“The habit of giving only enhances the desire to give.”

Walt Whitman

‘Joyous Gifting’

The sale of 21 Calle Del Pinos in Stinson Beach is unique: the buyers are receiving an estate planning gift from parents and part of the seller’s proceeds will go to fund brain research at UCSF. Thus the family purchasing the sunny dream cottage by the beach and the seller, who created a charitable gifting practice years ago, are establishing their legacy … How much better does estate planning get?

  

St. Ignatius High School  

Perhaps twenty years ago the proceeds of a home I sold in Fairfax went to the development fund of St. Ignatius High School … the 80 year old sellers had lost their only child and used the proceeds, via a charitable remainder trust, to create life-time income for themselves and establish scholarships at their daughter’s alma matter. I was priviledged to be part of their healing and gifting process.

On hearing of the charitable remainder trust form of gifting Joan Dudschus of Sebastopol coined the phrase, “Giving With Warm Hands’ which describes the process of charitable giving NOW, while we’re alive. (The choices in estate planning are: let the estate pay lots of taxes when you’re dust or plan around the taxes, give now and enjoy the experience).

Isabel Abelleira

Around that same time another Marin County real estate gifting opportunity arose: a donation to the Town of Fairfax from Isabel Abelleira. Isablel instructed her estate planning attorney Jim Hastings to use the proceeds from her estate to create the fountain for children and animals you see in front of the Fairfax town hall, at the corner of Bolinas and Park.

Years after the Fairfax giftings I have been fortunate to do fundraising with several great organizations that encourage estate gifting. Most notable: Trust for Public Lands, the Bay Area Make A Wish Foundation, and Hospice by the Bay.

Celebrating 21 Calle Del Pinos


  

To celebrate this sale a book party at my home is tentatively set for June 16.

This is the 7th such party and to honor the beach theme I’m asking each person to bring a favorite upbeat, light and breezy, scrumptious, well-written ‘beach’ read.

(We use the ‘white elephant’ gift exchange format: The book each person brings is placed on the book table. After drawing numbers from a hat the person with #1 picks a book from the offerings. Next the person with #2 either picks another book or takes the book from the first person. Etc.) Call for details.

There will be finger food, a bit of poetry reading, lots of fun, merriment and a surprise dedication.

(For the party I’m bringing Jane Gardarm’s delightful Brit novel Old Filth.)

Stories of ‘giving with warm hands’ are good news. Got some? Share with us! And if this blog has strikes a chord, contact me ‘cause I want to play them forward.

Email tverkozen@fhallen.com or call (415) 257-2039.

P.S. Real Estate Good News

Nationally real estate sales in 2009 rebounded to the 5.2 million mark. Of the 734 sales in Marin County this year, 70% were ‘normal’ (non-distress) sales; of the remaining, paranormal 30%, 105 were short sales and 105 REOs (this statistic courtesy of my friend, resident mathematician Mac Pourtaib).

Real Estate Planning from the Heart Part I – Giving With Warm Hands
Real Estate Planning from the Heart Part II – Giving With Warm Hands
Real Estate Planning from the Heart Part III – Giving With Warm Hands 

Posted by:  Tom Verkozen