The updated, extended and expanded tax credit is making it possible for move-up buyers to also get a tax credit.

Below is a list of homes open this weekend with either Lynbrook High or Monta Vista High School. For more info on these and other home opportunities not yet on MLS, Just Call 408.252.8900.

God Bless our troops. Lord, I pray you would bless and uplift all of those affected by this and protect all of our soldiers and prevent those in pain or delusion from hurting themselves or others.

This was just lovely, and a refreshing viewpoint - looking at the ocean, who needs words?

Tax Credit and Unemployment Benefits Officially Extended & Expanded

By Michelle C. Carr-Crowe

The existing tax credit for first-time buyers, originally set to expire at the end of the month, has been extended, expanded and approved by the House, Senate and President Barack Obama.

The new measure benefits a larger group of potential home buyers. It allows both first-timers and existing homeowners to take advantage of thousands in the form of a tax credit. All properties must close by the end of April.

The measure would continue giving an $8,000 tax credit to first-time buyers. In addition, it provides a $6,500 tax break to qualified homeowners looking to move up to middle-market homes that cost no more than $800,000.

The legislation also significantly raises the qualifying income levels to $125,000 for individual income tax filers and to $225,000 for joint filers.

Finally, the bill would extend unemployment benefits 14 more weeks nationwide and 20 more weeks in California and other hard-hit states. That would give the long-term unemployed nearly two years' worth of benefits.

Reprinted with permission from the National Association of REALTORS®.

10 Ways to Make the World A Better Place Each Day Even When You Have No Cash

by Michelle C. Carr-Crowe

Did you know there are at least 10 ways to make a difference in the world daily-even when you have no cash? It's true, easy, and can be done in less than 10 minutes each day.

One is to simply smile, and be sure to give your smiles away. Everyone needs encouragement. Besides, it makes you look younger.

Two through seven are clicking various websites to donate support. The way it works is generous corporate sponsors, such as The Nature Conservatory, World Parks Organization, Mercy Corps and the Helen Keller Foundation, will donate resources for every daily click.

Two thru Seven are clicking daily to generate monetary support from generous corporate sponsors for important causes

•2.       Click to feed the homeless animals

•3.       Click here to feed the hungry children of the world

•4.       Help provide mammograms to needy women

•5.       Provide life-saving vitamins, prosthetics, surgery, disease testing and vaccines to children

•6.       Help save a portion of the rain forest

•7.       Help teach children to read and love books.

I love this program. I've been telling people to view and click these six "sister" sites since 2005.  

Number eight is to pray for these needs, the people giving and receiving them.

Nine is to sincerely thank at least one person each day, whether it's a family member, friend or stranger.

Number ten is easy - tell your friends! You can become a FaceBook fan of these sites, blog about them like I did, write a published newspaper article about them like I did, forward an email of this article, text message or simply call your friends. Like you, they'll likely be grateful to know there are nine things they can do daily to make the world a better place.

Be sure to write these down, and make a commitment to repeat all nine steps daily.

YES! You can click these daily, but only once. (Insert smile emoticon here)

Valuable Character Lessons with Election

By Michelle C. Carr-Crowe

With every election, there are winners and losers. Today will be a difficult one for those involved with Measure G: Fremont Union High School District, its teachers, administrators, parents and students.

Whether for or against Measure G, it's a credit to the District and the teaching and community at all of its five high schools, Cupertino, Lynbrook, Homestead, Monta Vista and Fremont that so many students got involved in the campaign to generate support.

Measure G text:

To provide stable, local funds needed to protect teaching positions, and assure that Cupertino, Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook, and Monta Vista High School students are prepared to successfully compete for college admission, shall the Fremont Union High School District replace its existing, expiring parcel tax with a tax at the same annual rate of $98 per parcel to be adjusted annually for inflation, with all funds benefitting local high schools, and offering an exemption to seniors and the disabled.

In the morning, it will be time for new lessons. Although many may feel disappointed, the students can be proud of their efforts to support their schools.

And it was a character lesson for me, too. I rarely get involved with politics or elections except to spread the word about them and encourage people to vote.

