Lindsay Hart, @ RE/MAX In Motion,

It's not a surprise to the real estate professionals in the Tompkins County area that real estate is steady and is on the rise. In my office, I have seen some agents that have found themselves in multiple offer situations and it's only the 'start' of the season. So when NAR came out with the fed report as one of their top stories it was no surprise that banks in NY are reporting that they are seeing "the most widespread rise in demand for residential mortgages in more than seven years."

Tompkins County real estate inventory is up and prices are competative. If you are thinking of selling, now is the time to interview real estate agents and choose the one that works best with you. Please consider interviewing me to be your trusted real estate agent!

Although CD sales are down there is still a lot to be gained by connecting musicians directly to company sponsors. RE/MAX In Motion sponsored artist, Dereck Rose was recently picked by an international jury as this year's winner of the One Billion Fans Contest!

One Billion Fans judge, famed Arne Frager, owner of Plant Studios, host to many of the world's greatest artists among them Prince, Fleetwood Mac and Aretha Franklin, said of Rose, "Excellent music and poetry, very versatile, a true Artist."

The One Billion Fans Contest was an initiative of Tribe of Noise, the music sharing site which invokes Creative Commons to insure the legality. Mike Linksvayer, Vice President of Creative Commons Worldwide, said it is "innovative and forward thinking to allow the commercial use of music" and it can be done easily through the by-share a like license.

During the last six months ten artists were carried to the top by fans direct internet voting.

Rose, a self-described "singer/songwriter and multi-instrumental musician" was born in Jamaica, moved with family to England where he was misunderstood and thus wrongly placed in a school for Autistic children. A world citizen, he traveled throughout Europe, crossing into Israel which he credits for his true musical inspiration.

In keeping with the Tribe of Noise mission, artists were matched up with corporate sponsors. Rose's RE/MAX In Motion sponsor, Melissa Miller, lauded, "Dereck defines his sound as ‘True Homemade Music' that caught our Real Estate eye and listening to his "Painted Boots" sealed the deal." RE/MAX In Motion promoted his music on their site, blogs, and shared his MP3s with their sphere of influence.

As the winner, Dereck Rose was featured on the World's Largest Digital Billboard in Times Square, NY. His winning music can be found and shared 24/7 on the Tribe of Noise site.

ABOUT Tribe of Noise - the largest worldwide community connecting musicians & companies by sharing music legally & hassle free! All music on Tribe of Noise is uploaded by independent artists under a Creative Commons 3.0 By Share Alike license. To find out more about Tribe of Noise, go to http://www.tribeofnoise.com

The Ithaca Journal reports today that according to the department of assesment in Tompkins County, home values are rising and/or have risen, bucking the national trend. Finally! This just confirms what the local REALTORS have been saying all along. It's a double edged sword though - property values rise, taxes goes up - bad if you are a tax payer, good if you are in the market to sell.

Although it may not seem like it - this is good news for buyers too. Sure, you'll be taking on that tax payment, but remember, the value of your long term investment (your home) is increasing! You are buying something of value and when ready, you can sell that value.

BUT for those of you looking to get some relief from your taxes you can always appeal your assessment and here's how in Tompkins County:

* First, review the county assessment department's information on your property to make sure it's accurate. You can access this online at http://asmsdg.tompkins-co.org/search.aspx or in the department's office: 128 East Buffalo St.

* Second, search for sales of similar properties in your neighborhood and compare sale prices to your valuation. This information is also available online or in the assessment department office.

* Third, schedule an informal assessment review meeting with a county appraiser. To make your case, bring information about your property and about sales of similar properties. Deadline is March 27.

* Finally, file a formal grievance application. These are available online and on the back of the notice sent by mail from the assessment department. Deadline is May 26.

* For more information, call 274-5456 or go to www.co.tompkins.ny.us/assessment.

Source: Department of Assessment Assistant Director Jay Franklin

My name is Lindsay Hart and I am associate with RE/MAX In Motion Real Estate in Upstate NY. I have been working in real estate for 4 years.

I am working in association with The Melissa Miller Team at RE/MAX In Motion. I graduated from Ithaca College's Park School of Communications and have been living in the area for 10 years. I currently reside in Trumansburg with my husband, Rordan. In addition to real estate I volunteer for the non-profit Trumansburg Central School District Foundation, Inc.

There is no crystal ball for the future of Real Estate, but there is solid information and part of my job is to help you understand and incorporate it into your housing goals. There are excellent opportunities out there. If you are ready and able, it's a great time to buy. The prices are realistic, there is time for due diligence, and the ability to get financing in today's market makes for a strong buyer. Sellers shouldn't overlook their opportunity as well. Many potential sellers are holding back because they perceive this market as a bad time to sell, forgetting that it is really a good time to buy, and are holding up their future plans by only looking at one side.

The market ebbs and flows and it will stabilize. If you are selling, you should do everything in your power to make your house more attractive and enticing to buyers who are out looking now. If you are a buyer, understanding the local market using solid, realistic, and local information should help take some of the anxiety out of the decision making process and open your eyes to the value of the area.

If you would like to receive regular updates on the local real estate market please email our team at mmteam@reinmotion.com and ask to be put on the list and reference which area you would like more information on.

Remember, home is where the heart is and Hart is where Your Home Is!

C: 607-227-5990 LindsayHart@remax.net www.lindsayhart.reinmotion.com

My friend was telling me about this business they have been working on this past year. It's a local, web based business and she and her partners have been working on the website and have it up and running now. I took a look at it and the first thing I thought... "what a great resource for gifts!" It's all local artisans and their work AND it's affordable!!

If you know anything about the Finger Lakes region, you know that it's chock full o' talent. Whether is local art, prints, chocolate, bread, wine, wine stoppers, soaps, or jewlrey you can find a talented local artisan behind it. Usually you'd have to trave to find these treasures and most of the time shell out a pretty penny. Which is not my style BUT in the case of The Fingerlakes Store, this isn't so! All the goods are right there, at your fingertips, and they are affordable!

Going beyond real estate, this is a great place to find those 'pieces of the Fingerlakes' that you can share with your family and friends, whether they are near or far! Looking for a unique gift with meaning for the holidays, birthday, or anniversary? I reccommed the Finger Lakes Store - see what you can find!

The FingerLakes Store