Hello friends, I thought this might help you understand the changes the new economic stimulus package will have on our 08 tax returns. I found this on Fidelity web site. Please feel free to forward. Deepa Rajan   Tax-Saving Ideas for Your '08 Return Opportunities to consider By Rick Sauder February 27, 2009 To provide some relief for taxpayers hit by the economic downturn, Congress created several new tax-saving opportunities and continued a handful of popular deductions that would have expired. Here's a look at some of the items tax experts recommend that you give some extra attention. 1. Contribute to your IRA. A Traditional IRA is one of the few ways you can reduce taxable income in a previous year after it has ended, says Jeff Schnepper, a tax attorney and author from Cherry Hill, N... 03/01/2009

A major provision of the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that was signed into law last Tuesday was the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.   The National Association of Realtors has succeeded in removing the repayment  requirement for 2009.  The credit has been extended to on or before November 30, 2009 and can be claimed by those who closed on homes on or after January 1, 2009.  It is still repayable for 2008 purchases. The credit has been expanded to $8,000.  §But, it is still only for first time homebuyers. Please send us an e-mail.  We will be happy to send you a power point presentation that highlights the differerent features of the tax credit.  The power point was presented by Ken Trepeta, Director of Real Estate Services for the National Association of Realtors.   02/26/2009

Tax Credit for HomebuyersFirst-time homebuyers who purchase homes from the start of the year until the end of November 2009 may be eligible for the lower of an $8,000 or 10% of the value of the home tax credit. Remember a tax credit is very different than a tax deduction - a tax credit is equivalent to money in your hand, as opposed to a tax deduction which only reduces your taxable income. The tax credit starts phasing out for couples with incomes above $150,000 and single filers with incomes above $75,000. Buyers will have to repay the credit if they sell their homes within three years. Tax Credit Versus Tax Deduction It's important to remember that the $8,000 tax credit is just that... a tax credit. The benefit of a tax credit is that it's a dollar-for-dollar tax reduction, rather th... 02/23/2009

  The Conde Cavaliers took to the streets to begin Mobile's non-stop Mardi Gras season of parades & balls.   It's a fabulous party and everyone is invited. If you have never visited Mobile during Mardi Gras you really should come. It's a really fun tradition. And when I say tradition it really has a lot of tradition involved every year that would not be obvious to visitors. From driving downtown along the same route, to parking in the same area each year to standing in the same spot.    I have friends who watch all the parades under the same oak tree every year, and have for years (I'm sure 20+) Now on Joe Cain Day (the Sunday before Mardi Gras), the Monday before Mardi Gras and on Mardi Gras Day they watch the parade in front of the motel that they stay in first. But then it's to the t... 02/07/2009

I have the highest respect for Realtors.  Because I have so many of them in my family, I have spent a good part of my adult life watching them work tirelessly on behalf of home buyers and sellers (and often, myself).  Yes, there commissions can be good, but many times they do a lot of work and don't get paid a dime.  Buying or selling a home can be one of the most stressful transactions an individual ever undertakes and having someone alongside you who knows what they are doing helps alleviate a lot of that stress.  One of the responsibilities of professional home stagers is to assist Realtors by helping to prepare their listings to be seen by the public.  Realtors can refer us to clients, but educating home sellers on the staging process and why it will benefit them is up to us.  It is... 01/27/2009

I have started including photographs of places of interest in the area of town where the listing is located.  I think it is very helpful, especially for out of town buyers who find it difficult to narrow down where they want to live in a town they are unfamiliar with.  This is a small 2/2 in a popular midtown neighborhood in Mobile.  If location, location, location is the key, and your listing has it, you should pique the buyer's interest by showcasing that in your slideshow.    01/20/2009

  Our January WCR luncheon was titled "Sell this House" and presentations were given by three speakers: a home stager, a real estate photographer (me) and a local home inspector.  Jane Ann Lance of Enhanced by Lance, and an Active Rainer, gave an excellent presentation on the benefits of home staging.  I gave some tips on improving Realtor's listing photos and John Williams, our home inspector talked about what issues show up most often in an inspection report and how to take care of those issues beforehand.  I think the combination of speakers was a great idea on the part of the WCR leadership, and hopefully everyone came away with some good information to take back to their clients.  01/20/2009

This was a slideshow a did recently for a waterfront listing using Photoshop Elements.  I decided to combine background music with sounds of water lapping at the end to make you feel like you were sitting on the pier enjoying the water.  Do you think I accomplished this?  I did the twilight shots with the help of a very sturdy tripod. 01/07/2009

I just have to say that Home Staging Resource has far exceded my expectations.  I considered many staging training companies and finally decided to go with HSR, because I felt like a 21 day training period would teach me more than a 3 day one.  I did learn a great deal during that time, but now I am constantly amazed at how much information they still provide for their stagers.  Every time I need a form, or have a question about something, I visit the HSR library and find it.  There is a wealth of information there, so much so, that I still haven't read it all.  And it is continually updated.  Audra is very dedicated to the success of her students, and stays in contact with you.  I feel like I have a safety net with HSR - if any situations arrive that I do not know how to handle, I feel... 12/31/2008

With the holidays behind us, we can look forward to a new year of health and prosperity (think positive!).  Unfortunately, it is hard to be prosperous when you feel bad and are knocked off your feet by colds, flu or respiratory illnesses that are common this time of year.  Here are a few tips to help you stay well: 1.   Get enough rest.  When your body is tired, it does not have enough reserve energy to fight off germs, viruses and bacteria that we come into contact with every day.  American's love to burn the candle at both ends, and sometimes we feel like getting enough sleep is a luxury, but it is imperative to your health.  You cannot function at your optimum, mentally or physically, when you are tired. 2.   Eat the right foods.  I know we all ate too many rich foods over the holida... 12/30/2008