Earlier this morning after checking with various local news services as to statistics, and seeing Measure G generated 59% for (and KTVU reporting it as "won"), I spoke too quickly and initially blogged that Measure G had passed. Fortunately, I was corrected and adjusted my blogs to reflect that while it reached majority, it failed to generate the 2/3 approval required to pass.

Now all should be correct, as of 2:34 am. Please let me know if there's one I missed that still needs corrections.

A $98 a Year Bargain

By Michelle C. Carr-Crowe

For $98 per year per tax parcel, the majority of voters within the Fremont Union High School District supported Measure G, which extended support of a previous measure at the current level.

However, it required 2/3 approval to pass.

For anyone in a low-performing school district, that $98 per year is a bargain. Property values for single family homes have historically performed at ~104% over the last ten years in Cupertino 95014. (You can request a copy of this data by sending an email to lynbrookhomes1@hotmail.com). That figure includes the dot-com bust years of 2000-2002.

Whether you live in Cupertino, San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale or Los Altos, your property's value benefits from being in the Fremont Union High School District (commonly referred to as "Cupertino Schools"). http://www.fuhsd.org

Here is the text of the Measure:

NOVEMBER 3, 2009: MEASURE G
To provide stable, local funds needed to protect teaching positions, and assure that Cupertino, Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook, and Monta Vista High School students are prepared to successfully compete for college admission, shall the Fremont Union High School District replace its existing, expiring parcel tax with a tax at the same annual rate of $98 per parcel to be adjusted annually for inflation, with all funds benefitting local high schools, and offering an exemption to seniors and the disabled?

According to information for the 2007-2008 Fiscal Year from the California Dept of Education, following is some basic information on district funding dollars per student as compared to all of California as well as other nearby districts with high-performing academic scores.

Fremont Union High School District $9,255

Statewide Average for all High Schools $9,433

San Jose Unified $9,818
Los Gatos-Saratoga HS $11,264
Mountain View- Los Altos HS $12,699
Palo Alto Unified - $13,509

Thank you to the teachers leading and helping our students. Thank you to the students who volunteered to cold-call people they didn't know and ask them to vote Yes on Measure G. Thank you to the voters for making your voices heard.

Los Altos Supports FUHSD with Passage of Measure G

By Michelle C. Carr-Crowe

At 7:00 pm tonight we were surprised when the home phone rang. A Fremont Union High School District student called to remind my husband to vote on Measure G tonight. Our daughter who attends high school in the district had also made calls like this, so we were familiar with the campaign. We'd talked to another volunteer this past weekend in fact. They weren't taking any chances, even with just an hour to go, volunteers were putting full effort forth.

Their persistence paid off in terms of gaining majority, with 59 percent voting yes. However, Measure G required 2/3 in favor for approval, so it did not pass.

Whether you live in Cupertino, San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale or Los Altos, your property's value benefits from being in the Fremont Union High School District (commonly referred to as "Cupertino Schools"). http://www.fuhsd.org

Measure G was basically an extension of the existing parcel tax at the same amount of $98, which is set to expire, as well as an annual adjustment for inflation. The measure exempted homeowners who are seniors and/or disabled. (Full description below).

NOVEMBER 3, 2009: MEASURE G
To provide stable, local funds needed to protect teaching positions, and assure that Cupertino, Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook, and Monta Vista High School students are prepared to successfully compete for college admission, shall the Fremont Union High School District replace its existing, expiring parcel tax with a tax at the same annual rate of $98 per parcel to be adjusted annually for inflation, with all funds benefitting local high schools, and offering an exemption to seniors and the disabled?

According to information for the 2007-2008 Fiscal Year from the California Dept of Education, following is some basic information on district funding dollars per student as compared to all of California as well as other nearby districts with high-performing academic scores.

Fremont Union High School District $9,255

Statewide Average for all High Schools $9,433

San Jose Unified $9,818
Los Gatos-Saratoga HS $11,264
Mountain View- Los Altos HS $12,699
Palo Alto Unified - $13,509

Thank you to the teachers leading and helping our students. Thank you to the students who volunteered to cold-call people they didn't know and ask them to vote Yes on Measure G. Thank you to all of the voters.

