Robin Scott - Broker CRS ABR SRS Austin Texas REALTOR®

It's hot out there but that doesn't stop dedicated Austinites from enjoying the many fun things to do in the Austin area.

Some of the Annual events coming up on the calendar include:

The Hot Sauce Festival on August 30th in Waterloo Park at 403 E. 15th St. There are more than 350 hot sauce entries to sample. If you think you like spicy, this is your opportunity to prove it. 512.454.5755.

Old Pecan Street Festival September 26-27 on east 6th St. (formally Old Pecan Street.) This festival has been in the spring and fall for decades. There is live music (we are the live music capital of the world,) arts and crafts vendors and a children's carnival. It's fun for everyone. Where sunscreen and come enjoy the fun. 512.469.6060.

Austin City Limits Music Festivalknow as ACL is October 2-4 is an international event with bands from across the county and the world plus food and arts and crafts. It's held at Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd. and you must acquire your tickets asap if you would like to attend. For a lineup of who's performing (famous and nonfamous alike) visit the Web site.

Austin Film Festival is also an international event with a conference October 22-25 and the festival October 22-29. There will be celebrities in town for this event and the premier of many independent films. 512.478.4795 or 800.310.3378.

Robin Scott, BROKER. Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer's Representative, Seller's Representative Specialist. Amelia Bullock Realtors. 512.589.7988.

- December 1, 2009 - For first-time homebuyers to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit which the federal government has included as part of the 2009 stimulus program.

HERE'S THE BRIEF EXPLAINATION AND IT COULD BENEFIT YOU WHEN YOU BUY A HOME BUT THE DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 1!

This credit is for UP TO $8,000. It pays 10% of the cost of the home UP TO $8,000.

To qualify, you must be a first time homebuyer OR have not purchased a home in the last 3 years. AND there is an income limit of $75,00 for singles and $150,000 for married couples.

This is part of the government stimulus program and has a deadline of December 1, 2009. The purpose is to stimulate the economy now.

THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REPAID.

It is recovered when you file your income tax. IT IS A TAX CREDIT.

File on IRS form 5405 line 69. It is a dollar for dollar credit on what you owe in taxes.

How can it be used for the downpayment? If you know you will qualify and have plans to purchase you may adjust your withholding so that less taxes are withheld from your paycheck and save that money for your downpayment.

For a more lengthy explanation follow the link below.

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/index.html

Robin Scott, BROKER. Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer's Representative, Seller's Representative Specialist. Amelia Bullock Realtors. 512.589.7988.

Something that makes my day is when I can help someone find their dream home. My buyer, Shirley was relocating to the Austin area for work and wasn't sure she could quickly find a home that would satisfy her needs. After listening to her describe her dream home, I was able to present her with a few options. She chose a new build that was only 15 minutes from work and a straight shot down the highway to her sisters or up the highway to her sons home in Dallas. We were able to negotiate a great price for the home plus the builder agreed to rip up the carpeting in the dining and living rooms and put in hardwood at no extra expense.

Congratulations Shirley and Welcome Home

If you are looking for a REALTOR who will really listen to you and can find what you are looking for, giive me a call. I want to be your REALTOR.

Robin Scott, BROKER. Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer's Representative, Seller's Representative Specialist. Amelia Bullock Realtors. 512.589.7988.

Don't Blog About Your Negotiations While They are Ongoing

Representing a buyer, we are in the middle of negotiations on a property and I hope we can work something out that will be a win/win for everyone. My buyer is a "smart cookie" and Googled the sellers name. What turned up was her Web site along with a link to her Blog where she discussed her thoughts about selling her house.

What! Did she not realize that she had brodcast information she should have kept confidential to protect her negotiating position? And being a person with a marketing background what amazed me the most was that she had NOT used her Blog as an opportunity to market her home. Her Blog was a perfect channel to post photos and information about her house for sale to whomever searched her Web site or read her Blog.

If you are trying to sell a home, use every avenue available. Yes, your REALTOR will market your home through her/his channels but you have an opportunity to reach an entirely different set of possible buyers by posting information on your linkedin, facebook and Blog pages. You never know who you know that may know someone interested in buying your house.

Robin Scott, BROKER. Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer's Representative, Seller's Representative Specialist. Amelia Bullock Realtors. 512.589.7988.

You may or may not agree with the federal stimulus program but, according to National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the federal government stimulus program in the form of a first-time homebuyers tax credit up to $8,000 along with low interest rates could generate 900,000 additional home sales in 2009. This is good news for buyers and sellers.

To find out more about the first-time homebuyers tax credit, contact me.

Robin Scott, BROKER. Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer's Representative, Seller's Representative Specialist. Amelia Bullock Realtors. 512.589.7988.