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NORTON NEWSLETTER
THE REAL ESTATE TAX PRO ™
NortonAccountingServices.com 985-690-4498 Info@NortonAccountingServices.com MAY 2024
EASE OF MIND • AVAILABILITY • FLEXIBILITY • INDIVIDUAL APPROACH • EXPERIENCE • TAX SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES
The Case for Real Estate Investment MAKING IDEAL DECISIONS
In the spirit of May the 4th — also known as “Star Wars” Day — I thought I would begin with a relevant quote from Master Yoda: “Do or do not. There is no try.” That may apply if your pupil is learning to wield the Force to lift an X-Wing out of a swamp, but my clients are looking to expand their wealth. For you, my advice is, “Buy or buy not. There is no sell.” For any investment to build wealth, it needs to be IDEAL , meaning it has these five aspects: income, depreciation, equity, appreciation, and leverage. Income You can buy a lot of assets — that people tout as investments — which do not earn you money. Instead, those purchases cost you money until the point of sale, assuming they have accrued value from the time you purchased them. Real estate, however, can be put to work immediately to make you money. When you rent out your property, you have a cash flow stream that will become an annuity for life! Depreciation When you invest in something, you want to be able to depreciate it and save on your taxes. Once a rental property is available for rent, you can start depreciating it. This means you can
deduct part of the cost of that property each year over its expected lifetime on your tax return, allowing you to shelter the income it generates. Equity Equity is the difference between what the property is worth and how much you owe on it. As you continue to make payments, your equity in the property grows. In some cases, you may be able to purchase a property that has some equity already, meaning you bought it for under its market value. This is often the case with fixer- uppers. The beauty of real estate is that your tenants pay down your mortgage for you so your equity grows. Appreciation For an investment to be worthwhile, its value should increase over time, which is known as “appreciation.” Real estate — based on current market conditions — is consistently appreciating. Real estate grows in value for the simple fact that the population is growing and there is increasing demand for property for which there is a fixed supply. Leverage Leverage is the ability to use borrowed money. Using debt is one way to increase your return
on investment, because you can buy properties with low down payments. Rental properties are one of the easiest assets to finance because they generate monthly income to pay the mortgage. The secret to growing your wealth with leverage is to figure out how to use it without borrowing money from banks. Real estate investment can help you build wealth consistently over time and on a scale dependent on your level of financial commitment. Moreover, your investment can begin paying dividends almost immediately from rental cash flow. Rather than sink your money into assets that
I am leading a coaching program focusing on investment and attaining financial freedom. If you are interested in joining, go to NortonAccountingServices.com/ffic.
may never provide you the return you want, why not make an IDEAL investment decision instead?
–Bob Norton
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PALETTE OF POSSIBILITIES
Mastering the Marathon 3 Ways to Build Healthy Habits The journey to healthier habits is a marathon, not a sprint, and as such, it is a daunting task. Here are three tips to help you begin your journey, whether your goal is to lose weight, improve your diet, work out regularly, or just establish a more balanced lifestyle. No. 1 — Start Small Start your journey to better health in small ways, as attempting drastic change can be overwhelming. You should first focus on incremental adjustments to your routine. If your goal is to exercise more, start with short walks in the evenings after dinner or take the stairs in the office instead of elevators. These changes lay the foundation for long-term success. Starting small will make it easier to transition to larger changes, like adding a morning workout or speeding up your evening walk into a jog. No. 2 — Set Specific Goals Setting clear, attainable goals can easily motivate you. Rather than vague aspirations, like “exercise more” or “eat healthy,” define your goals into objectives like “walk 20 minutes every day” or “eat vegetables with every meal.” These goals can be a road map for your journey as you can track your progress as time goes on. Consistently achieving these milestones will solidify your commitment to your new healthy habits. No. 3 — Stay Consistent Consistency is at the core of building a habit — establishing a routine that aligns with your health goals. A structured routine supports habit formation, and consistency reinforces it. If you miss a day of your new habit, a routine helps you bounce back into the structure without being hard on yourself. As you continue building healthy habits, consistency will help ingrain them into your lifestyle. You can lay the groundwork for lasting, healthy habits by embracing these three tips. Small, gradual changes become the foundation for continued success, while clear objectives serve as milestones to celebrate success along the way. So, take joy in the process, celebrate the victories, and know that building these healthy habits is a marathon worth running.
3 Painting Ideas to Bring in Spring
In spring, nature shows us everything new: budding plants to blooms galore. Kids see this metamorphosis, too, so why not use this season to help your kids grow their own creativity? Here are three ways to encourage their creativity through painting.
Nature-Infused Masterpieces
For this activity, encourage kids to spend about half an hour outside picking their
favorite leaves, flowers, or small twigs and rocks. While they’re
collecting, set up paper and paint on a flat surface, but don’t add paintbrushes! Once they’ve picked their favorite bits of nature, bring them inside. Explain that they’ll be using these pieces of nature to stamp and brush, or they can even glue them onto the paper. This activity not only sparks creativity but
also connects children with natural objects. They must think creatively to use these unconventional materials to
construct a painting.
