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Conference 7.286::digital

Title:The Digital way of working
Moderator:QUARK::LIONELON
Created:Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5321
Total number of notes:139771

1146.0. "COD AND REAL ESTATE PRICES" by COOKIE::LENNARD () Fri Jul 20 1990 12:31

    I was talking to my daughter who is in real estate in Sterling, Mass.
    She said that the COD Program and to some extent "the package" is
    having a devastating impact on local real estate prices.
    
    Seems that hundreds of people have sold their homes and left the state,
    but there has been no corresponding in-flow of replacement home-owners.
    The results is an increasingly large number of homes on the market, as
    well as steady price erosion.
    
    I wonder if the people who are running COD and similar programs
    anticipated this and/or are planning to do anything about it?
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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1146.1Yet another excuse for the tough overall market?HYEND::DMONTGOMERYFri Jul 20 1990 12:5320
    I have a difficult time believing that even "hundreds of people" could
    have any effect whatsoever on the real estate market in MA or New
    England.  Digital's efforts at moving even a couple of thousand people
    out of the area is but a drop in the bucket when compared to the huge
    market forces at work.
    
    It's possible to have micro-micro-economic effect at the neighborhood
    level -- if a large proportion of a neighborhood was made up of DECcies
    all deciding to sell their homes at once -- due to the fact that the
    DEC sellers won't need to wait for their best price, as their risks are
    minimized by COD and loss-on-sale benefits.   The effect would be a
    possible lowering of market values _within_that_neighborhood_ as buyers
    do comparative prices, and take advantage of increased supply and low
    demand.
    
    On the whole, though, a few hundred houses in a market where thousands
    sit unsold and millions make up the comparative market will have little
    effect.
    
    -DM-
1146.2Give a little, get a littleCUSPID::MCCABEIf Murphy's Law can go wrong .. Fri Jul 20 1990 13:453
    Anyone sent a check to Digital for the effect that 30,000 new New
    England Jobs had on the real estate value these past 8 years?
    
1146.3I doubt COD would cause the market to slideCRBOSS::PIERPONTFri Jul 20 1990 14:2413
    With all of the businesses taht had had layoffs and major shifts out of
    Mass, the market is down. To say that COD is the cause is incredable.
    
    Moving a plant out of an area [one plant/major employer/lots of
    workers] would have an impact. Bank failures have an impact much larger
    than COD. According to CNN in one of their specials 2 weeks ago said
    that "over 40% of Colorado Springs is owned by the US government,
    mostly due to bank failure".
    
    Of course the Mass economy with sales tax increases would never be a
    factor in falling housing prices.
    
    Howard
1146.4your kidding, right??BAGELS::CARROLLFri Jul 20 1990 15:139
    re .0  This is a business, not the dept of human services.  I cannot
    understand why people think digital is responsible for anything other
    than making a profit, it is the only reason digital is in business.
    
    Some employees think that digital is in existence solely to benefit
    them and society when, in actuality, we are here to benefit digital
    by helping them make a profit.
    
                     It's a profit motive folks.
1146.5False profitsUPNRTH::CARADONNAFri Jul 20 1990 15:239
    re:.4
    
    If your point about profit is true, we should drop our product line for
    something more profitable...... like cocaine.
    
    Businesses must be socially responsible. This is why Digital is sill an
    outstanding company. This is why I'm proud to still be part of DEC. 
    
    peter
1146.6but you were kidding...ECADSR::FIELDSFri Jul 20 1990 17:3713
    
    
    	re .5
    
    	Yep, you are right too, but Digital isn't going to say
     "Hey lets try to get some of our centrally located people closer
      to the customers.....  nah on second thought it may hurt
      the Real Estate market in Mass"
    
    	Just like we didn't say "Hey lets build up in Mass to help the
      real estate market"
    
    	Bill
1146.7look at the BIG pictureNYEM1::MILBERGI was a DCC - 3 jobs ago!Sat Jul 21 1990 23:4713
    [dare I say...  SET/MODE=SARCASM]
    
    Ah, but you have to look at the overall US economy!
    
    Some of those people moving from Mass. and 'depressing prices' are
    coming here to New Jersey and 'boosting' our economy!  So it balances
    out across the country.
    
