Did you know that a commercial roofing contractor can not only stop leaks and replace a building’s roof, but they also save the owner money on their taxes? I will get to that in a minute, because a commercial roofing contractor has lots of knowledge regarding some things that most people don’t know they know about, like saving money on utilities, and what commercial building owners can do to take advantage of tax credits that the federal government is offering to building owners wanting green roofing.The newest trends in commercial building construction are not only environmentally friendly, but they can also put quite a bit of money back into the owner’s pocket. I’m talking about green roofing and how a commercial roofing contractor can create a beautiful retreat atop commercial buildings. These fabulous gardens can provide a place to soak up the sunny Southern California weather and turn it into cash for commercial property owners.In some places in the world architects are getting together with commercial roofing contractors and designing some really amazing green roofing spaces atop commercial buildings that would normally just soak up the hot sun and transfer that heat into the interior of the building, there by driving utility costs up. Some commercial building owners are then leasing these spaces out to nurseries or to biotech companies and thereby increasing their generated incomes with normally wasted spaces.Now here is the best part, the Federal Government has passed several different bills that allow commercial property owners to take advantage of tax credits for retrofitting existing building with environmentally friendly materials and materials that cut energy costs. A commercial roofing contractor can assess just what types of options are available to building owners depending on the structural integrity of the building, but think of the possibilities!Now a commercial roofing contractor cannot tell the commercial building owner just how much of a tax credit an owner can claim on their taxes, but they can tell the owner which materials qualify and how much of an initial cost the building owner will have to pay for the green roofing. Only a tax professional can give commercial building owners advice about what they need to do to qualify, because there is a certification requirement that must be made, and the IRS recommends that commercial building owners get that certificate from a tax professional.Commercial building owners should do a couple of things to get started. First, talk to a tax professional about the requirements for the tax credits because different types of renovations qualify for different credits, but in some cases the credits can be equal to the total cost of the job. Then, do some research and find a commercial roofing contractor that can help with the details of the retrofitting. There are many options that include things like elaborate green roofing, water collection system that utilize rain water as supplemental grey water, and heat reflection systems that keep the sun from cooking the building.Building owners wanting to utilize wasted space and turn a profit should find it easy to find a commercial roofing contractor with experience, they just have to look.

Every now and then persons trying to make up their minds where to put their money ask me if real estate ventures are more or less profitable, compared to other businesses opportunities around.My response is always that apart from its potential for yielding significant profits, investing in real estate often confers long terms benefits.I discuss five such advantages below:1. You Can Refurbish (to Enhance the Value of) Real Estate
After you buy a stock, you hold it for a period of time and hopefully sell it for a profit. The success of the stock depends on company management and their corporate success, which is out of your control.Unlike other conventional investment instruments, like stocks, for instance, whose rate of returns, depend on third parties (e.g. company management), real estate investments are directly under your control.Even though you will not be able to control changes that may occur in demographic and economic aspects, or impact of nature induced changes, there are many other aspects that you can control, to boost the returns on your investment in it.Examples include aspects relating to adding repairs, or improvements/enhancements to the physical property and tenants you allow to live in it.If you do it right, the value of your investment will grow, resulting in increased wealth for you.2. Real Estate Investing, When Done Right, is Proven to be Profitable Even During a Recession (like the one we’re in right now)
It has on several occasions, been used to effect a bail out, from financial setbacks, such as those that many have experienced during the economic downturn happening in Nigeria today.A considerable number of clients have confided in me that due to the present economic situation, they are not sure of profitable channels to invest their money. Some of them are done with bonds and treasury bills, but are in dire need of a new investment.We had extensive discussions, and based on my expertise as a real estate consultant, I recommended landed property investment, as the most suitable and secure alternative channel of investment.This is because, even if all businesses crumble, land will always appreciate greatly. Then to drive my point home, I ended by sharing the following apt quote, by a former American president:”Real estate can’t be lost, nor carried away, managed with reasonable care, it’s about the safest investment in the world” – Franklin Roosevelt.Not surprisingly, the client chose to take my advice – and signed up: it was the obvious, common sense thing to do!3. Real Estate Investments Are Immune to Inflation
