Brandi Haddock-Realtor-Carthage/Joplin, MO

06/17/2026

06/16/2026

🗺️ Every state runs a Medicaid estate recovery program, so after someone who received long-term care Medicaid dies, the state tries to recover what it paid from the estate.

While you are alive, your home is usually an exempt asset that does not count against you, which is why people assume it is permanently protected.

That protection ends at death, when recovery begins, and the home is often the largest asset the state can reach.

Whether the home is actually reachable comes down to how your state defines its estate for recovery.

States that recover only from the probate estate cannot touch a home that passed outside probate through a deed, a trust, or a beneficiary form.

States with expanded recovery can also pursue assets that skipped probate, including jointly held property, life estates, and beneficiary transfers.

This only matters if you or a loved one received Medicaid for care, and the exemptions, like hardship waivers and protections for a surviving spouse, vary by state.

Before relying on any tool to keep the home in the family, confirm whether your state stops at the probate estate or reaches beyond it.



*The content shared here is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on your specific situation.*

06/15/2026

Said to ward off spirits, this watery hue is behind a fresh crop of home finds.

06/13/2026

Good advice!

🏠 State Farm's average claim payment for water damage caused by freezing tops $30,000, and a garden hose left attached to an outdoor spigot is one of the most common causes.

Foundation and fascia damage from clogged gutters averages around $8,000 and is often excluded from homeowners insurance as wear and tear, leaving the bill out of pocket.

The U.S. Department of Energy puts the savings from regular HVAC maintenance at 5 to 20 percent of annual heating and cooling costs.

NFPA links nearly 14,000 home fires a year to clothes dryers, with most caused by failure to clean the vent.

Sealcoating an asphalt driveway every two to three years can extend its life from 10-15 years to 25-30 years, often saving $5,000 or more over the life of the surface.

Sediment buildup in a water heater cuts efficiency 10 to 30 percent and shortens tank life, turning a $150 annual flush into a $1,500 early replacement.

Across all seven tasks the math is the same: each one costs less than the repair it prevents.



*The content shared here is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on your specific situation.*

06/10/2026

🧱 When you inherit a house, its tax basis resets to the home's fair market value on the date of death, which is called the stepped-up basis.

That reset wipes out the capital gain on decades of appreciation, so selling soon after usually means little or no capital gains tax.

To lock that number in, get a retrospective date-of-death appraisal from a licensed appraiser, not the county's tax assessment, which is a different figure.

If the home later sells below that stepped-up basis and was not used as your personal residence, the loss can be a deductible capital loss.

From there you have three paths: move in and take over the mortgage with no credit check under the Garn-St. Germain Act, rent it out, or sell and split the proceeds.

Renting lets you deduct depreciation, but that depreciation is recaptured when you sell and taxed at up to 25%.

Selling is often simplest when several heirs are involved, though it is not automatically the best move, since holding or renting can fit some families better.

The cost most heirs miss is that property taxes, insurance, mortgage payments, and upkeep do not pause while the estate settles, and someone has to cover them from day one.

If you inherit with siblings, agree on a plan early, because disputes over the house can drag on for months and eat into its value.



*The content shared here is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on your specific situation.*

06/01/2026

https://www.flexmls.com/share/E4DrU/1929-Bluebird-Way-Carthage-MO-64836

05/18/2026

In case you feel you need a review of your property’s assessment. Here are some tips.

🏠 Between 30% and 60% of U.S. homes are over-assessed, according to the National Taxpayers Union. Fewer than 5% of homeowners ever file an appeal.

The first step is pulling your property record card from the county assessor's office or website. Verify square footage, bedroom count, bathroom count, and lot size against what you know about your property.

Factual errors in the record are the easiest wins. An incorrect bedroom count or overstated square footage can produce a meaningfully lower assessment with minimal evidence required.

If the record is accurate, gather 3-5 comparable sales within the past 6-12 months and within half a mile of your home. Your assessed value should align with what similar homes actually sold for.

Filing deadlines vary by county but typically fall 30-90 days after assessment notices are mailed. Missing the window means waiting a full year to refile.

Most counties allow an informal review before a formal hearing. Many reductions are settled at this stage without escalating to the appeals board.

Nationally, 40-60% of appeals succeed. A reduced assessment carries forward until the next reassessment cycle, which can be anywhere from one year to ten years depending on your state.

On a home assessed at $400,000 with a 1.2% effective tax rate, a 10% reduction saves $480 per year.



P.S. Every Friday I send a short email with the week's top post, my take on the best article I read, and what I'm writing about on the site. Link in the comments.

*The content shared here is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on your specific situation.*

05/15/2026

Join Jeff and Carolina Neal of Neal Group Construction for a free educational presentation on historic tax credits and how they can help preserve and revitalize historic properties while creating valuable financial incentives for property owners, developers, and investors.

This informative session will cover the basics of federal and state historic tax credit programs, eligible projects, application processes, common misconceptions, and real-world examples of successful restorations. Whether you own a historic building, are considering a redevelopment project, or simply want to learn more about preservation opportunities, this presentation will provide practical insights and guidance.

Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, connect with local professionals, and learn how historic tax credits can make restoration projects more financially feasible and impactful for the community.

The session will take place at City Hall in Carthage. Admission is free, but registration is encouraged: https://shorturl.at/EbLOl

05/15/2026

https://www.flexmls.com/share/DyYYl/1929-Bluebird-Way-Carthage-MO-64836