October 16, 2009
Still time left for the $8000 Tax Credit!
$8000 Tax Credit Available For a Limited Time... home buyers can claim a special tax credit worth up to $8,000. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act offers qualifying homebuyers a tax credit equal to 10 percent of a home's purchase price, up to a maximum of $8,000. The tax credit is offered to first time homebuyers, and those who have not owned a principle residence in the past three years. To be eligible for the tax credit, the home purchase must be recorded between January 1 through December 1, 2009.The full tax credit is offered to buyers with reported income up to $75,000, or $150,000 for married couples filing a joint return. Partial tax credits are available to for those with income levels up to $95,000, or $170,000 for those filing jointly. Contact us today for more details on this exciting program!
October 12, 2009
The Meaning of Poverty!
A colleague passed this delightful story along:
One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how much poverty exists in the world. They spent several days and nights on the farm of a very poor family.
Upon their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" The son's answer? "It was great, Dad!" "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Oh yeah," said the son.
"So, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son continued, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon."
His son added, "We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who work for us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, and they have friends to protect them."
With this the boy's father was speechless. Then his son finally said, "Thanks Dad, for showing me how poor we are."
Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don't have. What is one person's worthless object is another's prize possession. It is all based on one's perspective. It makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for the bounty we have, instead of worrying about wanting more. Take joy in all you have, especially your friends.
One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how much poverty exists in the world. They spent several days and nights on the farm of a very poor family.
Upon their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" The son's answer? "It was great, Dad!" "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Oh yeah," said the son.
"So, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son continued, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon."
His son added, "We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who work for us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, and they have friends to protect them."
With this the boy's father was speechless. Then his son finally said, "Thanks Dad, for showing me how poor we are."
Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don't have. What is one person's worthless object is another's prize possession. It is all based on one's perspective. It makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for the bounty we have, instead of worrying about wanting more. Take joy in all you have, especially your friends.
October 1, 2009
Fall is Here! Is Your Home Ready?
That crispness in the morning air and dew on the lawn tells me that fall is here! We all know that once it’s cold and rainy outside, we tend to huddle indoors and pay less attention to the maintenance of our homes. With that in mind, now is the time to get your home ready!• Furnace Filters ~ Though filters should be checked more than once per year, it helps to use fall as a reminder for this basic maintenance. Your furnace is the blower unit for both your heating AND air conditioning, so it’s been working all summer long! Change the filter often for maximum performance and energy efficiency.
• Standing Water ~ The rainy season is here, so if you have open containers on your property such as flower pots or bird baths, they’re going to fill up. This is the perfect breeding ground for algae, so turn them upside down or store them out of the weather.
• Sprinkler Check ~ Save water and money by adjusting your sprinkler settings. Either reduce the number of days you’re watering, or the amount of time set for each station. By the time winter comes, you should be able to turn them off completely!
• Clear the Debris ~ I’m very certain that no one wants unwelcomed guests, meaning pests and rodents. Extra clutter around the perimeter of your home is the perfect hiding place to escape the colder weather, so get these areas cleaned up. This will strongly discourage rodents from making a home on your property!
• Seal the Gaps ~ Another place rodents like to hide out is in the attic. Walk the perimeter of your home and look for openings that would allow them access into your home, and get them sealed. Even a quarter-sized opening is large enough for a rat to squeeze through!
Everyone deserves a home they love ~ Inside and Out!
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