In other words, investing your money in ownership of viable real estate can protect you from the harsh effects that inflation usually has on other conventional investments.This is because the value of real estate generally tends to rise in positive correlation with inflationary pressures. This is why property values and rental rates go up with rising inflation.The nature of real estate, therefore affords owners the unique advantage of being able to adjust the rates they offer, to match inflation.Monthly rents for example can be raised to compensate for inflation – thus providing a cushion effect against inflation induced losses that other monetary investments suffer.4. Real Estate is Uniquely for Being Universally Acceptable as Collateral, Towards Securing Funding from Banks
Today, real estate in form of either building or lands, with proper titles (i.e. Certificate of Occupancy – aka “C of O”) is the most recognized and accepted form of collateral in Nigeria – and some other parts of the world.It has the unique feature of being able to protect the interests of both the borrower and the bank (that’s doing the lending), so that funds can be released i.e. after due verification, and terms and conditions are agreed.This is one of the key advantages a private C of O has over the global C of O, because the former (i.e. private C of O) is what will be needed by the intending borrower, in the event of any future financial dealings with bank in Nigeria.5. Real Estate Investing Allows Use of Other People’s Money
In other words, you can do it even if you do not have enough money. You just need to know how.This is possible because real estate is physical property or what is called a hard asset. That is an attribute that makes it attractive to financiers i.e. people with money to invest.This is why many times real estate products are bought with debt – unlike conventional investment products like stocks which are NOT tangible, and therefore perceived as being more risky to invest in.So real estate investment can be done using cash or mortgage financing. In the latter case, payments can be so arranged to allow payment of low initial sums, provided by you or a willing third party.Those payments will be happening on landed property which will continue increasing in value throughout the duration of such payments – and indeed beyond. That further inspires confidence in the minds of those financing the acquisition, that their investment is safe.Little wonder that real estate investing has continued to prosper for so long![A WORD OF CAUTION] The listed benefits notwithstanding, I still tell prospective investors that due diligence is a crucial requirement for succeeding.Whether you do everything yourself or use industry professionals like me, it is imperative that you exercise caution and arm yourself with relevant information and education.This is something I advice my clients to do all the time, so they can make good decisions in investing.The importance of the above cannot be overstated, especially in Lagos where quite a number of individuals, have had their fingers badly burnt, because they failed to take the needed precautions.My purpose is to help clients avoid having such horrible experiences, by bringing my years of experience in this field to bear in serving them.References/Related Article:[You can read about more advantages of real estate investing, in this excellent article I found at: http://realestate4investing.com/articles/real-estate-investments/10-advantages-disadvantages-real-estate-investments ]

To date, little is known about specifics expected to come from the two departments. HHS will be the primary driver however, while DOL will address union and other labor issues that arise.Healthcare reforms do address a few specific areas by which employers, large and small, can plan. We do need to remember the final outcome of the law was not to reduce costs. Rather, the purpose was to increase access to health insurance.The immediate timeline related to all employer sponsored health insurance plans look like this:-By September 23, 2010, all insurance plans must offer dependent coverage to children until age 26, regardless of marital status, student status, or employment status.
-Tightly restricted annual limits on “Essential Health Benefits” are eliminated
-Waiting periods for pre-existing conditions are eliminated for children under age 19
-Lifetime benefits are eliminated
-35% tax credit (immediate for 2010) for employers who offer and subsidize health insurance for its employees.Essential Health Benefits will be better defined by HHS over time, but will certainly include mandatory wellness benefits. Health plans in effect on or before March 23, are considered “grandfathered” and thus are exempt from the following mandates. However, a change in carriers, a “substantial” change in benefits, or a substantial shift in costs of premiums to employees will result in the loss of this exemption. HHS will issue R & Rs later, further defining the parameters of “substantial change”.Grandfathered plans may enjoy the luxury of smaller premium increases over time than non-grandfathered plans because these new plans have other, stricter requirements.In the interim, grandfathered plans are exempt from:-First dollar coverage for preventive care although some grandfathered plans offer this benefit.
