The tax credit for first-time homebuyers was extended into 2010 yesterday with Congressional Approval. The bill is awaiting the signature of the president. This is good news for buyers because Senator Isakson added a tax credit to buyers who are looking to upgrade buyers who would like to take advantage of these market conditions and upsize their living conditions. This can be seen as a reward for those who are homeowners and have managed their responsibly.

The way I understand this bill is that first-time buyers can receive an $8000 tax credit (or 10% of purchase price, whichever is less). Also under this new plan, buyers who have owned their home for 5 consecutive years of the last 8 will be eligible for a $6500 tax credit.

To qualify, buyers will have to have a signed purchase agreement on or before April 30, 2010 and close the loan on or before June 30. The income limitations have also been expanded. The limitation for a single taxpayer is $125,000 and $225,000 for joint returns.

Now is STILL the time to buy. The foreclosure inventory is shrinking, so the really good deals are starting to be fewer and fewer. If you’ve thought about selling your present home that you’ve lived in for the past five years and upsizing – now is a great time with low interest rates and lower home prices.

I’m not a “hand-out” kind of guy, but I do like it when people who have been fiscally responsible are rewarded with a “tax break” of sorts.

Press on!!

Dwayne

Dwayne Hicks, REALTOR

United Country West Georgia Realty

Carrollton, Georgia

www.westgarealty.com

dwayne@westgarealty.com

I love to laugh especially in the morning - it just seems to affect my whole day in a positive way. I was checking my facebook status earlier and a friend posted some redneck terms in her status and it cracked me up. Check this out....

Redneck Medical Terms:

Benign - What you be, after you be eight;

Artery - The study of paintings;

Bacteria - Back door to cafeteria;

Barium - what doctors do when patients die

(Thanks Chris Lilly for posting)

Laughter is good for the body and soul - and keeps us sane for the moment :-)

Have a great  Tuesday!

Dwayne Hicks

Associate Broker

United Country West Georgia Realty

Carrollton, GA

westgarealty.com

If you start you day with a smile - it might make people notice you and wonder what you're up to!! I checked my email early this morning and found this funny Trick or Treat story - it will help you smile.  Check this out....

TOP EIGHT SIGNS YOU'RE TOO OLD TO BE TRICK OR TREATING

8. You get winded from knocking on the door.

7. You have to have another kid chew the candy for you.

6. You ask for high fiber candy only.

5. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you lose your balance and fall over.

4. People say, "Great Keith Richards mask!" and you're not wearing a mask.

3. When the door opens you yell, "Trick or..." and can't remember the rest.

2. You have to carefully choose a costume that won't dislodge your hairpiece.

1. You're the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a walker.

(Thanks to my bud Mikey for posting this!! Find him at mikeysfunnies.com - good clean humor with a ministry heart :-))

He also points out that  YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook are merging. It'll be called You-Twit-Face. ;-)

Have a great Monday everyone - dig deep - work hard to do things differently today in order to get different results!!

Press on!!

Dwayne Hicks, Realtor

United Country West Georgia Realty

Carrollton, GA 30117

westgarealty.com

My spiritual journey has me in the middle of Proverbs - the wise sayings of King Solomon. He has some insightful things to say about all of life. I came across a small set of verses this week that reminded me of my role as a businessman.   I wanted to share it with other business leaders because I believe the truths contained here are timeless and very timely. Check this out....

10 A good leader motivates, doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit.

11 God cares about honesty in the workplace; your business is his business.

12 Good leaders abhor wrongdoing of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.

13 Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth.

14 An intemperate leader wreaks havoc in lives; you're smart to stay clear of someone like that.

15 Good-tempered leaders invigorate lives; they're like spring rain and sunshine.

16 Get wisdom—it's worth more than money; choose insight over income every time.

17 The road of right living bypasses evil; watch your step and save your life. (Proverbs 16:10-17 The Message)

This was great encouragement to keep on seeking to serve God with my business. I was reminded that I'm ultimately accountable to God for how I treat people. I have reflected much of this in my personal MISSION STATEMENT:

"It is my mission to serve others with the highest professional care and skill while upholding the highest of ethical and moral standards. My highest goal is to honor God in all I do and that includes serving you."  - Dwayne Hicks

Press on serving God by serving others!!

Dwayne Hicks, REALTOR

Associate Broker/Co-Owner

United Country West Georgia Realty

Carrollton, GA 30117

westgarealty.com

The 2009 Tax Credit is set to expire on November 31, 2009. First time homebuyers need to get on the stick if they're gonna be able to take advantage of this great tax credit. 

1. This Tax Credit is Income Restricted. Married filing jointly income cannot exceed $150K and single buyers cannot exceed $75K. The Tax Credit is also restricted to the price of the home. The credit is for 10% of the homes value up to a max of $8K.

2. This Tax Credit is available to any US Citizen who pays taxes, has not owned a home as his/her principle residence during the past 3 years and meets the income requirements is eligible for the tax credit.

3. You must also own the home for at least 3 years in order to captalize on the credit (some exceptions are death and divorce).

