All Long & Foster Sales Offices Will Serve As Toy Drop Off Sites For Annual Toys for Tots Campaign:
Perry Hall, Md. November 2, 2009–Long & Foster’s Perry Hall office is proud to announce the launch of its annual toy drive to benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves’ Toys for Tots Campaign.
Toys may be dropped off seven days a week between 9am and 6pm weekdays and 3pm weekends, at Long & Foster’s Perry Hall office located at 8712 Belair Rd. (Belair and Silver Spring Rds., behind Wendy’s) prior to December 11, 2009.
Long & Foster’s Perry Hall office sales manager, Sharon Blough said. “We are proud to participate in The Long & Foster® Companies 19th annual toy drive throughout its seven-state Mid-Atlantic region and the District of Columbia in support of the U.S. Marines Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. We hope you will be generous with your donation to help less fortunate children throughout our community.”
Wes Foster, Chairman of The Long & Foster Companies said, “We take great pride in being able to once again assist this worthy cause and to help give the needy children in our communities the Christmas they deserve. For nearly two decades, Long & Foster and its affiliated businesses have remained committed to helping provide a better holiday season to children in need in the communities we serve.”
Between now and Dec.22, each of the company’s more than 200 sales offices throughout seven states will accept donations of new unwrapped toys for distribution to financially and/or physically disadvantaged children. Long & Foster employees at the company’s corporate headquarters in Chantilly, Va. will also participate in the annual holiday event.
Once the toys are collected and presented to area Marines, they are distributed to local churches, social welfare agencies and to less fortunate children throughout Long & Foster’s service area.
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program began with a single campaign in 1947.Last year, 18 million toys were distributed to underprivileged children nationwide by The U.S. Marine Corps Reserves program.Long & Foster collected more than 25,000 toys which were distributed to charitable and service organizations in the communities Long & Foster serves.
About The Long & Foster ® Companies
The Long & Foster ® Companies is the parent company of the largest, privately owned residential real estate company in the U.S., Long & Foster® Real Estate, Inc., and is the Mid-Atlantic region’s leading provider of homeownership services. In addition to its real estate arm, The Long & Foster® Companies consist of Prosperity Mortgage® Company; Walker Jackson® Mortgage Corporation; Long & Foster® Insurance Agency, Inc., and Long & Foster® Settlement Services. The total 2008 sales volume and sales equivalents for all The Long & Foster Companies was $48.9 billion.
Tammi L. Copsey, REALTOR® Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. 8712 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21236 (410) 529-1900 office * (410) 529-5954 fax (410) 258-5123 Blackberry tammi.copsey@lnf.com http://www.tammicopsey.com
With Halloween behind us but Thanksgiving and Christmas knocking on our doors, it's time for a reminder about recalled products, safety, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Be the most knowledgeable Realtor, home inspector, mortgage lender, etc., in your service area and impress your family, friends, and business associates by knowing about recalls and safety concerns before they hear it on the news. I'll teach you how.
For those who are not familiar with the CPSC, they are the ones charged with protecting the public from lead paint, hazardous toys, unsafe appliances, and the like.
There are literally thousands of recalls and safety concerns that have been released since the Consumer Product Safety Commission began operating in 1973, and they all are listed. I recommend that you subscribe to all CPSC press releases. This will alert you to all recalls and safety concerns in all categories. Simply
Remember that not every recall makes the news or your local paper. But you'll think it is pretty substantial when you or a loved one suffers property damage, personal injury, or death.
Following is a detailed tutorial on how you can check on recalled products for your home and then sign up for the CPSC notices of recalled products. You can get notices before your neighbors hear about them on the nightly news.
First, make a list of your appliances: refrigerator, dishwasher, water heater, range, washer, dryer, etc. Then write down the manufacturer name, the model number, and the serial number. You should already have it for insurance purposes, but if you don't, well, we're getting two things done at once. We're multitasking!
Remember, though, that the very nature of numbers and letters means that numbers or letters might not have been read correctly. For example, the letter “O” and the number “0” can look the same, as can the letter “l” and the number “1.” Also remember to record spaces and dashes and any preprinted letters and numbers. It is possible to conduct research with only partial information, such as the manufacturer’s name and the type of appliance, but further evaluation might be required by a manufacturer’s representative or other specialist familiar with the equipment involved.
Now just follow the steps below.
