Extra touches to your home can add instant pizzazz.

Sometimes it's one piece of furniture, a new rug, or simply rearranging the layout of your present furniture and accessories.

One designer said her creativity was really 'the rearranging of the old and familiar in a new way.' If you or a friend are interested in changing your location and not just your decorating, then be sure to give me a call.

I specialize in helping people to find their way to their perfect home.

Freezing Conditions

Amarillo is about to get hit with a hard freeze, here are some precautions put out by the Texas Department of Insurance

January 5, 2010 Jerry Hagins or Ben Gonzalez
News Release (512) 463-6425

Avoid Home Damage from Frozen Pipes

AUSTIN –Texas weather can change quickly, especially in the winter. A fast-moving cold front can cause temperatures to drop below freezing within hours. Outdoor pipes, pipes in unheated areas, and pipes that run along uninsulated exterior walls can burst if the water in them freezes and expands. This can shatter pipe seals or the pipes themselves, sending water pouring through your house. You can avoid thousands of dollars of damage to your walls, ceilings, carpets, and furniture by taking a few simple measures to protect your home.

Before the Freeze

.Protect faucets, outdoor pipes, and exposed pipes in unheated areas by wrapping them with rags, newspaper, trash bags, or plastic foam.
. Insulate your outdoor water meter box and be sure its lid is on tight.
. Cover any vents around your home’s foundation.
. Drain and store water hoses indoors.
. Protect outdoor electrical pumps.
. Drain swimming pool circulation systems or keep the pump motor running. (Run the pump motor only in a short freeze. Running the motor for long periods could damage it.)
. Drain water sprinkler supply lines.
. Open the cabinets under sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms to allow heated indoor air to circulate around the water pipes.
. Set your thermostat at a minimum temperature of 55 degrees, especially when you’re gone for the day or away for an extended period.
. Let indoor faucets drip; it isn't necessary to run a stream of water.
. Make sure you know where you r home’s shut-off valve is and how to turn it on and off.
. If you leave town, consider turning off your water at the shut-off valve while faucets are running to drain your pipes. Make sure you turn the faucets off before you turn the shut-off valve back on.
. If you drain your pipes, contact your electric or gas utility company for instructions on protecting your water heater.

If Your Pipes Freeze

. If a pipe bursts and floods your home, turn the water off at the shut-off valve.
Call a plumber for help if you can’t find the broken pipe or if it’s inaccessible. Don’t turn the water back on until the pipe has been repaired.
. If the pipe hasn’t burst, thaw it out with an electric heating pad, hair dryer, portable space heater, or towel soaked with hot water. Apply heat by slowly moving the heat source toward the coldest spot on the pipe. Never concentrate heat in one spot because cracking ice can shatter a pipe. Turn the faucet on and let it run until the pipe is thawed and water pressure returns to normal.
. Don’t use a blowtorch or other open-flame device. They are fire risks and carbon monoxide exposure risks.


If You Have a Loss

. Contact your insurance agent or company promptly. Follow up as soon as possible with a written claim to protect your rights under Texas’ prompt-payment law.
. Review your coverage. Most homeowners and renters policies pay for property repair. In addition, most policies pay for debris removal and for additional living expenses if you have to move temporarily because of damage to your home. If you can’t find your policy, ask your agent or company for a copy.
. Homeowners policies may require you to make temporary repairs to protect your property from further damage. Your policy covers the cost of these repairs. Keep all receipts and damaged property for the adjuster to inspect. If possible, take photos or videos of the damage before making repairs. Don’t make permanent repairs. An insurance company may deny a claim if you make permanent repairs before an adjuster inspects the damage. Most homeowners policies do not cover loss caused by freezing pipes while your house is unoccupied unless you used reasonable care to maintain heat in the building; shut off the water supply; and drain water from plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems.

Questions?

If you have questions about insurance, call TDI’s Consumer Help Line toll-free: 1-800-252-3439

or visit the TDI website: www.tdi.state.tx.us.