A recent article by the City of Mobile Press Register reported that Mayor Sam Jones had given a directive to the telecommunications and technology departments to look into the plausibility of providing free wireless internet service in downtown Mobile. According to Mayor Jones "That's something we consider a priority. A lot of people are interested in having broadband access.... It would be a selling point for Mobile." Apparently the mayor realizes the potential benefit to business users, and the social impact for our young people. Currently and for the last few years, Southern Light, a local fiber-optic company located on St. Anthony Street has been providing free wireless internet access in the downtown Cathedral Square area, but with disappointing results. Perhaps Mobile can follow i... 12/29/2008

The City of Mobile has released its master plan.  Please visit the comprehensive website that outines the details - Mobile AL Master Plan website, Before this plan, the last master plan was prepared in 1996.  It is standard practice for a community to update its plan every 10 to 15 years to keep pace with new market, neighborhood and government conditions as well as advancements in technological, environmental, transportation and land-use planning. The Master Plan is expected to be an extensive and forthright assessment of the potential and liabilities of Mobile's continued development for the next 10 to 15 years. The Master Plan For Mobile is the core philosophy that directs all development activities in the city.  By its very name, the Mobile Master Plan will focus on both public real... 12/17/2008

Press Release Release Date: December 16, 2008 For immediate release   The Federal Open Market Committee decided today to establish a target range for the federal funds rate of 0 to 1/4 percent.  Since the Committee's last meeting, labor market conditions have deteriorated, and the available data indicate that consumer spending, business investment, and industrial production have declined.  Financial markets remain quite strained and credit conditions tight.  Overall, the outlook for economic activity has weakened further. Meanwhile, inflationary pressures have diminished appreciably.  In light of the declines in the prices of energy and other commodities and the weaker prospects for economic activity, the Committee expects inflation to moderate further in coming quarters. The Federal Re... 12/16/2008

Many things are happening in the Mobile, AL that have me concluding that now is a great time to be buying properties.  Obviously it's a buyer's market.  Simple supply and demand.  For investors, rentals are the way to go until the market picks back up in order to do flips to retail people.  People that currently can not get financing need a place to live and it's up to investors to help this problem.  If your rentals have positive cash flows then you can wait until the market swings back into the favor of the seller -- then the choice is yours -- sell and put money in a new rehab or continue earning passive income.  I've got a local website I've started that will grow into the premier listing site for Mobile, AL investment deals. Here are some positives I see currently for Mobile, AL.  ... 12/05/2008

Please click on picture below to visit the office website directly. 12/05/2008

Trying to sell a house? Try house staging to help sell it faster Christina Leavenworth Charissa Cowart Photojournalist: Kevin Sullivan Thursday, 20 Nov 2008, 9:13 PM CST - There's so many homes on the market and many of them simply aren't selling. What if there's a way your home could sell in half the time it takes others and you could get more money for it? Statistics show there's a way you can do that. It's called house staging. FOX10 News spoke with people who's homes were listed but never sold. "With so many homes on the market, what more can sellers do?" Sherri Nichols specializes in what's called house staging. Nichols told FOX10 News, "The homeowners need to realize staging is a vital part of selling in your home in a market like this." House staging means you stage your home wit... 12/04/2008

Please click on picture below to see virtual tour and additional information on the home. 12/03/2008

Top 10 Most Promising Housing Markets Housing Predictor, which provides housing forecasts in 250 markets, has identified 10 markets where the regional economies are healthy and have strong potential for increasing prosperity.These housing markets have bucked the national trend in 2008 and avoided the subprime crisis, the consultancy says.Whatever the future holds for the housing market as a whole, Housing Predictor forecasts that these cities will continue to see steady, dependable growth.Top cities and the percentage sales prices have increased so far in 2008. Biloxi, Miss., 4.9 percent Salem, Ore., 4.7 percent Bismarck, N.D., 4.6 percent Spokane, Wash., 4.4 percent Yakima, Wash., 4.1 percent Austin, Texas, 4.0 percent Grand Junction, Colo., 4.0 percent Fargo, N.D., 4.0 percent Mobile,... 11/25/2008

mortgage backed securities, you can look for substantially lower rates. This is the move that may really spur home sales. Here is the press release from the Fed...   Press Release Release Date: November 25, 2008 For release at 8:15 a.m. EST   The Federal Reserve announced on Tuesday that it will initiate a program to purchase the direct obligations of housing-related government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs)--Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks--and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae.  Spreads of rates on GSE debt and on GSE-guaranteed mortgages have widened appreciably of late.  This action is being taken to reduce the cost and increase the availability of credit for the purchase of houses, which in turn should support ... 11/25/2008

Top 10 Most Promising Housing Markets According to the housing forecast provided by Housing Predictor (11/15/08) for 250 markets, Mobile, Alabama has landed on the Top 10 Most Promising Housing Markets list, with a 3.9% increase in sales price for 2008. Going against the national trend, Mobile is expectd to continue with positive job and economic growth. Below is the entire list. Biloxi, Miss., 4.9 percent Salem, Ore., 4.7 percent Bismarck, N.D., 4.6 percent Spokane, Wash., 4.4 percent Yakima, Wash., 4.1 percent Austin, Texas, 4.0 percent Grand Junction, Colo., 4.0 percent Fargo, N.D., 4.0 percent Mobile, Ala., 3.9 percent Albuquerque, N.M., 3.5 percent   11/24/2008