Connect your Internet browser to the CPSC web site: http://www.cpsc.gov and then click on “Recalls and Product Safety News.”
Up pops a new window, “Recalls and Product Safety News,” where you can find recent recalls or recalls by month and year, product type, company, product description, or product category, such as toys, household products, outdoor products, etc. Product type, for example, will show you all the dishwashers.
Let’s do it. Click on “Product Type.”
Up pops a screen “Find Recalled Products by Product Type.” Over at the right you’ll see “Optional.”
Let’s do a search on Kenmore dishwashers since I know there was a recall issued on February 25, 2005. In the “Optional” box, type the first three letters of dishwasher, “dis,” and click on “Simplify search.”
The left side of the window is refreshed to show you all the product types that include the three letters “dis.” There are six categories shown. Click on “Dishwashers” and then click on “Find.”
Up pops a window “Results of Your Search.” You should see thirteen lines (as of 11/11/09); the eleventh line is Kenmore (yellow arrow). However, look at the date of the recall: February 15, 1993. Remember in Step #5 that I told you I knew there was a Kenmore recall on February 25, 2005? This is why I don’t use the “Product Type” category. In using the “Product Type” category, you will have to read all twelve of those dishwasher recall documents to make sure you haven’t missed any Kenmore recalls. Kenmore currently is manufactured by Whirlpool corporation, so the fifth line (as of 11/11/09), “Whirlpool Corporation Recall of Dishwashers (February 25, 2005; Revised April 8, 2005)” is the one we want (blue arrow).
Click on that line, and a new screen pops up, “NEWS from CPSC.” Scroll down and you’ll see that Whirlpool and Kenmore brands are involved. So you can see that if you just rely on headlines, your search could be faulty. Same thing with your local newspaper headlines. It’s important that you know that brand names are not necessarily manufacturer names.
Let me show you a better way that will give you all the information you need even if you don't know the manufactured. Click on your browser’s “back” button once and then click on "Conduct a New Search."
Now click on "Back to Recalls Page" at the bottom of your screen.
Now click on “Find Recalls by:” “Company.”
Up pops the “Find Recalled Products by Company” page; looks very similar to the screen shot in Step 6.
Under “Optional”, type the first three letters of Kenmore, “ken,” click on “Simplify Search.”
The screen is refreshed to show you all the companies that include the three letters “ken” in their names.
Click on “Kenmore” and then click on “FIND”.
The screen is refreshed to show “Results of Your Search.” You should see 30 lines (as of 11/11/09) of products that Kenmore has recalled. Note that the headlines show “Kenmore” in only eight of them yet you know that all 30 have the word “Kenmore” somewhere in the text of the recall notice. Therefore, just look for the ones that have “dishwasher” in the headline since you know that our search on “Kenmore,” coupled with “dishwasher” gives you what you want.
The list is in reverse chronological order, and you'll see that there are only four dishwasher headlines: May 16, 2007; February 25, 2005; May 29, 1996; and February 15, 1993. Now you can check your dishwasher's model and serial numbers to see if it was involved in one of the recalls.
Now, to complete our task, let’s go back to the CPSC home page. Click on your browser's "back" button once and then click on "Conduct a New Search," just like in Step 9. Then click on "Back to Recalls Page" like we did in Step 10.
Now click on “Join our recall notification list.”
Type your email address in the box.
There are many subscription choices, including subscribing to recalls involving only selected products, e.g., infant/child products, sports and recreation products, outdoor products, household products, and specialty products. I recommend subscribing to “All CPSC press releases, including recalls (list name: releases),” which is the second choice (red arrow). Click on the radio button (yellow arrow) and then click on subscribe (green arrow).
By subscribing to all press releases, you’ll get not only recall notices but great safety information, too. You'll never miss anything, regardless of how insignificant it might seem and regardless of whether or not the recall makes the evening news or the pages of your local newspaper.
As long as your email address is active, you’ll never miss a recall or safety concern notice, and the nice thing is that the CPSC encourages you to spread their recall notices and safety information far and wide, so you can use them to keep in touch with your prospects and clients, and even use them in your marketing campaigns. What coule be better than FREE marketing materials?
Lastly, go back and check on your own appliances from that list you made at the very beginning.
If you have any questions about anything, feel free to contact me.
Please feel free to re-blog this to give it as wide a distribution as possible and help save lives and property.
