Virginia R Hoato's Blog – Topics That Matter: Real Estate news as well as information pertinent to your everyday life.

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Hello,

It is late again.

Tonight I want to bring into the picture one more time the tax credits.  Here we go:

$8,000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit

* The $8,000 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.
* The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after the initial purchase.
* The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
* The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.
* The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.
* For homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before November 6, 2009, the income limits are $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.
* For homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010, single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

The $6,500 Move-Up / Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit

* To be eligible to claim the tax credit, buyers must have owned and lived in their previous home for five consecutive years out of the last eight years.
* The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after the initial purchase.
* The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $6,500.
* The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.
* The credit is available for homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, the home purchase qualifies provided it is completed by June 30, 2010.
* Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

For Frequently Asked Questions Click HERE

(Source:  Federal Housing Tax Credit)

Well, that’s it for now.

Don’t forget to return tomorrow for more!

Remember:  If you are planning to sell your house or if you are looking to buy a house: Call me!!

I am only a phone call away!

Have a good night!!!

Your #1 Realtor®

Sharing some useful information with you!

Virginia R. Hoato
Realty World – Blue Property Group, Inc
DRE LIC# 01781539
Direct:  510-305-3254
Fax:  209-234-2750

Email: virginiarh@rightchoicehomes4u.com
TAMBIEN HABLO ESPAÑOL
Web Links:    http://www.rwblue-virginiahoato.com
http://www.virginiahoato.topseller.net
http://www.virginiahoato.com
http://www.rightchoicehomes4u.com
Skype Member: virginiarh1961

“FOR RESULTS OF EXCELLENCE: EXPERTISE AND INTEGRITY MUST EMBRACE YOUR NEEDS”.
(VRH 8-13-08)

Share the memorable experience of buying a home with others. Your personal referrals are my greatest compliment.

Hello,

Here I am listening to the rain and waiting for the weather to improve so the rest of the house can get up to speed with some work we need to finish inside and out.   This made me think about you sellers and investors that may have your work stopped by this weather.  So, here we go:

First let me ask you:  Are you setting up your house to list it for sale?  Are you planning to do all the work yourself?  Are you planning on flipping a house by doing the work yourself? Here is a good article that will help you:

How to caulk your bathtub neatly

Caulking seems like a relatively easy home project until you make an enormous mess of your bathroom doing it. Here’s how to caulk a bathtub, shower or sink properly, and how to choose the best caulk gun for the job.

By Roy Berendsohn of Popular Mechanics

Click to enlarge picture

Clean caulking comes down to three things: the position of the caulk gun, the speed that you move the gun and the opening that you cut in the end of the tube. Sure, gadgets may improve the process, but caulking is a simple do-it-yourself skill. Once you learn how to do it, it’s easy and predictable without the use of additional devices.

It’s also a fact that caulk is overused today. It’s not a building material. It’s often used to fill gaps and make up for sloppy workmanship, but no matter what you do, it will always look lousy when applied in those circumstances.

You get what you pay for
And while I’m on this soapbox, another culprit is the $1.99 caulk gun. Stepping up to a pro-level gun that costs just $5 makes a world of difference in getting caulk to look neat. The pressure you produce with a pro-quality gun is consistent and its pump action is predictable and much smoother.

More on Popular Mechanics: How to use a caulk gun

So let’s start with the tube. Cut its tip at about a 45-degree angle. Use a utility knife with a fresh blade in it, or use a 1-inch-wide, razor-sharp chisel. The nozzle tip may have lines marked into it to indicate where to cut it. In almost all cases, I find the caulk extrudes more neatly if the tube opening is cut closer to the tip than the manufacturer recommends. A smaller bead is neater and there’s simply less material to strike off if you need to clean up the joint with your index finger.

If you find that the bead of caulk is too small, you can always cut a little bit more off the nozzle tip. Finally, if a slight burr remains on the nozzle after you cut it, be sure to remove it by carefully paring with the knife.

