Ashley Berg *Seattle's Green Real Estate Agent*

If you are a first-time home buyer who has purchased or plans to purchase a home between the dates of April 8, 2008 to July 1, 2009, you are eligible for a tax credit of $7500. This is a wonderful opportunity. Essentially, the "tax credit" acts as an interest free loan that will have to be paid back to the government over a span of 15 years, which is $500 a year. But for those you who are on the edge of wanting to be a homeowner but are afraid to spend all of your savings on a down-payment, this tax credit can really help to make that a reality. Remember, this is not a tax deduction, it is a tax CREDIT, so if you owe $7500 in taxes for the year 2008, this credit would essentially wipe out that amount and you would pay no taxes for 2008. Another way to look at it is, if you owe no taxes for 2008, the government will give you $7500.

When I first heard about the tax credit, I didn't think it was such a big deal because you have to pay it back but who else will lend you money at zero percent interest and not expect you to pay it back for 15 years. This credit can really help those who need that extra money to comfortably get themselves into a home and pursue their dreams of becoming homeowners. You can put it in the bank for a rainy day and know you have several months of mortgage payments should the need arise. You can use it towards repairs and remodeling for the home you just bought.

****One other thing that you should know about is that you may never have to pay back the credit. Stay tuned as this would make a sweet deal even sweeter!!!

Check out the Internal Revenue Service or the Federal Housing Tax Credit page to learn more about the tax credit.

Are you a first time home buyer interested in Seattle properties?

Check out these Seattle homes for sale for under 450k.

Get em while they're hot! Seattle's Chinook Book 2009 is filled with coupons, maps and resources for living green here in the Puget Sound. I am usually not one for coupons and in fact get a kick out of people who cut them out from various stores, then drive around to each store thinking they are saving so much ....but what about the gas money? Ok, I am getting off track...

My daughter's school is having a fundraiser in which half of each book we sell goes to her preschool. The book sells for $20 (ten goes to the school) and, in my honest opinion, is well worth it. There are over 400 coupons and you can basically redeem your money back just by using one coupon:

Need snowboarding gear for the upcoming season? Use the generous Evo coupon for $20 off of a $50 purchase.

Need food? Kind of a given. Use the $25 off coupon from Spud local and organic delivery or a total of $25 off at Central Co-op's Madison Market. How about $15 dollars off at PCC....or another $15 off at Whole Foods?

As you can see you can easily make your money back with this awesome coupon book. Plus, it has great resources and will connect you with businesses in the Seattle area that support a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

Other coupons in the book: Four free bus passes, many grocery coupons, many dining coupons, entertainment coupons (2 tickets for the price of 1 at Seattle, Bellevue, and Tacoma's Art Museums, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Seattle Green Festival coming up in March). There are coupons for apparel, dance classes, children's shops, for your yard and garden, and much more. Check out the Chinook Book link to see a complete list of the valuable coupons.

If you would like a book, please contact me aberg@briorealty.com and we can figure out the best way to get it to you (I will probably just drive it over if you're in the greater Seattle area).

Check out my website as well for other resources for living green or to search for Green Homes in the Seattle area: LiveGreenNW.com

Calling all Seattle residents!! Come and volunteer at one of 19 parks across the city. The Green Seattle Partnership is dedicated to restoring 2500 acres of its cities forested parklands by the year 2025. They need your help to meet this goal.

On November 8, 2008, choose a Seattle park and check for the work parties meetup time:

: SEWARD PARK- MAIN SITE Burke-Gilman Trail Camp Long Carkeek Park

Colman Park Cheasty Greenspace Mt. View Discovery Park

East Duwamish Greenbelt Frink Park Hitt's Hill Licton Springs

Longfellow Creek Maple School Ravine Orchard Street Ravine Ravenna Park

South Portage Bay St. Mark's Greenbelt Yesler Creek West Duwamish Greenbelt

•Bring a water bottle, wear sturdy work boots, and work clothes. Gloves and Instruction will be provided.

VOLUNTEERING=FREE MUSIC SHOW AT KING COBRA

The Twisted Green Seattle Day After Party is featuring:

Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard and the Roy K Trio, the Saturday Nights, DJ Bean One, DJ Kippy, the Maldives, Scribes, Sam the Human Beat Box and many more

Volunteers only reception at 6:00. Doors at 7:00 pm, Show at 8:00 pm) Show is 21+. Show will open to the public @ 9:00PM so get there early to save your spot.

The Essential Baking Company in Seattle is one of my favorite places to patron. The company occupies a large brick building near Gasworks Park in the Wallingford area just North of Lake Union. This area is a great place to live as you have easy access to the Burke-Gilman trail, there are many shops & restaurants, it's near Fremont, has EZ access to downtown, as well as the University of Washington, yet is considered a quiet and coveted Seattle neighborhood.

Using organic ingredients, the Essential Baking Company, makes fresh artisan breads, European pastries, and luscious desserts, as well as serving sandwiches, soups, salads, coffee, teas and more.

There is always a buzz and lots of activity going on at the café. There is often a full house, making it sometimes difficult to find seating, especially on the weekends. But if you are looking for a piece of rustic bread, a hot soup of the day, and a latte, then this is the place.

Wallingford
1604 North 34th Street
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 545-0444
(206) 545-0333 fax
Hours
6am-6pm Monday-Saturday
7am-6pm Sunday

Love the Wallingford area? Want to live nearby?

Here are a couple of homes for sale just blocks away:

2 BR/1 BA Bungalow for $499,000

3 BR/2.75 BA Built Green Remodel for $1,189,950

Interested in other Seattle Homes For Sale?

385 Seattle residential homes sold in Seattle in October 2008.

Of these homes, 25 of them were Green Homes, meaning they were...

Built Green®, Energy Star®, LEED®, or other third-party certified.

SOLD FOR $299,950 SOLD LEED HOME SOLD FOR $1,050,000

These homes ranged in price from $299,950-$1,050,000, with a median price of $361,000. The homes sold had an average of 75 CDOM (cumulative days on the market) and sold for an average of 98.86% of their listing price. The average square footage of the green homes sold was 1510, selling for an average of $265.24 per square foot. 22 of the 25 sold green homes were certified Built Green (12 of these homes were also certified by Energy Star). One home was LEED and Energy Star certified.

Interested in touring Green Homes in Seattle? Want more information on Seattle's Market/Trends?

http://www.LiveGreenNW.com
Direct: 206.854.0074
aberg@briorealty.com