Homebuyer Tax Credit – IT’S NOT TOO LATE !!!!

Q What is the amount of the new tax credit?

A Up to $8,000 for First Time Homebuyers. Up to $6,500 for existing homeowners.

Q What is the deadline to qualify?

A Qualified first time homebuyers or existing homeowners who contract on a home by April 30 and settle by June 30, 2010.

Q What are the details of the new tax credit?

A The incentive is a refundable tax credit (or up to 10% of the purchase price). This means that if your total tax liability in the given year is less than $8,000 for first timer buyers or $6,500 for existing buyers, the IRS will send a refund for the balance.

DON’T WAIT – Visit my Web Site to start your Home Search or email me today to take advantage of this great program.

Time again to be proud !

I know the Olympics aren’t quite over yet, but as I sit here snowed in – I’m thinking how proud I am.

I admit I didn’t see as much of the Winter spectacle as I would have liked, but I am proud of all the Olympians for outstanding efforts.

SELLERS – Please shovel !!!!!

There's a house in there somewhere !

OK so I know the snow in the area has been a real PIA !  But since Sunday I’ve shown 6 homes that did NOT have a path shoveled to the front door. 

The real shame is I have Buyers who I truly believe would be perfect for one of these homes, but wouldn’t even take the 30 yard trek in snow up to their knees.  AND I DON’T BLAME THEM !

Now I will admit I also do NOT have a path shoveled to my door.  That’s because we go in the house through the garage, and our mailbox is at the street.  But if you are currently selling your home – shoveling is a MUST !

It might seem like a hassle now, but could most likely produce a quicker sale and many experts would say – get you more money when sold.

Now all we need to do are find some enterprising kids who will shovel like I did when I was young !

THINK SPRING everyone !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Home Sales Surge

Strong gains in existing-home sales were the predominant pattern in most states during the fourth quarter, with many more metro areas seeing prices rise from a year earlier, according to the latest survey by the National Association of Realtors ® .

OH WELL – Six More Weeks !

Auld Lang Syne

That phrase is loosely translated as “for (the sake of) old times”.   It feels like a year since I’ve blogged.  January was a blur of head colds and gastro flu’s (so much for all the shots I got).  But the good news is –

I’M BACK !!!!!!   And the Real Estate market here in Delaware County is already heating up.  So look forward to regular postings now on the goings on in the Real Estate industry.

Wedding Bells

I’ve been away from Blogging for a little while. A death in the family, some lengthy projects and … oh yeah – Donna and I finally got married on 9/18/09 !!

Joe & Donna

$3 Car Wash ? Maybe – FREE Vacuums – NO WAY

If you’re like me, and have traveled Baltimore Pike through Springfield several times a day for the past 30 years, then you know that at Leamy Av. and the Pike can be found an UNBELIEVEABLE deal.  A $3 Car Wash and FREE Vacuums !!   Well my Aunt Minnie was the first to tell me if a deal seems too good to be true – it is !

What I found out today, is the FREE vacuums are not so FREE.  You must get a Car Wash in order to use them, or employees will approach you and tell you that the Vacuums are for Car Wash users only.  That was my experience this morning. 

They’ve done a great job at putting up DO NOT ENTER signs on every apron other than the one that leads to the Car Wash lane itself.  I was told by an employee that her boss said “the township insisted on that”.

See the issue isn’t that I used the FREE vacuums, which by the way there is no signage saying YOU MUST BUY A CAR WASH TO USE OUR FREE VACUUMS.  Instead I was told that I came in the wrong way.  I admit I came in off a Baltimore Pike apron where there is a DO NOT ENTER sign.  But I didn’t see it.  HEY – that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

So I called Morton Boro (yes, it’s actually in Morton) and asked about their requirement on that property.  I was told that there had been many accidents off the Leamy Av apron and the Boro indeed required there be no left turn from that exit for safety reasons.  That sounded reasonable.  I was also told that since The Pike is a state highway, that PennDOT and the Engineer would have information about the other aprons.  I called Charles Catania (the Engineer) but he wasn’t in today.

Look folks, I already spent 20 minutes more on this issue (just on this post) then I intended.  We’re not stupid are we?  Why doesn’t the new owner of the new Car Wash just put up a sign and tell the truth about the FREE Vacuums ?  I just hate getting lied to, don’t you?  After all what is he a Politician !

By the way, two days ago I did get my GMC Acadia washed at the $3 car Wash.  It cost me $12 (I wanted upgrades) – but it really was a good Car Wash !

The Springfield Rat

Three labor unions have been picketing the future site of the Giant Supermarket at Routes 420 & 320 for the past month, protesting the use of non-union laborers.  A “giant” inflatable Rat can be seen on the Woodland Av. side of the property.

“It’s about wages and standards,” said Teamsters Local 312 in Chester. “We’re trying to protect the standards of our workers in Delaware and Chester County.”  Teamsters are supporting fellow union members in the construction crafts, operating engineers and laborers.

An organizer for Operating Engineers Union Local 542, whose members operate heavy equipment, said the main issues are wages and working conditions. “They are using non-union labor for construction, demolition, asbestos removal and trucking,” he said.

To Buy or Not to Buy – THAT is the question.

If you want to know the future, know the past.

“Some people say they want to wait for a clearer view of the future.  But when the future is again clear, the present bargains will have vanished.  In fact, does anyone think that today’s prices will prevail once full confidence has been restored?”

- Dean Witter, May of 1932