Bottom of Form

The angle is so important
Next, hold the caulk gun in the joint so the tube tip meets the surface at a compound 45-degree angle. I’m right-handed, so I usually brace the nozzle with my left hand and squeeze the handle gently while simultaneously drawing the gun slowly down the joint or around the surface. Don’t squeeze the handle again until there’s an appreciable drop-off in the caulk coming out of the nozzle. Get the timing and pressure right and you can produce long, smooth runs with a single pump of the handle. Except when starting to run a bead in a corner, I often place the tip of my index finger over the joint. With a little downward pressure, my fingertip smoothes the caulk as it comes out. The result is a nice smooth bead that doesn’t need further wiping.

When, despite your best effort, you find that the joint needs extra wiping to look good, draw a moistened finger down the joint (assuming you’re using a latex or latex blend). If you’re using a caulk that requires cleanup with mineral spirits, wear a disposable nitrile glove on the hand that you use to strike away excess material. The glove reduces the wear and tear on your finger and will make cleanup easier when you’re done. Peel the glove. Toss it out.  (Source:  MSN Real Estate)

I hope this post helps!  Let me know what you think!

Well, that’s it for now.

Don’t forget to return tomorrow for more!

Remember:  If you are planning to sell your house or if you are looking to buy a house: Call me!!

I am only a phone call away!

Have a good night!!!

Your #1 Realtor®

Sharing some useful information with you!

Virginia R. Hoato
Realty World – Blue Property Group, Inc
DRE LIC# 01781539
Direct:  510-305-3254
Fax:  209-234-2750

Email: virginiarh@rightchoicehomes4u.com
TAMBIEN HABLO ESPAÑOL
Web Links:    http://www.rwblue-virginiahoato.com
http://www.virginiahoato.topseller.net
http://www.virginiahoato.com
http://www.rightchoicehomes4u.com
Skype Member: virginiarh1961

“FOR RESULTS OF EXCELLENCE: EXPERTISE AND INTEGRITY MUST EMBRACE YOUR NEEDS”.
(VRH 8-13-08)

Share the memorable experience of buying a home with others. Your personal referrals are my greatest compliment.

Hello,

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend!  If you enjoy jogging and have knee problems may be it is time to change your jogging shoes for something that will stress your joints less.  Here is an article my partner shared with me a few days ago.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) accounts for more disability in the elderly than any other disease. Running, although it has proven cardiovascular and other health benefits, can increase stresses on the joints of the leg. In a study published in the December 2009 issue of PM&R: The journal of injury, function and rehabilitation, researchers compared the effects on knee, hip and ankle joint motions of running barefoot versus running in modern running shoes. They concluded that running shoes exerted more stress on these joints compared to running barefoot or walking in high-heeled shoes.

Sixty-eight healthy young adult runners (37 women), who run in typical, currently available running shoes, were selected from the general population. None had any history of musculoskeletal injury and each ran at least 15 miles per week. A running shoe, selected for its neutral classification and design characteristics typical of most running footwear, was provided to all runners. Using a treadmill and a motion analysis system, each subject was observed running barefoot and with shoes. Data were collected at each runner’s comfortable running pace after a warm-up period.

The researchers observed increased joint torques at the hip, knee and ankle with running shoes compared with running barefoot. Disproportionately large increases were observed in the hip internal rotation torque and in the knee flexion and knee varus torques. An average 54% increase in the hip internal rotation torque, a 36% increase in knee flexion torque, and a 38% increase in knee varus torque were measured when running in running shoes compared with barefoot.

These findings confirm that while the typical construction of modern-day running shoes provides good support and protection of the foot itself, one negative effect is the increased stress on each of the 3 lower extremity joints. These increases are likely caused in large part by an elevated heel and increased material under the medial arch, both characteristic of today’s running shoes.

Writing in the article, lead author D. Casey Kerrigan, MD, JKM Technologies LLC, Charlottesville, VA, and co-investigators state, “Remarkably, the effect of running shoes on knee joint torques during running (36%-38% increase) that the authors observed here is even greater than the effect that was reported earlier of high-heeled shoes during walking (20%-26% increase). Considering that lower extremity joint loading is of a significantly greater magnitude during running than is experienced during walking, the current findings indeed represent substantial biomechanical changes.” Dr. Kerrigan concludes, “Reducing joint torques with footwear completely to that of barefoot running, while providing meaningful footwear functions, especially compliance, should be the goal of new footwear designs.” (Source:  Biology News Net)

I hope this post helps!  Let me know what you think!