Bubble Wrap Printing With this next project, you can recycle the bubble wrap from any packages you receive during the week. Kids can dip bubble wrap into different paint colors and press it into paper or even the cardboard of those same boxes. This will create a textured and unique print you can hang up in your home. This activity can introduce kids of all ages to various textures and printmaking. These textures will often look organic and mimic shapes in the outside world, bringing another natural element into your activity. Glow-in-the-Dark Painting You can approach this magical project in a couple of different ways. All you need is glow-in-the-dark paint and some paper. One option is to have them paint a nature-inspired picture and then, when it dries, charge it under some light to reveal beautiful colors. You can also tell them to draw a secret message or picture and then paint over it. When the paint dries, it becomes transparent and even more colorful — watch their wonder as their hidden pictures appear. This fun twist can provide a unique angle to a conventional art session. Painting isn’t just about colors on paper; for kids, it’s about unlocking their imagination and allowing them to explore the endless possibilities of artistic expression. Simple materials upcycled with innovative techniques can transform painting into a joyful and educational pastime. These three projects are just the beginning of a beautiful journey into art for the whole family.
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The Unbelievable Shark Encounter
THAT SAVED A MAN’S LIFE Sharks are powerful, violent creatures. They can have thousands of razor- sharp teeth. They swim about 12 mph when attacking — twice the speed of a (very fast) human swimmer. The mere presence of a shark is enough to close down a beach and frighten movie audiences.
Not surprisingly, blunt force trauma was causing his pain, befitting a
large shark ramming him in the back. However, this wasn’t the only diagnosis he received that day, nor was it the most severe. While examining Eugene, doctors discovered a walnut-sized tumor on his right kidney. They quickly rolled him into the operating room and removed the cancerous tumor before it could progress.
Apparently, some sharks are different. One shark even saved a man’s life.
Eugene and his family were enjoying a warm summer day in Huntington Beach, California. As he swam in the ocean, enjoying the cool waters of the Pacific, he was struck by a sudden tremendous force, pushing his neck backward. He later described the sensation as “instant whiplash.” After a difficult and painful swim, he reached the shore. Eugene’s daughter asked why his back was so bloody. He was shocked to find a giant gash across the center of his back, as well as several teeth marks on one side. The family headed home as lifeguards closed the beach, fearing more attacks. That evening, Eugene was in severe pain from the injury and was rushed to the hospital.
Whether the shark intended it or not, it may have saved Eugene’s life. Undetected, the tumor might have metastasized and spread to the rest of his body. Without that attack, he may not have known about the cancer before it was too late. Because of that fact, we are confident the shark is a hero, whether it knows it or not.
TAKE A BREAK
Spring Herb Soup With Orzo and Pancetta
Ingredients • 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil • 4 oz pancetta, diced • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped • Salt and black pepper, to taste • 1/2 cup dry white wine • 1 cup uncooked orzo • 2 large garlic cloves, minced • 1 tsp fennel seeds
Inspired by FoodAndWine.com
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper • 8 cups chicken broth • 1 15-oz can cannellini beans, drained • 1/2 cup chopped fresh chives • 1/4 cup chopped fresh tarragon • 1 1/2 cups chopped parsley • Pecorino Romano cheese, grated (for garnish) • Lemon wedges
Directions
1. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add pancetta and cook 4–6 minutes. Add onion, salt, and pepper; cook until softened, 8–12 minutes. 2. Add wine and cook 4–5 minutes. Add orzo, garlic, fennel seeds, and red pepper; cook, stirring constantly, 2–4 minutes. 3. Add broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook until orzo is al dente, 8–10 minutes. 4. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cannellini beans; cook about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in chives, tarragon, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Top with cheese and lemon.
Bloom Cinco Comic Derby
Emerald Gemini Graduation Lily
Memorial Mother Renewal Veterans
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Norton Accounting Services, LLC
THE REAL ESTATE TAX PRO ™
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
NortonAccountingServices.com 985-690-4498 Info@NortonAccountingServices.com
1527 Gause Blvd. Ste. 132 Slidell, LA 70458
INSIDE 1
5 Reasons You Need to Invest in Real Estate
2
3 Tips for Building Healthy Habits
Artful Adventures for Spring
3
When a Shark Became a Lifesaver
Spring Herb Soup With Orzo and Pancetta
4
Jumpstart Your Skin Care
Show Your Skin Some Love
3 Tips for Your Skin Care Journey Healthier and radiant skin involves more than just a collection of expensive skin care products. It’s more
skin from harmful UV rays.” It helps prevent skin cancer, premature aging, and hyperpigmentation. Using sunscreen should become a habit in your daily routine, reapplying every 2–3 hours. You can also throw sunscreen sticks in your bag for easy application or use moisturizers with SPF. Just make sure it’s at least 30 SPF.
about a consistent routine with products that protect and complement your skin. A skin care routine can be a game- changer in achieving beautiful skin if done right. Here are three starter tips to jump-start your skin care journey. Double cleanse. Double cleansing is a new skin care practice with a name that describes it precisely. First, use an oil-based cleanser to break down any makeup, sunscreen, or excess oils on your skin. Scrub gently for at least one minute; sing your favorite song or set a timer — just be sure it’s one minute. Wash off the cleanser with warm water and begin the second part with a water-based cleanser, ensuring thorough removal of sweat and environmental pollutants. After rinsing, gently pat your face dry. Use sunscreen daily. Incorporating sunscreen into your skin care routine is crucial for maintaining beautiful skin. Dermatologist Dr. Howard Wang tells Johns Hopkins Medicine that “sunscreen is an essential aspect of a morning routine to protect the
Don’t forget your neck and chest. Including the neck and chest in a skin care routine is also incredibly
important. Just extend your double cleansing, moisturizer, SPF, and any other steps to your neck and chest. Skin care expert Paula Begoun explains, “The neck and chest have fewer oil glands, meaning they’re more prone to dryness and accelerated aging.” So, extending your routine to these often-neglected areas will address signs of aging more thoroughly. You’ll see and feel the difference in your skin in no time.
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