WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the availability of nearly $300 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for state-run rebate programs for consumer purchases of new ENERGY STAR® qualified home appliances.  The new program underscores the Obama Administration’s commitment to make American homes more energy efficient, while helping to support the nation’s economic recovery.

“Appliances consume a huge amount of our electricity, so there’s enormous potential to both save energy and save families money every month,” said Secretary Chu.  “These rebates will help families make the transition to more efficient appliances, making purchases that will directly stimulate the economy and create jobs.”

The new funding will be awarded to states and territories, through their energy offices, using a formula set forth in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  Each state or territory is required to submit a plan that specifies which ENERGY STAR® appliance categories will be included in their rebate program, the rebate level for each product type, how the rebates will be processed, and their plan for recycling old appliances.  States and territories must first file an initial application expressing their intent to participate by August 15, 2009, followed by a full application by October 15, 2009. Approximately 10-25 percent of each award will be spent on administrative costs.

States and territories will receive 10 percent of the funds after submitting the initial application with the balance awarded after their program plans are approved.  DOE anticipates that a vast majority of funding will be awarded by November 30, 2009.  The complete Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number DE-FOA-0000119 can be viewed at grants.gov. View the funding allocations for each state and territory.

Eligible Appliances
States have the flexibility to select which residential ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances to include in their programs and the individual rebate amount for each appliance. DOE recommends that states and territories focus their program efforts on heating and cooling equipment, appliances, and water heaters as these products offer the greatest energy savings potential.  ENERGY STAR® qualified appliance categories eligible for rebates include: central air conditioners, heat pumps (air source and geothermal), boilers, furnaces (oil and gas), room air conditioners, clothes washers, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, and water heaters.

The Recovery Act appropriated funds for the program to help achieve the national goals of spurring economic growth, creating jobs, saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. States and territories can use these funds to leverage the utility companies and energy efficiency program sponsors in their area.

This program will also leverage the power of the ENERGY STAR® program, a well-known labeling program that helps consumers make energy smart choices by identifying the most energy efficient products.  ENERGY STAR® is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that covers more than 60 product categories and is supported by a network of almost 600 utility and state and government partners serving more than 74 million households, over 2,000 retail partners representing more than 27,000 storefronts, and 2,645 manufacturers of ENERGY STAR® qualified products.

These energy efficiency appliance standards will play an important role in lowering energy use in homes and business across the country,” said Secretary Chu.  “By improving the energy efficiency of each of these appliances – from lighting to ovens to vending machines – we can save money, reduce carbon pollution and increase our energy security.”

For more information on these and other Recovery Act related funding opportunities, visit Energy.gov/recovery.

Great News for 1st Time Home Buyers in Florida who want to take advantage of the $8,000 federal tax credit!!
 
***Beginning July 1, those who qualify for the federal first-time homebuyers tax credit will be able to apply for downpayment assistance in advance of closing, and then repay the amount borrowed when they get their tax refund.
 
"What an incredible opportunity for thousands of families," says Cynthia Shelton, 2009 FAR president. "The beauty of this program is that the state will be paid back and, conceivably, more potential homebuyers could take advantage prior to the Dec. 1 expiration of the $8,000 federal first time homebuyer tax credit."

The program will operate through local county housing administrators, though details are still being worked out.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Real Estate Agent Website Launched, 3/18/2009 

 I am  proud to announce the launch of my new state of the art Real Estate Services Web site today To preview, click on:  www.yourCentralFloridaLuxuryHomes.com . The new site is powered by a la mode, inc. net.X technology, which integrates and leverages a range of desktop and Internet applications and data sources to extend the network to better serve our clients.

This new site provides streamlined services for existing as well as potential new clients, while also providing our staff with technology integration that allows us to be more effective in our daily operations. Not only can clients view our listings, but they can also search for a home or get pre-qualified for a mortgage and much more. The new site also provides rich multi-media content for potential new clients, showing them the benefits of hiring a professional Agent in an engaging, highly professional presentation format that will create new demand for our services. Going forward, the underlying a la mode net.X platform of our new site means that we are automatically going to be adding features and capabilities to meet our changing business requirements and keep up with the technology curve in Real Estate. We are a full service Real Estate Services firm and a recognized leader in the local market. Our firm combines a focus on customer service with the utilization of technology to provide clients with the highest quality and fastest turnaround times in the market.

I would love the opportunity to provide all the information you need to Buy or Sell Real Estate in the Central Florida area.

Put my Experience to Work for You.  With my knowledge and passion for Real Estate, I thrive on bringing your dreams of Home Ownership a Reality in Central Florida, the Sunshine State.

I have had extensive training in SHORT SALES, let me help Sell yours!

Your Central Florida RE/MAX connection to Real Estate!

Laura Forty-Garcia, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Central Realty

Working towards the Same GOAL, Your HOME!

Don't Delay, Call Today!! (386) 801-0878

 WWW.YOURCENTRALFLORIDALUXURYHOMES.COM

WWW.YOURNEWCENTRALFLORIDAHOME.COM

                                                         One Door Opening for a Fresh Start...



Keep in mind, we all cannot become Homeowners.  It is not a right of passage.  Home ownership should be an opportunity that we all should have a chance on having.   There are many who think it is an Entitlement.  Let me clue you in, it's NOT..
To me it is a privilege to be a Homeowner, and I do not take lightly.  I am grateful to still be a homeowner thru this trying economic time.  Thru job loss, family loss, and childhood illness, I am still here and working hard as a your Central Florida Realtor.  We all are going thru hard times, but we have try and pull ourselves up and move ahead.  Let's not look back and have regrets.  If we have issues, let us confront them.  If we are at Battle, let us fight thru this.  Let's take a stand and show what we are really made of.  We are Homeowners here in America.  We have the freedom and the privilege to have this Right, not entitlement.