If there was ever a buyers market - we're in one!!  You can get a good buy on a home AND get a significant tax credit after closing!

If you'd like more information about this program, please call me!

Dwayne Hicks, REALTOR

Associate Broker/Co-Owner

United Country West Georgia Realty

Carrollton, GA

770-713-5006 Cell  *  770-834-5457 Office

dwayne@westgarealty.com

Well we're on the verge of the 4th Quarter of 2009 & it looks like this Real Estate market is here to stay for a while. I've heard on the street from two or three different sources that there are thousands more residential foreclosures to hit the market soon. I'm also hearing from that Commercial Foreclosures are about to explode on to the scene as well.

I think we should buckle down and get ready for a long long journey navigating through all of this. We must show up to work every day no matter what our job. We must work hard every day. We must help each other out.  Even though the word on the street is not good, it doesn't mean that I have to crawl into a hole and quit or die. Keep working - Keep serving!

Pressing on!

Dwayne Hicks

Associate Broker

United Country West Georgia Realty

Carrollton, GA

westgarealty.com

I came across this quote a while back and I began reflecting on just how different the Real Estate market is today verses last year at this time.

"In times of change learners inherit the earth while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to work in a world that no longer exists." - Eric Hoffer

It is definately a different world. Realtors must consistantly educate themselves on all the differences. I am determined to learn everything I can about how the market is so different today that last year.  Being a life-long learner can pretty much apply to any job or situation.

Press on to be a life-long learner!!

Dwayne Hicks

Associate Broker/Co-Owner

United Country West Georgia Realty

Carrollton, Georgia

westgarealty.com

dwayne@westgarealty.com

BLOG - dhicksonline.com

I'm not sure where I came across these four words that I now have posted on my desk lamp to constantly remind me of their importance to me in business. I simply jotted these words down to inspire and motivate me.

1. Authenticity - I want to always be authentic and real. I don't want there to be a shred of deceit or dishonesty in my talk or my walk. I want to establish trust with every client or customer.

2. Competency - I will constantly learn the new changes in the Real Estate business. I will research the new loan programs that are coming from the Federal Government and how my clients can gain access to them. I will learn new ways of communicating with clients and customers as well as outlets for advertising. I will see to harness the power and connections of Facebook, Twitter, Active Rain and others.

3. Innovation - I will discover new and innovative ways to market property as well as search through the massive database that United Country has of buyers looking for just the right property. I will try to do things differently to get different results.

4. Creativity - To create is to always learn. I'm learning to blog, to do webinars, to see a different angle than I've seen before. I love to study the creativity of others as it stirs something new and creative inside of me. I also love looking at Creator God as the ultimate creative Person. As I look at each sunrise and sunset - I'm amazed at His creative power.

It is my goal to be a life-long learner. I want to grow and stretch so that when I'm old I'm not turned off by new inventions and tools. I want to stay current in this high-tech/high touch world we find ourselves in.

Press on!!

Dwayne Hicks

Associate Broker/Owner

United Country West Georga Realty

Carrollton, GA 30117

www.westgarealty.com

dwayne@westgarealty.com

I still love the reruns of Seinfeld. One of my favorite episodes is when Kramer is a stand-in in a Woody Allen movie and his one line was, "These pretzels are making me thirsty!" and the whole show was about differnent ways to say with enthusiasm the same phrase over and over.

I'm starting a new line, "These Short Sales are driving me crazy!"  I'm on my 4th or so and I'm jumped through the tons of hoops on this one like all the rest, but the negoiator is different - He has a horrible attitude. I sometimes wonder why the banks think we REALTORS are the "bad guys". We are working the front lines with buyers who simply want to be kept up-to-date with how the process is going. I'm having a tough experience with a negoiator who say's, "I'll call when you when I get the approval". Now its almost two weeks later and he will not return phone messages or even acknowledge or return e-mails. I don't understand, if these banks don't want this property in inventory, they need to work on the process of dealing with these short sales.

I don't want to hear that they are so overwhelmed with volume that they don't have the processes in place. This is the new world in our economy and these have been going on at least 18 months or so - I think it's time to get the systems and process revamped and up-to-date with realty. I'm impressed that some buyers are showing patience, but it sure is frustrating that banks seem to care less if the home is sold or not.

Now that I've got all of that off my chest - I feel better. I'll probably be frustrated again tomorrow as I try to climb the ladder and speak to a real decision maker and get this deal done.

Pressing on!!

Dwayne Hicks

REALTOR, Associate Broker

United Country West Georgia Realty

Carrollton, GA

www.westgarealty.com

Where do you begin when you try to thank people who have given thier life for your freedom and your way of life? I just want to write a note of thanks to those brave men and women on whose shoulders I'm standing and enjoying the freedom we have in this country.

I don't always agree with the leadership of our country, but I believe in what our country stands for. I want the men and women who are standing in the gap and fighting for our freedoms to know that I'm forever grateful for their sacrifice of family, and lifestyle - so that I can enjoy both of those.

Grateful for my heritage.

Dwayne Hicks

REALTOR/Associate Broker

United Country West Georgia Realty

Carrollton, Georgia

dwayne@westgarealty.com