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Thursday, July 8th, 2010The extension of the home buyer tax credit closing deadline is great news for those already in the process of buying a home, in our area as well as for buyers across the country. This is especially good news for buyers purchasing bank owned properties (REO) and those that are in foreclosure or short sale status, where the transaction times typically take longer to complete. The key to remember is that in order for a buyer to qualify for the tax credit, they must have been under contract to purchase a home by April 30, 2010.
—Alison Lundie, Realtor®
[ REPRINTED FROM REALTOR.ORG ]
Home Buyers Get Tax Credit Closing and Flood Insurance Extensions Without Lapse in Coverage; Bills Now Headed for the President
Washington, July 01, 2010
The National Association of Realtors® today commended Congress for timely passage of two bills to extend the home buyer tax credit closing deadline and reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program. Both bills, strongly supported by NAR, had cleared the House earlier and were passed by the Senate last night. They now head to the president for his signature.
The tax credit closing deadline and the NFIP reauthorization were extended to September 30. NAR worked closely with congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to enact these important pieces of legislation. Extending the tax credit closing and flood insurance deadlines will help provide additional stability to real estate markets across the nation, NAR said.
“What a great way to begin celebrating our nation’s most patriotic holiday by opening the door to the American dream of homeownership to thousands of home buyers who would have been shut out of the homes of their dreams through no fault of their own,” said NAR President Vicki Cox Golder, owner of Vicki L. Cox Real Estate in Tucson, Ariz.
“We know that up to 180,000 home buyers eligible for the tax credit are rejoicing this morning. And we all thank both houses of Congress for their work to ensure passage of both bills,” Golder said. She singled out Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) and Congressman Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) for their efforts to extend the tax credit closing deadline.
The passage of H.R. 5623, the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act, applies the homebuyer tax credit closing deadline extension only to homebuyers who have ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, but could not close before June 30. The legislation is designed to create a seamless extension of the new closing deadline for eligible transactions to September 30. There will be no gap between June 30 and the date the president signs the bill into law.
For more information on the extension, visit www.realtor.org/government_affairs.
Senate passage of the National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 5569), reauthorizes extension the NFIP until September 30, allowing currently stalled transactions to move forward. The bill is retroactive and covers the lapsed period from June 1, 2010, to the date of enactment of the extension. Any new policy applications or renewals that were signed and submitted during the lapsed period will be effective from the date of application. In the case of waiting periods, the waiting period will start from the date of application.
“We know that thousands of property owners seeking flood insurance policies will now be able to close transactions. NAR appreciates the extraordinary efforts in both houses of Congress to end the lapse in flood insurance,” Golder said. She singled out Senate Majority Leader Reid, Senate Minority Leader McConnell, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Dodd, Senator David Vitter (R-La.), House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) for their efforts on NFIP reauthorization.
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
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Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the News Media section.
Alison Lundie Recieves Raveis 2009 Agent Awards
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Roxbury Hosts Field of Flags
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010Drive extra slow the next time you pass through Roxbury and maybe pull over to ponder the meaning of a flag. The Roxbury Congregational Church is displaying the Field of Flags on its grounds over the next few weeks. A miniature American flag will be displayed for each life lost in the wars fought in Iraq or Afghanistan. There is a pattern to how the flags are placed, and each time the display is set up, the number of flags has increased.
—Alison Lundie, Realtor® & Roxbury resident
The Raveis Report – “What’s in Your Wallet?”
Saturday, April 17th, 2010
Link to RAVEIS REPORT – Litchfield County
RAVEIS RPT CT Litchfield 2008 v 2009
—Alison Lundie, Realtor®
lundie@raveisre.com
THE RAVEIS REPORT is a good tool to guage market activity across all towns in Connecticut
FREE HOME BUYER & FORECLOSURES SEMINAR
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
PRESS RELEASE – On May 8th at the Washington Town Hall, Alison Lundie, Realtor® with William Raveis Real Estate, hosted a seminar for home buyers. Topics presented included the New Home Buyers Tax Credit and How to Buy a Foreclosure or Short Sale Property.
