Tanya Busch Maine Real Estate

The National Association of Realtors reported to its membership that early this week the Senate will be voting on 2 amendments that would extend the 1st time homebuyer tax credit. NAR is supporting the Dodd-Lieberman-Isakson amendment since it extends the credit to June 30, 2010 and expands the credit to all buyers (with income limits of $150,000/$300,000 for single/married taxpayers) not just 1st time homebuyers.

The 1st time homebuyer tax credit has given a boost to the Maine Real Estate market for both buyers and sellers. Extending this will help to continue this trend.

Please contact Senators Snowe and Collins and ask them to support the Dodd-Lieberman-Isakson amendment to extend the housing tax credit. You can send email directly from their sites, or get phone/fax info at: Sen. Snowe: http://snowe.senate.gov or Sen. Collins: http://collins.senate.gov.

Join us & the American Red Cross for a Blood Drive in Auburn Maine.

Friday, August 21st at the Auburn Mall 9am to 3pm

***Free T-shirts & coupon for a carton of Friendly's Ice Cream!***

***Even a chance to win Red Sox tickets!***

Sponsored by: Keller Williams Realty Mid Maine 34 Center Street Auburn ME 04210

Call 1-800-Givelife

American Red Cross

Positive ID Required

www.newenglandblood.org

On August 1st, the State of Maine web portal for property tax relief opened for business. Be sure to check and see if you qualify. Nearly 200,000 Maine households qualify for a partial refund of property tax assessed and/or rent they paid in 2008. They call this the Maine Residents Property Tax and Rent "Circuit Breaker" Refund. Too many people assume that they do not qualify or are not aware of the program. The maximum refund available is $1600.

You may qualify for a refund if:

• You do not have a spouse or dependent(s) and your 2008 household income was $61,400 or less; or
• You do have a spouse or dependent(s) and your 2008 household income was $81,850 or less

AND

• Your 2008 property tax was more than 4% of your 2008 household income; or
• The rent you paid in 2008 was more than 20% of your 2008 household income.

NOTE: Seniors do not need to meet this requirement when their household income is below $13,900 for those living alone or below $17,200 for those living with a spouse or dependent. See the application booklet for more information on who qualifies for the senior portion of the program.

To apply for the refund visit www.maine.gov/revenue

It is time for the annual Auburn Community Block party to mark the National Night Out in downtown Auburn Maine! With all of the free food and activities, I know that I will be there. My assistant's son had a blast last year! Don't miss the great opportunity for free summer fun in our great city!

Tuesday, August 4th,

starting at 5:30 in the Festival Plaza on Main Street.

This is not a fund raising event - it is an anti-crime, completely free public safety event, designed to serve the children and families of our community.

The Auburn Police Department knows how to throw a community block party and this year's NNO promises to be the biggest we've had! We will supply food, beverages and plenty of family style fun. APD volunteers and staff will serve hotdogs, lemonade & popcorn. There will be APD K-9, bicycle and dive team demonstrations; Auburn Fire & Rescue vehicles (including the ‘smoke house' fire safety vehicle); Androscoggin County HAZMAT/COBRA; face painting; a rock-climbing wall; a bounce house; an inflatable obstacle course; live music by Five Face North; a proclamation by Auburn's Mayor, John Jenkins; child fingerprinting & ID kits, McGruff the Crime Dog and much more.

NNO 2009 will boast a "Paul Blart" Look-Alike Contest...attendees will vote on the winner & a prize will be awarded!

The evening will culminate with the screening of "Paul Blart: Mall*Cop" in Festival Plaza.

Call the Auburn PD at 207-333-6650 for more details. We'll see you on Tuesday, August 4th at Festival Plaza! or visit there link on the City of Auburn website: National Night Out