Delaware

Today I went to the gym for the first time in a few weeks and ran into one of the owners Jeff and as we were talking I realized that I have not be coming around as much as I should. I used to be a serious gym rat but with real estate picking up and showing lots of homes really keeps you busy!

When I leave the fitness center I always feel great! There is nothing like getting on the stepper/treadmill for 30 minutes and lifting some weights. I am energized every time!

But enough about me, let me tell you about my gym! Jeff and Troy are the owners and they stocked their club with the newest equipment, Nautilus and free weights, 2 private baths with showers, tanning beds and the place is CLEAN! Former U of D Football star Lou Samba is the trainer! See photos of the club here:

http://www.anytimefitness.com/en-us/clubs/inside/676 They have free 7 day passes so you can try before you sign up (the membership is very low). Tell them Larry sent you and I'll see you around the gym!

Larry Hultberg Newark Delaware Real Estate 302-530-9186

The annual unclaimed escheat funds list will soon be released naming about 85,000 owners of unclaimed revenue in Delaware. The Delaware Division of Revenue releases this list every year and includes unclaimed money, stocks, bonds, wages, dividends, interest, etc. As required by statute, the money is reported to the state escheator by corporations and other sources. Since Delaware is the state of incorporation, most large companies are incorporated here and they report abandoned funds to the state.

The funds, if not claimed, are turned over to the State of Delaware, often times amounting to several hundred thousand dollars. If you feel you may have funds owed to you, simply go on line to: http://revenue.delaware.gov/. Click on the Search the Unclaimed Property Database. You do not have to be a Delawarean to have unclaimed funds. Due to the shear volume of potential claimants, the process may take up to four months to receive your funds. Happy hunting!

The new revised tax credit for first time buyersis a welcome change and has been much anticipated by first time buyer candidates and Realtors® alike! If you're a first time buyer the time has never been better to invest in your very own home! With interest rates at all time lows, deflated prices and the $8,000 tax credit being offered by the government, it is creating a
"perfect storm" for first time buyers! In addition to the revised tax credit for first time buyers, there is also a very attractive $6500 tax credit for current home owners that have owned and lived in their current residence for at least five consecutive years of the previous eight years. Click here for more detailed information on both plans. There is also a quick chart for both plans and some FAQs.

There is a lot to learn and consider when buying a home, especially your first one. Consult a good Realtor® for help and proper representation in your home search and through closing and even beyond. They are also a good source for information on the revised tax credit for first time buyers. Make sure you get a home inspection. Also get a radon and wood destroying insect (WDI) inspection done if they are typical issues in your region. The home inspection experience is very educational and it gives you a chance to look at the home (under a microscope). It's not intended as a laundry list of repairs, use common sense and ask for substantial repairs if any are needed, but be careful not to nitpick too much as you may end up losing the house!

A good lender is important to have as well! Most good Realtors® will know a good reputable lender that can get the mortgage process started quickly and running smoothly. They are also an excellent source for information on the revised tax credit for first time buyers. The whole process typically takes about six weeks plus or minus and can be done comfortably in thirty days if everyone is on their game and working toward the final goal of settlement! Good luck in your home search!

Preservation Delaware's annual meeting was held November 7, 2009 at the historic St. Joseph's at Providence Creek School in Clayton, Delaware. Originally founded in 1896 by the Josephite Order and financed by future Saint Katherine Drexel, heir to a Philadelphia family fortune, the vision was to give a better life to black boys from inner city locations from as far away as Chicago.

The idea was to teach the boys useful trades such as printing and machine trades and help them rise above impoverished backgrounds. Sister Katherine Drexel and her sister, Louise bought 400 acres in rural Clayton, Delaware, an area not known to be friendly territory for Catholics. The boys at this historic black school had to be walked into town two by two, in silence, during outings.

Used as a school until 1972, the property with multiple brick classroom buildings and the original church, is now called St. Joseph's Center for Community Service. There are plans to work with nearby Delaware State University, an historically black university, to restore the church on the property, estimated to be a $2.3 million project.

Marc Ostroff, the Executive Director of the Center, points out one of the 2 original windows, Jesus at Gethsemane. The period photo is of the church before a drop ceiling was installed and the pews were sold off. The Josephite Order, headquartered on Calvert St. in Baltimore, still retains some of the original elements at their headquarters. The Center is now looking for some of the alumni and teachers, and several have been found. Having been curious about what the inside of the church looks like after having seen it from the outside on frequent visits to the Smyrna/Clayton area, I am grateful to Preservation Delaware for opening this building for their meeting.

The 11th Annual Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival begins Wednesday, November 11, and runs through Sunday, November 15 at the Atlantic Midway Theaters on Rt. 1. Choose from a wide variety of about 100 arthouse and international films. Tickets may be purchased at the Big Tent behind the Midway theaters beginning at 2:30pm on Wednesday (for Wednesday showings only), and 8am Thursday-Sunday for film society members, and 9am for the general public. Films tend to sell out, so get in line early, buy the popcorn later! For more info, log onto http://www.rehobothfilm.com/festival.html. Enjoy!!