This evening my office, Long & Foster Perry Hall participated in our bi-monthly volunteer work at Oak Crest Retirement Living. The residents of Oak Crest gather in the dining hall to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to benefit the Maryland Food Bank. This event is one of the most fun and rewarding things I have been involved in. The residents look forward to it and so do we!
This evening we made a total of 744 sandwiches in under one hour! These folks know their way around a PB&J!!
Here are a couple of photos of tonight's event:
From left to right: Melissa Lockwood, Tammi Copsey (me), Sharon Blough (Manager), Pat Bomhoff, Ellen Reinhard, Arelene Del Gallo
Pat was dishing out peanut butter to the residents and ended up wearing some...
Boxes full of sandwiches...
In the top photo we are standing in front of this sign...I had to share it with everyone!
The article below is from the Oak Crest website is from March (which marked the one year anniversary of our commitment to assistance...at the time we had assisted in making 5000 sandwiches!
Oak Crest and Long & Foster Team Up for Maryland Food Bank
3/6/20095000 Sandwiches Made in One-Year History of Program
PARKVILLE, MD – Once a month, a dedicated group of people gathers in the Renaissance Gardens Terrace Dining Room of Oak Crest Village. Instead of watching television or going home after work, they are donating their time to make sandwiches for the homeless.
Surrounded by dozens of loaves of bread and Ziploc bags, and equipped with a healthy dose of teamwork, the volunteers prepare more than 700 sandwiches that are sent to the Maryland Food Bank for distribution at the next day’s lunch service.
For an entire year, it has been a labor of love and fellowship between residents, staff and community volunteers. On the evening of January 14, the crew achieved a milestone of sorts. They made the 5,000th sandwich in the history of the program.
“It just goes to show you what a difference a group of people can make a little at a time,” stated Alison Krull, volunteer coordinator at Oak Crest and creator of the program. “It’s been said that ‘we can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.’ That’s what we try to accomplish every month for those served by the Maryland Food Bank.”
Along with staff and residents, Oak Crest partners with a diverse group of volunteers from the business community and youth organizations, namely the Perry Hall Office of Long and Foster (8712 Belair Road) and Boy Scout Troop #146 (Epiphany Lutheran Church).
Sharon Blough, vice president and Perry Hall branch manager for Long and Foster, leads a team of local Realtors and staff who volunteer at Oak Crest throughout the year. They were on hand for the making of the 5000th sandwich.
“Knowing that this effort benefits people in Baltimore through the Maryland Food Bank truly makes the project meaningful,” described Blough. “Collaborating with Oak Crest has been a natural fit since our first community service project at their campus several years ago. Our employees have learned so much from their enthusiastic residents.”
For more information about this and other activities coordinated by the Oak Crest volunteer program, please contact Alison Krull at 410-665-1000.
About Long and Foster: Located at 8721 Belair Road, the Perry Hall office of Long and Foster is the home to a dedicated team of professionals providing real estate, mortgage, title and insurance services. For more information, please contact Long and Foster at 410-529-1900.
About Oak Crest Village: More than 2,200 people live at Oak Crest Village, an Erickson full-service retirement community that promotes a vibrant lifestyle. Erickson Retirement Communities is one of the leading national developers of full-service retirement communities. Headquartered near Baltimore, MD, Erickson has built an innovative network of communities that combine a maintenance-free active lifestyle with an ever-expanding host of amenities, social activities, and wellness and medical centers, proven to improve both physical and mental health. Erickson was named by FORTUNE as being one of the Top 100 “2009 Best Companies to Work For®.”
For more information about this story, please contact Jeff Getek, public relations manager, at 410-882-3262, ext. 3189.
To all of our Veterans and Active Duty Military - THANK YOU!
To all who have served our great country... To all who have put our freedoms above their own safety... To all who have who have given the supreme sacrifice for our freedom...
THANK YOU!
A special thank you to a yound lady I am honored to call my friend, Nikki Mendicino (NikkiUSA) "Every Veterans Kid Sister"
She is an inspiration and a true friend to the Veterans of this country. I encourage you to visit her site to learn about her work for our Veterans!
Tammi L. Copsey, REALTOR® Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. 8712 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21236 (410) 529-1900 office * (410) 529-5954 fax (410) 258-5123 Blackberry tammi.copsey@lnf.com http://www.tammicopsey.com
I’ve always liked music. The previous sentence is a complete understatement…I don’t like music…I LOVE MUSIC!
