New and Improved Engergy Star guidelines, the 3rd generation, are coming soon to raise the bar to stay relevant. If your'e an NAR Green Designee go to www.greenresourcecountil.org to view yestersday's informative webinar. Additional information can be found at www.energystar.gov under For Residential Professionals. As they said, "it's our tax money-steal at will" Use the information there to help promote Green Building and Green Renovation

For the month ending October 2009 the Cape Elizabeth Maine real estate markets saw 13 transactions transpire at a median sales price of 426. Contrasting sharply in volume compared with October 2008 when only 4 properties traded hands. The median sales price was flat compared to a year ago and and month over month was up 42% as larger more expensive properties sold.

For more information on homes for sale in southern Maine please visit www.mymaineproperty.com or feel free to contact me directly at 207-650-5383 or via email at john@greentreemaine.com

The real estate buyer was supposed to be in Maine last week to look at a Main Street Houlton ME victorian.

     Can you see living in the upstair of a Maine victorian home, while running the tables, serving the meals, shooting the breeze with dinners downstair? Asking them "How was your steak?" "Do you like my grandmother from the old country's Italian sauce on that chicken? Too spicy?" Or like the big fella pictured, "How was your fish?" knowing the only fish fresher is still swimming in the Maine sea, the Maine lake.

Serving the public...literally feeding them something they enjoy.

     What images, artwork, pictures for the walls around your in home restaurant that show the essense, the flavor of the area of Maine you are from? Mr Moose caught taking a Saturday afternoon bath might be on one wall if you are living in Maine, showing the diners what the area is all about.

     Designing your menu with the right colors, a certain font and the right diner lingo to fit the cruisine you are serving. What table clothes, dinnerware pattern?

     Dining is an experience and you are not operating a drive thru.

     Your meals are not to be hurried and conversation, a little laughter and a glass or two of wine  or your favorite livation part of the experience or not. Up to you. To each his own.

     And after the meal in your favorite part of the home, you walk to the local movie theatre, take in a show. Or if your small town provides a local Maine McGill's band like Houlton ME does, that may be the last course of the dining out meal extravaganza.

Our area is lucky as we are not far from the ocean, and right on the Canadian border. So border hopping to shop, eat or just leave the country for a few hours is common. I joke that  not many of us on the American side would not pass the test of being at least a quarter Canadian dna.

Legislation has been passed to extend the $8,000 home buyer tax credit to May 1, 2010, for first-time buyers and add a $6,500 tax credit for repeat buyers if they've lived in their home for five of the past eight years.

Home prices are capped at $800,000. The legislation in both houses was included in a bill to extend unemployment benefits and is expected to be signed by President Obama shortly.

Under the bill, income limits are expanded to $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for joint filers. Individuals with incomes up to $145,000 and joint filers with incomes up to $245,000 qualify for reduced credits.Households who have binding contracts in place by April 30 will be allowed an additional 60 days to complete their transaction. The deadline for members of the military serving out the U.S. for at least 90 days between Jan. 1, 2009, and May 1, 2010, has been extended one year.

Taxpayers can claim the credit on their federal income tax returns. If the credit exceeds their tax bill, the government will issue a check. Taxpayers will be able to claim the credit on their 2009 income tax return for purchases made in 2010.

Click here to compare the current tax credit with the newly passed version.

Snow On The Pumpkins

We actually had our first snowfall in Bath, Maine yesterday but nothing "stuck" - This morning, I woke to this pretty scene of Snow on the Pumpkins on my back patio.

I have to tell you that the cooler fall weather hasn't stopped the real estate buyers in our area (if anything, it has energized them) and it's become quite the busy season; with the imminent passage of the extended and expanded home buyer tax credit, real estate professionals may not get a break this winter! I'm working quite a bit with relocations - our area is affordable and we still have a good supply of homes for sale because of the upcoming closure of the Brunswick Naval Air Station. Sellers can get motivated when it's time to fill the oil tank again!

Terry Driscoll, REALTOR - Mid-Coast Maine Residential Real Estate - Allen & Selig Realty.

Caring, Genuine, Personal Service . . .Contact me; you'll see the difference!