Tax Credit Extended AND Expanded!

We just got the word and we are thrilled!  Now first time buyers have  we have until April 30th 2010 to close on thier first house and still recieve the credit.  Remember those who have not owned in the last three years are considered first time buyers.    First time buyers still get $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price.

There is also a provision in the new law that allows current homeowners who have sold or are  in the process of selling thier primary residence.  These folks will recieve a $6,500 credit.  They must have a written binding contract to purchase on or before April 30th 2010.  They have until July 1st to close.

The income limit is $225,000 for married couples and $125,000 for singles.  The maximum purcahse price is $800,000.   Based on these numbers I think it is safe to say that we can put this money to good use here in the Big Horn Basin.

Veterans Day November 11, 2009

Veterans Day is intended to honor and thank all military personnel who served the United States in all wars, particularly living veterans. I think it is a very important day to say Thank You to the many service men and women who have fought for our freedom and safety. We should also give thanks to those who are serving now at war. These people have given the ultimate sacrifice and deserve a place of honor and utmost respect.

 

History

Here is some interesting facts I found online:

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations came into effect. On November 11, 1919, Armistice Day was commemorated for the first time. In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed the day should be “filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory”.

In 1926, the United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I and declared that the anniversary of the armistice should be commemorated with prayer and thanksgiving. The Congress also requested that the president should “issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.”

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) was approved on May 13, 1938, which made November 11 in each year a legal holiday, known as Armistice Day. This day was originally intended to honor veterans of World War I. A few years later, World War II required the largest mobilization of service men in the history of the United States and the American forces fought in Korea. In 1954, the veteran’s service organizations urged Congress to change the word “Armistice” to “Veterans”. Congress approved this change and on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor all American veterans, where ever and whenever they had served.

Did You Know???

Did you know that you can search the Northwest Wyoming Board of REALTORS Multiple Listing Service from our website?  That’s right! Many years ago the MLS provided the buyers with the convienence of working with one agent to find the property they were looking for.  Well now it’s happening on line as well. The online version of the MLS is called Internet Data Exchange or IDX.   You don’t have so spend hours hoping around from one website to another.  You can customize your search directly from our site. Then click on the “Area Listings” button.  Or you can go directly here. The best part is that if you choose to, you can save your search and ask to be notified electronically when a listing that meets your criteria comes on the market with any agent who participates with IDX.  This means you’ll be the first to know when a new listing hits the market.

I invite you to stop by and try out this new tool.  Just use it to search around and familiarize yourself with the market or take it to the next step and set up saved searches.  This tool is important for sellers or potential sellers as well.  It is very important for sellers to be familiar with the market so that you can make informed decisions about the sale of your property.

Great News on the Housing Front!

You heard it here first!

Affordable loans will continue to be available to Wyoming’s first time home buyers.  We will continue to keep you updated as further details become available to us.  This short-term initiative may prove to be exactly what we need here in Wyoming to get us through until the housing and bond market have a chance to fully recover

This is the best news I have read all week.  Below is the official statement from the Wyoming Community Development Authority.

Our most recent sucess story!

“Federal Housing Plan Benefits Wyoming Casper – Wyoming’s first-time homebuyers received good news this week. The Administration unveiled the Homeowner Affordability & Stability Plan Monday, Oct. 19. The intent of the new initiative is to stabilize the U.S. housing market by helping to support low mortgage rates for first-time homebuyers and to expand housing resources for low and middle income borrowers that are affordable over the long term. According to David Haney, Executive Director of the Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA), Wyoming’s Housing Finance Agency (HFA), this initiative is “great news to anyone in Wyoming who is considering buying their first home.” “We are very encouraged by what we know so far (about the initiative),” Haney said. “Details are still trickling out of Washington D.C., but the bottom line here is that Wyoming’s first-time homebuyers will continue to receive affordable mortgage interest rates. It allows the WCDA to continue to fulfill its mission to provide affordable housing to our fellow citizens.” The Administration’s new plan will allow the WCDA and all other HFAs to re-enter the bond market that was disrupted as a result of the economic collapse of 2008. Administration officials stressed that this initiative is temporary. It is intended to stimulate the housing market as well as the bond market. The philosophy is as private investors re-enter the bond market, the federal government reduces its investment until the market has stabilized to its former level – all at no likely cost tax-payers. For information about the Administration’s Making Home Affordable and the two-pronged Homeowner Affordability & Stability Plan, please log onto http://www.wyomingcda.com and click on the Administration’s “Official Statement” link under the “New HFA Initiative” section. You can also contact the WCDA at (307) 265-0603.”

Nature Makes You Nicer

I knew it!  I feel better when I’m outside.  I’m a nicer, kinder, better person when I’m outdoors.  I thought it was because I was “on vacation” if only for a few minutes or hours.  It turns out we’re all nicer when we are in “natural” surroundings.

Richard Ryan, a professor at the University of Rochester and co-author of the study, published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin states,

” we’ve found nature brings out more social feelings, more value for community and close relationships. People are more caring when they’re around nature.”  It’s worth the 2 minutes to read the rest of the story at

click here

I always knew it was great living in Wyoming with nature all around us!

Extension of the $8000 tax credit?

We have mentioned the First-time home buyer tax credit here on the blog several times.  This credit expires on November 30th 2009 so you will have to close on your home on or before that tax to claim that credit.  I realize this is a touchy subject but all things political are.  Right now the National Association of Realtors is supporting proposed legislation that would extend this credit and even allow it to be extended to all of those purchasing a primary residence.   Regardless of whether or not you were in support of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act we now must move forward.   Our own Senator Barrasso voted for a measure that would provide home buyers with a tax credit equal to the lesser of $15,000 or 10%  of the purchase price.  This measure failed but there are several other bills pending before congress that would either extend or revise the current credit.  It is important that we take steps to stabilize our nation’s housing market.  I believe the tax credit was a positive move and that we are going in the direction of  a healthy long term recovery.

If you or anyone you know is a potential first time homebuyer please let them know that there is still time to close on a home before the November 30 deadline.

Your Town Workshop Update

Your Town Workshops are something new and different in Lovell.  This is our opportunity to make a difference in our community.  We all have good ideas on how to improve our town, these workshops, public forums, are the time and place to actually get something done!  This Thursday we’ll meet again at 7 PM at the Lovell Community Center.  We’re not “planning a plan” we’re actually going to DO SOMETHING!  This week we’ll discuss the various ideas people have for a physical project to be completed within twelve months.  I’ve already heard some good ideas from last week’s discussions.  This week we’ll actually choose a project.  So if you want a say in what we’re doing, come to the meetings!

Johnson Home and Land has a link to the Lovell Inc.  “Your Town Workshop” Blog to help you get there easily.  Voice your thoughts and come to the meetings and bring your friends.

Why Attend Convention?

I have recently returned home from my annual trek to the Wyoming Association of REALTORS  annual convention and trade show.  The 7 hours I spent alone in the car gave me plenty way too much time to think.  I was thinking about a generalization brought to my attention by one of the convention instructors.  Members of  my generation (generation x) and younger colleagues (generation y) are the minority at conventions and other similar “real life” networking events.  Why?  As a generation we are not “joiners”  we tend to keep our work lives and our personal lives separate. Generally speaking…. baby boomers tend to combine  the two.  Without getting too deep  into the psychological  theories of why we are the way we are…. I will simply make a few observations about my own generation.  Gen Xers are those born between 1965 and 1977.  For the most part our parents are Baby Boomers.  Gen X is the original latch key generation because our parents were both working.  As a result Xers tend to be very independent.  Many of my Gen X  friends simply don’t see the relevance of attending conventions.  I can see their point but I was “sold” on all the benefits of convention before I knew any different.  Here are a few of the reasons why conventions are relevant to me and my business and I would guess many of these are universal and would apply to many industries.

- networking with other agents generates referral business

- getting ideas from other agents means you do not have to learn everything the hard way

-Surrounding yourself with successful people brings success

-Applying what you learn in the top notch courses is a huge benefit to your customers and to you.

-Being actively involved in your industry’s  trade organization is an extremely rewarding experience.

-It’s FUN!

Attending conventions on both the state and national level have been a significant investment of my time and money, but I can honestly say that there has never been a greater return on my investment.

Your Town Workshop

If you haven’t already planed to attend please come and bring a friend to the Your Town Workshops starting this Thursday September 24th. There will 4 meetings to be held Thursday evenings starting at 7pm.

We will be discussing how to make a positive change in Lovell. We are going to decide on one annual community event and one project to improve our town. We are looking for widespread community input and involvement.

I am excited to go the meetings and seeing what we come up with for these two wonderful projects.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Wyoming Health Fair: This Week in Lovell

This is the week to stop by the friendly, neighborhood Lovell New Horizons Care Center Multi-purpose room and participate in the Health Fair!  Do yourself a favor and have a blood screening any morning between 7 and 10, today through Saturday, September 19.  Screening results will be available on Saturday, September 26 between 9 AM and noon at the Lovell Community Center.  There will also be Health Booths, Kids Booths, Demonstrations and Free Screenings.   The Wyoming Health Fair slogan, “Helping You Help Yourself…Be Well” says it all.  The Lovell Health Fair is sponsored locally by the North Big Horn Hospital.

Hope to see you there!