I won’t bore you with small talk about this as one photo should be proof enough:
Yes, that’s a walk-in closet in my home that houses most of my collection. My loving husband rebuilt an old cedar closet so my music would have a home...
With that said, there has always been one genre that escaped me…Jazz. I never felt like I could connect, relate or that it fit my life in some small way.
My introduction to this “Twentysomething” was hearing his version of “The Wind Cried Mary” by Jimi Hendrix in 2004. His interpretation of this classic song made me perk up and listen…and I liked what I heard. It had an upbeat, airiness that left me with a different feeling about the song. It challenged me and inspired me…it made me connect. It also made me an instant fan.
My mind couldn’t wrap around how this song (that my teenage nieces listen to) could be interpreted into jazz, but I had to head on over to his YouTube channel to see if my guess was correct. It was and it is amazingly well done!
Am I going to share it with you? You bet!
I hope that you enjoyed it and that I’ve made a fan out of at least one person who reads this.
If nothing else play it for your teenager(s) and spark their curiosity…who knows, they might learn to appreciate another genre of music, expand their minds and suddenly think you’re the coolest thing since sliced bread for knowing a Rihanna song!
What does this have to do with real estate? Not much, really, but I must admit his music makes an excellent soundtrack for an Open House!
I've chosen to re-blog this because it is an important topic to all home buyers. The question of "can you provide me access to this house without you being here?" gets asked a lot and the simple answer is NO.
A real estate agent should ever give you a code to see the house by yourself...ever.
A good agent will do everything in their power to accomodate their buyers showing time requests...move their schedule around when they can and/or provide you with all times they are available to see if one works for you. Ultimately, they need to be there with you for many reasons, but the one that counts most is to ensure you are properly represented.
Remember, it is our professional license, our reputation with our peers/clients/brokers and possible fines (from multiple entities) on the line.
Please know that it just isn't worth it...not for you (the consumer) or us ...
A real estate agent Must be present to open the lock box. So, if your agent is giving you the lock box code because they are to busy or to lazy to show you the home, than I suggest you find another one. Why? Because they are actually placing you at risk of trespassing. You may not know this but as a member of the local MLS when we list a home we sign a contract with the seller that states "Broker, broker's representatives, agents and sub-agents are hereby granted access to the property". No where does it say that the buyer has permission to enter the home - so by doing so you may be trespassing.
It seems this is becoming an epidemic and not just in Macomb County. In fact, this exact topic was addressed this month in the MAR Publication legal section. Then yesterday we received a call from a buyer asking for the lock box code on one of our listings. When we told him "a real estate agent agent must be present to open the lock box". He stated "the broker down the street gave me the code with out coming to the home". Really? Well today I sent off an e-mail to that broker stating that this is not only unprofessional but it is placing these buyers at risk not to mention the sellers they represent in the event something happens. The broker did contact me and said this was not acceptable practice and that he would look into it.
Our MLS listing contract also states "Owner(s) shall indemnify and hold Broker, Broker's representatives, agents and sub-agents and cooperating broker harmless from any and all liability for any reason as a result of injury to persons or damage or loss to property arising out of the showing". But does that protect you? What happens if no agent is present and something comes up missing, is damaged or if someone gets hurt? If you are not with an agent where does that leave you??? Can you then be held liable for damages?
Over the past few months several of our agents have come back with stories...
They have found buyers wondering around in the home without an agent, that gained access via a lock box code.
One of our agents would not allow a buyer in a home because their agent was not present. The buyer got right in her face and said "Fine I'll just wait till you leave and said some choice words"
Ed would not allow a buyer in the home he was showing only to find the same buyer inside the next home he was showing because the agent gave him the lock box codes.
We have even had buyers tell us that their previous agent just gave them the lock box to view homes on their own. These buyers were going in flooded basements, mold filled homes and even walking around with flash lights in the dark.
One buyer we know of viewed the home himself, had the agent write the offer and closed without the agent ever viewing the home
Sorry to say folks these agents are not working in your best interests. If they are to busy to take the time to show you homes how will they handle the offer and the closing? How can they give you professional advice on the market and the home? You may want to check and see if they are representing you or the seller. Better yet if you decide to sell with them in the future will they allow buyers access to Your home too without being present??