Well, that’s it for now.

Don’t forget to return tomorrow for more!

Remember:  If you are planning to sell your house or if you are looking to buy a house: Call me!!

I am only a phone call away!

Have a good night!!!

Your #1 Realtor®

Sharing some useful information with you!

Virginia R. Hoato
Realty World – Blue Property Group, Inc
DRE LIC# 01781539
Direct:  510-305-3254
Fax:  209-234-2750

Email: virginiarh@rightchoicehomes4u.com
TAMBIEN HABLO ESPAÑOL
Web Links:    http://www.rwblue-virginiahoato.com
http://www.virginiahoato.topseller.net
http://www.virginiahoato.com
http://www.rightchoicehomes4u.com
Skype Member: virginiarh1961

“FOR RESULTS OF EXCELLENCE: EXPERTISE AND INTEGRITY MUST EMBRACE YOUR NEEDS”.
(VRH 8-13-08)

Share the memorable experience of buying a home with others. Your personal referrals are my greatest compliment.

Watch a video HERE

Hello,

It has been a coupe of days already and today Yahoo.com’s news page reads:  “Haiti says 200,000 may be dead”.  

It is devastating.  Finding any words of comfort is almost impossibe.  A disaster that is so hard to imagine happening.   I feel for all of those people in Haiti and all the ones outside of it waiting to find out if their sons, daughters, fathers, mothers and or relatives have survived.

Tonight I want to share with you a list of charities.  If you want to donate make sure you are doing it through a reputable charity.  There are several reputable organizations pledging support that have been rated 4 stars by Charity Navigator. They’re listed in order by size, from largest to smallest.

American Red Cross
The American Red Cross, which is almost three-times bigger than the next-biggest charity listed here, is providing support to Haitians affected by the earthquake. It is, however, rated as a three-star charity by Charity Navigator — which means it “exceeds or meets industry standards and performs as well as or better than most charities in its cause.” The four-star charities listed below “exceed industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause.”

Food for the Poor Haiti Earthquake Relief
Food for the Poor is providing emergency relief to earthquake victims.

World Vision Haiti Earthquake Relief
World Vision is distributing relief supplies — including food, clean water, blankets, and tents to children and families impacted by the earthquake and aftershocks in Haiti.

Care Haiti Earthquake Relief
Care is sending helping to rescue people from the rubble, and providing food and water.

UNICEF Haiti Earthquake Relief
UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, is providing immediate support, even though its own offices in Port-au-Prince were devastated by the earthquake. At this writing, the UNICEF USA donation page is down, though.

Samaritan’s Purse Haiti Earthquake Relief
Samaritan’s Purse dispatched team just hours after the quake to help with water, shelter, medical care, and other emergency needs. It will focus on medical help, shelter, clean water, and hygiene supplies.

Global Giving Haiti Earthquake Relief
Global Giving has launched an emergency earthquake relief fund that will provide emergency assistance.  (Source:  Yahoo Green)

Well, that’s it for now.

Don’t forget to return tomorrow for more!

Remember:  If you are planning to sell your house or if you are looking to buy a house: Call me!!

I am only a phone call away!

Have a good night!!!

Your #1 Realtor®

Sharing some useful information with you!

Virginia R. Hoato
Realty World – Blue Property Group, Inc
DRE LIC# 01781539
Direct:  510-305-3254
Fax:  209-234-2750

Email: virginiarh@rightchoicehomes4u.com
TAMBIEN HABLO ESPAÑOL
Web Links:    http://www.rwblue-virginiahoato.com
http://www.virginiahoato.topseller.net
http://www.virginiahoato.com
http://www.rightchoicehomes4u.com
Skype Member: virginiarh1961

“FOR RESULTS OF EXCELLENCE: EXPERTISE AND INTEGRITY MUST EMBRACE YOUR NEEDS”.
(VRH 8-13-08)

Share the memorable experience of buying a home with others. Your personal referrals are my greatest compliment.

