Below, is a link for more information regarding the Tax Credit and the extension of same.  I have alot of people calling asking about it, so I found this info and thought I would pass it on to you.  It is the same website I send to clients and potential clients who are interested to see if they qualify.  Enjoy!!

http://federalhousingtaxcredit.com/faq1.php 

I love a good story, maybe it isn't so funny but for some reason this cracked me up (get ready for alot of puns).  For many years the City of Austin has had a rebate program that gives people an incentive to replace older toilets with new ones that use 63% less water. So in keeping with the  "Keep Austin Weird" theme, the City decided not only will we give homeowners a break but we will offer the rebate program to apartments, hotels and businesses. Budget what budget? This sounds stinky to me.

Guess what? Now, they are over budget and need an additional 3 million dollars.  HELLO any one with a brain working there?  It has to be one of those defining moments when the dah-dupe who made this decision to share toilets, hits his forehead and goes what was I thinking?  I think someone needs to be flushed out!! 

This from the paper today...buyers taking advantage of the tax credit contributed to the big jump in October amounting to over a 38% increase in sales. This is the largest gain in over 4 years.  Although, we aren't out of the woods yet, it does show alot of promise.  Thank goodness for the incentives to buy are intact and will continue through next year.  Not only does this tax credit help in housing but think about all of the things people have to buy to set up a home - new furniture, lawnmowers, paint, dishes, pillows, drapes, rugs and on and on. 

It is great to know that hundreds of thousands of people are now homeowners and living a dream they might of not acheived without the tax credit. 

The company that recommends U.S. metros and ranks them on job availability and strong economic areas has ranked Austin and the Round Rock area #1 up from #4.  Killeen was #2...we have hopefully dodged some of economic bullets. This is out of a total of 200 named cities country wide.  Go Central Texas!!   

I have been watching the stock market for a while now to see if there are any good trends and buys that I need to pounce on while some stock prices are down.  So, today I see that Warren Buffett's company buys approximately $60 million in Exxon Mobil and has over $33.6 million in Wal-Mart.

Well, does he know something we don't?  I think he is betting that gasoline prices are going to go up again.  Just when we need them to go down the most, you can be assured he knows something.  Wal-Mart doesn't surprise me...it is where America shops. I guess I will buy some more Wal-Mart stock and buy my gas from them also. 

A couple of weekends ago,  I was doing an Open House for a new client/listing.  I don't normally do open houses because I end up sitting for a couple of hours walking around someone elses house waiting for potential buyers.  Well, that doesn't work...yes, I put out signs, put it in the MLS, all of the normal things but really don't have much success. 

So, I tried to shake it up a bit. Last week, I put out flyers at the entrance of the community along with the allowed signage, did the MLS stuff, but this time, I advertised Root Beer Floats.  I then went to all the houses I could and left an invitation to join us for the floats and to come see their neighbors home. 

Please bring a friend I encouraged.  Sunday, I rolled up with my goodies, unloaded the car, put out my shingle so to speak.  Opened at 2 and by 2:20 there were 26 people in the house.  WOW!! This works, please share with me some of your experiences. 

Round Rock, Tx home to Dell, Round Rock Premier Outlets, Dell Diamond, the new Texas A & M Health Science Center, Seton Medical Center Williamson, Texas State University Center, Austin Community College, Scott and White Hospital Round Rock is soon to be graced with a proposed research center to assist in the development of medicines, scientific projects and technologies.  This project is called the convergent technology center and will be located on a tract of land just east of the Medical facilities listed above. 

According to a city-commissioned study this center would operate as an "accelerator" for businesses already in a middle or later phase of development whether it be products, medicines or technology and could open as soon as 2010. According to Mr. Avery (who donated the land), It's a combination of medical, bio-life science, physics, biology and chemistry to create a new form of science that merges all of these things together.        

Some of the proposed facilities would include but not limited to are:

Wet Labs - chemicals and biological samples

Dry Labs - more of analyzation of data, storing materials and working with electronic components that all require a constant temperature

Clean room - which is strictly controlled atmosphere against any type of contamination

At this time, the powers at be are looking for different ways to fund this project.  I must say Round Rock has come along way!!  

If you like Bed and Breakfasts, this wonderful property called the Inn above Onion Creek is for sale.  Located just outside of Kyle, Tx, this gorgeous property is nestled on 88 acres in the Texas Hill Country south of Austin.  There are two main buildings along with guest cottages and a couple of additional houses. The property and the main buildings are so gorgeous with over-sized dining areas, antiques, fireplaces with stone facades, rooms with pale neutral colors and comfy beds and chairs.

Dinner is served every night at 6:00 by an Executive Chef who uses fresh vegetables and ingredients from the gardens and markets of surrounding farmers. The Inn has been featured in Southern Living Magazine, cover of Country Living, was featured in an Emeril Lagasse segment and was noted as one of the "most Romantic Valentine's Day Getaway."  Asking price is $4.1 million.    

If you love country living but need to be close to the Pizza delivery guy, then 105 Pecos in Hutto, Tx just outside of Austin and Round Rock is the place you need to be.  This gorgeous Texas style home has over 2,000 sq. ft, 3 bdrms plus study (which could be 4th bedroom), huge formal dining which opens to the den area and to the kitchen which makes the floorplan very expansive and open.  The floors have sparkling wood laminate floors (just installed), rich designer tile in kitchen and baths, recent backsplash, stainless steel appliances, upgraded light fixtures, crown molding, fresh paint and recent landscaping.  Warm and inviting, this home has such an inviting front porch, a gorgeous covered back patio and perugula topped off with an in-ground pool.  Check out this fabulous home MLS# 6366402.  I will have this home syndicated later this morning if you need to go to Trulia or Zillow.    

Yesterday, I got a call from one of my favorite Title Company's Marketing Rep, she said, I have something for you. I will bring it to you, leave it at your office or you can come to the office.  Since I was already out and about, I swung by to pick up what turned out to be a Halloween Goodie bag.  Squeal, goodies, candy corn, chocolate, etc in a cute Orange/Black and Yellow bag.  How nice was that?  On top of that, I was greeted by all the other employees as if it were old home week.  I felt loved. LOL What a wonderful marketing ploy to get me in their office when I wasn't even closing anything this week.

So, while I am hanging around as if I needed more, a flyer caught my eye.  Headline "Shop til you Drop!" Whooosh - into my hands it flew...what an event, shopping?  I am there.  On November 10th, they are having wine (ok now I am really there), complimentary chair massages, jewelry, candles, purses, knick knacks and food.  Come one, come all and shop.  Maybe you can pass this on to your Title Company as a great way to get you back in the door.  Enjoy!!