The President signed the stimulus package on February 17, 2009 and in it are changes to the current Home Buyer Tax Credit. Below are some of the details of this tax credit and how it can help 1st time home buyers get into a home.

• First time home buyers purchasing any kind of home - new or resale - are eligible for the tax credit.

• The law defines "first-time home buyer" as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.
  

• The tax credit is equal to 10% of the home's purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.

• The home purchase must occur on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. For the purposes of the tax credit, the purchase date is the date when closing occurs and the title to the property transfers to the home owner.
  

• The credit does not need to be repaid as long as the home buyer uses the residence as a principal residence for at least three years.
  

• The buyer will claim the credit on their federal income tax return. The fact that the credit is refundable means that the home buyers credit can be claimed even if the taxpayer has little or no federal income tax liability to offset. Typically this involves the government sending the taxpayer a check for a portion or even all of the amount of the refundable tax credit.
  

How big of a smile will you have on your face when you receive your check from the government?

For more information about the please contact "THE REAL ESTATE SHOP" by phone or e-mail.

Ryan Allie Associate Broker

Main: 206-366-5303

Fax: 800-708-9148

Office: 253-835-4500

Office Fax: 253-835-4550

Hello Golfers....University Place, Wa is holding U.S. Open coming to Chambers Bay....

"The Lone Tree" is the signature of Chambers Bay Golf Course.

Did you see the front page of the Tacoma News Tribune this morning?  Chambers Bay will be holding the 2015 U.S. Open!  This is very exciting considering the PGA only has 4 major events during the year. This is also very fortunate for the South Sound region. If you look at the likelihood of have a major coming to your town, remember 2 of the majors will never be here, because they are alway committed to 2 other geographical locations. The Masters is always at Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, GA, and The British Open is always Somewhere across the Atlantic on the British Isles.

Given the fact that there are only TWO opportunities a year to have a PGA major event in any city, we are very lucky and happy to have The U.S. Open here in Tacoma in 2015.

This is Great news for local Golf fans and the local economy. The beautiful part about majors is they bring in all of the big players. 

• Tiger Woods
• Phil Mickelson
• Vijay Singh

This will also bring in more ticket sales. Having a four day event that can hold 60,000+ fans, is an extreme amount of revenue to flow into the local economy. The holder of the last year's US Open (Pennsylvania) estimated a boost of $59.7 million into the local economy.

The Tacoma News Tribune project upwards of $100 million to pour into The South Sound.

I guess from a RE Blogger's standpoint, it lbegs the question:  "How will it effect the local Real Estate Market?"

Anytime you have a Major PGA event come to town, it brings in people. It also brings a certain Prestige.

Chambers Bay has won:

• Best New Course of 07 Golf Magazine

• #1 Best New Course 2007 Travel and Leisure Golf Magazine

University Place is the location of the Golf course. This has been a great corner of the South Sound area since the 1800's. It was unincorporated until it became a city in 1995 & has a reputation of breathtaking western views, with nice neighborhoods, and a friendly small town feel. Real Estate has slowed everywhere since last year. But I believe this will give the area a shot in the arm.

This creates a buzz.

1. Golfers will come try out the course before the actual event.
   
2. Smaller Golf tournaments will come to the area. (2010 USGA Amatuer Championship)
   
3. Residents will be able to boast of a great golf course.
   
4. Businesses will be developed in preparation for the event.
   
5. Transportation lines will be added to handle the amount of people coming to the events.
   
6. Revenue will start to generate in the area because of the annoucement.

This all creates a destination and that creates marketability, which we all know is good for a local Real Estate Market. 

I will keep you posted as time moves forward on any and all changes in the local University Place, WA real estate scene, spurred by this notable event.  For now...it's just the beginning.

I would really like to start a book club with fellow agents. I believe education is good way to improve our business. I have a couple of books in mind to start with. Basically I would like to pick out books as a group and meet monthly to discuss what we have learned and what how it has helped us in our business.

The main benefits would be: 

• Education ~ learning from the books, explaining your interpretation, and hearing other insights.
• Comradery ~ I believe there is value in a meeting of the minds. This will bring us closer together.
  
• Accountability ~ Being a part of something and being responsible to the group.
  
• Fun ~ Just to sit back and laugh and have a good time with eachother.
  

Please submit any ideas you have or comments below. Keep in mind that we don't have to read books just on Real Estate. We can read books on inspiration, selling, marketing, Search Engine Optimization, whatever we decide on as a group. The main point is to just keep reading and to keep our personal knowledge growing. 

This club will be open to anyone who wants to join it. If we can get 4 people to start we can outline the details from there. I look forward to learning with you.  

Hello Mr. and Mrs. Consumer. Are you "Curious" about what is going on in your neighborhood? Do you know and understand the statistics being put on the radio and the local news programs? Unfortunately the local media tends to be very broad in the aspects of the real estate market. Which makes it tough to give you a honest prospective of your specific neighborhood. My goal as a local real estate broker is to sift through the local statistics and report monthly market stats for North Tacoma Neighborhoods, from a professional. I will use the information from our local Listing Service.

I want to keep you informed of: 

• HOW MANY HOMES WENT UP FOR SALE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
• HOW MANY HOMES ARE ACTIVELY FOR SALE.
• HOW MANY HOMES HAVE SOLD.
• WHAT IS THE AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET
• WHAT IS THE AVERAGE PRICE AND SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR THE SOLD HOMES.

My goal is to educate sellers and buyers alike. If you have a desire to sell or buy a home in a specific neighborhood, this is the pertinent information. These statistics help agents decide selling prices. They help buyers understand where a neighborhood is going. They help sellers stay aware of how much activity is going on.  

I know you can find out plenty of property information from Zillow.com and Trulia.com

Both of those site are great resources. I encourage consumers to educate themselves as much as possible. But, who better to ask than the professionals? Someone with a pulse on the business. More then just stats.

• I want to give a professional perspective of why the market is moving that way.
  
• What the Statistics means for the future.
• Give an educated guess of where the market is going.
  
• Open up discussion with the community about their local market.
  

Here are the markets I will start with. I may add more in the future.

• Proctor District
• Old Town
• Old Tacoma
  
• Ruston  

Like I said, I don't want this to be a closed conversation. If you have any info, questions, or comments on what is said, then please add to in the space given below. Lets start the conversation!!! 

Alot of buzzing has been going on about the possibility of Northshore Golf Course closing its doors and building 860 new houses and town-homes where it's fairways now lie. The Tacoma News Tribune reported a moratorium has gone in effect based on 2000 signatures collected in 3 days. Apparently the developer submitted his paperwork just in time for the Tacoma City Council meeting. I don't need to plagiarize the whole article about the Northshore moratorium. My main reason for this blog is feedback. I am torn! I've golfed Northshore ever since I started playing back in 1989. As a Broker I like to see new development. But, if it cost us 1 of the few public courses in Tacoma, is it worth it? I have friends that live in Northshore. They want to know how this project will affect them. What affect will this have on the schools, the traffic, and the local market? I gave them my opinion. I would like to hear others. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.