Deb Jones

$8000 First-Time Buyer Tax Credit Expires Soon!

Time is running out to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit for first-time home buyers. You have to close the deal by December 1st of this year.  If you have just started looking for a home, be advised you should plan for 45 to 60 days to close a home loan.  There will no longer be time to close on a home that is being sold as a short sale unless the seller has already received pre-approval to sell short.

There are bills in both the U.S. House and the Senate to extend the tax credit, to include raising the credit amount to a maximum of $15,000 and extending the benefit to cover all buyers. However, the passing of any of these bills is not a sure thing and may not happen. If you decide to wait and take the chance the tax credit might be extended, you may find that the selection of homes has decreased and that mortgage rates have increased.

Pueblo 2009 Parade of Homes

The Pueblo 2009 Parade of Homes dates are September 11-27, 2009. Homes will be open on Fridays from 1-6pm and Saturdays & Sundays from 11am-6pm. Go here for more info: http://www.puebloparade.com. Tickets ($5.00 Adults) and Magazines are available at area Loaf n' Jug Stores. This is a good chance to see the newest innovations in home building and tour the homes of some of Pueblo's best builders!

Deb

Last weekend I completed the 3-Day Breast Cancer 60-mile walk. The first day I made it to the 16.2 mile mark where I felt a little woozy (it was very hot up in Denver ) and I was medically evac'd for the rest of the day. I completed the walk on days two and three. My feet look like raw hamburger meat and I'm still limping a little. I have to say that the logistics of the whole operation was run with military precision. The crew (all volunteers) hailed from all over the country. There is actually a 3-Day cult-like group who volunteer together at 3-Day walks across the country! The crew fed all of us walkers, marked the trails, kept us safe along the route, and took care of our medical needs. I received better medical treatment during the 3-Day walk than I've ever had anywhere! At one point, there were 6 nurses standing around me evaluating my condition when I was feeling faint. The opening and closing ceremonies were heart-warming and tear-jerking at the same time. I talked with many walkers along the way, so many of them walking for very different reasons. There was the pregnant gal who was walking as a way to repay the grant she received for medical treatment when she had no insurance. There was the Air Force gal who was walking from her mother (from Virginia ) in honor of their grandmother/mother. We all camped together in pink, yes PINK, tents. It was truly a wonderful experience. I'm still collecting donations. You can go to my http://www.MyPuebloWest.com website and click on the pink icon. Thanks so much to all of the people who made such generous contributions to my goal!

For those of you who want to do something similar but really aren't up for 60 miles, the Susan G. Komen Colorado Springs Race for the Cure occurs on Sunday, September 13 in the Garden of the Gods. This is only a "short" 3-mile walk without the huge fund raising commitment. What better place to go for a walk then in the Garden of the Gods! Go here for more info: http://www.komencs.org/.

Have a Happy Labor Day. Don't forget, this will be the last weekend for the Colorado State Fair.

Deb

The Colorado State Fair starts Friday, August 28th and runs through September 7 at the fairgrounds (1001 Beulah Ave) in Pueblo. In addition to the Rodeo, Monster Trucks, and Demolition Derby, Mutton Bustin', livestock shows, carnival rides and so much more; this year features a Live Shark Encounter and Lumberjack Show.

The following admission information was taken from the official website of the Colorado State Fair: http://www.coloradostatefair.com. Check the website for pricing on concerts and special events.

Adult Admission -- $8 (Friday - Sunday)
$5 (Monday - Thursday)
6 & under -- Free (when accompanied by adult)
NO PETS ALLOWED

The following "Value Days" make the admission cost even cheaper:

WEEKEND GATE CRUSHER PRESENTED BY PEPSI
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Both Weekends
$1 off gate admission with specially marked Orange Crush cans. Can must be presented at gate.

MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY
Sunday, August 30
Active military personnel receive free gate admission. Retired, discharged military and family members
of active military receive $3 off gate admission.

LOAF 'N JUG SUPER MONDAYS
August 31 and September 7
Buy One Get One Free Admission and Carnival Ride
coupons available at any Colorado Loaf 'N Jug store.

PEPSI DOLLAR DAY PRESENTED BY NEWS FIRST 5
Tuesday, September 1
Admission to the Fair, Carnival Rides and
Rodeo tickets are only $1 each.

WENDY'S COMBO THURSDAY
Thursday, September 3
Buy One Get One Free Admission coupons available
at any Southern Colorado Wendy's Restaurant.

CENTURA HEALTH SENIOR DAY
Wednesday, September 2
Seniors 60 and older receive FREE gate admission

Deb

I found a GREAT place to get discount books to read (thanks to my young friend Becky). The Books Again store at 622 S. Union Avenue (Behind the Rawlings Library on Abriendo) has a HUGE selection of used books. The Books Again store receives their books/CDs/Videos/DVDs from donations including contributions from the Pueblo Library system. Books Again is a project of “The Friends of the Library” with the profits from the sale of used books benefiting the Pueblo City-County Library District by funding a variety of activities and physical improvements. See their website at http://www.booksagain-pueblo.com for more info. You can also Join “The Friends of the Pueblo City-County Library District” for a nominal fee and receive even greater discounts at Books Again! The volunteer staff is extremely helpful; the selection is incredible (over 50,000 books)! This is a terrific find for all book lovers out there. Books Again is open Mon-Sat, 10-4.

If you are looking for the Colorado Department of Revenue Division of Motor Vehicles Driver’s License building on Abriendo, you will now find them in their new location in the Midtown shopping center at 827 4th St.

Watch for kids and stopped school buses! Drive carefully; the kids are back in school!

Deb

Did you get the post card in the mail for the Nationwide Liquidators auction at 422 S. Tejon Ave on Sat, Aug 15 @ 12pm and Sun, Aug 16 @ 1pm? Looks like lots of furniture, art, and fine oriental carpets to be auctioned off. I called Nationwide Liquidators and they told me that the house was also going to be auctioned off (which was confirmed by the listing agent). I got a chance to tour the house and meet the current owners. Stunningly gorgeous house, with every amenity you can think of: fantastic views from bluff home site, xeriscaped 2-acre lot, travertine floors, radiant heating in floors, plantation shutters, best-of-the-best kitchen appliances, 2500 bottle wine cellar, and on and on! This is NOT a distressed sale so don't expect a steal!

Don't forget, Tuesday, Aug 18 is voting day for Pueblo West's recall election. If you didn't receive a mail-in ballot, then you can vote in person between 7a.m. and 7p.m. on Tuesday, August 18th at any of the following Pueblo West locations:

• The board room of the Pueblo West Metro District Office, 109 E. Industrial Blvd. ,
• The Pueblo West Library, 298 S. Joe Martinez Blvd. , or
• The Ecumenical Church of Pueblo West, 434 S. Conquistador.

Deb