    Maybe one of the 'hundreds' will move to Atlanta and rent (or dare I
    hope buy) my vacant condo there!
    
    	-Barry-
    
1146.8why not a corporate city stateBTOVT::CACCIA_Sthe REAL steveTue Jul 24 1990 13:5323

    SET/MODE=ULTRA SARCASTIC

    AWWWW!! Poor Baby!!! What's the matter someone didn't make 30% return
    on a real estate investment in less than 6 months?

    Yes a corporation must be socially and morally responsible by not
    polluting the local ecology and by attempting to control traffic and
    noise and where possible by providing mutual aid for fire/rescue/civil
    defense disaster recovery programs, But does that mean taking on the 
    burden of total support of the economy of a neighborhood-town-city-state
    -region-??? Stop to realize that DEC supports the economy by paying state 
    and local taxes, by paying utilities, by using the services of the local 
    shop keepers, and by (gasp) DONATING - as in giving away - as in not 
    charging for - product and training to schools, and matching funds for 
    charitable organizations.

    Yes, work for the company to get a paycheck - as large as possible.
    Yes, work for the company to maybe get the extra few bucks in benefits.
    Do not work for the company and expect them to support you as well as
    subsidize your town and your dreams of becoming the second coming of
    John Paul Getty.
1146.9Poor Babies - Them RE Agents...USCTR1::JWHITTAKERTue Jul 24 1990 15:536
    I really feel sorry for those Real Estate Agents; they had the good
    times and now that the market is slowing down, they are looking for
    someone to blame.  Blame themselves not DEC; the day of the 30% per
    year increase in property values is over.
    
    Jay
1146.10Lets send NJ the real estate agents tooCUSPID::MCCABEIf Murphy's Law can go wrong .. Wed Jul 25 1990 14:454
    Its settled then.  Everyone in New Jersy will send a check to 
    everyone in Mass and we can leave Digital out of it.  
    
    
1146.12The market sets the value.HYEND::DMONTGOMERYThu Jul 26 1990 14:0114
    No.   COD offers (3rd-party offers) are not low.   They are indeed the
    market value.   The market is depressed in New England, but too many
    sellers refuse to believe that THEIR home value has decreased
    accordingly.   If the 3rd-party offer isn't the market value, then why
    wouldn't one sell the house at what they think is the market value?
    The answer is because that seller has an inflated perception of market
    value, overprices the house, and no one buys.   
    
    The MARKET sets the price.  When people come to realize that, they will
    realize that the 3rd-party offers are perfectly correct.  (There is no
    grand conspiracy going on with New England appraisers -- They are
    completely independent.)
    
    -DM-
1146.13only in the long runJOSHER::HERRThese ARE the good ole daysThu Jul 26 1990 15:2330

I would have to differ with .12 on the basis that COD does not reflect market
value.  In fact they don't even purport to ... The COD offer is based on 60 to
90 days on the market which is about 1/3 the average in the area at the moment.
Ignoring the time domain assumes a perfect balance between supply and demand
which is obviously not the current case.  Even in times of expansion the
Digital offer is expected to be somewhat below what might be obtained through
direct sale.  The appraisals are deliberately conservative much as those for
second mortgages or inheritance cases might be.  This is not necessarily
objectionable in normal market conditions, having Digital purchase your
house is supposed to relieve you of the burden of selling it.  The added
convenience comes at some cost, usually a few percent.

Your second assumption concerning New England Real Estate appraisers does not
recognize the current practice of using only a select few for the hundreds
of appraisal requests Digital generates monthly.  The third party companies
have fee structures that encourage quick or amended sales.  Consequently they
are motivated to maintain a small list of "appropriate" appraisers.  The COD
practice of denying an employee input into the selection further exacerbates
the inequity.  In any event I find it a bit naive to consider appraisers
"completely independent".  Lots of factors can influence what is largely a
subjective process to begin with, including who the client is.

In some towns with high populations of Digital relocation candidates (as well
as other companies) I do believe this process can become a self fulfilling
prophecy.


-Bob
1146.14Orangebook says:GENRAL::BALDRIDGEIt's downhill from hereThu Jul 26 1990 15:3614
    ref: .13  Bob, where is it stated that COD does not give the employee
    input into the selection (of appraisers) process??
    