I really enjoyed hosting this seminar and chose this topic during the month of April to coincide with the month that homes must be under contract in order to take advantage of the Home Buyers Tax Credit. People also had lots of questions about foreclosure and short sale properties and gained a better understanding of why these transactions can take so much longer to complete. I also shared with them ways they can shorten this timeframe by being prepared ahead of time and learned what to look out for. It was a great discussion and I look forward to hosting more seminars like this one, discussing current topics in real estate.
—Alison Lundie, Realtor®
lundiea@raveisre.com
Lawn Expo in Roxbury on April 10th
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010Whether you live in Roxbury or just nearby, you should come to the LAWN EXPO on APRIL 10th at the ROXBURY TOWN HALL from 1-3PM to learn about greener ways to take care of your lawn and rid it of unwanted pests and weeds naturally. Speakers will give advice on handling native species of plant, landscaping and tick control.
Another important element of this event is the “20% by 2010” program. Roxbury has committed to this program, with a goal of 20 percent of Roxbury households pledging a portion of their electrical energy green. Currently, 4 percent of households are enrolled, and if the goal is obtained, Roxbury will acquire a free solar panel for a town building. THIS IS A GREAT THING! LETS GET ON BOARD AND GO GREEN FOR OURSELVES AND OUR TOWN! See you there!
—Alison Lundie, Realtor® & Roxbury resident
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Lawn Expo in Roxbury
Published: Litchfield County Times, Tuesday, April 06, 2010
By Jack Coraggio
ROXBURY—A beautiful lawn is an unwavering vibrant and verdant hue, closely trimmed, no invasive species, no weeds, no brown spots and no patches of dirt. Or is it?
A new school of thought in the field of lawn maintenance is sprouting. To achieve the so-called healthy lawn—one free of crabgrass, dandelions and clovers, along with sliding shades of green—almost always requires the use of pesticides, herbicides and other such chemicals.
Such unnatural treatment is a distasteful method to many, and so germinated the Freedom Lawn concept, which promotes organic and alternative approaches to property care. Moreover, Freedom Lawn encourages homeowners to embrace some of the imperfections in the grass, as freedom advocate Abraham Lincoln did with the warts on his face.
“Pesticides are good at maintaining lawns,” admitted Roxbury Conservation Commission member Erika Ketchum, whose agency is conducting a Freedom Lawn Expo at the Roxbury Town Hall next weekend. “But with the health effects, they may do more harm than good.”
The expo will feature information on natural care, integrated pest management and statistics on adverse health findings associated with garden care chemicals. Several guest experts will give advice on topics such as handling native species of plant, landscaping, tick control and prevention.
“Ticks and Lyme disease are quite a relevant concern, so we’re looking to have the health director from Newtown come in to explore other options,” Ms. Kethcum said.
The concept of the Freedom Lawn was developed by the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Three professors proposed this naturalistic approach to lawn maintenance, allowing unrestricted growth of grasses, clover and other broad-leafed plants commonly regarded as weeds. The program, already adopted by other Connecticut towns, like Milford, discourages the lawn fertilizers that enable ground and water pollution and contribute to serious health issues for organisms in contact with these treated lawns.
“A freedom lawn is an equal and opposite reaction to high- maintenance, high-input lawns and involves no inputs like fertilizers or weed killers,” stated lawn care blogger Kelly Burke. “It’s made up of a ‘survival of the fittest’ host of grasses and other plants sometimes referred to as weeds. Mowed high and regularly, a freedom lawn can provide aesthetics similar to lawns with more intense maintenance programs.”
The Roxbury Board of Selectmen endorses the event, one which will also feature experts from Roxbury’s Energy Task Force, there to explain convenient green energy initiatives and the #5 recycling program. Roxbury has committed to the “20% by 2010” program, with a goal of 20 percent of Roxbury households pledging a portion of their electrical energy green. Currently, 4 percent of households are enrolled, and if the goal is obtained, Roxbury will acquire a free solar panel for a town building.