Tips For Selling Your Home in a Tough Real Estate Market | Real Estate News

Tips For Selling Your Home in a Tough Real Estate Market | Real Estate News

It's Official! Obama Signed Tax Credit Extension

TAX CREDIT OVERVIEW

Who Gets What?
First-Time Homebuyers (FTHBs): First-time homebuyers (that is, people who have not owned a home within the last three years) may be eligible for the tax credit. The credit for FTHBs is 10% of the purchase price of the home, with a maximum available credit of $8,000. Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount.

Current Owners: The tax credit program now gives those who already own a residence some additional reasons to move to a new home. This incentive comes in the form of a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years.
Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount.

What are the New Deadlines?
In order to qualify for the credit, all contracts need to be in effect no later than April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010.

What are the Income Caps?
The amount of income someone can earn and qualify for the full amount of the credit has been increased.

Single tax filers who earn up to $125,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, single filers who earn $145,000 and above are ineligible

Joint filers who earn up to $225,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, joint filers who earn $245,000 and above are ineligible.

What is the Maximum Purchase Price?Qualifying buyers may purchase a property with a maximum sale price of $800,000.

What is a Tax Credit?
A tax credit is a direct reduction in tax liability owed by an individual to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In the event no taxes are owed, the IRS will issue a check for the amount of the tax credit an individual is owed. Unlike the tax credit that existed in 2008, this credit does not require repayment unless the home, at any time in the first 36 months of ownership, is no longer an individual’s primary residence.

How Much are First-Time Homebuyers (FTHB) Eligible to Receive?
An eligible homebuyer may request from the IRS a tax credit of up to $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price for a home. If the amount of the home purchased is $75,000, the maximum amount the credit can be is $7,500. If the amount of the home purchased is $100,000, the amount of the credit may not exceed $8,000.

Who is Eligible for the FTHB Tax Credit?
Anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the previous 36 months, prior to closing and the transfer of title, is eligible.

This applies both to single taxpayers and married couples. In the case where there is a married couple, if either spouse has owned a primary residence in the last 36 months, neither would qualify. In the case where an individual has owned property that has not been a primary residence, such as a second home or investment property, that individual would be eligible.

As mentioned above, the tax credit has been expanded so that existing homeowners who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years are now eligible for a tax credit of up to $6,500.

How Much are Current Home Owners Eligible to Receive?
The tax credit program includes a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years.

Can Homebuyers Claim the Tax Credit in Advance of Purchasing a Property?
No. The IRS has recently begun prosecuting people who have claimed credits where a purchase had not taken place.

Can a Taxpayer Claim a Credit if the Property is Purchased from a Seller with Seller Financing and the Seller Retains Title to the Property?
Yes. In situations where the buyer purchases the property, even though the seller retains legal title, the taxpayer may file for the credit. Some examples of this would include a land contract or a contract for deed.

According to the IRS, factors that would demonstrate the ownership of the property would include:
1. Right of possession, 2. Right to obtain legal title upon full payment of the purchase price, 3. Right to construct improvements, 4. Obligation to pay property taxes, 5. Risk of loss, 6. Responsibility to insure the property, and 7. Duty to maintain the property.

Are There Other Restrictions to Taking the FTHB Credit?
Yes. According to the IRS, if any of the following describe a homebuyer’s situation, a credit would not be due:
They buy the home from a close relative. This includes a spouse, parent, grandparent, child or grandchild. (Please see the question below for details regarding purchases from “step-relatives.”)
They do not use the home as your principal residence.
They sell their home before the end of the year.
They are a nonresident alien.
They are, or were, eligible to claim the District of Columbia first-time homebuyer credit for any taxable year. (This does not apply for a home purchased in 2009.)
Their home financing comes from tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds. (This does not apply for a home purchased in 2009.)
They owned a principal residence at any time during the three years prior to the date of purchase of your new home. For example, if you bought a home on July 1, 2008, you cannot take the credit for that home if you owned, or had an ownership interest in, another principal residence at any time from July 2, 2005, through July 1, 2008.

Can Homebuyers Purchase a Home from a Step-Relative and Still be Eligible for the Credit?
Yes. As long as the person they buy the home from is not a direct blood relative, the purchase would be allowed.

