Jim Hirschman

If you were downtown Sarasota last night and were fortunate enough to be part of the 2nd annual Chillounge Night then you no doubt had a great time. Chillounge Night was created by my good friend Rainer Scheer. His idea was to have a huge party in the middle of downtown where people could sit outside on beautiful furniture relaxing and talking with friends.

Rainer, brought in over 6 containers of couches, love seats and chairs and staged Sarasota's chic Palm Ave so people could come in and enjoy live music, a fashion show and even Brazilian Somba dancers.

Fortunately, the weather was perfect and the Dancers were beautiful. The event was attended by more than 3000 visitors.

Jim Hirschman specializes in the Sarasota Real Estate market for more info on homes for sale in Sarasota please call me, 941 320 6687

What's Proposed is, the reduction of the mortgage interest tax deduction for households earning more than $250 and up. Some basic facts of the proposal:

• Reductions being in 2011
• The deduction would be capped at 28%. Currently, affected households can deduct their full 35% tax rate.
• US homeownership rate :67.5%
• Canadian homeownershipe rate(Canada has no mortgage deduction) 68 .4%

Many americans view this as "practically their right" to claim the interest on their mortgage. Many opponents say i could prolong the housing crisis by slowing sales. Even though the intended impact is on the top 2 % of households, the result could lead to a decrease in home values for homeowners. Personally, home values are decreasing because of other reasons and by cutting the benifit won't hurt home values any more than they've been hurt already. Granted, we all like the tax break but, I don't see it as hugely impacting home values when they have been dramitically declining over the last 2 years from other factors.

Actually, the president's budget plan does not target the mortgage interest deduction directly, instead, it caps the rate of all itemized tax deductions for the wealty. Under the budget plan, households subject to a 33 % and 35% rates would only be able to claim deductions at a 28% rate. So, for every $1000, a top-bracket household would save $280 in taxes , down from $330. Because, the plan is only going to affect a small group it's not likely to move the overall housing market.

Jim Hirschman specializes in the luxury home market for the Sarasota Real Estate market. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions abouth the Sarasota Fl Real Estate market, 941 320 6687

Award-winning Lakewood Ranch is an 8,500 acre master-planned community encompassing all aspects of residential and commerical development. Seven villages, offering a variety of lifestyles from town homes to estate living, share dramatic landscapes with forest and wetland preserves and hundreds of species of native wildlife.

Recreational facilites include Lakewood Ranch Country Club and Athletic Center, 54 holes of Championship golf, the Sarasota Cricket Club, nine world class polo fields and a variety of community parks, lakes and nature preserves.

Below is a picture I took of newly built Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.

Main Street at Lakewood Ranch offers residents the easy convenience to shop, stroll and simply indulge in many of the same shops and resturants that anchor downtown Sarasota and St. Armands Cirle . Events are also common on Main St where every first Friday of every month there is Jazz on Main from 6 to 9pm. Whether you are looking for fine dinning or a casual experience you can find it all on Main St.

In addition to the great shopping and resturants Lakewood Ranch is home to A + schools too. If you are a young family moving to the area this is really a special place to consider please kindly contact me, 941 320 6687.

Jim Hirschman specializes in the Sarasota Real Estate market including Lakewood Ranch Real Estate market.

For those of us that live in Sarasota Florida we are very familiar with the sandy white beachs of Siesta Key, Longboat Key and Lido Beach. But, when the sun goes down and you want to head to town for a night out then take in a show the newly renovated Van Wezel Performing Arts Center.

Set along Sarasota's beautiful bayfront, the Van Wezel has been entertaining audiences for nearly 35 years. It features a 1700 seat main auditorium and a outdoor terrace and bayfront venue that comfortably seats about 1500 but, you need to bring your blankets or lawn chairs. Many times I've enjoyed Sunday afternoons taking in a free jazz concert on the bay.

Over the years I've seen such legendary performers as, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross (twice), Vanessa Williams, Jerry Sienfeld, and Bill Cosby to name a few.

This month's events feature Mikhail Gorbachev March 23 and Paul Anka March 22.

Jim Hirschman specializes in the luxury homes in the Sarasota Real estate market, if you have any questions please call him directly, 941 320 6687.

For the past couple of years I've hired companies to write articles, create links, write blog posts all if which cost me a premium. I'm to embarresed to tell you how much it costs. I think a here a few snickers already because, it's really not that hard once you put your mind to blogging. And, a special thanks to AR and it's ability get the Google Juice . After just a short time of blogging on AR and my own website I'm now on Google's first page forthe #1 keyword phrase for our area, Sarasota Real Estate.

By creating and maintaining an active blog you can point to it as a point of reference to your customers. Customers today want someone that is thinking outside the box. Even if they never blogged themselves your clients can at least view your posts and see that your someone that is being proactive. And, at the end of the day, isn't that what the client is looking for, someone that is going to be proactive in their approach and selling their house.