Here are facts about the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009

Who is eligible?  Buyers who have not owned a home during the preceding three years.  You may qualify for the tax credit even if you and your spouse owned a home more than three years ago.  Single buyers can earn up to $75,000 a year, and married couples up to $150,000 a year.

How much?  The tax credit is based on 10% of the purchase price of the house…up to a maximum of $8,000.

What properties are eligible?    The tax credit applies to any single family residence, including condos, co-ops, and townhouses, that will be used as the primary residence.  Vacation homes and rentals are not eligible.

How does it work?  The tax credit reduces your tax bill  or increases your refund, dollar for dollar.  It is fully refundable, meaning the credit will be paid out directly to the purchaser, even if you owe no tax or the credit is more than the tax you owe.  There is no repayment required if the buyer keeps the home for at least three years.  Buyers are permitted to claim the tax credit on their 2008 taxes, even though the house closing occurs in 2009.  An amended 2008 tax return may be filed after closing.  Or the tax credit can be taken for 2009. 

Is there a deadline?  Home must be purchased and closed between January 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009

Please contact me if you have any questions or you are ready to pursue purchasing a home and taking advantage of this credit!  Call or email me for my list of Best Buys in the Joplin, MO area.

Cindy Moore,

Your Joplin Realtor

417-529-8525

Cindy@yourjoplinrealtor.com

But the highlight of the trip, indeed, the purpose of the trip, was to watch our son Nathanael exchange vows and rings with his sweetheart, Brittany.  The setting was beautiful…an outdoor balcony overlooking Belton Lake, in Belton TX.  The groom was handsome in his tux and all smiles, the bride gorgeous in a white sleeveless dress, her eyes twinkling.  And watching quietly from her infant seat, their darling baby, Aubrey, sat unfazed by all the activity, fascinated by how the tree in the corner moved in the wind.

The ceremony was short and sweet, performed just as the sun set.  A very intimate gathering of close family members then sat down for a fun meal.  Did I mention the wedding took place at a busy restaurant, called the Dead Fish Grill?  The balcony room was high above the restaurant.  The wait staff did an excellent job of keeping the food and drinks coming!  It was a special night, memorable, magical.

I’m so excited as Nate and Brittany take this next step in their journey together.  With their baby daughter, they make an adorable family.  I’m proud of them!  Many adventures and joys along the way, Nate, Brittany, and Aubrey Moore!

Cindy Moore,

Your Joplin Realtor

417-529-8525

Cindy@yourjoplinrealtor.com

Kitchen – Sort through the pantry items, throwing away anything that has expired or any item you’ve had for more than a year.  Date the remaining items and categorize back on the shelves. Use plastic containers for perishables like crackers and cereal to help retain freshness and make best use of space.  Maximize all cabinet and drawer space by using wire shelves and organizers.  Examine the inside of each cabinet door to see if you can use the space for spice racks, recipe cards, a memo board or paper towel rack.  Hang a utility bar or hooks near the stove for frequently used utensils.

Living Room - Replace tables and ottomans with storage units and small chests to hold blankets, reading materials, extra pillows.  Give each family member a place to stash personal items, such as small baskets on the bottom shelves of a bookcase.  Add baskets to open spaces to hold mail, keys, school papers, or magazines.  Group collectibles in one spot for maximum effect.  Designate a space for dvds, cds, and games.  Make it a rule that everyone puts items away each night before going to bed.

Kids Bedroom – Hang two strips of hooks or pegs to the back of a child’s door…one at 3 feet and the other at 5 feet for bookbags, jackets, belts, or purses.  Stash toys in large clear containers and stack on shelves, in closets or under the bed.  Use a box or basket for favorite books and keep near the bed or a window seat.  Use storage cubes in closets for shoes, folded clothes and games.

Bathroom – Sort through towels and wash cloths and discard frayed or stained linens.  Keep only a week’s supply of towels handy in the bathroom and store the rest.  Display towels in baskets on shelves or in cubicles.  Keep a large basket near the tub or shower and fill with bath supplies and a few wash cloths.  Make good use of cabinet space with organizers and wire shelving.  Keep makeup, brushes and facial products in plastic or metal desktop organizers and store out of sight when not using. 

I love my office now.  One of the first things I do every morning is open the wooden blinds over those 6 windows and welcome the sun into my inviting space.  It feels like I accomplish so much more…and I definitely enjoy being in my office more. I don’t grow frustrated any longer over trying to find a document or that listing sheet.  The secret to keeping my office clutter free has been that old adage my mom taught me…”a place for everything…and everything in its place”.  No more stacks of paper everywhere….I have files and baskets for those, and very pretty ones at that!  And my bookcase contains all my books….and a tv/dvd player for when I’m in the mood for a movie!

One other advantage of going through piles of “stuff”…I uncovered keepsakes that I’d been intending to do something with.  So the beautiful Lord of the Rings maps the Greg bought me and the Notre Dame de Paris poster I bought on ebay were framed by my artist friend John and now hang on my bedroom and office walls.  And I created shadow boxes from the momentos I saved after watching performances of my two favorite musicals…Phantom of the Opera and Wicked.  Those are in my living room where I can enjoy looking at them every day…and remember.

