Eagle Creek Life
DECEMBER 2015
Meet Your Neighbors, The Hewins Family Photo by: Amanda Yachmetz Photography
A publication of Quantum Marketing Communications, LLC
IN THIS ISSUE • Meet Your Neighbors • An Upgraded Home For The Holidays How To Increase The Value Of Your Home
• Does The IRS Believe Your Business Is A Hobby? • Instilling Values In Our Children
• The Gift of Giving To Nonprofits Of Orlando • Long Term Care: Reasons Not To Plan
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December 2015
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Publisher Welcome Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays! Please support our advertisers this holiday season. They have specifically reached out to your community to help us bring this publication to you. Also please mention us when you patronize their businesses as that help insure their continued support. Join us on Facebook--just search for “Eagle Creek Life”. Eagle Creek Life is now online. Visit www.eaglecreeklifemag.com or www.QMCWorld.com. We am in need of families for the front cover of the magazines. Message: Bill@QMCWorld.com. We are also expanding and hiring sales help, commission based.Email me directly Bill@QMCWworld.com Thank you for supporting us. See you next year! Bill Bokunic Publisher and CEO, Quantum Marketing Communications 321-331-6398 • bill@QMCWorld.com
Bill Bokunic, Publisher & CEO Quantum Marketing Communications 321..331.6398 • Bill@QMCWorld.com
4 Eagle Creek Life
ON THE COVER
Meet Your Neighbors, The Hewins Family
Meet Your Neighbors We have made great friends and are thankful for living in such a beautiful community. Where did you move from? Littleton, Colorado. What do you miss most? Our amazing family, wonderful friends, and the mountains; we love to spend our time outdoors as well as snowboard! We miss the fantastic farmer's markets, the seasons, and fresh air! What is your background? Bryan is originally from the South but has lived all overas his background is within the airline and fitness industries. We moved to Oralndo after he accepted an Instructor/Pilot career for jetBlue! Lauren is from the Pacific Northwest but grew up in Colorado. Her previous career was within the funeral industry as well as a gymnastics coach!
Who’s on the cover? Bryan ans Lauren Hewins. Do you have any pets? Yes, two cats. Naughty and Miss Lil. When did you move to Eagle Creek? 2014. What street do you live on? Kelsall Drive. What do you love most about Eagle Creek? We enjoy the privacy and sense of community that Eagle Creek has to offer.
Do you do any volunteer work? Lauren was a long time volunteer for The Blue Bench in Denver, Colorado and is looking for a not-for-profit organization to dedicate time with here. What do you do for fun? Bryan enjoys working out and riding his bike around the Lake Nona area! Lauren enjoys spending time with friends, going for runs around the neighborhood, and reading. What is the last magazine that you have read? Eagle Creek Life! What is the last movie that you have seen in the theatre? "War Room". Who is your role model and why? Lauren - My parents. They are honest, hard working, compassionate, and friendly individuals who always give selflessly! I absolutely adore and love them! What is your favorite TV Show? Friends, of course!
What is unusual or unique about Eagle Creek, in comparison to your previous home? We chose to live in Eagle Creek based on it being gated as well as on a golf course.
What makes you laugh? We enjoy and appreciate dry humor! We're constantly laughing at and with oneanother over anything silly and random :)
What is your favorite weekend activity? On the weekends we try to spend time together exploring new areas of Orlando or spending time with friends.
What else should we know about you or your family? Moving to Orlando was a huge change for us as it is very different from Denver. We are thankful to have discovered Eagle Creek, though! Through community events, meeting new neighbors, and making new friends, Eagle Creek has made the transition a little bit easier! We look forward to seeing what the new community center has to offer as it would be great to walk to the gym!
Is there a neighbor experience you are most proud of? We have become very close with our neighbors who have, in essence, taken us in as their own! We enjoy spending time with them as well as sharing meals and lots of laughs together!