Hello,

Wow it is late tonight, but I want to share this story with you.  I think it will give plenty of people in the industry something to think about and it will help many Realtors sit back and try to assess the way listings are taken care of.  It is a true story and it happened to me.  Here we go:

Everything started when I sat down to make phone calls to listing agents to find out if the actual printouts from the MLS had been updated correctly.  Out of the 15 listings I had I was only able to talk to 2 listing agents.  Then I talked to 2 other listings agents that were nice enough to call me back right away.  As for the rest I never heard from them at all.  Not a good way to start but hopeful enough I decided to make the itinerary with all the listings.  My viewing was taking place a day later so I still had time to get in touch with the listing agents.

11:00 AM on the dot and my buyers were parked outside the first house.  Great, I was right on time.  Being punctual is a must for me and if I can be there at least 10 minutes early it is even better.  On my way to the appointment and since I got up that day I called the agents that were missing in action.  Still no answer, could not talk to any of them.   Usually if the buyer wants to se a house and it happens to be empty, if the agent can not get in touch with the listing agent and there is an electronic lock there is no problem accessing the property.  I was lucky enough that the first house I showed was indeed one of the houses the listing agent answered her cellular.    1 down, 14 to go but then again it could be just 4 because if you remember I was only able to talk to 4 listing agents.

As we arrived to the 2nd house on the itinerary and since all of us already knew the listing agent was no where to be found my buyers sat in the car and I started looking for the lock.  Not good.  The door had a combination lock and the listing didn’t have the code.  I told my buyers to wait until I called the listing agent, her office and her additional numbers.  No luck.  How can this be happening?  As I am driving to the third home I keep asking myself the same question.

The next 3 houses were easy to show but then we arrived at the next house on the itinerary.  Once again we didn’t know what to expect but what I found out blew my mind.  As my buyers sat in their car I walked up to the front door because there was an electronic lock.  I knew the house was empty but what I didn’t know was that the lock didn’t have a key.  WOW I thought.  OK, may be the agent in the prior showing didn’t realize it and he took the key with him.  It happens, we are all human aren’t we?  I told my buyers about it and then I called the listing agent.  Somebody at the office answered the phone.  I explained to her the situation and she told me:  Oh, the key is no longer there!  The house is pending.  The negotiator already selected an offer and the key hasn’t been there for a while.  I asked her why hadn’t they marked the listing pending and her voice trembled.  I was definitely annoyed.  I left it at that.  How can this be happening?

My buyers were very understanding and we continued to view what we could.  More than a hand full of houses we couldn’t view.  Everyone of the listing was active in the system.    A couple of listings agents called me a few days later to tell me the listings were pending and one of them called me to let me know the property was still available.  Why did they take so long to call?

So here is the deal.  If a Realtor takes a listing why is it that such is disregarded?  Why don’t they return calls?  Why don’t they let us know a listing is pending?  How can a buyer’s agent do the right thing if the listing agent does not cooperate?   How do buyers see the lack of interest, from the listing agents side, to communicate the availability of a listing?

Listing agents and buyer’s agents are all the same and we should all work together to make this a better place. If we stopped to acknowledge messages, phone calls, texts & emails we would have a better place.  But the thing is that it only takes a few seconds!

What are your thoughts?

Well, that’s it for now.

Don’t forget to return tomorrow for more!

And remember if you are planning to sell your house or if you are looking to buy a house: Call me!!

I am only a phone call away!

Have a good night!!!

Your #1 Realtor®

Sharing a tip to save with you!

Virginia R. Hoato
Realty World – Blue Property Group, Inc
DRE LIC# 01781539
Direct:  510-305-3254
Fax:  209-234-2750

Email: virginiarh@rightchoicehomes4u.com
TAMBIEN HABLO ESPAÑOL
Web Links:    http://www.rwblue-virginiahoato.com
http://www.virginiahoato.topseller.net
http://www.virginiahoato.com
http://www.rightchoicehomes4u.com
Skype Member: virginiarh1961

“FOR RESULTS OF EXCELLENCE: EXPERTISE AND INTEGRITY MUST EMBRACE YOUR NEEDS”.
(VRH 8-13-08)

Share the memorable experience of buying a home with others. Your personal referrals are my greatest compliment.