While preparing for this post I did some checking and obviously the public agrees a real estate agent agent must be present to open the lock box - here's one from Trulia and Yahoo. However, there was also a blog where this guy actually gave investors step by step directions on how to gain access to bank owned homes without a REALTOR®. Shame on the agents that gave him the codes.
What do you think? Is this okay or is it Trespassing?
Tammi L. Copsey, REALTOR® Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. 8712 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21236 (410) 529-1900 office * (410) 529-5954 fax (410) 258-5123 Blackberry tammi.copsey@lnf.com http://www.tammicopsey.com
Can the police, ambulance or firefighters find your home easily from the street?
This content was originally posted in 2007, but I am sharing it again as the holidays are near and it is one of the busiest times of year for home accidents and injury.
Protect yourself (check your house and/or business), visit loved ones and the elderly to check their house numbers as well!
In the words of Benjamin Franklin ~ “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
I ask this because I just spent the better part of 30 minutes trying to locate a home on a very long street and couldn’t find it. Why you ask? Not one house number was visible from the street. They weren’t on the mailboxes or curbs and the ones that were on homes weren’t able to be read from the street/vehicle.
Yes, I eventually found what I was looking for, but what if it had been an emergency vehicle, a potential home buyer trying to find your open house or a customer trying to reach your business?
Baltimore County has recently (late 2007) made changes in respect to Building Numbers and I’ve placed them below to make homeowners in Baltimore County aware of the change.
Baltimore County – Changes to Requirements for Building Numbers
Additionally, please remember that a change made last year with respect to the placement of address numbers on Baltimore County properties is in effect and all property owners are required to comply with the following (capitals indicate material added to existing law):
The owner of improved property shall prominently display numerals or letters, AT LEAST THREE INCHES IN HEIGHT, designating the address assigned to the property:
(1) in a conspicuous space on or about the property;
(2) on a conspicuous background; and
(3) in a location that is unobstructed and clearly visible:
(I) from the street named in the address of the property; AND
(II) FROM ANY STREET, ROAD OR ALLEY PROVIDING PUBLIC VEHICULAR ACCESS TO THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY.
This requirement is enforced by the Baltimore County Fire Department as a health and safety measure and failure to comply could result in a $100 fine.
HELPFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Permit information, permit approval status 410-887-3900
One more reminder…do your research before you build, you don’t want to break these laws as they could cost you the sale of your home (and a lot of money) in the future.
Please share this information with your friends, family and associates…it is important that emergency workers can find your home, no matter where you live! Thank you!
Tammi L. Copsey, REALTOR® Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. 8712 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21236 (410) 529-1900 office * (410) 529-5954 fax (410) 258-5123 Blackberry tammi.copsey@lnf.com http://www.tammicopsey.com
It has been made official and expanded!This is great news!
So what does this mean for you, the homebuyer?
Deadline for current credit is November 30, 2009.
Deadline for new and improved credit is April 30, 2010; as long as the home is under contract by April 30, 2010 the deal must close within 60 days (July 1, 2010).
Eligibility and amount of new credit:
$8,000 for first-time homebuyers (those who have not owned a home in the last three years).
Up to $6,500 credit for homeowners who have lived in the home they are selling (or have sold) as a principal residence for five consecutive years in the past eight.
Buyers with income exceeding $125,000 for single and $225,000 for married couples are not eligible.
Homes valued at more than $800,000 are also ineligible.
Below is a chart prepared by the National Association of REALTORS® that details the changes from the expiring credit to the new credit:
The following website is a great resource to explain the tax credit and has many answers to FAQ:
Who is eligible to claim the $8,000 tax credit? First-time home buyers purchasing any kind of home—new or resale—are eligible for the tax credit. To qualify for the tax credit, a home purchase must occur on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. 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. A limited exception exists for certain contract for deed purchases and installment sale purchases. See the IRS website for more detail.
However, the law also allows home sales occurring by June 30, 2010 to qualify, provided they are due to a binding sales contract in force on or before April 30, 2010.
Persons who are claimed as dependents by other taxpayers or who are under age 18 are not qualified for the tax credit program.
What is the definition of a first-time home buyer? 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. For married taxpayers, the law tests the homeownership history of both the home buyer and his/her spouse.