    I quote from the latest orangebook Section 5.05, page 13:
    "Within two business days after receiving the initiation contact from
    Digital, a home purchase counselor contacts the employee and explains
    the program in detail. THE EMPLOYEE SELECTS TWO INDEPENDANT APPRAISERS
    FROM A LIST PROVIDED BY THE HOME PURCHASE COMPANY. The appraisers
    determine the market value of the employees home."
    
    Has someone recinded the Orangebook?
    
    Chuck
    
1146.15NOTIME::SACKSGerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085Thu Jul 26 1990 15:484
There are lots of people in the ZKO_RELOCATION conference who believe that
their 3rd party offers are well below market value.  On the other hand,
I know a just-relocated employee whose wife sells real estate, and they
were pleased with the 3rd party offer they received.
1146.16JOSHER::HERRThese ARE the good ole daysThu Jul 26 1990 15:5010
    
RE .14

I'm glad you asked ...  The COD process contradicts Orange Book Policy.
Everyone participating in COD X was informed that their appraisers would be 
chosen for them.  This was done in the interest of expediency, the result was 
a tremendous bottleneck created by the reliance on a few "select" firms.

-Bob
1146.17Don't seem right to meGENRAL::BALDRIDGEIt's downhill from hereThu Jul 26 1990 18:057
    Since there exists a published policy and procedure, I would think that
    any employee could insist that policy be utilized and refuse to have 
    appraisers selected for them.  Of course, I'm no lawyer or personnel
    type.
    
    Chuck
    
1146.18ULTRA::WITTENBERGSecure Systems for Insecure PeopleFri Jul 27 1990 10:289
    Of the  two  people  I  talked to who were relocated recently, one
    sold  her  house  for  10% more than the relocation offer, and the
    other  sold  it  for a bit above the relocation offer. Both houses
    were sold in less than two months on the market.

    I'm inclined  to beleive that the relocation appraisers are coming
    in below market.

--David
1146.19All Appraisers are becoming more conservativeJAWJA::GRESHSubtle as a BrickFri Jul 27 1990 10:548
    My wife is a multi-million dollar Realtor working in the metro-Atlanta
    area.  Of course, this market is completely unaffected by COD.
    
    However, it's my wife's observation that all appraisers have become very
    conservative in their valuations over the past year.  We believe this
    to be related to the S&L Crisis.
    
    	Don
1146.21NEURON::VIOLAThe Adventures of DECtracyFri Jul 27 1990 18:1142
     After relocating from Marlboro to Colorado with COD-I, I have a pretty
     strong feeling the appraisers are in low-balling COD home sales.
     Collusion? Maybe so. It sure seemed like it. Could I prove it? No.

     When I got my offer from Homequity, it made me sick. I had arrived in
     Colorado just days before the offer came in.
     I called the COD office, and asked if they knew where the movers were.
     "Why?" "Because you can tell them to turn around!"
     They said I could appeal the offer. I flew back east, looked up a friend
     who's a Realtor. We sat down at her office computer to print out every
     Condo sale in Marlboro for the last year.
     Units in my same building had sold for 20% more just weeks before!
     I submitted detailed listings on a dozen comparable places and waited
     for the appeal process.

     "Sir your appeal was rejected"
     "Who reviewed the appeal?"
     "The same appraisers who did the original offer"
     "Are you sh*tting me?"
     "No sir, we wouldn't do that"
     
     After a few quick calls to the headhunters I constantly get harassed
     by, I decided there was nothing to worry about, I would just drive the
     2 thousand back, and work for the folks across the street.

     So why am I still here? COD-I participants got DEC to reimburse employees
     relocating up to $30,000 for any loss on the sale of their home.

     So with DEC paying the difference between my purchase and sale, do I
     care if I help drive the market down? No.
     Are COD participants being financially hurt? No.
     Are my neighbors whose property values I depreciate being hurt? Yes.
     
     I depreciate their property by dumping mine on the market for 20% under
     cost. Since DEC is picking up the difference, I don't care how much the
     3rd party gouges DEC.
     BTW the 3rd party sold my property less then 1 month later for a tidy
     profit + the 15% DEC gave them to manage the transaction.
     My Realtor friend told me when it sold.

