About Montgomery County, TN

Great News on the New Tax Credit. The House passed the unemployment extension bill today after Senate did yesterday which includes the extension and expansion of the tax credit. The President signed the bill today! The tax credit provision remains the same.

• First-time home buyers will continue at $8,000
• Tax credit for "move up" purchasers will be up to $6,500
• Must have used previous home as a principal residence for 5 consecutive years of the previous 8.
• Income limits increased and are the same for first-time and "move up" purchasers: $125,000 for single filers/$225,000 for joint filers
• Limitation on eligible home prices has been increased to $800,000
• Time Frame: December 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010 plus 60 day extension if binding contract is in place by April 30, 2010
• Anti-fraud measures have been added

Below are the NAR Frequently Asked Questions in regards to the Home buyer Tax Credit Changes:

Question: Existing homeowner credit: Must the new house cost more than the old house?

Answer: No. Thus, for example, individuals who move from a high cost area to a lower cost area who meet all eligibility requirements will qualify for the $6500 credit.

Question: I am an existing homeowner. On October 25, 2009, I signed a contract to purchase a new home. I have lived in my current home for more than 5 consecutive years and am within the new income limits. I will go to settlement on November 20. If President Obama has signed the bill by the time I go to settlement, will I qualify for the new $6500 tax credit?

Answer: Yes. The existing homeowner credit goes into effect for purchases after the date of enactment (when the bill is signed). There is no reference to the date of contract for the new credit. The provision looks solely to the date of purchase, which is generally the date of settlement.

Question: I am a first time home buyer but was not within the prior income limits at the time I entered into my contract to purchase on October 30, 2009. I will be covered, however, by the new income limits. If the new rules have been signed into law by the time I go to settlement, will I be eligible for a credit?

Answer: Yes. The new income limitations go into effect as soon as the President has signed the bill. The income limit and other eligibility rules will look to your status as of the date of purchase, which is the settlement date. So if the new rules have been signed when you go to settlement, you should be eligible for the credit (or a portion of the credit if you're within the phaseout range).

Question: I am an eligible existing homeowner. I have a fair amount of equity in my home. I have found a home with a nonnegotiable price of $825,000. Will I be able to use any of the $6500 tax credit?

Answer: No. The $800,000 cap on the cost of the purchased home is firm at $800,000. Any amount above $800,000 makes the home ineligible for any portion of the credit. The $800,000 is an absolute ceiling.

Question: I owned my home for 10 years, but sold it two years ago year and have been renting since. If I purchase a home, will I be eligible for the $6500 tax credit if I meet all the other eligibility tests?

Answer: Yes. Because you lived in the home for more than 5 consecutive years of the previous 8, you will qualify for the $6500 credit. For example, Say John and his wife bought a home in 2000 and lived there until 2008 when he got a divorce. Whether John has been renting or bought in the interim, he WOULD INDEED be eligible for the credit because he owned a home and occupied it as his principal residence for 5 consecutive years out of the last 8 years. The keyword here is "consecutive." As long as he lived in that house for 5 years straight what he did since 3 years doesn't impact eligibility.

Question: I am an eligible first time home-buyer. I entered into a contract to purchase on November 1, 2009. Do I have to go to closing before December 1? How does the extension date affect me?

Answer: You do not have to close before December 1. Once the legislation has been signed, it will be as if the Nov 30 date had never existed. Therefore, so long as the contract settles before April 30 (or July 1, worst case), the purchaser will be eligible for the credit.

This fellow is storing up for the winter months. We gave up trying to keep them out of the bird feeders a while back.

Kenmore Washer and Dryer set For Sale

Location: Clarksville, Tennessee

Great working set for only $300

Call: 931-320-9411

Kenwood Washer 80 Series

• Heavy Duty
• Super Capacity Plus
• Quiet Pak
• 3 Speed Motor with 4 Speed Combinations
• Ultra Rinse System
• Push & Turn clockwise to set
• Pull to start
• Push to stop

Kenmore Dryer 70 Series

• Heavy Duty
• Super Capacity Plus
• Quiet Pak
• Push to start Dryer

November 8^th is coming around the corner very quickly. That is the day I fly out to Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. I feel, as I'm all snug in my chair, the urge to write everyone to let you know that I sincerely need your help to be successful in this journey of mine.

Here I sit, a Military Spouse and mother to three teenagers. Many can relate. Anyone who is a military spouse knows that when it comes to dreams, the military comes first unless your dream fits the Military life style. Many of you dream to be a teacher, a nurse, a Realtor, a banker, a pharmacist, etc… and with those dreams you can be a teacher where ever your spouse is stationed, you can be a nurse, a Realtor, a banker,a pharmacist. But there is one dream that has been hard for me to reach. There was a time that I was close to making it but in order to make it, I would have had to leave my family. It would have been a hardship on my husband and our three small children. A husband who is in an elite unit that needed him. Children who love their mommy and could have had emotional scars from me having to go away. Me, it would have been hard to be separated from my husband and children and knowing that someone else was raising them while my husband was at work. I made the right choice to put my singing on the back burner, to be the wife and support my husband needed and to be the mommy that our children deserved and what I was committed to by having them. In doing so, I found ways to still sing, even though my dream was out of reach.

