The NEWS is out!! The Tax Credit to help rejuvenate and revitalize our housing market has been EXTENDED!! With this extension, the Senate sought and was successful in opening up more opportunities outside of first time homebuyers to buy up. Here are some of the highlights:

First Time Homebuyer credit is extended until 2010 with the bulk of the $8,000 to be available for closings through April, 2010. The credit then lowers by $2000 for each quarter afterward. But that means that you still receive a huge credit regardless of when you buy in 2010.

Homeowners that have been in their home for 5 plus years have the opportunity to qualify for $6500 in credit if you buy in 2010.

Income levels were raised to $125,000 single and $250,000 couple that can take advantage of these new incentives.

Why is this amazing? Where in the history of our current housing markets has the government given us the ability to benefit from buying a home. This incentive gives the home buyer a wonderful opportunity to buy in a market that has now, for the most part, readjusted itself to reasonable price points. Additionally, in most markets, if you take the cost of the land and factor in the cost of building material houses in more than a majority of areas are below market value.

For some, there is no right time to buy. For others it is a matter of seeing the benefits that are available and using them to upgrade your lifestyle. We all feel the effects daily of bad loans from years past and hits on us from the economy. But remember HOME OWNERSHIP has been and always will be an American Dream! What is stopping you?

Call or email me with any questions on the current real estate prices and market trends. I am at: 480-677-9575; helena.ann.kaucheck@gmail.com. It's never the WRONG time to find out more information!!

*Helena Kaucheck works for West USA Realty Revelation. She is a multi million dollar producer and is experienced in all areas of the real estate transaction. She has successfully navigated through resales, short sales, first time home buying, investment purchases and new build contracts for all her clients. Dedication to client is key and making that dream come true is the goal! ***

Hey Mister, Where Can I Get A Good Cup of Joe?

I was on my way to my ALL TIME FAVORITE coffee shop yesterday to buy my huge cup of mocha latte. I drove up to the door, happily bounced out of my car in anticipation of drinking down that delicious drink when lo and behold the store is dark and the door is locked. I wondered hmmmm, how could this be at 2:00 the afternoon on a weekday? Makes no sense.

When I looked into the store, my heart started palpitating! The furniture is gone, the signs are down, the pendant lights that I loved and coveted as my own one day are GONE! They went out of business the day before at closing time.

The closure of mom and pop/small store businesses is now becoming a very normal sight. I remember about a year ago, I would gasp at a store closure (Worst experience the closure of Jamba Juice). Nowadays, my friends and I are almost immune to it and our talks center around who’s next. We no longer are surprised to see a business fail or closed.

The amazingly high number of business closures reminds me of the game of dominos. When one business fails, as Lemony Snickett will attest : A series of unfortunate events occur. The owner closes the business and loses his/her capital investment. They are now faced with possibly tapping into their already limited resources to sustain their everyday lives while trying to find funds to pay off the business debts. If not able to locate any source of new monies to sustain their lives, they look at their home. They may end up short selling their home or WORSE foreclosed. If the home does not sell, then there’s a vacant home in your neighborhood to deal with. Not to mention their lives are so disrupted that the extras things they used to enjoy (ie. Kids sports programs, eating out at local small businesses, shopping at Mervyns) are now cancelled or put on the backburner. This then causes the owners of the extracuicular business to go through their own financial hardship. It is a Catch 22.

I would love to say that patronizing these stores more may help us get over this slump. But, I also know that the economy has made us pinch our pennies and we’re not as able to do the extra things we were able to do before.

Here is what I can do and pledge to my community:

• I will do my part to help my friends and neighbors whose business borders my home.
• I will try my best to get the word out.
• I will support my friends who may be losing this round.
• I will explain to my son that Jamba Juice may come back one day stronger, better and yummier. In the meantime, the WOW GROOVY Juice Bar is a fabulous place to be and is owned by little Johnny's parents . How fantastic is that???
  

So until we have a serious focus from Washington on sustaining our small business communities; these are for now what I can do. What about you?