     Marc (vacation bound)
    
1146.22I believe the excess goes to DigitalJOSHER::HERRThese ARE the good ole daysFri Jul 27 1990 20:4817
    >  I depreciate their property by dumping mine on the market for 20% under
    >  cost. Since DEC is picking up the difference, I don't care how much the
    >  3rd party gouges DEC.
    >  BTW the 3rd party sold my property less then 1 month later for a tidy
    >  profit + the 15% DEC gave them to manage the transaction.
    >  My Realtor friend told me when it sold.

    My review of a third party contract leads me to believe that Digital
    pocketed any surplus between your buyout offer and the actual sale
    price.  The fee structure favors a quick or ammended sale which results
    in a strong motivation for low appraisals.
    
    As for not caring about the difference -- apply the 20 percent to
    something other than a condo and the 30K dosen't cover you.
    
    -Bob
    
1146.23Can I still enroll in COD?CADSE::COOLTue Jul 31 1990 15:499
    Since this note is devoted to COD and COD Real Estate, I have a basic
    question. Months ago, I was eligible to enroll in COD by going to
    the job fair. Can I still sign up for COD at this time... I asked
    personal but I'm still awaiting a reply...Thanks for your reply..
    
    					- Carl
    
    P.S - I am currently a software engineer in Chelmsford and working
    	  under a manufacturing organization. 
1146.24COD is still accepting resumesSWSEIS::GRAVESTue Jul 31 1990 17:43247
According to this memo received from my personnel consultant, you can
still register for COD.

Bruce Graves
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Date:     12-Jul-1990 01:18pm EDT
                                        From:     Karen Dowd
                                                  DOWD.KAREN AT A1 at USCTR2 at MRO
                                        Dept:     C.O.D. Program Office
                                        Tel No:   297-5838


Subject: COD III OVERVIEW & REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS


    Attached, please find the revised COD Overview & Registration 
    Instruction package.  
    
    Please feel free to copy this document and pass it down through your 
    respective organizations.
    
    
    Best regards,
    
    
    Karen E. Dowd
    COD Hotline Coordinator


               ************************************************
                        C.O.D. HOTLINE BULLETIN NO. II
    
                              C.O.D. III OVERVIEW
               ************************************************
    
    	 Career Opportunity Days (COD) III took place in Marlboro, 
    Massachusetts on June 5, 6, & 7th and was a tremendous success!  We 
    were recruiting employees for 1000 direct Sales and Sales Support job 
    opportunities in the Field across the U.S.  
    
--->If you did not register and/or were unable to attend the event, DON'T 
--->WORRY, we are still accepting resumes from employees and you still have 
    an opportunity to apply and interview for Sales, Sales Support and 
    Software Consulting jobs that focus on a specific industry, 
    application, or geography.  As a key part of Digital's investment 
    strategy, the COD Program is positioning additional resources and 
    skills closer to our customers.  COD III is an opportunity for every 
    U.S. Digital employee (especially those in indirect jobs) to move into 
    direct district-based revenue generating positions.  Because there are 
    many direct openings across the country, employees in district-based 
    indirect Field jobs can move into district-based direct jobs within 
    their local geography, without relocating.
    
    	 Through a new COD III electronic registration system employees can 
    submit their resumes and indicate their location choice, job interest, 
    and areas of experience at the SUBJECT prompt (instructions attached).  
    This information will be sent to all Field hiring managers who will 
    review resumes and schedule selected employees for interviews. 
        
    EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED RESUMES FOR COD I AND COD II 
    EVENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO RE-SUBMIT THEIR RESUME FOR COD III.   
        
    ***********************************************************************
    
                            TECHNICAL OPPORTUNITIES
    
     
    	 COD III will also provide information about Digital's Technical 
    Development Program (TDP), a new training opportunity for qualified 
    employees to gain technical skills necessary for Field Software Support 
    Specialist positions in either Enterprise Integration Services (EIS) or 
    Sales Support.


                ***********************************************
    
                REGISTRATION PROCESS / INSTRUCTIONS FOR COD III
    
                ***********************************************
 
 The Career Management System, processes applicant resumes and forwards them 
 to appropriate Area Employment Managers and their COD staffs.  You will 
 receive a VAXmail or ALL-IN-1 confirmation of your resume receipt by the 
 system.  
 
