Alamogordo, NM

I just attended a Tax Strategy seminar with Sandy Botkin, CPA, Esq., sponsored by the Tax Reduction Institute. What a great seminar! Lots of good ideas on how we can use the deductions the IRS allows to save money on our taxes. This seminar was not cheap but the strategies presented will save more than enough money to pay for the seminar. If you ever have a chance to attend one of Mr. Botkins seminars I urge you to go.

There is no reason for any one in business to eat a meal by themselves and not claim it as a business deduction. He showed us how to make most if not all our travel business deductions. Our automobile is also a great means of tax deductions on our returns. Just a lot of great ideas. Go to there web site and find out when and where the next seminar is located and GO! http://www.taxreductioninstitute.com

As I write this, Congress is trying to decide whether to extend the first-time home buyers tax credit. As I understand it, NAR is supporting extending the credit through April, 2010, keeping the credit at $8,000 and allowing everyone, not just first-time home buyers, to utilize the tax credit, with certain restrictions. From what I have noticed and read, the first-time home buyers tax credit has stimulated the market quite well. It only goes to follow that if they extend this credit it will help the housing industry and the market all over the country. I know that some critics of this measure have complained about fraud but isn't this evident in all aspects of business. Some people will try to "abuse" the system no matter what. I don't think we should punish or restrict the majority because of a minority of crooks. I hope this tax credit is extended. It will be interesting to see how this affects those who have been in their homes for several years and are just waiting for the market to improve before selling or buying.

For more information on the first time home buyers tax credit, check out my web page at http://lebronlittle.com

Well, October is almost gone and its time to get back to work. October is always a busy month for me but not in real estate. I guess you could call it my Vacation Month. I usually try to visit my family and friends back in the Southeast in October because the weather is so nice. I just got back from a visit there and had a great time with my daughter in Lebanon, TN, just outside Nashville and got to meet her fiance. We played a little golf, went to the Tennessee/Auburn football game (they have season tickets), and visited the BB King Restaurant & Blues Club in downtown Nashville, what a treat. BB King is still one of my favorite blues musicians. I then visited my sister in Benton, TN, just north of Chattanooga and spent some time with my parents who live in Cahutta, GA, near Dalton. My mom and dad live on a small farm and my dad stays very active tending to the day to day tasks associated with livestock and pastures. I spent the day with my sister in our old hometown of Scottsboro, AL, where we grew up and of course had to visit the world famous Unclaimed Baggage. After 37 years the town hasn't changed much. While walking downtown I ran in to an old high school buddy who recognized me instantly although I could not remember his name.

My wedding anniversary is in October and my wife and I usually plan something around that time. This year is our 19th year and I am still amazed that we are together. This is the most time either of us has spent with anyone, including our own parents. We had a very nice dinner at Rebekah's at The Lodge in Cloudcroft, NM. A little pricey but very good food and atmosphere.

We also spent some time in Albuquerque, NM, this month and had dinner with our son and his wife.

So as you can see there has been a lot of activity this month. Now its time to get back to work. In the three years I have been in real estate it has always amazed me how things work out. While in the office last Friday contemplating on who to call and what to work on next, I get a floor call about one of my listings. The home was out of their price range but as always I offered to show them homes in their price range. Long story short, I wrote an offer Sunday and had a contract Monday, we close November 23rd.

I LOVE THIS JOB!

For many months, we've been told to brace for an influx of families moving to the Alamogordo, NM / Holloman AFB area from Las Vegas, NV, as well as from several other military installations. The families are finally arriving and many of them seem to have a hard time understanding why they have had to practically give their homes away when the sold in Las Vegas (or in most cases, their homes still havn't sold) and why Alamogordo sellers aren't giving their houses away. Knock on wood, Alamogordo / Holloman AFB area almost seems to have been insulated from the economy problems that have affected the rest of the United States. Sure, we've seen home prices take minor hits. In most cases, a relatively small decrease. Sales got a bit slower, but most of us didn't have to re-learn real estate and how to work with short sales in our community.

Where I was headed with this is, we have to be able to demonstrate the old comparison thing... apples to apples and oranges to oranges. And, when one of your customers has recently been hit right between the wallet in some other city and state, demonstrating that comparison can be be pretty trying!

I am hearing different things about the first time home buyers credit. Does anyone have an insight they'd like to share with the rest of us. I've heard the next first time home buyer credit may be written for military home buyers only. I sure support our troops and want them to have an opportunity to buy. I am retired from the Navy and my wife and I have owned homes from the time we were 21 years of age. What I wouldn't have done for a deal like our folks our being offer now.