5 Eagle Creek Life
An Upgraded Home For The Holidays How to increase the value of your home by Jeanine Corcoran
A
s the holidays are upon us and we’re in the season of giving, why not give yourself the gift of home upgrades. If you already own your home, giving yourself that kitchen upgrade is a great investment in your resale value. Many homeowners ask; what upgrades are important to today’s buyers? Today’s buyers have their ultimate dream wish list of course, but they also have a higher expectation when it comes to standard features. The kitchen is still the number one place to invest in as a homeowner. Most minor kitchen remodels can expect to recoup about 90% of the cost when the home sells. Gone are the days when buyers would be happy to have a kitchen with laminate countertops and bisque appliances. Today’s buyers are looking for upgraded stainless steel appliances and granite or solid surface countertops like Quartz or Silestone. The living room, like the kitchen is the heart of the home, and the place for entertaining. The paint color should be neutral and bright. Buyers are looking for open spaces with good lighting. Solid floors such as wood or oversized ceramic tile are preferred over carpet. The master bathroom is the second most important area in the home. Buyers want to see dual sinks, a separate tub and shower, and upgraded light fixtures. They are likely to purchase a home with tiled showers, rather than a standardized shower stall. In some cases, buyers will forgo a tub altogether if they can find an oversized, tiled, walk-in shower. But what good is a great master bath, without an equally great master suite? Here, buyers are looking for a master with plenty of space to fit a king size bed and two dressers. They expect walk-in closets with shelving. A custom
closet with built-ins is a plus! When looking at two story homes, most buyers prefer the master to be on the first floor. The next area of the home that attracts buyers is the garage. An attached 2 car garage large enough to fit a standard size pick-up truck and a garage door opener are must haves. Painted or epoxy floors, and shelving or storage are important features too. Storage can be limited in Florida therefore a well-organized garage with extra space is definitely a bonus. Let’s not forget about outdoor living. Buyers are looking to not only enjoy the inside of their homes, but the outside as well which is why they will look for homes with a lanai or screened in porch. A yard with a privacy fence or shrubs is also desirable. Purchasing upgrades this holiday season is a great gift you can give yourself and your family. Just remember to consider what today’s buyers are looking for when making that purchase and where you’ll get the most return on your investment when you sell! Happy Holidays!
Jeanine Corcoran is the Broker and Owner of The Corcoran Connection, LLC – A Real Estate and Property Management Company. Jeanine has been helping families with their Real Estate needs since 2005. Jeanine is Barbara Corcoran’s sister from ABC’s SHARK TANK. Jeanine can be reached at 407.922.3308, email her at JeanineCorcoran@gmail.com, or visit TheCorcoranConnection.com.
6 Eagle Creek Life
Does The IRS Believe Your Business Is A Hobby? by Larry J. Herring, CPA
M
any people have a hobby such as painting, crafting, photography, or collecting stamps. If you are one of these people, does your hobby earn income from year to year? If so, there are many deciding factors in determining if you are engaging in a hobby or a business activity carried on for a profit. Let’s take a close look at this issue. Generally, IRS believes an activity qualifies as a business if it is carried on with the reasonable expectation of earning a profit. In order to make this determination, IRS considers the following factors: • Does the time and effort put into the activity indicate an intention to make a profit? • Does the taxpayer depend on income from the activity? • If there are losses, are they due to circumstances beyond the taxpayer’s control or did they occur in the start-up phase of the business? • Has the taxpayer changed methods of operation to improve profitability? • Does the taxpayer or his/her advisors have the knowledge needed to carry on the activity as a successful business? • Has the taxpayer made a profit in similar activities in the past?
• Does the activity make a profit in some years? • Can the taxpayer expect to make a profit in the future from the appreciation of assets used in the activity? The IRS presumes that an activity is carried on for profit if it makes a profit during at least three of the last five tax years, including the current year or at least two of the last seven years for activities that consist primarily of breeding, showing, training or racing horses. In general, taxpayers may deduct expenses that are appropriate, common, and accepted in the taxpayer’s trade or business. These expenses are considered ordinary and necessary expenses for conducting a trade or business. If you would like to discuss the factors IRS considers in determining if an activity is carried on for profit, please contact our office for a confidential, no charge, initial consultation.
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8 Eagle Creek Life
Instilling Values in our Children by Vasanti Rosado, Eagle Creek Resident
E
ven though Thanksgiving has passed, it is nice to think of everything we are thankful for throughout our daily lives. We have a good thing brewing in Lake Nona and I know life here will only get better. I happened to catch an episode of Cousins on Call in which a son paid for renovations to his parents’ home in preparation for their retirement in a few years. It was a total surprise and done while they were on vacation. The entire time, you could see how much he paid attention to his parents’ habits and thought of ways to make their lives easier. He said his mother prepared amazing meals in her cramped kitchen with a range so close to the wall she must have had to push all the handles to the right. The father could no longer use the rusted stairs that led straight to the backyard and instead had to circle the entire house with food to get back and forth from the grill. They’d operated like this for years and made do with what they had for many family gatherings. When the renovations were complete, the parents were speechless as they stared in amazement at their son’s gift. You could see the emotion in their expressions and many thanks they gave him. He really did something special for them, but I could see they had also done something special for him. They made him into a young man that desired to give to his parents the way they had given to him over the course of his upbringing. He realized the hard work they put in to make his life meaningful and to make him successful.
