by Donald J. Trump Whether or not you believe we’re in a recession, a lot of people are taking a hit to their wallets and bank accounts and have to deal with it in some relatively old-fashioned ways. For one, moonlighting seems to be back in style. But it certainly isn’t because people are testing the waters of new careers or trying to expand their horizons beyond their boring day jobs. Now, when people work two jobs, it’s almost always motivated solely by financial need - either they really need the funds now or they’re afraid they’ll lose their primary source of income. According to the Department of Labor, the number of Americans who work a full-time job and have a part-time job on the side has risen to more than 4 million. It’s being called “moonlighting by fear” and is most prevalent among workers in industries that are struggling. Some people are getting second jobs not just to stay afloat but to keep up the supersize lifestyle so many Americans have grown accustomed to. If they want to keep the big house, the fancy cars and all the trappings, in today’s economy that often requires a second job. If you’re going to moonlight - for whatever reason - be smart how you go about choosing that second job. Either find something that can help with your real career or take a job that you’d enjoy. And by all means, get a job that pays enough for all your trouble. In any case, be careful that your second job doesn’t jeopardize your main job or you’ll be defeating the purpose of moonlighting in the first place. I know it’s not easy. The country’s in a major recession and everybody has to do what they can.   Donald J. Trump is Chairman of Trump University.

2, 4, 6, 8 Don’t Forget to Depreciate!
by Brett Carman Today I want to make investors aware of a well known tax break offered up by the IRS that allows them to depreciate their properties as they would any other fixed asset as a business owner. While it’s not a new concept, not all investors are aware of this and with the influx of new investors into the market, it’s important to bring this into light. The government, in its attempt at fair taxation, realizes that just like any other piece of capital equipment used in a business, a piece of investment property will wear out over time. They currently allow you to depreciate on an equal or “straight-line” basis over 27.5 years. What this means to you is that you can expense a portion of your realty holding each year against the income it earned. It’s important to know that since the land on which it sits generally does not suffer wear and tear, you cannot depreciate it. Other than that, it is pretty simple to calculate and here’s how it works… Purchase price - Land Value = Building Value. Building Value / 27.5 = Annual allowable depreciation deduction It may not sound like much but on a simple $500k four-plex where the land is worth $100k and the structure is $400k, you could expense or “depreciate” $14,545 against the income generated from this unit. Even at a 30% tax rate this could save you $4,363 in income taxes for your business. This is nearly enough to pay for a month’s worth of the gasoline you will use to locate your next investment property!   Brett Carman is a seasoned veteran in the real estate industry for over 17 years. He holds active licenses in real estate, mortgage finance, and property & casualty insurance. Offering a one-stop shop for his residential and commercial clients, he strives to not only educate, but streamline the real estate acquisition process. With a long and proven track record of success, he is uniquely qualified and has a passion for helping people achieve their goals in real estate. 

Reality star Patridge taking leap to big screen (Reuters)
Reuters - Audrina Patridge, one of the subjects of the hit reality series “The Hills,” has landed her first film role. Patridge has joined the cast of “Into the Blue 2,” a sequel to the 2005 Jessica Alba-starring action-adventure film.

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