Renting Versus Buying | Tax Benefits For Renters

Simple. Smart. Sophisticated. That is the Redwood way.

Renting an apartment may be more advantageous to you than buying a home. Take a look at the comparisons below that highlight the benefits of renting versus buying. Upfront Costs Buying has more upfront costs than the low cost of renting. Renting fees include: process fee, security deposit, and application fee. Buying fees include: down payment, inspection, closing, and initial updates. Monthly Costs The monthly costs of renting are much lower than the costs of buying. Renting monthly costs are: utilities, water, gas, insurance, and rent. Selling/Move-Out Costs To move out of an apartment, the only things that you need to pay for are damages and possibly a buy-out fee if you are leaving early. When you are selling your home, you need to pay for the mortgage payoff balance, prepayment penalty, real estate agent commissions, notary fees, escrow fees, title search fees, closing costs/credits to buyer, transfer tax, home warranty, and capital gains tax. 2018 Tax Law Nearly doubled the standard deduction Limited the mortgage interest deduction Limited the property tax deduction Eliminated the interest deduction on home equity loans All of which may make renting a better option for some people.Talk to your tax advisor. Watch Video!

Perfect For The Holidays - Homemade Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Race Car Driver, Jarett Andretti, to Visit Fans at Redwood Living's Templeton Ridge Apartment Neighborhood

Photo Credit: Jarett Andretti Racing

At Redwood Living's Templeton Ridge Apartment Neighborhood, Andretti will spend time with fans, sign autographs and have his sprint race car on display.

USAC racing driver, Jarett Andretti, of Andretti Autosports Short Track will be at Redwood Living's Templeton Ridge apartment neighborhood located at 4940 Webster Drive in Noblesville, Indiana, on Thursday, August 31, from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

Andretti will spend time with fans, sign autographs and give away some signed Andretti gear. Visitors will also have an opportunity to see Andretti's sprint racing car which will be on-site at one of the Redwood model apartment homes. Visitors will experience a quick tour of three Redwood apartment homes on the way to meet Andretti.

MORE NEWS: Redwood Living Founder and President Win Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year Award for Northeast Ohio Region

All are welcome to this free, family friendly event.

Maria Stanton, Redwood Living's VP of Operations, states, "We are extremely proud to showcase our apartment homes and we appreciate Andretti connecting us with the Indianapolis and racing community. The partnership was a natural fit as both of our brands represent growth, striving for excellence, life experiences and overall quality of life."

All registered visitors will be entered to win one of the raffle prizes listed below (and pre-registered visitors will be entered to win twice):

• Five cruise getaways for two people
• One 49" LG Smart TV
• Two Google Home Devices
• One Amazon Echo
• Jarett Andretti Gear

Customers can register online in advance at the following link: https://redwood.eventbrite.com/

Redwood is also sponsoring Andretti's sprint race car in nine more races this season in the Indiana and Ohio markets.

"I'm proud to partner with such a fantastic, entrepreneurial organization," said Jarett Andretti. "Redwood is providing a unique product that is helping to create a better, simpler life for all of its residents allowing more time to enjoy favorite pastimes like racing!"

Meet The Redwood Team: Community Manager Briana Finnegan

Join us every week as we get to know a different member of our team at Redwood!

Name: Briana Finnegan

Job Title: Community Manager

Community: Havenwood by Redwood in Ankeny, Iowa.

How long have you worked at Redwood?: A little over a year.

What's your favorite thing about working at Redwood?: My favorite thing about working with Redwood are the people I get the opportunity to work with. Everyone from our on-site team here in Iowa to our corporate office team, everyone has been absolutely wonderful to work with.

What’s your favorite thing about Havenwood by Redwood?: Havenwood has a great location in an up and coming part of Des Moines. We are located in a very rapidly developing community so seeing it grow and expand while gaining that knowledge of my surroundings has been a great experience.

Related: Explore Havenwood by Redwood in Ankeny, Iowa

What are some of your hobbies?: I am definitely a social go getter. Other than the family and friend aspect which I absolutely love - I am big into travel, writing and being a foodie! New restaurant in town? I will be there. Being out and seeing the world? I will be there and when I am done I sit down and write about it.

What’s a fun fact about you?: I document all of my travels on my website, TheEchoingWorld.com

Meet more of our Redwood team!

5 Grilling Recipes You Have To Try This Summer

One of our favorite features to every Redwood Living community is the back patio - perfect for grilling in the summertime! While we all love to throw on steaks, burgers, and veggies there are plenty of other outside-the-box grilling recipes that you may not have tried yet!

