Real Estate Information

Great news for 2010 home buyers!! The $8000 first-time home buyer tax credit has been extended through May 1, 2010 and has been expanded to include a tax credit for current home owners.

Home Buyer Tax Credit Expansion and Extension 

• The $8,000 tax credit will be extended and available for first-time home buyers through May 1, 2010. 
• A new $6,500 tax credit will be available for repeat buyers who purchase between December 1, 2009, and May 1, 2010. To qualify, buyers must have used the home sold or being sold as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years.
• Prospective buyers with binding contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, will be allowed an additional 60 days to complete the transaction.
• Income limits are expanded to $125,000 on a single return and $225,000 on a joint return.
• Limitation on the cost of a purchased home is $800,000. 

If you know anyone looking to buy their first home at a time when prices and interest rates are still down, or if you are thinking of buying another home and getting the new $6,500 credit please contact me today.

Are you or someone you know behind on mortgage payments? You are not alone. 1 out of 8 of all homeowners are in financial distress creating havoc for home owners and their families.

The good new is, there are options other than foreclosure!  A Short Sale may allow you to save your credit and avoid foreclosure. Watch to this short video to learn how a Short Sale can help you family. Contact me for a private consultation.

I am a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) with extensive training in helping familes avoid foreclsoure and would like to help you and your family

       "The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other."
                                                                      ~ Burton Hillis

Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated festivals globally and is no longer viewed as a purely religious holy day. It is now a time enjoyed by people of many countries and faiths, and there are numerous universally recognized icons which we associate with the yuletide. In fact, these symbols have become so commonly associated with the celebration of Christmas that when we see Santa riding on a reindeer, a mantle hung with stockings, coniferous green trees decorated with tinsel and ornaments, or houses festooned with evergreen wreaths and mistletoe, we know that the magic spirit of the season is upon us.   

The tradition of the Christmas stocking dates back to approximately 250B.C. in Asia Minor. There Nicholas, rich man who became a very generous Christian priest and a saint, is said to have secretly filled the stockings of three poor sisters with gold, thus giving them a dowry and allowing them to marry. Legend has it that after that "miracle," neighbors of the fortunate women followed suit with their stockings, and the tradition slowly spread across the globe. Children throughout the world now hang stockings--or even put out shoes--to be filled with small gifts and food by Santa (Saint) Claus (Nicholas). Many people create their own stockings, personalizing them for themselves or for others and often providing a family activity that is fun for all. Find instructions for making your own Christmas fireplace stockings.

Along with the Christmas holly, laurel, rosemary, yews, boxwood bushes, and, of course the Christmas tree, mistletoe is an evergreen displayed during the Christmas season and symbolic of the eventual rebirth of vegetation that will occur in spring. But perhaps more than any other of the Christmas evergreens, it is a plant of which we are conscious only during the holidays. One day we're kissing under the mistletoe, and next day we've forgotten all about it (the plant, that is, not the kisses).

THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE! THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE! 

And ’tis the season to decide what presents to give, to buy the presents, to wrap the presents, to mail and/or deliver the presents.  Whew!--time-consuming and somewhat exhausting unless you’ve discovered online shopping. Here are just a few ideas: EasyXmas.com, Gifts.com, Overstock.com, Amazon.com, Fragrance.net. There are hundreds of other sites just waiting to display their wares and ship them for you. Some even offer free holiday shipping or will do the gift wrapping for you.   

Want something a little different? Check out the top ten present picks for 2009.                                                   

             “May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!" 
                                                                              -- Unknown

Another time-saving tip: rather than hand writing cards to send holiday greetings online to friends and family and have someone else do the work for you. Great selections--warm, funny, cute, animated, talking, photo, traditional, romantic--and no waiting time!

And speaking of greetings—show support for our troops. Xerox still has a web site that lets you send a message of thanks to soldiers currently serving in Iraq. This is a FREE service and only takes a minute to do.   What a great way to spread the spirit of the season! Visit www.LetsSayThanks.com today.

Yes, you’re busy, busy, busy, but what about the children?

Need to keep the kids happy and involved? Here are creative and original holiday stories. Chat with Santa’s elves. Have fun with educational activities. Make pom-pom snowmen, a snowman garland, or a Rudolph handprint. Deck your halls and walls with candy-colored crafts. 

There is lots of online fun for the kids:

• Visit Santa’s Secret Village
• Track Santa’s trip around the world.  
• Dress up a snowman.
• Decorate a Christmas tree.
• Play fun Christmas games.
• Count the days til Christmas.

Other good sites for craft creations --ornaments, cards, trees, etc.--to make the days leading up to Christmas happy ones are Parents.com, Christmascrafts.net, SchoolFamilyFun.com, FamilyFun.com, FamilyCrafts.com, and Kaboose.com. 

