Deborah Randolph

One of the by-products of working with buyers is finding great homes...for someone else. So I have decided that each Friday I will compile a "good buy" list to share with ya'll. These are homes that are priced really well, have unique floorplans, unexpected updates to the interior, wonderful yards or locations, or a combination of any or all of these features. For instance, there is a neighborhood in Winterville, North Carolina which has three new homes in different price ranges....all three have been reduced $50,000. The builder is simply moving the inventory and the winner here will be the lucky buyer. Tucked into an interesting neighborhood near 10th Street, Greenville NC and a short drive to East Carolina University is a remodeled bungalow...two bedrooms, two new private baths, a half bath, laundry room, updates throughout...and has a lovely little price tag. Looking for the charm of Craftsman style homes? I know where to find them....Tulls Cove, Davencroft Village, Willow Run. Perhaps you want a new(ish) home in a golf course community. Well, there are several in Ironwood, Greenville, NC and only 5 and 1/2 minutes from the entrance of Pitt Memorial Hospital for those who need to get to work quickly. And home quickly. So call or email me for the details on these homes and others. In this age of tax credits, low interest rates and motivated sellers you cannot afford to wait. Act now..call me.

www.sellinghomesingreenville.com DeborahRandolph@kwgreenville.com

That's Davencroft Village, actually. Tucked in behind Davencroft and Sterling Trace, through a raised berm and decorative fence, and sided by a rolling meadow is a fourty lot neighborhood of craftman style homes. Each unique house has a combination of stone and siding, architectural roofs, mission style windows and doors, double garages and covered porches. At the end of Davencroft Village Drive is a green space perfect for walking your dog or planting wild flowers for all to enjoy. Now is the time to pick out your lot and select your home plan. Interest rates are historically low, materials are the most affordable in years and economicallly, those who buy in early get the most for their money. So don't wait! Call me at 252-917-4556 and I'll get you started on the path to your new home.

• Ridgewood Elementary,A.G.Cox Middle,South Central HS
• Two minutes from Memorial Drive (Hwy 11)
• Near Lowes, Home Depot, Fresh Market and Kohls
• Sidewalks, Greenspaces

www.SellingHomesinGreenville.com DeborahRandolph@kwgreenville.com 252-917-4556

Are you tracking your leads? Do you really know where your money is coming from? Are you spending your energy on the top 20% of activities that bring you happiness and wealth? Look back over the past 12 months and write down where every closed buyer and seller came from. Look at the patterns. Does your business come from past clients? Sphere of influence? Open houses? Networking? Only you know....so figure it out and then spend your valuable time where you received the most return . While considering that, keep in mind what the NAR has learned about the origins of buyers. According to their surveys only 1% bought the Open House they saw. Three percent bought due to a combination of reasons, and an additional 3% bought due to an advertised property. Seven percent of buyers came through a relocation service. Eight percent responded to an Open House but purchased a different house. The sign in the yard generated 20% of buyers and a whopping 40% purchased due to the recognition of the name of the agent/firm and contact from the salesperson. This solidifies the fact that people will buy from and work with agents they know and trust. And trust is built through Face-time and sharing of knowledge and ideas. There has been a shift in the last few years away from the printed ad/newspaper to the internet/Facebook/Twitter/Blog/website. This trend will not reverse. We either keep up or fall behind. I regret all the money I spent on print ads when the good times were rolling and promise to learn from past errors...I was not tracking effectively.

Taxes this year will be more complicated than unusal due to new deductions and tax credits created last your. Many of the new tax breaks are credits and those reduce your bottom -line taxes dollar for dollar. Here are a few to keep in mind as you prepare your taxes.

1. Haiti Donations: Money given to Haiti prior to March 1st 2010 can be deducted on your 2009 itemized tax return. This applies to cash donations, not food and clothing.

2. Making-Work-Pay Credit: This applies to people within certain income limits and involved authorizing your employer to deduct fewer taxes from your pay. Check with your tax preparer regarding the amount of taxes to withhold.

3. Home Buyer Credit: This is the Golden Egg of tax credits! For first time home buyers or those who have not owned a home in three years the credit is $8000. If a homeowner has lived in their house for five out of the past eight years and purchased their next house after Novemebr 6, 2009 the tax credit is up to $6500. Buyers must be under contract by the end of May and closed by the end of June. Tax credits can be claimed on the 2009 tax return.

4. Car Sales Tax Deduction: If you bought a new car, motorcycle or mobile home between February 17th and the end of 2009 you may be eligible to deduct the sales tax paid on the first $49,500.

5. Energy Credits: Did you buy energy effecient windows, doors, heating units, AC, water heaters in 2009 and this year? You may be able to deduct up to $1500 or 30% of the cost (whichever is less). Certain items, like solar energy systems, may be deducted at 30% with no dollar limiit.

6. Unemployed Credit: If you received unemployment benefits in 2009 you will not pay income taxes on the first $2400. Your tax preparer can explain additional credits regarding the expense of health insurance purchased through COBRA.

7. Education Credit: The Opportunity Tax Credit covers the first $2000 spent on tuition, book, required fees, and 25% of the next $2000 in expenses. If you do not owe any taxes you can receive up to $1000 back as a refund.

8. Savings Bonds: You can instruct the IRS to use part of your refund to purchase US Savings Bonds, up to $5000 of series I bonds.

So keep your receipts and do some basic planning. Consult a tax professional for advice. This could be the year you save big on taxes!