If a Parent (Who Will Not Live In The Property) Cosigns for a Mortgage, Will Their Child Still be Eligible for the Credit?
Yes, provided that the child meets the other requirements for the tax credit.

Original post by Audrey Bonnet from the Portland metro area.

Are You Ready?

Do You Know What You Want?

Whether you are a first-time home buyer or entering the marketplace as a repeat buyer, you need to ask why you want to buy. Are you planning to move due to a lifestyle change or is buying an option and not a requirement? What would you like in terms of real estate that you do not now have? Do you have a purchasing time frame?

Whatever your answers, the more you know about the real estate marketplace, the more likely you are to effectively define your goals. As an interesting exercise, it can be worthwhile to look at the questions above and to then discuss them in detail when meeting with a real estate agent.

Do You Have The Money?

Homes and financing are closely intertwined. (Financing is the difference between the purchase price and the down payment, commonly referred to as debt or the mortgage.) The good news is that over the years new and innovative loan programs have evolved which require a 5 percent down payment or less. In fact, a number of programs now allow purchasers to buy real estate with nothing down.

In addition to a down payment, purchasers also need cash for closing costs (the final costs associated with closing the loan). Several newly emerging loan programs not only allow the purchase of a home with no money down, but also underwrite closing costs (check with your Lender for specifics).

Not everyone, however, elects to purchase with little or no money down. Less money down means higher monthly mortgage payments, so most home buyers choose to buy with some cash up front.

As to closing costs, in markets where buyers have leverage, it may be possible to negotiate an offer for a home that requires the owner to pay some or all of your settlement expenses.

Is Your Financial House in Order?

Those great loans with little or nothing down are not available to everyone: You need good credit. For at least one year prior to purchasing a home, you should assure that every credit card bill, rent check, car payment and other debt is paid in full and on time.

Some of this information is taken from an article from NAR (National Association of Realtors), in which I am a proud member.

How to put your home's best face forward

Chances are, as a seller, you want your home to sell quickly and for the best possible price. The key to making that happen is first, to price your home competitively, and then, make the best possible first impression on a potential buyer – realizing that in the current market, buyers have lots and lots of inventory to choose from.

Effective staging begins with the mindset that once your home is on the market, it’s no longer really “yours.” Potential buyers want to walk in and picture themselves in your home. They don’t want to see your family pictures, evidence of your travels and your hobbies, and certainly not your clutter. Anytime I begin the process of helping sellers stage a home, I recognize that they’ve probably spent several years decorating and filling it with their unique tastes in furniture and home décor to make it home their own. Sometimes staging requires undoing some of that.

Keep in mind that staging starts at the street, if a buyer were to drive by your home, what would their first impression be? Make sure your landscaping is inviting. Paint and plants are key to curb appeal. Trim trees and shrubs so that would-be buyers can see your home clearly, and it looks like it has been well maintained.

As for your home’s interior: embrace the 3Ps – 2Fs Formula: plantings, paint, pictures, fixtures and furnishings.

The entrance to your home says a lot. Be sure to make this first impression a pleasant one. The proverbial “Welcome Mat” is a great start. As the buyer moves into the other areas of your home, the most important thing that you can do is to make sure that you’ve removed all clutter, and cleaned out your closets.

Especially if you live in a small home, you want to convey that there is plenty of room, and clutter conveys the opposite message.

This can mean taking down most personal photos, rearranging or removing furniture to increase the feel of spaciousness, or simply exchanging any unnecessary knick-knacks for candles, books, or other simple items that don’t draw too much attention to themselves. I’ve heard some of my previous clients describe living in a staged home as “hotel living.”

Staging is simply an act of accentuating the value of your home based on first impressions.

While it might seem time consuming on the front end, chances are that a well-staged home will sell quicker and help you to get where you want to be much sooner.

Food Bank Day

Keller Williams Agents in Amarillo collected food for THE HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK. A non-profit organization that collects and distributes donated, surplus food to agencies in the Texas Panhandle.
RED (Renew, Energize and Donate) Day is a new Keller Williams Realty service initiative dedicated to improving our local communities. Keller Williams is "Giving where we live".