If you are tired of fighting, that is okay.  
If you want to give up, that is fine too.
If you are bitter, I understand.
But, if you are ready for a Change, take the steps to make the Changes that are needed.  
Maybe, we can't get that new Lexus, right now.
Maybe, we don't have to be competing with the Jones's.
Maybe, you can keep your Home.
Maybe, you cannot keep your Home.
No matter what you have to do, let you be the one to decide what is needed to be done.  Take a pro-active approach to the decision you have to make.  

Do not run away, because tomorrow the problem will still be there.  
If you have to Sell, Short Sale, Modify your Mortgage, make a Repayment Plan, Complete a Forebearance, or at last Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure, just Do what you have to do...
It will still be okay, your life is not over with.  
I feel that when one door closes, God will open another Door.  
So good Luck and God Bless.

I would love the opportunity to provide all the information you need to Buy or Sell Real Estate in the Central Florida Area.

Put my Experience to Work for You.  With my knowledge and passion for Real Estate, I thrive on bringing your dreams of Home Ownership a Reality in Central Florida, the Sunshine State.

I have had extensive training in SHORT SALES, let me help Sell yours!

Your Central Florida RE/MAX connection to Real Estate!

Laura Forty-Garcia, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Central Realty
(386) 801-0878 OR (407) 333-4400

Working towards the Same GOAL, Your HOME!

WWW.YOURNEWCENTRALFLORIDAHOME.COM

WWW.YOURCENTRALFLORIDALUXURYHOMES.COM

EMAIL: LAURAF1@REMAX.NET

Why did I become a Realtor

It all started over 20 years ago.  
When I was 13 years old, I witnessed how my mother was taken care of by a Realtor at Nothnagle Realty in Rochester, NY.  At this Real Estate office she was treated with such care and compassion.   The Realtor that assisted us knew that my Mom could not afford a real expensive home.   He sat down and went over a budget with her, showed her what she could afford, what her payment would be.  He asked here what she would be comfortable paying,  how much of a down payment she would need and what the Benefits and Rewards of being a homeowner.  He also let her in on the  not so great side of being a Homeowner.  Just because my mom could afford a bigger home payment, did not mean that she should get a bigger Loan. He advise her and guided her on the programs that were available during that time.  He even let her know about FHA which is how she got her first home Loan.
He explained that you want to work to live, not live to work.  I always keep that in my head.  Don't know why, but that still to this day is in my mind.  Not having a big budget, did not mean that she did not deserve great service.  The office staff was very diligent and caring. 
 During this time, there was no Internet, or cell phones.  The way Real Estate was done, to this day I am awed and amazed.  I never will forget that within 3 months we moved into our First Home.  My mother was a Single mother with 2 teens.  She had always worked and struggled to provide for us.  We always had what we needed.., but she wanted to give us a place that we could call Home.  We had so much love and experienced so much happiness, I will never forget that feeling.  That is something that I will forever keep in my thoughts.  Thank you Mr. Realtor at Nothnagle Realty.  This is 20 years in the making, and I sorry I took so long to thank you.  
You had a hand in why I chose this Career of Real Estate, yes Career.  I hold this job really close to my heart.  I like to be a Connector, connecting people to homes.  I sometimes connect people together in the process.  I have on occasion officiated marriage to my clients.  If I can give one person, that happiness that Realtor gave my family when I was growing up.  It will be well worth it.  That is why I am proud to be a Central Florida Realtor.  So that there goes my two cents for the week...

VOLUSIA COUNTY ENCOURAGES BEACH SAFETY

Visitors to the beaches will see the Florida Uniform Warning flags posted at all lifeguard stands and should learn their colors and meanings:

              ● Double Red - Water closed to the public.

                              ● Red - High hazard – High surf and / or strong currents.

                                  ● Yellow - Medium hazard – Moderate surf and / or currents.

                                      ● Green - Low hazard – Calm condition, excercise caution.       

   ● Purple - Dangerous marine life.

For more information regarding being safe at the

Beach or Volusia County beaches, please call Volusia County

Beach Patrol at (386) 239-6414 or visit

www.Volusia.org/beach.

Below are tips to help Beachgoers enjoy their visit to the beach and stay safe:

 ●Protect your valuables.

 ●Walk with your children, especially in the Driving Areas.

 ●Never swim alone. Always swim in front of a lifeguard.

 ●Never swim after consuming alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is not permitted on the beach.

 ●Use a leash with surf and boogie boards.

 ●Don’t use a float, raft or boogie board if you can’t swim.

 ●When boating, always have life jackets on board.

● Never dive headfirst into the water – always protect your neck.

Rip currents

● Rip currents in the open water are always a possibility.

●Always swim in front of a lifeguard.

●Check with the lifeguard and read the back of the lifeguard tower for important information about

   rip current activity and the rip threat level.

Parking / driving on the beach

●Visitors should arrive early as parking fills fast.

● Access and driving on the beach probably will be restricted during high tide.

●Core parking areas will become filled first, look for parking in less central locations.

●All vehicles must drive and park on the east side of the green conservation poles.

●Motorists need to pay attention when driving as there are many distractions at the beach.

●Motorists always should drive in the driving lanes and when parking pay special attention to

   sunbathers lying in the sand.