Seeing a story like this made me think about my children. I want to instill values that make them generous, thoughtful women who reflect on their lives and realize the sacrifices we make every day as parents. Not so they feel bad for anything we had to struggle through, but instead for them to appreciate what we have as a family and to take nothing for granted, material or otherwise. It’s normal for us to want to provide an easier life for our children and to provide them with things we may not have had growing up, but I want to ensure it’s all done in moderation. While I want to give them everything their little hearts desire, I know I have to scale back and give within reason. Sometimes what we don’t have can define us more than what we do have. It sounds simple, but I know I will have to evaluate this at every stage of their lives. How many toys to give? How many lessons? How big of a birthday party? How many clothes? And later, how to approach the subject of a car? How much for prom, yearbook, and everything else that comes with raising teenagers? It’ll all come in time and I’m sure we’ll learn as we go, but it’s something I always want to keep in the back of my mind – instilling values that make the core of our children innately good, sensible, loving, generous, and kind. I wish you all a happy holiday season and hope you have time to relax and visit your families, friends, and loved ones.
10 Eagle Creek Life
The Gift of Giving To Nonprofits of Orlando by Greg Troxell, Eagle Creek Resident No flurry of snow but we are witnessing the advent of advertising and shoppers looking for the right gift for all the special people in our lives. The National Retail Federation reports that more than 90% of Americans celebrate either Christmas, Kwanza or Hanukkah. In 2015 survey respondents indicate the average person will spend $830 on gifts for others this Christmas. That represent a 15% gain in spending over last year. Regardless of how much you spend, the joy is in giving. The snow globes in the offices of every nonprofit would be glistening if they would receive a 15% increase and so much good could be done. Children who have no source of income, and adults who want to instill and express their gratitude through gifts of service, can do more than give redeemable coupons “good for one foot massage” or “one car wash”. They could go together and volunteer at a local nonprofit. We interviewed just 2 of 385 local nonprofits who are making a big difference in the lives of ordinary people as they carry out their mission. Norma Jean Ross, Ex Dir of Pawsitive Action has 28 years experience handling dogs and is regarded around the world. Dan Springen, of The Orlando Film Festival, is a DGA Producer who has served the festival for the last 9 years. Pawsitive Action improves the lives of persons with various disabilities by providing highly trained Assistance Dogs. www.PawsitiveAction.org The Orlando Film Festival seeks to inspire filmmakers and provides creative, unique and entertaining events for the public. www.OrlandoFilmFest.org Norma experiences the joy of Christmas every time Pawsitive Action gives away a service dog to a person with a disability. Dan is exuberant as he thinks of how the Orlando Film Festival impacts the lives of so many and encourage collaboration in art as well as the enrichment of society. Both organizations rely on volunteers, financial sponsors, and gifts-in-kind. Your assistance to nonprofits make not only a healthier community, but altruistic acts are proven to improve your quality of life and wellbeing. “Get out there! There are so many reasons to help others, if for nothing else it certainly helps fill a need to repair our hearts and souls. The world can be a big bad place. Be kind to yourself and help others.” – Norma Ross, Pawsitive Action.
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12 Eagle Creek Life
Long Term Care: Reasons Not to Plan by Steve Mullins, Investment Adviser, Primerica
Kocher
Denial It won’t happen to me. Reality: About 70% of people aged 65 or older will eventually need some form of long term care. 1 Avoidance I don’t need it right now. I’ll wait until I retire. Reality: 40% of people currently receiving long term care are adults 18-64 years old. If you wait until you need it, a current health condition may disqualify you from coverage. 2 Government Medicare or Medicaid will cover my long term care expenses. Reality: Medicare typically only covers post-hospital, short-term rehabilitative care and short nursing home visits. That leaves Medicaid to pick up the rest. However, in order to qualify for Medicaid, you have to spend your assets until you reach your state’s poverty level. Family My family will take care of me. Reality: While family can be a huge help if a situation arises — they may not be able to make a full commitment. The national average for long term care costs is $75,555 but the cost can run to more than $100,000 a year in some locations. 3
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Cost Long term care insurance is too expensive. Reality: A 40-year-old healthy couple can get meaningful coverage at affordable rates. If you’re in good health, you may even qualify or lock in a preferred rate. 1 Longtermcare.gov, viewed March 26, 2013 2 pbs.org, viewed March 26, 2013 3 SeniorJournal.com, “Older Americans Face Climbing Long Term Care Cost in Nursing Homes, Assisted Living,” April 20, 2011
Steve brings Wall Street to Main Street Most advisers don’t offer to help Main Street Americans because most don’t have a high enough net worth. Steve will offer his services to Americans living paycheck to paycheck to those who are the savviest of investors and every one in between.
Steve teaches people how to: • Get out of debt • Save money • Send their children to college • Obtain proper protection • Prepare for retirement • And become financially independent While… • Reducing their stress level • Improving their quality of life • Helping them enjoy life
Steve A Mullins, Harmony Resident Investment Adviser Primerica 1301 Bedford Dr. Ste. 102 Melbourne, Florida 32940 407-738-7479 steveamullins@primerica.com www.primerica.com/steveamullins
Primerica Named to Top 50
© 2015, Forbes Media LLC. Used with permission.
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