I was in a local band called Def, Dumb and Blonde (I was the blonde) and we sang all over Enterprise and Ft. Rucker, Alabama. I mostly harmonized with the two guys on either side of me. I did a few country songs but all together, it was a learning experience for me to help shape my performing in front of people. As I look back, I laugh. A friend of mine who has been there since I started putting my dream into action, which was when my children were in school, said that I would just stand there and tap my leg with my hand or my tambourine. I didn’t move, I didn’t know how to entertain. I’m sure there is video out there showing what a fright I was.

I did a gig with a Major in the Army who played the guitar and would sing for Christmas functions for the Military Spouses club in Germany. I was very active in P.W.O.C. (Protestant Women of the Chapel) and would sing for them during our worship time.

Every three months a group would get in a van and travel umpteen hours from Clarksville to Parris Island, S.C. where I helped lead worship for our Marines while they went through basic training. Knowing that more than one of the thousands there might not be alive this time next year was pulling at my heart. We would get letters from the parents of these soldiers telling us how much it meant to their boy or girl that we came and did that for them. That is when I realized that I wanted to sing for our military. I told my husband to let the unit know I would love to sing the National Anthem any time they needed someone. I didn’t accept any payment; I just wanted to touch people with my voice. To sing the National Anthem was the height of my singing. To be known as the “Anthem Girl” was such a high honor for me.

When I heard about Operation Rising Star it was a year ago, 2008. A Night Stalker in my husband’s unit was going for his dream and the unit put it out to go and support him in the competition. I went as many nights as he was up there until he couldn’t go anymore. At this time I was in a competition my friends told me to try out for, the Beaver Idol. I never thought about trying out for any competition. While he was doing Operation Rising Star, I was doing Beaver Idol for the local country radio station here. The first time ever that I heard myself on radio, I had my children around me and we danced. “Listen to Momma on the radio!” What a dream come true. After not making the Beaver Idol title, I thought, what else can I do? Here I am getting older by the minute and Nashville is more than likely out due to my age. Then it started sinking in after every time I would sing the “National Anthem” someone would come up and ask me, when I was going to try out for American Idol? Why don’t you try out for Nashville Star? So, I started getting online and looking for competitions. Nashville Star is no longer doing their thing, at least this year. American Idol? I am over the age limit. Then Operation Rising Star popped up. Why not try out? It's Military Idol!

So, I went down to the Sportsman Lodge and took my number, eleven. I didn’t get all dressed up. I wanted the judges to hear my voice and not let my clothes or hair or jewelry be louder. I sang “Strawberry Wine”. Half way through, one of the judges stopped me and asked if there was another song I was on the fence with singing? As a matter of fact there was but I chose strawberry wine. I told them I was thinking about another song, “I Just Call You Mine” by Martina McBride. They said, “Let’s hear it”. When I got to the high notes of the chorus, they all threw their hands in the air like they were on a roller coaster ride and started yelling, “That is what we were looking for.” “Why didn’t you do that as your first song?” So I made the top 12 of the local competition.

Wow. I was in a competition where I would have to choose my song for the theme and stand in front of everyone and sing. I was going for it. Giving it my all because let’s face it, the clock is ticking away and it’s almost midnight. I had the support of my husband, my children (which my girls helped me with my song selections) and my friends. My husband’s unit came out to support also. I performed my heart out. Enjoying it, it became very, very addictive. I wanted more!

I got through every week. I wouldn’t have made it to first place if it wasn’t for the votes of my fans! It was so stressful knowing that if I didn’t have enough people there to vote, I was out. I walked away representing Ft. Campbell to audition for the Army World Wide Competition. We did my audition dvd and we had to send in the final song I sang in the competition for the judges to vote on. There were 12 judges who looked at all 35 installations winners and narrowed it down to 12 singers. I found out October 21^st, my 20^th year wedding anniversary, that I was one of the 12! My husband woke me up and told me to get dress and follow him. I thought he was getting ready to give me a wedding anniversary gift. He told me to sit down and brought the computer over and wham..there I was, in the top 12! Such a wonderful man. He had been checking all morning while I was sleeping! He was just as nervous and excited as I was but then, I was the one still sleeping. :)

Then it was time to let the fans and public know that in order for me to move to the top, I would need the support of my Military Installation and my hometown, Clarksville to vote for me. I’ve given my life and support to our Military and I know that I am not known by many, just another Military Spouse but I am a Military Spouse that needs your help in votes. You can do this in the comfort of your own home. Just like American Idol.

As I said at the beginning, I leave for Virginia on the 8^th of this month. I am putting all my fans email address’ in a file so that when I am done singing, I will email you from my phone and let you know that you have a two hour window to vote for me from where ever you are.

Please send me your email if you would like to be on the list. The more fans I have voting, the closer I am to my dream. I will do a “test” on the 7^th, so if you don’t get it, you know to check your junk file.

What is the prize for this competition? An all expense paid trip to Los Angeles, CA to record a demo in DMI Firehouse recording studios and so many more possibilities…. Help me make it, join my fan club list, free, today.

Just a friendly Reminder: Time Change - Set your clocks back 1 hour. Tonight we get to gain an extra hour of sleep as it's time to fall back with our clocks tonight. The good thing in the fall, if you forgot to turn your clocks back, you may just be an hour early for church or what ever you have on your daily agenda. Of course there is nothing wrong with that. It's much better than missing church in the spring if you forget to set you clock in advance.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween. November is here and it's going to be a great month. Just think Christmas is only 55 days away and 2010 will be here before you know it !