Cindy Moore

Your Joplin Realtor

Cindy@yourjoplinrealtor.com

In this market, savvy sellers know that their homes must show in the best possible light.  They must outshine the competition!  The two biggest factors in selling a home are price and condition.  The two are intertwined.  To make a house go, it must show!  So price it right and then stage and prepare the home so that it stands out! 

Here are tips to attract a buyer.  Even if you aren’t selling your house, these tricks will make your home a welcoming retreat for you and your guests.

1.  Declutter & Clean:  First step to creating an eye catching home.  Nothing stops a buyer faster than a dirty house.  Clean and declutter each room, starting at the ceiling and working your way to the floor.  Deep clean kitchens and bathrooms as these rooms come under the most scrutiny.  As you sort through clutter use the rule of three:  Store away, throw away, give away. 

2.  Curb Appeal:  First impressions really do count.  You have about 10 seconds to catch the eye of a buyer and make them want to see more.  Clean and declutter the front porch while you are cleaning the house and make sure the walkway is clear.  A fresh coat of paint on the front door, gleaming hardware and a potted plant (in feasible weather) or an item of interest will go a long way in creating a welcoming atmosphere.

3.  Do a Walkthru of the House:  Try to walk through your home and see it as if you’d never been in it before.  We get used to the way our homes look and often fail to see an obvious eye sore.  I recommend this trick.  Use your digital camera to take pics of each room, download them to your computer and then scrutinize them online.  Often an overlooked problem area will come to your attention.  Take the necessary steps to make each room as inviting as possible.

4.  Neutralize:  You may like dark colored walls or your little girl may love her hot pink bedroom, but such personal choices can make it difficult for buyers to visualize the room as their own.  Go neutral…all through the house.  Lighten dark walls and play down children’s rooms by packing away most of the toys.  Broaden the possibilities if you have a specialized room. Make your sewing room look more like an office or guest room.  Now is the time to pack away your mementos and trophies so the future owner can squint their eyes and see their own possessions there.  I showed one gorgeous home several times to different buyers…who every time were horrified by the 30 or so deer heads mounted on the family room wall!  Sadly, that home never did sell.

5.  Let there be light:  A dark, dreary home depresses a buyer and can hide great features.  The solutions are so simple. Replace dark window treatments with light airy ones.  Wash all the windows so natural light shines in and leave window coverings open during the day.  Make sure EVERY light bulb is functional, replacing all burnt out bulbs.  If there is a shadowy corner, add a floor or table lamp to chase away the darkness. 

Right before a showing, do these last minute touch ups: Make sure your fridge is clean and kitchen cupboards are organized. Throw away kitchen sponges and put away dirty dishtowels and mops and brooms. Empty all wastebaskets and take out all garbage. Replace bar soap with liquid soap dispensers in all bathrooms, and put out clean, pretty towels. Make sure your doormats are clean. Sweep your front porch and sidewalk.

For the past two years, a trip to Scotland has taken up a large portion of my vision board.  And this year, that dream will become a reality in July.  I am so excited!  Scotland is on my 2009 board…after all, I haven’t actually gotten there yet…but this year I have devoted more space to a dream that I’ve had for about 8 years.  Stay tuned for more about that adventure as I take some major steps this year in seeing that dream take shape!

2009 is full of promise!  I’ve selected the word “Reach” as my theme for the year as I reach goals, arrive at chosen destinations, reach out to others, reach deep within myself and extend my reach in my business and in my life.  I wish you a prosperous and joyful year as well!

Cindy Moore

Your Joplin Realtor

SOLD!  460 homes sold in Joplin in the past 3 months.  The average price, – $103,100.  Average number of days to sell – 111.  The greatest factor determining how quickly the home sold, PRICE. 

GROWTH!  Joplin certainly hasn’t come to a standstill as new businesses open, streets are widened to accommodate traffic flow and new schools are built to meet the needs of an increase in students. We’ve seen several new restaurants open in the past couple of months.  Joplin is, and will continue to be, a great city to live in, raise a family in, retire in.

INVEST!  At the risk of repeating myself….it really is a good time to buy.  Interest rates are as low as 5%.  Lenders have money to loan.  Prices are still very competitive making great buys possible.  New home construction has slowed, allowing already existing homes to fare better in the market.  If you are looking for a home to live in, now is the time to make that move.  If you want a sound investment to build future equity and worth, now is the time to buy!  Contact me for a copy of my “Best Buy” list.  I update this weekly to bring you the very best homes available on the market for the very best price.  Just send me an email with the words Best Buy List included and I’ll email the list back to you.

As 2008 comes to an end, I can look back and celebrate a successful year.  I hope you can do the same!  I will finish up some calculations and paperwork for this year and then, with great anticipation and excitement, my focus will be on 2009!  Let’s have a wonderful year…together!

Cindy Moore

Your Joplin Realtor

Charles Burt Realtors

417-782-1234 office

417-529-8525 cell

Cindy@yourjoplinrealtor.com