Interested in how Christmas is celebrated around the world? Check out information on the traditions and customs of over forty locations. For instance, general Christmas traditions in Bethlehem are similar to the European and North American customs observed during the festival. From a few days before December 25th, the town is decorated with flags and other items of adornment. Streets are strung with Christmas lights. A Christmas market comes up and Christmas plays are performed. A cross is painted on the door of every Christian home, and Nativity scenes are displayed in every household.  

Learn how to express Christmas greetings in many languages.  Try it and surprise everyone with you linguistic ability. 

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."
                                                     ~ Hamilton Wright Mabi 

Now let’s move from goodwill to men to good food at Christmas time… eggnog, sugar cookies, Christmas punch, glazed ham, brunch biscuits and eggs--and so much more. You can even view vidoes to help with baking. Decorating cookies, making colorful Rice Krispy treats, and creating gingerbread cookies are all great family activities--and the results are delicious!

Another traditional activity for family members of all ages is caroling--indoors or outside. Rusty on the lyrics...not a problem.

Still hungering for more family time and/or seasonal spirit? It is said that the tradition of making Christmas movies is as old as making movies itself and Christmas has long been a favorite subject of moviemakers. In fact, so many movies have been made on the theme of Christmas that the list would be too long to print here, but you might want to try The Miracle on 34^th Street (1947 version or the newer one), A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, and White Christmas.  

Christmas facts few people know:

*  In the Ukraine, if you find a spider web in the house on Christmas morning, it is a harbinger of good luck. 

*  In ancient Scandinavia, mistletoe was associated with peace and friendship. That may account for the custom of "kissing beneath the mistletoe. 

*  The "Urn of Fate" is part of the Christmas celebrations in many Italian households. TheUrn of Fate is brought out on Christmas Eve. It holds a wrapped present for everyone. 

*  In Sweden a common Christmas decoration is the Julbukk, a small figurine of a goat.  It is usually made of straw.

Alas, dear readers, having presents to buy and wrap, cookies to make, movies to watch, ecards to send, songs to sing, pages to color, eggnog to drink, stories to read, a tree to trim, stockings to fill, thanks to express to our troops, caroling and mistletoe kissing to do, this writer must stop, but not before sending warmest wishes to you for a wonderful and 

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

There’s good news for all those Charlotte first-time home buyers who have not yet taken advantage of the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit (part of the $787 billion economic stimulus package). The IRS has implemented the tax-related provisions of the The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act Of 2009, which extends and expands the home buyers tax credit up until to April 30, 2010! A tax credit has now been implemented for may current Charlotte home owners also.

Learn if you qualify for the extended and expanded tax credit.

Search all Charlotte homes for sale.

By Victoria Stankard

Did you know that you can receive tax credits for energy efficiency improvements on your Charlotte, NC home?

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “A tax credit is generally more valuable than an equivalent tax deduction because a tax credit reduces tax dollar-for-dollar, while a deduction only removes a percentage of the tax that is owed. Consumers can itemize purchases on their federal income tax form, which will lower the total amount of tax they owe the government.”

Some consumers are also eligible for utility or state rebates and other state tax incentives for energy-efficient home upgrades and equipment. For more information on specific state tax information and energy efficiency incentives check with your state’s energy office website.

Homeowners Tax Credit – How It Works!

You can spend up to $5,000 during the 2 year period (January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2010) on a single or multiple products and get (30% of $5,000 or $1,500) Federal Tax Credit for Energy efficiency Home Improvements. However, If take the entire $1,500 tax credit in 2009, you are not eligible for any additional credit in 2010. To qualify, home improvements must meet specific criteria such as:

• Property must be ready and available for use from January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2010.
• Property must be used for your principal residence, with the exception of solar water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, solar panels and small wind energy systems used for a second home.
• You must have a certification from the manufacturer stating that the product or component qualifies for the tax credit.

Charlotte North Carolina Home efficiency improvements can be claimed on your 2009 taxes (IRS Tax Form 5695, available late 2009 or early 2010).

Energy Efficiency Home Upgrades   

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you can get home efficiency tax credits on the following:

