June Tassillo Your Go to Girl & Realtor for Life!

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

Dear Family and Friends,

I've decided to take a stand and fight back against cancer
by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life® event
right here in my community.

Please support me in this important cause by making a secure,
tax-deductible donation online using the link below.

To donate online now, use the link below to visit my personal page.

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09National?px=9678749&pg=personal&fr_id=12832

Relay For Life® is a life-changing event that brings together more
than 3.5 million people worldwide to:

* CELEBRATE the lives of those who have battled cancer. The
strength of survivors inspires others to continue to fight.
* REMEMBER loved ones lost to the disease. At Relay, people who
have walked alongside people battling cancer can grieve and find
healing.
* FIGHT BACK. We Relay because we have been touched by cancer and
desperately want to put an end to the disease.

Whatever you can give will help - it all adds up! I greatly appreciate
your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

We are having a Duathlon May 16, 2009 and you can register at ACTIVE.COM
Sincerely,

June
Tassillo 1-888-858-4507

Here is our finished Flyer for the Relay for Life Duathlon in Franklin, NC 28734

If you would like to join us for all the fun please go to Active.com to Pre-register. We are hoping to hold this event every year to raise money and have fun doing it! We are also asking for volunteer's if you do not want to run or bike ride. WE NEED YOUR HELP!