Holiday Bazaar Tomorrow!

The Central Exchange is hosting a holiday shopping bazaar tomorrow, Friday 12/4 from 11am until 6pm.  Admission is free and they will have door prizes too!  Happy hour is from 4-6 and they will have complimentary wine and appetizers.  Check it out at 6201 College Blvd, Suite 245, OP (in the First National Bank building).

-Betsy

Rates on 30-year loans match record low

So, not only is the US government offering up to $8,000 to first time homebuyers and up to $6,500 for repeat buyers, but mortgage rates are super low!  The average rate on a 30 year fixed, as of this week, is 4.78%. WHAT AN AMAZING TIME TO BUY!!!

Read the entire article here.

-Betsy

Everyone needs some Flair!

Erin is a great friend of the Atkinson-Thompson Group and the owner of a local online business, Flair.  We are happy to announce that her new website has just launched!  She makes the greatest necklaces and they are priced so well that you can buy a few at a time!!!  Please check out her site and tell your friends.  We all love to get a little Flair!

-Betsy

America’s Fastest-Recovering Cities

Hey, we made Forbes.com’s top 100 list of America’s fastest-recovering cities; Forbes ranked the Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area #70 out of its top 100 cities!  Not bad!

Click here to read Forbes.com’s interesting article on the cities that made its list and why they made it…often “diversified industry and relatively stable housing”.  Within the article is a link to the ranked listing of the 100 cities that made Forbes.com’s list and the methodology used to compile the list, or you can click here to view that separate article.

Best~

Rosemary

Happy Thanksgiving From The Atkinson-Thompson Group

Betsy & Rosemary

Shrink your bills?

Check out this cool site, BillShrink.com.  You can put in your info and they will do the research to see if could save money on your monthly cell phone bill or they can tell you where the cheapest gas station is along your route to work…. they can also tell you if your credit card is cheating you out of extra money and suggest a cheaper card to use.  The best part… it is totally free!

Check it out here.

-Betsy

Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension And Expansion: Terrific Article On The Details

Great news arrived recently from Congress for first-time homebuyers and many current homeowners…an extension and expansion to the tax credit for homebuyers, first-time buyers (including those who have not owned a home in three years) and not-first-time buyers!  Get the qualifying criteria and details  laid out in an easy-to-follow format in this November 11, 2009  Home Buyer Tax Credit: 10 Things To Know article by Bill Bischoff for SmartMoney.com.  Click here to view this article.  It is the most organized, straightforward article I have read to date regarding the tax credit extension and expansion.  

Time to get moving; the dollars are out there waiting for you for a limited time!  It is an especially timely occasion for house hunting and home listing made easy with your clients-first, results-driven realtors, Betsy Atkinson & Rosemary Thompson…The Atkinson- Thompson Group at Reece & Nichols! 

Have questions?  Need a reliable, responsive  realtor? 

Rosemary  913.515.4222    Betsy  913.709.4924

Best~ Rosemary

Tax Credit EXTENDED and EXPANDED!

The first-time homebuyer credit has been extended!  If you have never owned a home or have not owned a home for the last three years, you could qualify for a tax credit up to $8,000 when you purchase your home.  You must be under contract by April 30th, 2010 but you do not have to close until the end of June!  

There is now a tax credit available for repeat buyers as long as you owned your home, as a primary residence,  for 5 consecutive years out of the last 8 years.  If you purchase a home within the same time frame as above, you could qualify for up to $6,500.  WOW!  This is already in place.  This new tax credit became available the moment President Obama signed the new bill. 

Here are some of the guidelines…

Income: 
You can make up to $125,000 for an individual or $225,000 for a married couple filing jointly.
There is a phase out program for every $20,000 above these limits.  A CPA can best advise you on this piece! 

Price Limit on Home:
Sorry to tell you that you can only purchase a home up to $800,000 to qualify for either of these tax credits.  If you purchase a home for $801,000, you no longer qualify.  There is no phase out over $800,000.

Proof of Purchase:
Unlike the previous tax credit, you must attach proof of the home purchase along with your tax form to qualify for the credit.

Type of Home: 
The tax credit is only available if you are purchasing a primary residence.  If you are a repeat buyer and not selling your first home, you can still qualify as long as your first home will now be used as a 2nd home or an investment property.  

If you have any quesitons at all, please call or email Rosemary or me! 

Betsy: 913.709.4924
Rosemary: 913.515.4222

-Betsy

Help Harvesters @ an Open House!

This weekend Reece & Nichols is partnering with Harvesters to help end hunger in Kansas City. You can drop off donations to Harvesters at any R&N open house this Sunday, November 8th.  If you are going to be tied up on Sunday and can’t attend an open house, you can drop off donations this week at any R&N office.  Rosemary and I are at the 119th and Quivira location so come on our and see us while you are at it!

Here is a list of the most needed food items:
canned vegetables
canned fruit
boxed meals (Hamburger Helper, etc)
canned meats/tuna
canned soup
hot & cold cereal

Here are the most needed household items:
soap
deodorant
shampoo
toilet paper

Keep in mind that donated just $1 to Harvesters can provide 5 meals to needy Kansas Citians!

-Betsy

All New Houlihan’s

I just have to talk about Houihan’s today. Have you been there lately?  I have to admit I had pretty much written Houlihan’s off a while back.  It was feeling too reminiscent of other chain restaurants that will remain nameless.  But they have reworked their menu and it is a whole new Houlihan’s!  If you haven’t been in a while, check it out.  They have a new Small Plates menu that is so tasty.  It is being tested right now in the Kansa City market. Here is my personal recommendation… Try the hummus and pita and then get the 4 oz filet.  It is a steak worthy of a steak house but small enough that you can enjoy the hummus first and then get yourself a piece of banana cream pie.  I dream about that banana cream pie!!!  You might be tempted to split a piece of pie but take my word for it… get your own!

Yum!

-Betsy