 For questions regarding eligibility and/or status on your resume contact the 
 appropriate Area Employment Manager(s) by mail:
 
           	Area   Employment Manager 
 
      	   	NYA    Employment @NYO   
           	MAA    Ed Gadsden @MEL     
      	       	SOA     
           	ECA    Tony Adams @OHF     
           	CEA    Neal Warner @ACI    
           	SCA    Sue Ratcliff @SCA   
           	SWA    Dick Bouldin @CWO   
           	WEA    Gus Allen @WRO      
           	NEA    Dell Proia @AFORE    
           	CSC    Pat Duane @CXO      
 
 
 For other COD related issues and questions, contact Karen Dowd at the COD 
 Hotline - DTN 297-5838.  
 
 Register on either VAXmail or ALL-IN-l by mailing your resume to:
 
 (ALL-IN-1 address)  CAREERMGMT@USFP@VMSMAIL
     
 (VAXmail address)   USFP::CAREERMGMT
     
 At the SUBJECT prompt, type your badge number.your geographical 
 preference code.your job interest code/experience code(s).  You must 
 complete all areas of information.
     
 SUBJECT>Badge No.Geographical Code.Job Interest Code/Experience/(up to 5)
     
 Example:  SUBJECT>  123456.SWA.DEV/UNX/NET/VMS/IMG/PMT
 
              -----------------> Your Badge Number
              |  --------------> Required period "."
              |  | ------------> Area/Location of Interest
              |  | |   --------> Job Interest Code 
              |  | |   | ------> Required slash "/" 
              |  | |   | | ----> Job Experience Code(s)(up to 5)
              |  | |   | | |
     SUBJ: 123456.NEA.SWT/ADM/NET/PMT
 
                   PLEASE BE SURE TO USE THIS EXACT FORMAT
 


                                       
    This is the only way we can identify you in our free form resume 
    collection system.  You will always receive a reply from the system, 
    even when the subject is incorrect.  So please be sure to follow the 
    instructions and send resumes only.  DO NOT send cover letters (if 
    necessary, expand the objective on your resume).  DO NOT use special 
    fonts/type set.  
    
    Employees can submit resumes as many times as necessary to communicate 
    all preferences for locations and job interests.
    
    YOU WILL NEED TO SEND A SEPARATE RESUME FOR EACH AREA/LOCATION OF INTEREST.


                      CODES FOR AREA/LOCATION PREFERENCES
    
                   Code	               	    Location/Area         
    	      	   	   
    	      	   NYA	     	       	    New York Area  
    	      	   MAA	     	       	    Mid-Atlantic Area
    	      	   SOA	     	       	    Southern Area
    	      	   ECA	     	       	    East Central Area
    	      	   CEA	     	       	    Central Area
    	      	   SCA	     	       	    South Central Area
    	      	   SWA	     	       	    Southwest Area
    	      	   WEA	     	       	    Western Area
    	      	   NEA	     	       	    Northeast Area
    	      	   CSC	     	       	    Customer Support Center
    
    
                       CODES FOR JOB INTEREST CATEGORIES
    
         The following is a general listing of job interest categories in 
    which Field openings are available.
        
    
              	   Code	     Category
    
    	      	   SLS	     Sales     Direct Sales positions are available
    	      	   	     	       in all geographies. Jobs exist not 
    	      	   	     	       only for Accounts, but for Storage 
    	      	   	     	       Specialist Sales and Workstation 
    	      	   	     	       Sales Engineer positions in all 
    	      	   	     	       districts. 
              	   	     	       	    	    
    	      	       	     	       	    o Account
    	      	   	     	       	    o Workstations
    	      	   	     	       	    o Storage
    	      	   	     	       	    o Services	   	
    	         
              	   SWT	     Software Technical Support and Delivery 
        
              	   	     	       These jobs are for software related 
    	      	   	     	       support. Positions are available for 
    	      	   	     	       people with experience in 
    	      	   	     	       application or system software 
    	      	   	     	       design, development, and operations 
    	      	   	     	       support. There are also 
    	      	   	     	       opportunities for individuals with 
    	      	   	     	       project/program management 
    	      	   	     	       experience or IS business planning.
        
