Can you believe it’s March already?!  I like to call this St. Patrick’s Day month…and stretch the celebration out as long as possible…

St. Patrick’s Day Parade - March 14th - 10 am

Come join us for the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade west of the Mississippi where the only thing better than being of Irish descent is living in Colorado!  More than 200 entries, including floats, clowns, pipe bands, high school marching bands, Irish step dancers, and El Jebel Shriners, 10,000 marchers will wow the crowd by celebrating St. Patrick’s Day Denver-style.  

Parade Route
South on Blake Street to 17th Street;
Turn west to Union Station;
Turn north on Wynkoop;
End behind Coors Field. 

 Visit www.denver.org or http://www.countingpix.com/id1.html for a map of the parade route and more information.

 Running of the Green - March 15th10:15 AM at 17th and Wazee 

 The 21st annual Running of the Green - benefits the Volunteers of America to help the very young, the homebound elderly and for women and children that are victims of domestic violence.

Get Lucky Open House Tour Hosted by LIVE Urban Real Estate - March 14th and 15th

Visit one of LIVE Urban’s Open Houses this weekend for free refreshments, homebuyer information, and the chance to win a FLIP digital video camera!

For more info, visit www.liveurbandenver.com or contact me!

Enhanced Tax Credit Provides Outstanding Opportunity for Home Buyers

In its efforts to stimulate the economy and revive the housing market, Congress has enacted legislation providing a tax credit of up to $8,000 for first-time home buyers.

But time is of the essence for buyers who want to take advantage of this opportunity. Only homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009 are eligible.

Find out more here.

From today’s Realty Times…

Green is good, and the Obama Administration and Congress believe it should be an integral part of pulling America out of its economic doldrums. According to the National Association of Home Builders, expanded tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements in the new economic stimulus package puts more money in consumers’ pockets by providing financial incentive for home owners to go green on their renovation projects in 2009 and 2010. While more efficient homes save on water and energy bills, these tax credits will make such home upgrades even more affordable.

The Internal Revenue Code section 25C tax credit for existing homes, which had expired at the end of 2007, was reinstated as part of the economic rescue package passed by the Bush Administration last fall. Homeowners could be rewarded for installing energy-efficient windows, doors, roofing and insulation as well as furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps. But remodelers found that the terms of the 25C credit — equal to only 10 percent of the cost of each product and with a lifetime cap of $500 — weren’t strong enough to push enough homeowners off the fence and into action.

Now, the credit rate and lifetime cap have been tripled – to 30 percent and $1,500, respectively – the list of eligible improvements expanded, and the deadline for applying has been extended through the end of 2010. Congressional estimates indicate that the new rules for the tax incentive will increase aggregate remodeling activity by more than $6 billion.

“The new tax credit also aligns with industry research indicating that even the most aggressive efficiency goals for new homes won’t make a dent in overall energy consumption. Instead, remodeling and retrofitting the nation’s older homes is by far the more efficient solution,” said NAHB Remodelers Chairman Greg Miedema, CGR, CGB, CAPS, a remodeler from Tucson (AZ).

“These new tax credits are another way that home building industry can combat the potential effects of global climate change by encouraging home owners to make energy-efficient improvements to their homes,” said Miedema.

A 2008 California study revealed that 70 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions related to single-family envelope energy consumption can be attributed to homes built before 1983.

The bottom line: Retrofitting existing homes with energy-efficient features is four to eight times more carbon- and cost-efficient than adding further energy-efficiency requirements to new housing, the study showed.

Details on qualifying improvements are available at the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov. It is expected that homeowners will need to complete Form 5695 (Residential Energy Credits) and submit as part of their 2009 income tax returns to claim the credit. Further, homeowners should retain for their own records information that includes:

 
• Name and address of the manufacturer 
• Identification of the component 
• Make, model or other appropriate identifiers 
• Statement that the component meets the 25C standards 
• Climate zones for which the criteria are satisfied 
• Additional information for storm windows, if applicable 
• A declaration that the certification statement is true.

SELLING YOUR FIRST PLACE?

Then HGTV is looking for you!

MY FIRST SALE, a brand new show on HGTV, is kicking off its first season and looking for first-time home sellers in the Denver/Metro area.

We are looking for fun, high-energy people who are just starting the process of selling their first place! Our goal is to capture all the trials and tribulations of preparing for resale, pricing, negotiating, and ultimately selling a home for the first time.

Ideal candidates will be interesting, energetic, financially open people who don’t mind sharing frankly on camera about the experience and the purchase details. Singles, couples and families are all invited to apply!

Candidates who are chosen for the show may also receive a modest incentive check from HGTV to thank you for being on the show!

If you are interested in applying, please contact me at stacie@liveurbandenver.com or 720-299-6635