Angie Raetz

The U.S. Senate finally voted Wednesday on the bill to extend aid for the unemployed and to extend the tax credit for home buyers plus include current buyers. (Please see details)

The vote was 98 to 0 through the Senate. The House of Representatives is expected to vote as soon as Thursday then the bill will be sent to President Barack Obama to sign into law. *Let's Keep Our Fingers Crossed!*

Homebuyer's Tax Credit

The bill extends the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers until April 30. That bill will also include homebuyers that have owned a home for at least five years to be eligible for a $6,500 credit if they move.

The tax credit will not be extended past April 30.

Small Business Tax Credit

The bill will also allow businesses to get a break on their tax bills by applying losses from 2008 or 2009 to recover taxes paid in prior years when the economy was booming. This tax credit only applies to small businesses.

Unemployment Benefits

The bill gives unemployment benefits an additional 14 weeks. Those in high unemployment states could receive up to six more weeks on top of that.

***As always please verify with your Tax Accountant that you qualify for the Home buyer's & Small Business Tax Credits.***

~~Still waiting on The House of Representatives to vote & President Obama to sign.~~

Thank you!

Angie Raetz, Realtor®

Come see me this Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19, 2009 for the 2009 Huntsville/ Madison Builders' Association Parade of Homes from 1 PM to 5 PM!

Or call me to make an appointment! Angie Raetz, Realtor® @ 256-503-2981!

Listing by Linda Lukens, Broker/ Frontage Realty, LLC

2009 Huntsville/ Madison County Builders Association's Parade of Homes

It is that time again. The 2009 Huntsville/ Madison County Builders Association's Parade of Homes! The 2009 Parade of Homes will be on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, October 10 - 12, 2009 and Saturday and Sunday, October 17 - 18, 2009, previewing from 1:00 PM through 5 PM.

This year's Parade of Homes will feature 80 homes in 68 neighborhoods with prices ranging from $121,900 to $2,000,000. You will find a home for any lifestyle: carriage homes, condominiums, townhomes, ranchers and multi-story. Come and find your dream home today!

There will be two different "Villages". The Village of providence and McMullen Cove.

The Huntsville Times produces the Parade of Homes Guidebook that is featured in the Sunday, October 11th newspaper. The Guidebook will offer consumer interest articles regarding the Parade, along with a front elevations and floor plans, price, builder info, list of amenities and location of each entry. The Guidebook will also offer a 2-page color map locating each entry for easy reference.

If you missed the guidebook in the newspaper, see the below link.

For a map of the homes go to: http://www.madisoncountyparadeofhomes.com/

I will be at Lauren Preserve off Brownsferry Road in Madison. The builder is Open Gate Homes, LLC.

http://opengatehomesllc.com/

I hope to see you there!

Angie Raetz

Pricing it right
Find out what your home is worth, then shave 15 to 20 percent off the price. You'll be stampeded by buyers with multiple bids - even in the worst markets - and they'll bid up the price over what it's worth. It takes real courage and most sellers just don't want to risk it, but it's the single best strategy to sell a home in today's market.

Half-empty closets
Storage is something every buyer is looking for and can never have enough of. Take half the stuff out of your closets then neatly organize what's left in there. Buyers will snoop, so be sure to keep all your closets and cabinets clean and tidy.

Light it up
Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do what you have to do make your house bright and cheery - it will make it more sellable.

Play the agent field
A secret sale killer is hiring the wrong broker. Make sure you have a broker who is totally informed. They must constantly monitor the multiple listing service (MLS), know what properties are going on the market and know the comps in your neighborhood. Find a broker who embraces technology - a tech-savvy one has many tools to get your house sold.

Conceal the critters
You might think a cuddly dog would warm the hearts of potential buyers, but you'd be wrong. Not everybody is a dog- or cat-lover. Buyers don't want to walk in your home and see a bowl full of dog food, smell the kitty litter box or have tufts of pet hair stuck to their clothes. It will give buyers the impression that your house is not clean. If you're planning an open house, send the critters to a pet hotel for the day.

Don't over-upgrade
Quick fixes before selling always pay off. Mammoth makeovers, not so much. You probably won't get your money back if you do a huge improvement project before you put your house on the market. Instead, do updates that will pay off and get you top dollar. Get a new fresh coat of paint on the walls. Clean the curtains or go buy some inexpensive new ones. Replace door handles, cabinet hardware, make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout.

Take the home out of your house
One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to de-personalize it. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of a third of your stuff - put it in storage. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes. Consider hiring a home stager to maximize the full potential of your home. Staging simply means arranging your furniture to best showcase the floor plan and maximize the use of space.

The kitchen comes first
You're not actually selling your house, you're selling your kitchen - that's how important it is. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and the best part of it is that you'll probably get 85% of your money back. It may be a few thousand dollars to replace countertops where a buyer may knock $10,000 off the asking price if your kitchen looks dated. The fastest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting and new cabinet hardware. Use a neutral-color paint so you can present buyers with a blank canvas where they can start envisioning their own style. If you have a little money to spend, buy one fancy stainless steel appliance. Why one? Because when people see one high-end appliance they think all the rest are expensive too and it updates the kitchen.

Always be ready to show
Your house needs to be "show-ready" at all times - you never know when your buyer is going to walk through the door. You have to be available whenever they want to come see the place and it has to be in tip-top shape. Don't leave dishes in the sink, keep the dishwasher cleaned out, the bathrooms sparkling and make sure there are no dust bunnies in the corners. It's a little inconvenient, but it will get your house sold.

The first impression is the only impression
No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. It's important to make people feel warm, welcome and safe as they approach the house. Spruce up your home's exterior with inexpensive shrubs and brightly colored flowers. You can typically get a 100-percent return on the money you put into your home's curb appeal. Entryways are also important. You use it as a utility space for your coat and keys. But, when you're selling, make it welcoming by putting in a small bench, a vase of fresh-cut flowers or even some cookies.