    	      	   	     	       	    o Financial & Business Systems 
    	      	   	     	       	      (FABS)
    	      	   	     	       	    o Digital Custom Service (DCSS)
    	      	   	     	       	    o Digital Customer Center (DCC)
    	      	   	     	       	    o Customer Support Center (CSC)
    	      	   	     	       	    o Professional Software Service 
    	      	   	     	       	      (PSS)
    	      	   	     	       	    o Account Sales Support


              	   	  
              	   DEV	     Development Programs 
        
              	   	     	       Development Programs prepare 
    	      	   	     	       employees for new careers in Sales, 
    	      	   	     	       Sales Support or Enterprise 
    	      	   	     	       Integration Services (EIS).  
    	      	   	     	       Programs run 3-12 months and are 
    	      	   	     	       generally for non-technical 
    	      	   	     	       employees.
        
    	      	   	     	       	    o Technical Development Program
    	      	   	     	       	       
    
                        CODES FOR EXPERIENCE CATEGORIES
    
    	 The following is a general listing of experience categories in 
    which Field openings are available.
    
    	 You can list from one to five areas of experience. Be sure to 
    include a slash mark (/) between each item. 
    
              	   Code           Definition
    
    	      	   UNX	     	  o UNIX/ULTRIX
    	      	   TPR	     	  o Transaction Processing
    	      	   DBR	     	  o Database
    	      	   PMT	     	  o Project/Program Management
    	      	   ADM	     	  o Administrative
    	           IMG	     	  o Imaging
    	      	   NET	     	  o Networks
    	      	   VMS	     	  o VMS/VIA
    	      	   OTR	     	  o Other   	      	      
    	      	   WKS	          o Workstations
    	      	   STS	     	  o Storage Systems
        
        
         You may obtain more detailed information regarding specific jobs 
    on LIVEWIRE, in other Digital publications or by contacting the Area 
    Employment Manager in the geography you are interested in.
        
    	 For more information about registration and COD processes call 
    Karen Dowd at the COD Hotline - DTN 297-5838.
1146.25REGENT::POWERSWed Aug 01 1990 10:0412
>                       <<< Note 1146.20 by DUGGAN::RU >>>
>    
>    Now we must understand, this loss is not tax deductable.  It is real
>    loss.  Does DIGITAL expect COD or non-COD transfere to suffer personel
>    loss?

Why is the loss not tax deductable?
When you file your income taxes after the sale of a house, you can elect to 
either defer or pay capital gains on the property.
Similarly, you should be able to claim the loss and take the effects.
(Of course, capital loss doesn't pay as well as capital gains, but
there is some level of remedy.)
1146.26Your tax rules at workMANFAC::GREENLAWYour ASSETS at workWed Aug 01 1990 10:3113
>Why is the loss not tax deductable?
>When you file your income taxes after the sale of a house, you can elect to 
>either defer or pay capital gains on the property.
>Similarly, you should be able to claim the loss and take the effects.

    If you are a business, the above applies BUT since the house you live in is
    considered personal property, the tax laws do not allow you to deduct the
    loss.  The same rules apply to any personal items that you sell, if you
    make a profit, you pay taxes, if you lose money, too bad.  Now you know one
    of the reasons that people work so hard to get their hobbies (which are
    considered personal) turned into businesses.

    Lee G.
1146.27MILPND::PERMKevin R. OsslerWed Aug 01 1990 12:1135
RE: <<< Note 1146.26 by MANFAC::GREENLAW "Your ASSETS at work" >>>

>    since the house you live in is
>    considered personal property, the tax laws do not allow you to deduct the
>    loss.  

Actually, it is because primary residences are specially treated. 

But your essential point is valid. It is evidently a very common
misconception that you can deduct a loss on the sale of your home. You
can't. 

Of course, there is a distinction in how you define 'loss.' 

If, for example, your current residence is your first home purchase, and
you have to sell it at a loss, tough baloney! 

If you bought a house many moons ago, at, say, $100K, then sold it three 
years ago for $150K, you could have deferred the tax on the gain of $50K. 
If then you bought a new house three years ago for $160, and had to sell it 
now for $130, then you can count the $30K loss against your previous gains. 
This is because your "basis," meaning the amount upon which eventual 
capital gains on the sale of your residence is based, is calculated using 
the original $100K figure, plus and minus various costs of sales and 
improvements and various other things over the years, which can get
complicated. Your basis gets recalculated every time you sell a house. See 
IRS form 2119 and instructions for details.