Here are five of our favorites to try this summer.

1. Grilled Pizza

Photo Credit: Elise Bauer for Simple Recipes

There are few things better than making homemade pizza with friends. If you haven't tried firing up a pie over the grill on your patio, you're missing the opportunity to recreate a wood-fired taste right in your own backyard! Check out the instructions here from Simply Recipes.

2. Grilled Lemonade

Photo Credit: Food.com

Your new summer drink...created on your grill? This outdoor twist on lemonade adds a flavor that's smoky and sweet. Just dip lemons in sugar, fire them on the grill and squeeze them into your next drink! Watch the recipe in action from Food.com here.

3. Sweet Honey Peaches

Photo Credit: RecipeRunner.com

Speaking of a sweet summer treat, peaches are one fruit that hold up well on the grill to give your breakfast, snack or even dessert an extra punch! This recipe from Recipe Runner features grilled peaches filled with Cinnamon Honey Ricotta!

Related: 5 Creative Recipes For Breakfast At Home

4. Grilled Cheesy Fries

Photo Credit: Tablespoon.com

Indulge in a snack that can take you from boring freezer fries to a delicious side in no time at all! Simple wrap your fries in tin foil and throw them on a grill, adding every topping you can think of from cheese to bacon, green onions to sour cream! See the recipe here from tablespoon.com.

5. Grilled Berry Peach Pie

Photo Credit: Crazy For Crust

A pie on a grill? All it takes is a foil pie plate, your pie crust and favorite fillings! This recipe from CrazyForCrust.com takes you through the steps on how to make the perfect Berry Peach Pie on the grill here.

See more grilling recipe inspiration on our Summer Grilling board on Pinterest!

Meet The Redwood Team: Community Manager Sherronda Perry

Join us every week as we get to know a different member of our team at Redwood!

Name: Sherronda Perry

Job Title: Community Manager

Community: Carmel at Stonebridge by Redwood in Avon, OH.

How long have you worked at Redwood?: 4 months

What's your favorite thing about working at Redwood?: The opportunity for growth.

What’s your favorite thing about Carmel at Stonebridge?: I am in a newly developed community, we are currently still building so the excitement of leasing up the new community, as well as meeting all of the new residents is what I would say I enjoy most.

Related: Explore Carmel at Stonebridge By Redwood in Avon, OH

What are some of your hobbies?: I love to shop, travel and spend time with family.

What’s a fun fact about you?: I enjoy working with people!

Meet more of our Redwood team!

Redwood Living Founder and President Win Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year Award for Northeast Ohio Region

Steve Kimmelman and David Conwill with event sponsors from the Merrill Corporation.

Steve Kimmelman and David Conwill, founding principal and president of Redwood Living were named winners of Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year for Northeast Ohio among 26 other finalists at an awards gala held at the Cleveland Hilton Downtown. The Entrepreneur Of The Year awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

“It’s an honor to be recognized among so many talented and well-deserving colleagues,” said Steve Kimmelman who founded Redwood in 1991.

“We would like to share this award with our team of loyal, dedicated and talented employees, who demonstrate Redwood’s commitment to deliver more than is expected, communicate openly and honestly, and exhibit integrity in all aspects of our business.,” added Kimmelman.

“We are thrilled to receive such an honor among such a rich and distinguished mix of Northeastern Ohio entrepreneurs,” said David Conwill, president of Redwood. “The prestige offered by the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards further underscores the value and innovation that our esteemed peers provide this community and beyond,” he added.

Members of the Redwood team together at the awards event.

Redwood began in 1991 with the idea of creating a simpler, more relaxed, and peaceful lifestyle. Kimmelman had a vision to build apartment communities that were more like neighborhoods of single-family homes. This meant providing residents with private attached garages, personal patios, and freedom from noisy upstairs or downstairs neighbors.

Redwood centers on the strategic development of high quality, single-story apartment homes with private attached garages. The company focuses specifically on the single-story, open-floor plan, and attached garage design and believes that the growth of the “renter-by-choice” population demands the qualitative response that Redwood provides, and the success of this approach continues to be validated in new markets. Today, Redwood is a fully-integrated development and management company, with communities in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina and South Carolina.

RELATED: Meet The Redwood Team

Now in its 31st year, Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur Of The Year program has expanded to recognize business leaders in over 145 cities in 60 countries throughout the world.  Regional award winners like Kimmelman and Conwill are eligible for consideration for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year national program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Overall National Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 15 - 18, 2017. The US Entrepreneur of the Year Overall Award winner then moves on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in Monaco in June 2018.