Franklin, NC

A bird had made her nest on our front porch at our office a few weeks ago. Usually we don't let them get this far with their nest but for some reason nobody bother her and her mate while we watched them build the nest for their future family.

Everyone that walks in the door would scare her and she would fly away and come back of course to sit on her little eggs. Our office lady and the owner have brought in a feeder and hung it on the other post. She does eat out of it from time to time.

The day came yesterday and we are guessing these chicks are hours old. I snapped a few photos of the miracle that appeared before us.

One of the agents yelled out "We have a Home for Everyone around here". This is going to be featured in our local MLS Book in the next issue. What a neat little story we have going on here.

We all feel blessed to have an opportunity to watch a part of nature the last few weeks right in front of us. In these trying times you need a little faith that life does go on no matter what!

June Tassillo
Realtor/Broker
Classic GMAC 212 Wayah St. Franklin, NC 28734
Off. 828-369-6720 ext. 204
cell 828-371-2339
www.JunesRealtor.com

JUNE TASSILLO @ CLASSIC GMAC REAL ESTATE IN FRANKLIN, NC

See list of whats happening below.

Grand Opening of the Performing Arts Center to kick off the festivities. If you never been to Franklin's 4th of July fireworks you are missing out.

July 3 -Oak Ridge Boys Concert- 8 pm the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts. 441 South. Contact 828-524-1598, toll free 866-273-4615 or visit www.GreatMountainMusic.com

July 4 -Annual 4th of July Fun Day & Fireworks - Macon County Recreation Park US 441S. Contact 800-336-7829. Activities begin at 11:00am and conclude at dark with the largest fireworks display in Western North Carolina! Contact 800-336-7829 for additional information.
Live Entertainment:
10am am - Drumming Circle
11:30 am - Veterans Memorial Dedication
1:00 pm - Frog Town 4
2:00 pm - Rye Holler Boys
3:00 pm - Dave Stewart
3:30 pm - Brian Sanders
4:00 pm - Touch of Class Band
4:45 pm - Eric Haggart
5:15 pm - C-Square
6:00 pm - Children's Choir
7:00 pm - Sundown
8:00 pm - Raffle/Awards/Announcements/Bulls Eye Bingo
8:15 pm - Presentation of Colors & Salue to Veterans; National Anthem by Nikki Corbin
8:30 pm - Loose Cannons - Army Ground Forces Rock Band
9:30 pm - Fireworks Display

July 4 - 4th of July Parade in Historic Downtown Franklin 10 am until 1 pm. Parade begins at 10:30 am. Contact Linda at 524-2516 for more information.

July 4-5 - Mountain Artisans "Summertime" Art & Craft Show- WCU Ramsey Center, Cullowhee, N.C. 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Daily. 100 of the area's finest craftsmen. Admission $3 for adults, children under 12 free. For information call Doris Hunter at 828-524-3405.

If you are buying your first home, a Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) from NC Housing Finance agency can put more money in your pocket and make your mortgage payment more affordable.

The MCC can be combined with the new $8,000 federal tax credit if you are eligible until that credit expires in December 2009.

If you qualify for an MCC, you will be able to claim 20% of the interest you pay on your mortgage as a credit on your federal income taxes. You can save up to $2,000 per year on your federal taxes, money that can be put toward your mortgage payment.

Who is eligible? To 1st. time home buyers who meet the sales price and income limits. The maximum sales price limmit is up to $220,000 and the maximum income ranges from $85,000 for a family of three in areas such as Raleigh down to $62,000 in more rural areas.

There are over 700 Lenders who participate and can start this process here is the link. http://www.nchfa.com/Applications/IncomeSalesLender/MCC_ISL_StatewideLenderList.aspx

How does it work? If you borrow say $183,000 at 5.5% interest, you will pay approximately $10,000 in interest in the first 12 months of your mortgage. With the 20% MCC, you can reduce your federal income tax liability by $2,000 for that year, allowing you to reduce your monthly tax withholding by $166. Over the first 10 years of ownership, you would save $18,547 in federal taxes. And if you purchase your home by Dec. 1st, 2009, the $8,000 federal tax credit can be used with the MCC. You can also claim an interest deduction on the remaining 80% of the interest you pay just like most homeowners do.

I thought this was another great incentive for first time home buyers. If that is not an incentive I don't know what is. I wish I was in the market to buy a home so I could save $10,000 right off the bat.

NOW THATS $10,000 SAVING FOR 1ST TIME HOME BUYERS THE FIRST YEAR!

The Franklin Board of Realtors held an new event this year to raise money for Relay for Life. We started what we hope will be an event to grow each year. More than 100 people showed up for this event. About 40 participants racing. The race course covered close to 20 miles, it was a Run - Bike - Run Relay.

There was more to this event than just racing. We had a live band, lunch, face painting for the kids, cheer leaders from the Middle School to cheer the finishers, Zumba dance-fitness craze and raffle tickets from lots of sponsors to raise money. Some of the sponsors set up their own booths and gave away more prizes.

Overall Individual: Justin Tucker, Douglasville, Ga., 1:10:40 Jamie Cook, Bryson City, N.C., 1:12:59 Brad Knops, Highlands, N.C., 1:14:47

Overall Team: Josh Whitmore, Sylva, N.C., 1:09:13 Justin Harrell, Franklin, N.C., 1:19:12 Josh Owens, Franklin, N.C., 1:21

The day wasn't just about the competition. It was about people caring about others. If you didn't get a chance to help out there is still time to donate to the Relay for Life. Please call June Tassillo at 828-371-2339. Our main Event will be held at the Macon County High School football feild June 5th 2009. Please come and have some fun!

I would like to send out a BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS!

Franklin Health & Fitness Center - State Farm - West End Pit Stop - United Community Bank - Your Closing Place / Steve Philo - Lowes - The Real Estate Buyers Guide - Signs Express - Tech Tone - Peoples on the Square - Kit Helm/M.D. - Sondra Wolf/M.D. - Larry Barbles/D.D.S. - Dan's Auto Service - Beth Payseur, - Tom Johnson - Old Edwards Inn - VO2 Sports - Classic GMAC Real Estate - Franklin Real Estate - Serendipity Salon & Spa - Healing Springs Therapeutic Massage - Natural Nails - Franklin Ford - All County Service Heating & AC - EAS Testing Lab Water - Huddle House - Avon - Macon Middle School Cheerleaders and All who help make this event a huge Success!!!

Thank you,

June Tassillo

If your thinking about home ownership and thinking ahead, here are a few good tips you could be doing to prepare yourself.

• Ask friends, family or a Realtor who they used for a mortgage company and make an appointment. Be organized with W2 forms, a couple of pay stubs, and bank statements. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between 2 and 3 times of your gross income.
• If you had any credit errors get them corrected immediately.
• After you determine how much you qualify for, decide what you want to spend and explore different loan options - such as 30 year or 15 year fixed or ARMS, and decide what is best for you.
• If you have not started saving for your down payment and other fees you will have, its a good idea to do it NOW. Some cost include, 5% to 20%, closing costs, taxes, attorney's fee, and transfer fee etc...There is special mortgage or down payment assistance programs that is different with each state.
• Select where you want to live and pick out 2 or 3 neighborhoods. Drive around these neighborhoods at all times of the day to see what it is like. Develop a Home wish list and put them in order of importance.
• Now your ready to Contact a Realtor to help guide you with the process and start looking at homes.

June Tassillo - Realtor/Broker - Classic GMAC in Franklin, NC 28734

Visit my web site for more information at www.JunesRealtor.com