• Insulation – Meets 2009 IECC & Amendments
  30% of cost up to $1500 tax credit
• Roofing – All Energy Star qualified metal and reflective asphalt shingles
  30% of cost up to $1500 tax credit
• HVAC – Central AC split systems: SEER>=14, EER>=12
  30% up to $1500 tax credit
• Windows, Doors & Skylights – U factor <=0.30, SHGC <=0.30 30% of cost up to $1500 tax credit Water Heaters – Gas, propane, oil – Energy factor >=0.82 or a thermal efficiency of at least 90% – 30% of cost up to $1500 tax credit
• Geo-thermal Heat Pumps – Closed Loop: EER >= 14.1, COP >= 3.3, Open Loop: EER >= 16.2, COP >= 3.6, Direct Expansion: EER >= 15, COP >= 3.5. All Energy Star geothermal heat pumps qualify.
  30% of cost tax credit
• Biomass Stoves – Burns biomass fuel to heat home or water heater, thermal efficiency rating of at least 75% using a lower heating value
  30% of cost tax credit
• Small Wind Energy Systems – Residential small wind turbines – nameplate capacity of not more than 100 kilowatts
  30% of cost tax credit.
• Solar Water Heating – At least half of the energy must come from the sun. You may only claim what you spend on the solar water heating system property. The water must be used within the household. Water system must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC). Credits can’t be claimed to heat pools or hot tubs.
  30% of cost tax credit
• Fuel Cells – Residential fuel cell and micro-turbine system- Efficiency of at least 30% and capacity of at least 0.5kW
  30% of cost up to $1500 tax credit
• Efficient Cars – Hybrid gasoline-electric, battery-electric, diesel alternative fuel and fuel cell vehicles – Credit is determined by vehicle weight, fuel economy and technology compared to base year models. Tax credit will be phased out for each manufacturer once they have sold 60,000 eligible vehicles. Credit is still available for GM, Ford and Nissan. As of January 1, 2009, there is a new tax credit for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, starting at $2,500 up to $7,500 for cars and trucks (based on the capacity of the battery system).

Charlotte North Carolina Certified EcoBroker Real Estate Professional

Leigh Brown is a real estate agent and EcoBroker Certified® professional located in Charlotte, NC. Leigh is dedicated to helping her clients buy homes in Charlotte, NC that are energy efficient and environmentally sensitive in design.  She also helps clients market their real estate properties in Charlotte, NC with green features. If you’re looking to buy property in Charlotte North Carolina, contact Leigh Brown, EcoBroker Certified® professional

By Victoria Stankard

Did you know that one of the main sources of greenhouse gases comes from our homes? “The term ‘carbon footprint’ is used to describe the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere each year by a person, household, building, organization or company,” says Cathy Milbourn, a spokeswoman for the Federal Environmental Agency (FEA).

Awareness Comes Before Change

By nature, we are creatures of habit and before we will make the necessary changes that contribute to the solution, we need to be made aware of how much we are contributing to the problem. Living greener means living smarter and with increased awareness and a little guidance we can all create a greener way of life.

According to Eric Carlson, executive director of Carbonfund.org, “40 percent of  carbon emissions come from our homes. The three main sources of greenhouse gas emissions that come from our homes are electricity and heating use and waste (landfill emissions). According to the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.)  the average carbon footprint for a household in the U.S. is a startling 41,500 pounds a year.  

Upgrading Inefficient Systems in Your Home

We can start reducing carbon levels by upgrading inefficient systems in our homes. When we reduce our energy usage, we reduce our energy costs as well as our carbon footprint.  According to Consumer Reports, replacing an inefficient hot-water heater with a more energy-efficient one can reduce annual carbon-dioxide emissions by as much as 3,285 lbs. – not to mention energy costs by as much as $263 per year. Even the simple act of lowering the temperature of your thermostat by 5 degrees for eight hours and 10 degrees while you’re not home can save 3,150 lbs in carbon emissions and as much as $252 in energy expenses per year.

Do-it-yourself Home Energy Usage Audit

One of the ways you can start reducing energy expenses and carbon levels is to do a home energy audit by comparing your Charlotte, NC home’s energy efficiency to similar homes across the country. You can go to energystar.gov and use their “Energy Star Yardstick” calculator. You will need to provide some basic information such as square footage, zip code and how many people live in the home. You will also need your utility bills for the past 12 months or you can contact your utility companies and request a 12-month summary.

Everyday Household Carbon Culprits

Appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, gas and electric grills, fans, radios, TVs, lights, gas and electric fireplaces, computers and all the other conveniences we use everyday add to carbon levels and increase our carbon footprint. We can reduce carbon levels by choosing to buy appliances with the E.P.A. Energy Star label. Enesta Jones, a spokeswoman for E.P.A. says that “Energy Star clothes washers are at least 25 percent more efficient than the standard product and meet water efficiency requirements, which also helps save energy.” You can find a list of Energy Star products for your Charlotte, NC home by going to “products” at energystar.gov. 

EcoBroker Certified® Real Estate Professional Charlotte, NC

Leigh Brown is a real estate agent and EcoBroker Certified® professional in the Charlotte metro area of North Carolina.  Leigh enjoys helping her clients purchase real estate in Charlotte, NC  with energy efficiency and environmentally sensitive design. She also helps her clients market their real estate properties in Charlotte, NC with green features. If you’re looking to buy property in Charlotte North Carolina, contact Leigh Brown, an EcoBroker Certified® professional.

by Victoria Stankard

There’s  good news on the housing market horizon and for all those who have not yet taken advantage of the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit (part of the $787 billion economic stimulus package) that was set to expire on November 30, 2009.  As of today, the IRS is implementing the tax-related provisions of the The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act Of 2009, which extends and expands the home buyers tax credit up until to April 30, 2010!