If it turns out that your current selling price is less than your latest
"basis" amount, including all your previous capital gains, you go back to
zero and start all over again! You cannot deduct a loss from ordinary 
income, but on the other hand, you don't have to pay a tax on capital gains 
from your previous homes.

/kevin
1146.28POINT MISSED?HYEND::BLOPATINWheaties are SweetiesWed Aug 01 1990 15:2713
    I think you're all missing the point.
    
    1. Fact - you can't deduct a 'loss' on your home.
    2. Fact - COD is VOLUNTARY. If property values are declining, then
    don't VOLUNTEER for COD.
    
    DEC may or may not make a profit on the resale of propety. The 3rd
    party company may or may not make a profit on the resale of property.
    What does that have to do with whether or not you CHOOSE to leave your
    present job and take a new one?
    
    I guess I'm confused about this note (and it's replies)...this isn't
    "transition", it's COD. No one made anyone do anything!
1146.29Good Old Days Area OverCOOKIE::LENNARDThu Aug 02 1990 12:3918
    -.1 hit it right on the head.  The 30K the company now allows for
    "losses", will soon be too little....in fact I've seen price reductions
    as large as 100K in the NH area.
    
    I can remember when DEC relocations were very lucrative, and people ran
    around with a grin on their faces and a pocket full of money.  The
    pressure on the appraisers comes from two directions...one, corporate
    pressures to get real, and perhaps more important, heavy pressure from
    the government/lending agencies.  Unrealistic appraisals contributed
    dramatically to the HUD/S&L/Whatever fiasco's.
    
    No amount of bitchin' is going to change what has become an economic
    fact.  Call it the "Reagan Legacy".  It will be 10-15 years before
    people have confidence in the market again.
    
    BTW, I told me daughter (remember, I started this) what some of the
    feedback from you folks was.  She still doesn't agree, and says the
    situation is getting even worse....and is still heavily COD related.
1146.30Many :-)JANUS::MTHOMASMake it so.Fri Aug 03 1990 06:195
    Maybe there should be a standard clause in every P&S:
    
    "The buyer realizes that real estate prices can go down as well as up."
    
    Mel
1146.31NOTIME::SACKSGerald Sacks ZKO2-3/N30 DTN:381-2085Fri Aug 03 1990 10:105
re .29:

Relocation can still be very lucrative if you don't own your home.  When
I relocated, I was reimbursed for actual temporary living expenses.  Now
relocating employees get a very generous flat amount.
1146.32COOKIE::LENNARDFri Aug 03 1990 14:207
    Having just finished a relo as a renter, I agree.  I got 4500 for
    temporary living, plus one-month's pay for miscellaneous.  I really
    thought it was too generous (but didn't turn it down)...
    
    I wonder who thinks these things up.  but then the 40 weeks pay for
    people with two years service was ridiculously generous.  Methinks the
    corporate cookie jar needs a lock.
1146.33In my experience, 3rd-party offer is low-ballingODIXIE::MOREAUKen Moreau: Sales Support, Palm Beach FLFri Aug 03 1990 15:3735
I just finished a COD II move, selling my house in Nashua NH and buying a 
house in West Palm Beach FL, so I felt I had to respond to this sequence.

RE: .12  -< The market sets the value. >-

>    No.   COD offers (3rd-party offers) are not low.   They are indeed the
>    market value.   The market is depressed in New England, but too many
>    sellers refuse to believe that THEIR home value has decreased
>    accordingly.   If the 3rd-party offer isn't the market value, then why
>    wouldn't one sell the house at what they think is the market value?
>    The answer is because that seller has an inflated perception of market
>    value, overprices the house, and no one buys.   

In many cases what you say may be true, I can't speak for other people.  But
I know that in my case what you said is *FLAT WRONG*.  (In the following
discussion, "$n" is the amount I paid for the house 4 years before).

Before I accepted the COD job offer, I had my house appraised at $n + $30K by 
a realtor familiar with the area (she had sold us the house).  This sounded
good to us, so we decided to accept the job offer and move.  The offer on
our home was $n - $5K (note, minus).  We then put the house on the market 
during the 60 days allowed in the contract, and sold it ourselves in 40 days
for $n + 18K.