“It’s all about changing the mindset, teaching people to work with nature instead of against it,” Ms. Ketchum said.
A second Freedom Lawn Expo is planned in early June. This first expo, open to the public, will be conducted from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 10, at the town hall.
Your Purchase Plans Just Got Better for SPRING…!!!
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
Here are a few reasons why NOW is the best time to buy and close on your new home by June 2010
1. The Government is offering an $8,000 Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers (have not owned a home in the past three years) and a $6,500 Tax Credit for previous Home Owners (have owned a home consecuetively for 5 years within the past 8 years).
2. Rates are very low as are the Price of Homes.
3. Raveis Mortgage has the ability to secure a loan non-FHA and only a 3% down-payment (for qualify buyers).
4. Raveis Mortgage is offering a $500.00 Closing Credit to help with closing costs. (ask me for details).
Ryan Raveis Summarizes the New Tax Credit for Home Buyers and Homeowners. Information you must know to make that purchase. Not only will you learn who is eligible for the tax credit, but also what the income limits are, what Federal Form to submit, and other program details including the requirement that the house cannot exceed $800,000. Knowing these details will put you in a stronger buying position
Ready to find your new home? Give me a call and let’s get started!
Alison Lundie, Realtor®
lundiea@raveisre.com
203-948-2856
Test Video
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
PILOBOLUS THIS WEEKEND!! THERE’S STILL TIME TO PURCHASE TICKETS!!
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010PILOBOLUS
February 19 & 20, 2010
7:00 – 9:00pm
Pomperaug High School Auditorium, Southbury
After School Arts Program (ASAP) is proud to present one of the most popular and unusual dance companies in the world. Pilobolus will perform an electrifying mix of humor, intelligence, physical invention and raw athleticism. The ASAP Inter-District Dance and Music Project piece will be included as part of the shows.
TO PURCHASE TICKETS AHEAD OF TIME:
- Call ASAP at 860-868-0740 or
- Buy tickets online at www.afterschoolartsprogram.org
Tickets will also be available to purchase at the door!
Ticket Prices (All proceeds benefit ASAP):
$35 General Admission
$25 Student Admission
$50 Reserved Seating
$100 Patron Seating
Hope to see you there!
ASAP is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing artistic and cultural opportunities for children and adults.
It’s February, Have You Checked the Furnace?
Thursday, February 11th, 2010The kids had already planned that there would be a school delay the night before, so I wasn’t in a rush when I saw on the news that their magical powers had worked. Stepping down the stairs, after my cats had been jumping off and onto my bed between wrestling matches, I began the morning. By the time I hit the bottom stair I knew something was wrong. The smell of oil filled my house and when I opened the cellar door to check on the furnace, it grew worse. Running down the steps to see what the matter was I stopped short into a smokey room. Opened the slider and windows. Turned off the furnace. What is going on?
No fire or further drama ensued. I called my service company. They came and cleaned out my furnace which had become choked with soot. Scary yes. The worst part was the smell though and to get rid of it meant airing out the house. Which I did, opening doors and windows throughout the house. Oh, the temperature? 20-degrees of course, and windy. Good thing we had a delay because none of my kids were getting out from their warm beds. But soon the delay was over and the bus was coming, so they layered on the clothes and came downstairs. Breakfast, lunches, no more hot chocolate, make more tea, brush teeth, coat, backpack, jump in the car, get on the bus. Now for child #2.
That reminds me. To remind you to check your furnace. A typical day in my life, but we could have awoken to something worse. Strange thing was we had had a cleaning back in June. Not cleaned enough I guess. So learn from my story of a cold February morning, to have your furnaces checked and cleaned regularly.
February 11, 2010
—Alison Lundie, Realtor
lundiea@raveisre.com
203-948-2856
alisonlundie.raveisblog.com
(ps, thanks to www.coolclips.com for the cartoon, it fits my morning perfectly)
Furnaces need regular checkups