Who Qualifies for the Extended and Expanded Home buyer Tax Credit?

To qualify as a “first-time home buyer” the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.  With the new expanded deal, home buyers who have lived in their prior residence for at least five consecutive years may also receive a credit of $6,500 under the plan.

Also, under the expansion, couples earning up to $225,000 and individuals up to $125,000 would qualify compared to the $75,000 limit for individuals and $150,000 for couples of the previous deal. The new credit also raises the maximum allowed home purchase price to $800,000. In order to get the credit, home buyers must close escrow by April 30, 2010.

Tax Extention and Expansion will Give a Boost to the Housing Market

The extended and expanded home buyer tax credit is very good news for the overall housing market.“The success of the American economy is closely tied to the success of the housing market; by helping to stabilize the housing market, the home buyer tax credit has helped to shore up the economy as it begins to recover,” said Baucus, a Montana Democrat. “This would enable an even greater number of potential home buyers to take the credit.”

Hopefully, by extending the tax deal to current homeowners it will help boost sales and stabilize housing markets during slower winter sales months. According to the National Association of Realtors (NRA), about 1.2 million first-time home buyer transactions of new and resale homes were successfully completed due to the tax credit, which has reduced housing inventories and raised home values. NRA also estimates that 350,000 of them wouldn’t have purchased their homes without the credit.

Tax Credit Applies to the Purchace of Primary Residences

The extended and expanded home buyer tax Credit may be applied to single-family homes, condos, town homes and co-ops as long as they are a primary residence and as long as the buyer occupies the primary residence for three consecutive years the credit doesn’t need to be repaid.

Using Tax Credit to Buy Real Estate in Charlotte, North Carolina

There has never been a better time to buy real estate in Charlotte, North Carlina and take advantage of the extended and expanded tax credit.  If you would like more information about the home buyer tax credit or are in the market to purchase a home in Charlotte, NC as your primary residence,  contact Leigh Brown, the premier real estate expert of the Charlotte metro area. 

In our Western consumer culture, living green goes against the grain and can be a challenge at times. Compared to our preoccupation with convenience and consumerism, very little focus is given to sustainability or what is good for our environment. Not to mention – old habits are hard to break.  Americans like their disposables, creature comforts and junk food.

However, with a little help and guidance, we can tweak our non-green habits and move in the direction of a greener way of life. Nowadays green is everywhere and you would literally have to be deaf, blind and dumb not to have heard about it. It’s in the news, politics, technology, real estate, music, fashion, etc. and there are over one hundred thousand websites dedicated to green living on the Internet cyber-highway.

Unfortunately, a lot of the information we hear comes at us from opportunistic angles. We get “green fatigue” and start to tune the “green messages” out.  Let s face it, the American way is to find a way to make a profit and green has become a big industry. It’s what we do. Despite this, we can’t allow greed and opportunism to interfere with basic common sense. Deep down we know that green is the intelligent way and that we need to lead greener lives despite the hype and nonsense for the sake of sustainability.

Each one of us can make an impact in our small corner and have a positive impact on our environment. People need to understand how our ecosystems are interlinked and interdependent for green to have real contextual meaning in their lives. The fact is that everything we do has either a positive or negative impact on the environment and with increased awareness, we can each do our part by the choices we make everyday.

Going Green with Recycling

Take for example, the act of recycling, which happens to be a huge pet peeve of mine when people don’t recycle their trash. I happen to live in a neighborhood of large homes filled with big families. When I walk my dog on trash day, I notice how many people don’t have recycling bins out. I don’t mean to get on my soap box here, but there is absolutely no excuse for this, especially when bins are provided for each house free of charge and they are picked up every week. As I said before, old habits die hard. Our schools can teach our children about the importance of recycling, but if it isn’t reinforced by example in the home, they aren’t going to get the message. We need to recycle because it:

• Saves Landfill Space
• Saves Energy
• Saves Natural Resources 
• Saves Clean Air and Water 
• Saves Money

The bottom line is that what we do or don’t do directly affects the lives and future of our children.  

EcoBroker Certified® Real Estate Professional Charlotte, North Carolina

Leigh Brown is a professional real estate agent of Charlotte North Carolina. She is also also a EcoBroker Certified® professional who genuinely cares about the environment and who walks the talk. Leigh helps her clients take advantage of energy efficiency and environmentally sensitive design in Charlotte, NC real estate properties.  She also helps her clients market their real estate properties with green features so that Charlotte, NC home buyers live comfortably with energy efficiency and environmentally-sensitive choices. If you’re looking to purchase a home in Charlotte North Carolina, contact Leigh Brown, an EcoBroker Certified® professional.