Did we have an inflated perception of the market value?  Yes, +$30K was high.
Were we able to sell it ourselves for (too us) SIGNIFICANTLY over what
the 3rd-party offer was?  Absolutely.
    
>    The MARKET sets the price.  When people come to realize that, they will
>    realize that the 3rd-party offers are perfectly correct. 

I agree with the first statement, and STRONGLY disagree with the second.
In my case, the MARKET did not come anywhere close to the 3rd party offer.

-- Ken Moreau
1146.34Experience from COD IMISFIT::MICKOLAre you talkin&#039; to me?Wed Aug 08 1990 00:3020
I relocated under COD I from Massachusetts to Rochester, New York. I had my
house appraised by a local realtor for $n+64K in November of '89. The house 
was on the market for 7 months, with a dozen or so showings and no offers. The
price was lowered during this timeframe to $n-10K, $n-20K, $n-40K.

After being appraised by the two 3rd party relocation appraisers, the average
of the two was $n, which was DEC's offer for my house. Needless to say I was
surprised at how much lower their offer was. So was my realtor. After 7 months
on the market, the deadline to accept Digital's offer came. I accepted  in
June '90 for $n. The house was listed by Digital (actually Prudential
Relocation) for $n+6K. A couple weeks later it was listed for $n-3K which is 
where is stands now.

So, even though I was disappointed, I don't believe that Appraisers low-balled
me and history has shown that I was right. I believe the market is in trouble.
I don't think its because of COD, since my troubles started before COD
could have had much of an affect on the overall real-estate market. 

Jim

1146.35Poor fact!DUGGAN::RUTue Aug 28 1990 10:5610
    
    RE: .34
    
    I can understand your situation.  The problem is the market is very
    bad now.  And DEC's offer figure this in 100%.  If the market takes
    average 6 to 9 months to sell.  DEC will offer you the price it 
    expected to sell within 0-2 months.
    
    For those thinking about relocation, you better figure out how much
    out of pocket loss you can take before deciding to relocate.
1146.36Massachusetts: a nice place to visit, but...FDCV09::MAHONThu Aug 30 1990 11:0738
    The price range individual properties fall within can greatly affect 
    then net return on investment.  People who own properties which are
    listed in the $150K and under OR the $500K and over are the people 
    who are selling their homes quicker and for a greater return than
    the MAJORITY of home owners (in the $150K TO $500K price range).
    People who bought new homes for top dollar that fall in the $150K to
    $500K category within the last 7 years will in many cases be lucky
    sell for what they paid.
    
    I can give you a perfect example by my own first hand experience.  In
    1985 I purchased an older single family home in need of cosmetic
    restoration for $65,000.  In 1989, during my digital relocation, I
    accepted the Homequity offer for $124,000.  I put very little money
    into the house, just an enormous amount of my own time (and paint).
    Ok, so there's a $60,000 profit.
    
    I relocated to central Mass and purchased a new home last year for
    $163,000.  Right now, or even three years from now, I know for a fact
    that its value will go nowhere.  It was appraised 6 months ago for
    $176,000 but the appraiser said that the only way I'm ahead of the 
    game is that I bought the house for less than it was worth at the time,
    to which I agreed.  I bought it below market value which is the only 
    thing that is saving me.  The point is that it will be a cold day in
    h**l before I ever realize a $60,000 return on investment with this
    house.  There are just too many houses on the market right in this 
    price range.
    
    If I had to do over again, I may have bought two fixer-uppers for well
    under 100,000, repaired both, rented one out and eventually sold each for
    under $150,000 and made more money that I could possibly ever make in
    my current situation.   
    
    One thing is for sure: someday, in x number of years, the economy and
    real estate market will straighten itself out and things will be the 
    way they once were.  It could be a long time, especially for
    Massachusetts.  
    
    Jack
1146.37You can never win with RELOGUIDUK::B_WOODHaving a wonderfull Alaska SummerMon Sep 10 1990 23:2511
    I've found two rules about real estate:
    
    1)  There is nothing more expensive than a cheap house in a declining 
         or saturated market ( Colorado Springs )
    
    2)  There is no better bargin than a mid sized house in a climbing 
         market.
    
    The $150000 to $500000 house will be a good deal if the house is 
    a very standard 3-4 bedroom house with no unual features.