-Non-discrimination rules are extended to insurance plans. That is, management may not have a richer benefit plan than non-management
-Emergency care services must be treated as “in-network” without prior authorization
-Pediatricians and OB-GYNs are considered primary care providers.Insurance carriers will be required to abide by a “minimum loss ratio” (MLR). This will apply to all group insurance plans. In short, the MLR states that insurance companies must issue refunds to groups if claims are less than 85% (large groups) and 80% (small groups) of total premiums paid. The reverse is also true. Small groups in particular could face excessively high premiums after one particularly unfavorable year. Some employers who provide health insurance are now faced with some tough decisions as a result of health care reform. Non-grandfathered plans are more likely to see significantly higher premiums than grandfathered plans, as R & Rs clarify some of the uncertainty.Health Care Reform included some other obscure provisions about which employees are probably unaware. All non-grandfathered plans and employer groups with 25 or more employees (including common ownership of 2 or more small businesses) will be subjected to a number of reporting requirements in addition to the mandates listed previously. Too, health care reform will begin to count part-time employees as well through a formula called “full-time equivalent” (FTE). This could be especially troubling to employers with fewer than 50 full-time employees, but after accounting for FTE of part-time employees they could inadvertently be counted as 50+ and subject to mandates. The FTE formula will be clarified as time goes by, but by January 1, 2014, all non-grandfathered groups will be subject to these mandates.Health care reform does not require employers to offer group insurance. Nevertheless, penalties will apply to 50+ employee groups (including FTE & remember the common ownership rule) who do not offer medical insurance. For instance, an employer would face a $2000 fine per employee (31st employee and beyond) if even one employee receives a $2000 tax credit from the government toward health insurance through the Exchange (to be explained in a later column) or through Medicaid.Employers who offer health insurance must also offer a free voucher, equal to the employer’s contribution, to all employee’s whose household income is less than 400% of the federal poverty level. The employers can then purchase insurance through the Exchange. If the Exchange is cheaper than the value of the voucher, the employer is then required to pay the difference to the employee.On January 1, 2014, the IRS will get involved. Employers of 50+ and not grandfathered will be required to report the value of the health insurance on W-2′s to be issued by January 2012. Penalties will apply here as well if the reported value is greater than $10,200 for individuals or $27,500 for families. That is, insurers will be assessed an excise tax on the coverage and because of the MLR, that assessment will likely be pushed on to employees as higher premiums.If the employer’s contribution is less than 60% or the employee’s cost share of premium exceeds 9.5% of household income and an employee receives a government subsidy, then a penalty of $2,000 for each employee (31st employee and beyond) is levied..By March 2012, employers of 50+ and non-grandfathered plans must provide a 4-page pre-enrollment coverage document outlining benefits and exclusions to all new employees. Details will be forthcoming from HHS.Reading “between the lines”, it would appear the government is making it difficult for employers at or near 50 full-time employees to offer health insurance. Likewise, employers may be forced to eliminate part-time/seasonal workers and instead opt for overtime to regular/full-time employees to avoid potential penalties and the possibility of having to cover part-time employees on insurance.Health care reform includes other mandates that will trigger by January 1, 2014, but are not as likely as the above mandates to alter an employer’s basic business model on hiring practices, nor are they as apt to influence an employer’s decision on whether to offer insurance.Inevitably, many more questions will arise. As you can see, the intent with health care reform is a push toward universal coverage through employers of 50+. Next time, we’ll talk about individuals and groups under 50