim for prop taxes paid did not match what the 1098 says, since I’m sure the IRS has software that tries to match those numbers up.

This whole issue is moot here at our current house, so I don’t even have to think it through any more.

Excellent thread. These are the types of post that make this such a wonderful place to visit.

[svelte]

When I lived in a MR district, we put the MR tax on our tax return every year, as did our neighbors. At the time, my understanding was that if the tax was to pay for something that would benefit only the MR district residents (ie, a private pool, private roads, etc), then it was not tax deductible. Since this was not the case, we deducted it. As TG points out, it showed up on our 1098 in the “taxes paid” figure and was not a separate tax bill. I just took that 1098 number and plopped it into TurboTax.

All of our neighbors at the time did the same thing. I never heard of anyone getting audited, but then again the MR was not high and I think the difference it made in the taxes we paid was minimal. I didn’t spend any time worrying about it because I didn’t realize there was controversy about it’s deductibility beyond the private vs public as stated above.

I agree with TG that it would probably look suspicious if the number you claim for prop taxes paid did not match what the 1098 says, since I’m sure the IRS has software that tries to match those numbers up.

This whole issue is moot here at our current house, so I don’t even have to think it through any more.

Excellent thread. These are the types of post that make this such a wonderful place to visit.

[svelte]

When I lived in a MR district, we put the MR tax on our tax return every year, as did our neighbors. At the time, my understanding was that if the tax was to pay for something that would benefit only the MR district residents (ie, a private pool, private roads, etc), then it was not tax deductible. Since this was not the case, we deducted it. As TG points out, it showed up on our 1098 in the “taxes paid” figure and was not a separate tax bill. I just took that 1098 number and plopped it into TurboTax.

All of our neighbors at the time did the same thing. I never heard of anyone getting audited, but then again the MR was not high and I think the difference it made in the taxes we paid was minimal. I didn’t spend any time worrying about it because I didn’t realize there was controversy about it’s deductibility beyond the private vs public as stated above.

I agree with TG that it would probably look suspicious if the number you claim for prop taxes paid did not match what the 1098 says, since I’m sure the IRS has software that tries to match those numbers up.

This whole issue is moot here at our current house, so I don’t even have to think it through any more.

Excellent thread. These are the types of post that make this such a wonderful place to visit.

[svelte]

When I lived in a MR district, we put the MR tax on our tax return every year, as did our neighbors. At the time, my understanding was that if the tax was to pay for something that would benefit only the MR district residents (ie, a private pool, private roads, etc), then it was not tax deductible. Since this was not the case, we deducted it. As TG points out, it showed up on our 1098 in the “taxes paid” figure and was not a separate tax bill. I just took that 1098 number and plopped it into TurboTax.

All of our neighbors at the time did the same thing. I never heard of anyone getting audited, but then again the MR was not high and I think the difference it made in the taxes we paid was minimal. I didn’t spend any time worrying about it because I didn’t realize there was controversy about it’s deductibility beyond the private vs public as stated above.

I agree with TG that it would probably look suspicious if the number you claim for prop taxes paid did not match what the 1098 says, since I’m sure the IRS has software that tries to match those numbers up.

This whole issue is moot here at our current house, so I don’t even have to think it through any more.

Excellent thread. These are the types of post that make this such a wonderful place to visit.

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