For example, if you have not owned a home in the past three years but your spouse has owned a principal residence, neither you nor your spouse qualifies for the first-time home buyer tax credit. However, IRS Notice 2009-12 allows unmarried joint purchasers to allocate the credit amount to any buyer who qualifies as a first-time buyer, such as may occur if a parent jointly purchases a home with a son or daughter. Ownership of a vacation home or rental property not used as a principal residence does not disqualify a buyer as a first-time home buyer
How is the amount of the tax credit determined? The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
Are there any income limits for claiming the tax credit? Yes. For sales occuring after November 6, 2009, the income limit for single taxpayers is $125,000; the limit is $225,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. The tax credit amount is reduced for buyers with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of more than $125,000 for single taxpayers and $225,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. The phaseout range for the tax credit program is equal to $20,000. That is, the tax credit amount is reduced to zero for taxpayers with MAGI of more than $145,000 (single) or $245,000 (married) and is reduced proportionally for taxpayers with MAGIs between these amounts.
How is this home buyer tax credit different from the tax credit that Congress enacted in early 2009? The tax credit’s income limits were increased, the documentation requirements were tightened, and the program's deadlines were extended.
How do I claim the tax credit? Do I need to complete a form or application? Are there documentation requirements? You claim the tax credit on your federal income tax return. Specifically, home buyers should complete IRS Form 5405 to determine their tax credit amount, and then claim this amount on line 67 of the 1040 income tax form for 2009 returns (line 69 of the 1040 income tax form for 2008 returns). No other applications are required, and no pre-approval is necessary. However, you will want to be sure that you qualify for the credit under the income limits and first-time home buyer tests. Note that you cannot claim the credit on Form 5405 for an intended purchase for some future date; it must be a completed purchase. Home buyers must attach a copy of their HUD-1 settlement form (closing statement) to Form 5405 as proof of the completed home purchase.
Questions about the $6,500 Tax Credit for repeat buyers – a few questions from the site:
Who is eligible to claim the $6,500 tax credit? Qualified move-up or repeat home buyers purchasing any kind of home are eligible to claim this credit.
What is the definition of a move-up or repeat home buyer? The law defines a tax credit qualified move-up home buyer (“long-time resident”) as a home owner who has owned and resided in a home for at least five consecutive years of the eight years prior to the purchase date. For married taxpayers, the law tests the homeownership history of both the home buyer and his/her spouse. Repeat home buyers do not have to purchase a home that is more expensive than their previous home to qualify for the tax credit.
How is the amount of the tax credit determined? The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $6,500. Purchases of homes priced above $800,000 are not eligible for the tax credit.
Are there any income limits for claiming the tax credit? Yes. The income limit for single taxpayers is $125,000; the limit is $225,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. The tax credit amount is reduced for buyers with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) above those limits. The phaseout range for the tax credit program is equal to $20,000. That is, the tax credit amount is reduced to zero for taxpayers with MAGI of more than $145,000 (single) or $245,000 (married) and is reduced proportionally for taxpayers with MAGIs between these amounts.
What types of homes will qualify for the tax credit? Any home that will be used as a principal residence will qualify for the credit, provided the home is purchased for a price less than or equal to $800,000. This includes single-family detached homes, attached homes like townhouses and condominiums, manufactured homes (also known as mobile homes) and houseboats. The definition of principal residence is identical to the one used to determine whether you may qualify for the $250,000 / $500,000 capital gain tax exclusion for principal residences.
It is important to note that you cannot purchase a home from, among other family members, your ancestors (parents, grandparents, etc.), your lineal descendants (children, grandchildren, etc.) or your spouse or your spouse’s family members. Please consult with your tax advisor for more information. Also see IRS Form 5405.
If you are thinking about buying, it is a really good time to make a move!!
Interest rates are still among the lowest in history!Now is the time to “get off the fence” and get into your new home!
Tammi L. Copsey, REALTOR® Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. 8712 Belair Road, Baltimore, MD 21236 (410) 529-1900 office * (410) 529-5954 fax (410) 258-5123 Blackberry tammi.copsey@lnf.com http://www.tammicopsey.com
Your cell phone number going public...is this rumor true?
Today, I've witnessed the following piece of information posted on numerous websites:
"All cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 1-888-382-1222 It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number."
If you've been around the internet for any length of time, you've probably heard this story told in many different forms. Well, that's what it is...a story that originated in 2004 and has been passed around every year since.
Here is a screen shot from Snopes.com (the link follows) that dispells this rumor.
On Wednesday, November 11, 2009 Applebee's is offering a free meal to Veterans and Active Duty Military with proof of service... what a wonderful gesture!!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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