Healdsburg, CA

Windsor California has been through some tough times. Windsor is one of the newer cities in Sonoma County, at least in terms of the housing stock. A lot of Windsor's homes were built just in time to take part in the housing boom. As a consequence, whole neighborhoods paid top prices for their new homes. By now, most of those Windsor neighborhoods have changed hands completely as the original owners lost the homes through foreclosure and default. Windsor prices are still soft, but sales continue brisk for entry level homes.

Sonoma County Real Estate - The Professor from Healdsburg is in the House!

Dave Roberts is an avid local Activerainer and Realtor with Sotheby's International Realty in Healdsburg, California. If you've ever seen his pictures of the area, you'll swear he lives in a piece of heaven within the heart of the Sonoma County Wine Country! It may explain the calm and gentle demeanor Dave has with his writing style. I've learned quite a bit from Dave in my short time here on Activerain and I know I'm going to learn more from him as well as many others on AR. He's obviously very well versed in website SEO techniques and is willing to share them with anyone who wants to learn.

In fact, today, Dave wrote a very nice and easy to follow post on creating a website that google will find called:

Eight Steps to a Farming Website - Website 101

I've corresponded with Dave several times and impressed by his encouragement and openness to help with any questions I might have about AR or internet SEO. When I talked about introducing other real estate agents in Sonoma County to AR, Dave's reply was, "The more the Merrier"

What a guy!

So, you might want to know I've dubbed Dave "The Professor from Healdsburg" in my world for several reasons:

• He looks like a mature version of the Great Professor on Gilligan's Island. I always liked the Professor best!
• He writes wonderful posts with beautiful pictures on Activerain about Sonoma County.
• His writing style is intelligent, articulate and educational.
• He's open to helping others on AR.

He's inspired me to work on my writing skills to put out quality posts and has sent me google juice before I even knew what it ment! Well, it's my turn to return the favor! Here's a toast of google juice to you Dave!

BTW- Did I mention Dave is a Mac fan! No wonder I like him!

Cheers to Dave Roberts and Thank You From Sonoma County Wine Country!

Advertisement

Harney: How the 'move up'

tax credit for homebuyers

works

By Kenneth R. Harney

Posted: 11/14/2009 05:00:00 PM PST

Take a close, hard look at the new $6,500 federal tax credit for so-called "move up" homebuyers that

passed the Senate and House this month. Though it's been getting second billing to the original

$8,000 credit for first-time purchasers - now extended by Congress through June 30 - the

$6,500 credit for current homeowners just might have your name on it.

First things first: The new credit is available now. It took effect the day President Barack Obama signed

the legislation creating it - Nov. 6. This means that if you fit the key criteria - you've owned and

resided in your current home for a consecutive five out of the past eight years, and your adjusted

household income doesn't exceed $125,000 if you file taxes singly, $225,000 if you are married filing

jointly - you can claim the credit as soon as you close on a qualifying house. That could be next week,

next month or next spring. There is no "move up" requirement in the new credit. In fact, homeowners who

plan to downsize into a smaller dwelling may prove to be significant users of the credit, along with people

who are relocating because of employment changes. Some other key features of the $6,500 credit you

ought to know about: Whatever you intend to purchase, the house cannot cost more than $800,000.

The replacement house must become your main home. There is no requirement in the legislation that

you sell your current home. You could rent it out, turn it into a second home, or list it for sale later in

2010 when prices might be higher. If you plan to retain it, however, make sure you move into the new

house on the day you close so that there is noquestion it was your principal residence at that time.

Like the first-time buyer credit, the $6,500 version permits a broad range of dwelling types for your

purchase. These include newly constructed or existing single-family homes, condominiums,

manufactured or mobile homes, and boats that function as your principal residence. You cannot

claim the credit if you are buying a second home or an investment property. The IRS is required by

Congress to scrutinize claims for credits - both for the $6,500 and the $8,000 - far more closely than it did

earlier in 2009. The revised rules require taxpayers to submit copies of their settlement statements (HUD-

1 forms), along with their requests for credits using IRS Form 5405. Congress' new rules also prohibit

individuals under the age of 18 or who are counted as dependents on another taxpayer's filings from

claiming the credit. Homebuyers in 2009 - those who go to closing after Nov. 6 but no later than Dec. 31 -

can claim the $6,500 credit on their 2009 federal tax returns, or amend their 2008 returns. Similarly,

eligible purchasers in 2010 will be able to file for the credit on their 2009 returns or 2010 returns. If you

aren't sure if you can make the deadlines established for the new credit - a binding contract by next April

30 and a settlement by June 30 - do not assume that Congress will provide another For an excellent

consumer resource on both the $6,500 and the $8,000 extended credits, go to

www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com , which is sponsored by the National Association of Home

Builders.

Thank you Ken Harney of the an Jose Mercury News for allowing me to post this great article

Contact Kenneth R. Harney at KenHarney@earthlink.net

.

Harney: How the 'move up' tax credit for homebuyers works - San Jose Mercury News Page 2 of 2

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_13783230 11/16/2009

I think we all agree that much of the satisfaction in our profession comes from helping young people buy their first home.

I just had the privilege of working with a young man purchasing his first home in the town were he was born and reared. I think it is safe to say that not many single buyers would consider buying and renovating a fixer -upper and the reality of living with a house torn apart. His hometown is in the wine country in Northern California, an area of high house prices, but the current market offered him a chance he might never have had and he was willing to make sacrifices and stay focused on his goal.

Fortunately his unflappable attitude and optimism got him through more than one disappointment and glitch in the process. He never got frustrated, gave-in to disappointment or anger. For example, when the house did not appraise for the contract price, he choose to stay with his original offer. His response to me when I consulted with him about different options was quite simple, "I told the seller I would pay X price and my word is my word."

I have to mention that his parents helped in this purchase and as hometown folks the family were there for financial, practical and emotional support. He also had the help of a terrific friend who helped him look at every house and discussed the work they could do together to improve the property.

I felt lucky to be a part of it.

Kathleen Bonham

Sonoma Country and Vintage Specialist

Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol