About Portsmouth's Market Square

The housing market is in trouble. But some experts say that it will start turning around in 2010. So while you are waiting for it to recover, you might want to reconsider putting off that kitchen redo or landscaping job. "Any changes you make on your house now should increase your home value later." Well now you are wondering which project will bring the most bang for your buck right? Take a look at this list starting with the upgrades that will most likely recoup your investment and then enjoy the new kitchen.

~ Painting always provides dramatic results with little investment."Yellow is an optimistic color that gives people joy. Remember the front door is the focal point of the house so don't paint it purple!"

~Adding siding is a good upgrade especially the fiber-cement siding, Easy care siding holds up well against the elements and is resistant to fire, rotting and termites.

~ Building a deck will provide you with more than a place to flip burgers and soak up the sun. It is an extension of the inside of the house that make everything seem light and bright A deck offers a seamless transition from inside to outside.

~ Bathrooms also give dramatic resuls so update the bathrooms, a light, bright while, off white, pale yellow, etc. will bring the sunshine in.

~ Kitchen updates are always great like stainless steel appliances, corian or granite counter tops, tile back splash is fun and can add a decorative touch. The kitchen is the "meeting place" in the house so make it fun and welcoming.

Enjoy the relsults!

Patricia Aulson www.patricia4realestate.com Portsmouth NH Real Estate Hampton NH Real Estate

This is a great time for the first time home buyer. The federal government has offered up a $75000 tax credit for those that are eligible. Check out the following if interested in this credit signed into law in July '08 to help the falling housing market:

* Applies to home purchases made after April 8, 2008 and before July 1, 2009

* Is equal to the lower of 10% of the purchase price of the home or $7,500 for most taxpayers ($3,750 for married people filing separate filers)

* Reduces a taxpayer's tax bill or increases their refund.

* Is phased out based on modified adjusted gross income.

* It is fully refundable, which means the credit will be paid out to eligible taxpayer.

* It can be claimed on the '08 tax return even if the home is not purchased until '09

Eligible taxpayers must not have owned a home at anytime during the three years prior to the purchase.

Check with your accountant to see if you are eligible.

Patricia Aulson/ Portsmouth NH Real Estate www.patricia4realestate.com Hampton NH Real Estate

Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 9th, we will be holding the Portsmouth Book Club once again at The Coat of Arms in downtown Portsmouth at 7pm. We will be discussing On The Road by Jack Kerouac.

Anyone is welcome to attend. You do not have to sign up, there is always room for plenty. You can join the group and receive regular updates on the Portsmouth Book Club home page.

This time we are also holding a Yankee Swap with books! Bring a used copy of your FAVORITE book, a book you love to share. Wrap it up and throw it in the pot! If you loved it, someone else probably will too. You don't have to participate in the swap but please do! It will be a hoot to see what kind of books we all bring.

The Portsmouth Book Club

This coming Tuesday we will be meeting at the Coat of Arms at 7pm to discuss The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. You still have time to read it! It is a short read so pick it up and come along! Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate.

You don't have to be a member, but if you would like to sign up and receive regular announcements as to book selections and changes in venues, please visit the Portsmouth Book Club home page.

Our meetings are very relaxed, free and open. You may come just to listen in and you may voice your own opinions and thoughts on the subject matter. The meeting is meant to be stimulating and thought provoking, but also very easy going and friendly.

Book lovers unite! We read from different genres each month so there will always be a different group of people showing at the meetings. For those of you who love pure literature, I give you The Great Gatsby. More than a captivating story, F. Scott Fitzgerald delights the reader with his rich and poetic vocabulary and delivers delicious prose to inspire. This is the kind of book that will inevitably cause the reader to reread some of his passages out loud, just so you can hear how they sound to the ear. It truly is a magical book. That is just my opinion! Undoubetdly, you have your own.

I am the founder and organizer of The Portsmouth Book Club which meets on the second Tuesday of every month at Molly Malones Irish Pub. We currently have about 70 members and about 15-20 attend the meetings each month.

As many of you Portsmouth Dwellers are aware of, Molly Malones is gone. We are terribly sad that not only will we be losing this wonderful venue, we will also be losing a wonderful Portsmouth landmark.

Why is Molly's gone? Andrew Corbin, the former owner, told me that he was made an offer he couldn't refuse and it closed in record time. It was a private sale. As many of you know, Andrew recently had a beautiful baby, and this will give him some time to spend at home with his family. Although we may have lost Molly's, we can't be too upset.

So now what? Our Portsmouth Book Club will now be meeting at The Coat of Arms on Fleet Street, same day, same time. And by the way, Andrew told me that we will all be very pleased with the new ownership of Molly's. He hasn't given me any hints yet. (They may even reopen under the same name!)

Our next book club meeting is this coming Tuesday at the Coat of Arms at 7pm. We will be discussing Memoirs of a Geisha. If you would like to join our book club, please feel free to sign up here:

The Portsmouth Book Club

This club is for people who LOVE to get lost in books and are open to exploring different genres not normally in their reading fare!