Angie's Texas Real Estate Listings, Dallas

Things have seemed busy around the office these last several weeks.  The end of November had brought with it a lull:  a market-pause, if you will, of people waiting to hear news of an extended tax credit.  December came and went, ushering in a new January, and the new and improved tax credit which included existing homeowners.   The phones have not stopped ringing.  The open houses are bringing a flurry of interest (and some contracts being written in the living rooms).  Our keen buyers have been paying attention to the news, and they know this window of opportunity is golden and not forever. 

This is great news for anyone considering selling their home:  with the extended tax credit (and expanded), the all-time-record-low interest rates (a whole topic in and of itself), and low inventory of homes being offered make it a ripe time to list.  Many have held off on listing because they are concerned about market value.  Dallas has not been affected like many parts of the country.  Much of our market value has remained steady.  The key to selling now is knowing that when you list, list it RIGHT.  

Being the new listing on the block should bring you “honeymoon” showings for the first couple of weeks.  The attention will fade quickly if you are overpriced or unkempt.  Although inventory is low, today’s buyer has come to expect a great deal of seller compromise if the home is not perfect.  Much time and emotion can be spent on negotiations if you position yourself high and plan to “wiggle” down to the “right” price.  When positioning your home in the market today, you have to think like a buyer:  you aren’t competing merely in your own subdivision, but also with every other property in the price bracket in which you choose to position yourself.  Wouldn’t it be nice to find the “right” price at the outset, and have an immaculate presentation, so that the first (and biggest) honeymoon wave of buyers brings with it offers?  Competing offers? 

If you need help positioning your home, contact me for a market analysis.  I am happy to help. 

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Ebby Halliday Elementary School Groundbreaking Angie | February 21, 2010 | 2:32 am | Consumer, Finance, Housing, Interesting, Local, Uncategorized, realtors
Tags: dallas, DISD, Ebby Halliday, Elementary School, Groundbreaking

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Ebby Halliday Elementary School Groundbreaking Ceremony

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Ebby Halliday Elementary School Groundbreaking Ceremony

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On February 1, President Obama released his budget proposal for 2011. Consistent with its proposed FY 2010 budget, the Administration’s again has recommended limiting the value of the mortgage interest deduction (MID) for upper income taxpayers by, in effect, converting the deduction to a 28% tax credit for those individuals currently in the 33% or 35% tax brackets.

NAR is 100% opposed to the provision that modifies the MID and prepared to use its formidable array of resources against its enactment.

Under current law, interest paid on up to $1 million of mortgage debt, plus interest paid on home equity loans or lines of credit of up to $100,000 may be deducted. These caps apply to the combined indebtedness on a principal residence and one additional residence. As currently drafted, the Administration’s proposal would change the MID by reducing the economic benefits of mortgage deductibility for families earning over $250,000 (AGI) and on single taxpayers earning over $200,000 (AGI).

In the past, most Members of Congress have supported our views and also opposed changes to the MID. Senator Max Baucus, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and Representative Charles Rangel, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, along with their other colleagues, pointed out in 2009 that changes to itemized deductions were ill advised stating “some of the reforms and offsets contained or referenced in the budget, such as the limitation on itemized deductions, raise concerns and will require more study as we determine the best policies for getting America back on track.”

Today’s housing market, while improving, cannot absorb any negative signals, no matter what the income level of the taxpayer and no matter what market segment of housing might be affected. As we did in 2009, NAR will launch a multi-phase plan of action to eliminate this provision from the budget plan. NAR has already sent letters to Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate and will continue to protect the MID.
(read more)

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Find a Bathroom
On the go and need to go?  Now there’s an app for that.  At www.sitorsquat.com, you can not only find a toilet, but see how others have ranked its cleanliness (“sit” or “squat”).  Help build the database by voting on restrooms you visit. 

To start searching for a public toilet, visit www.sitorsquat.com and just enter an address, zip code, city, or interesection in the search bar.   You’ll be on your way to finding your next pit stop!

If you are out looking for properties with me, I’ll keep this website bookmarked just in case.  Need a realtor in the Dallas area or Collin County?  Visit www.angiestephens.com or e-mail me at angiestephens@ebby.com.

photo credit: markhillary

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I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.

I am completely at your command.

Half the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me, and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with me.

Show me exactly how you want something done, and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great men.

And, alas, of all failures as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.

Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine, plus the intelligence of a man.

You may run me for profit, or run me for ruin; it makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me and I will put the world at your feet.

Be easy with me, and I will destroy you.

cc License photo credit: qthomasbower

I am a HABIT! — Unknown

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Early voting begins Tuesday, February 16 and ends Friday, February 26, 2010.

Avoid long lines. Vote early.

If you are a registered voter, you can vote early at any convenient location in your county. Find your early-voting polling location.

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via 10 Most Overlooked Tax Deductions – WalletPop.
photo credit: MorrowLess

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