Cupertino Voters Extend Support for FUHSD Cupertino Schools But Not Enough for Measure G to Pass

By Michelle C. Carr-Crowe

Whether you live in Cupertino, San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale or Los Altos, your property's value benefits from being in the Fremont Union High School District (commonly referred to as "Cupertino Schools"). http://www.fuhsd.org

Yet when the home phone rang at 7:00 pm tonight we were surprised, as most people call us on our cell phones. A Fremont Union High School District student called to remind my husband to vote on Measure G tonight. Our daughter who attends high school in the district had also made calls like this, so we were familiar with the campaign. We'd talked to another volunteer this past weekend in fact. They weren't taking any chances, even with just an hour to go, volunteers were putting full effort forth.

Their persistence paid off. With 59 percent voting yes, Measure G cleared majority approval; however it needed 2/3 approval to pass.

Measure G was basically an extension of the existing parcel tax at the same amount of $98, which is set to expire, as well as an annual adjustment for inflation. It exempted homeowners who are seniors and/or disabled. (Full description below).

NOVEMBER 3, 2009: MEASURE G
To provide stable, local funds needed to protect teaching positions, and assure that Cupertino, Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook, and Monta Vista High School students are prepared to successfully compete for college admission, shall the Fremont Union High School District replace its existing, expiring parcel tax with a tax at the same annual rate of $98 per parcel to be adjusted annually for inflation, with all funds benefitting local high schools, and offering an exemption to seniors and the disabled?

According to information for the 2007-2008 Fiscal Year from the California Dept of Education, following is some basic information on district funding dollars per student as compared to all of California as well as other nearby districts with high-performing academic scores.

Fremont Union High School District $9,255

Statewide Average for all High Schools $9,433

San Jose Unified $9,818
Los Gatos-Saratoga HS $11,264
Mountain View- Los Altos HS $12,699
Palo Alto Unified - $13,509

Thank you to the teachers leading and helping our students. Thank you to the students who volunteered to cold-call people they didn't know and ask them to vote Yes on Measure G. Thank you to the voters for making their voices heard.

Saratoga Votes to Support Measure G But Not Enough to Pass

By Michelle C. Carr-Crowe

At 7:00 pm tonight we were surprised when the home phone rang. A Fremont Union High School District student called to remind my husband to vote on Measure G tonight. Our daughter who attends high school in the district had also made calls like this, so we were familiar with the campaign. We'd talked to another volunteer this past weekend in fact. They weren't taking any chances, even with just an hour to go, volunteers were putting full effort forth.

Their persistence paid off. With 59 percent voting yes, Measure G reached majority.

However, it needed 2/3 approval to pass.

Whether you live in Saratoga, Cupertino, San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale or Los Altos, your property's value benefits from being in the Fremont Union High School District (commonly referred to as "Cupertino Schools"). http://www.fuhsd.org

Measure G was basically an extension of the existing parcel tax at the same amount of $98, which is set to expire, as well as an annual adjustment for inflation.

NOVEMBER 3, 2009: MEASURE G
To provide stable, local funds needed to protect teaching positions, and assure that Cupertino, Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook, and Monta Vista High School students are prepared to successfully compete for college admission, shall the Fremont Union High School District replace its existing, expiring parcel tax with a tax at the same annual rate of $98 per parcel to be adjusted annually for inflation, with all funds benefitting local high schools, and offering an exemption to seniors and the disabled?

According to information for the 2007-2008 Fiscal Year from the California Dept of Education, following is some basic information on district funding dollars per student as compared to all of California as well as other nearby districts with high-performing academic scores.

Fremont Union High School District $9,255

Statewide Average for all High Schools $9,433

San Jose Unified $9,818
Los Gatos-Saratoga HS $11,264
Mountain View- Los Altos HS $12,699
Palo Alto Unified - $13,509

Thank you to the teachers leading and helping our students. Thank you to the students who volunteered to cold-call people they didn't know and ask them to vote Yes on Measure G. Thank you to the voters for making their voices heard.