Good Things Happen Here by Billy Andrew

An icon is no more

2011-12-14T22:12:00.001-05:00

The arch bridge over the Indian River is now landfill, torn apart then dropped into a barge floating below.
The dismantling began November 28th with the scheduled reopening sometime in April. Let's all hope the progress goes as planned so boating season is not compromised. And my commute returns to 2 minutes.

2011-12-07T15:19:00.001-05:00

I have been absent from my blog for some time. More on that later.For now, good news.
billy

December 7, 2011
Fresh News from Nub's Nob
We're open this weekend! Our world class snowcrew hasn't missed a minute and we'll be open this weekend! 4 slopes will be open: Bigtime (beginner), Smooth Sailing and Sno Pro (intermediates) and Smokey (expert). We'll continue to make snow at every opportunity on the rest of the front slopes and will open more terrain as soon as possible.
The Green and Purple lifts will be running from 9 till 4:30 both Saturday and Sunday.
Lift ticket prices are at our special Early Season rate of $35 for adults, seniors and teens and $28 for children 9 to 12. As always, kids 8 and under ski free when accompanied by a skiing guardian.
The Cafeteria, General Store, Rental department, Tune and Demo Center, Ski School and Nub's Pub will all be open and looking forward to seeing you. Think Snow!The Crew at Nub's

Indian River Summerfest: July 12-17. 2011

2011-07-11T11:29:00.001-04:00

Tuesday, July 12th

5:30pm - Family Decorated Bike Parade

Sponsored by:

Ride your decorated bike from Burger King to Marina Park along the North Central State Trail.

6:00pm - NEW Best Pizza of the North Contest - Marina Park

Sponsored by:

Come support your favorite area pizza chefs as they compete for the titles of:

Best Pepperoni Pizza

Best Original Recipe Pizza

People's Choice Pizza

Taste Tests will be available for $.50 per taste.

7:00pm - Duck Race - Marina Park - $1 per Duck

Sponsored by:

A buck a duck - the number on your ticket will correspond to the number on a duck.

First duck to the end wins a basket of Indian River merchandise.

Immediately Following Duck Race - Ice Cream Social - Marina Park - FREE

Sponsored by:

Join us for free ice cream at the park!

Wednesday, July 13th

2:00pm - 6:00pm - Indian River Farmer's Market - Citizens National Bank

6:00pm – 9:00pm - LobsterFest and Pig Roast - Marina Park

Sponsored by: Friends of Inland Lakes Schools, Inc.

Enjoy a Lobster and Pig Roast Dinner

Tickets are $75 per person and must be pre-purchased.

All proceeds benefit Inland Lakes Schools.

Thursday, July 14th

8:00am - 8:00pm - Sand Castle Contest - DeVoe Beach

Begin Building any time after 8:00am

Judging at 8:00pm during Beach Bash

1:00pm – 10:00pm - Indian River SummerFest Carnival - Inland Lakes Schools

Operated by:

Rides & games for the whole family.

6:00pm – 9:00pm - Family Night Beach Bash - FREE - DeVoe Beach

Sponsored by:

Fun & games for the whole family including limbo, candy scramble, watermelon seed spitting and much more.

Free shuttle from Citizens National Bank parking lot.

Candy donated by:

Northern Good Humor LLC

7:00pm- 9:00pm - Cardboard Boat Race - DeVoe Beach

Bring your homemade boat, made of nothing but cardboard and duct tape, down to DeVoe Public Beach

and see how well it will float. Winners for age categories, most creative and most in a boat.

7:30pm - Story Time with Johnathan Rand - DeVoe Beach

8:00pm – 11:00pm - Teen Dance - Marina Park

Sponsored by:

Ages 13 to 17 $2.00 Admission.

Music by 'Isolated Incident' 8:00pm - 9:00pm. DJ from 9:00pm - 11:00pm.

Free refreshments.

Friday, July 15th

12:00pm - 6:00pm - Chili Cook-Off - Downtown

Sponsored by:

Cooking begins at 12:45pm

Samples gathered for Judging at 4:45pm

Tasting begins at 5:00pm (tickets for tasting are 50¢ each)

Awards at 6:00pm in Marina Park

12:00pm – 6:00pm - Craft Show - Downtown

Sponsored by:

Over 80 booths of handmade crafts.

12:00pm - 6:00pm - Children’s Activity Area - Downtown

Sponsored by:

bounce house, police car, fire truck, DNR info station

12:00pm - 6:00pm - Northern Michigan Animal Rescue Network

SummerFest Adoption Quest

Come adopt your new best friend. Volunteers are always needed.

Downtown

12:00pm – 11:00pm - Indian River SummerFest Carnival - Inland Lakes Schools

Operated by:

Rides & games for the whole family.

2:00pm – 6:00pm -Pony Rides - Downtown

Operated by:

Maple Ridge Stables

6:00pm - 7:30pm - Cruise Night

Featuring Bud Light MXT

Line up at Indian River Car Quest - 6:00pm

Ends at Citizens National Bank - 7:30pm

Sponsored by:

6:00pm – 8:00pm - Friday Night Entertainment Tent - Marina Park

Sponsored by:

Enjoy live entertainment by Mike Ridley - 21 and over only

$5 SummerFest button is valid for both Friday and Saturday Night Entertainment Tents

8:00pm – 12:00am - Friday Night Entertainment Tent - Marina Park

Sponsored by:

Enjoy live music by The Blitz - 21 and over only

$5 SummerFest button is valid for both Friday and Saturday Night Entertainment Tents

Saturday, July 16th

7:00am - Kiwanis 5k/10k Run - Tuscarora Township Hall

Sponsored by:

Registration 7 am - Race 8am. 231-238-8564 . Registration fee of $20.

9:00am - Coed Beach Volleyball Tournament - DeVoe Public Beach

Sponsored by:

Double elimination 5 on 5 Coed Beach Volleyball – cash prize. 231-238-4880

9:00am – 12:00pm - FREE Campbell Airport Young Eagles Plane Rides

Indian River Airport

Sponsored by: Harbor Springs and Indian River Chapters of

Experimental Aircraft Association

Free Airplane Rides for children ages 8 to 17.

9:00am - 1:00pm - Indian River Farmer's Market - Citizens National Bank

10:00am – 4:00pm - Craft Show - Downtown

Sponsored by:

Over 80 booths of handmade crafts.

10:00am – 4:00pm - Classic, Custom Car & Truck Show - Downtown

Sponsored by:

Trophies sponsored by:

Featuring Bud Light MXT

Registration - 8:00am - 11:00am

Voting - 10:30am - 1:30pm

Awards - 3:00pm (must be present to win)

10:00am - 4:00pm - Northern Michigan Animal Rescue Network

SummerFest Adoption Quest

Come adopt your new best friend. Volunteers are always needed.

Downtown

12:00pm – 11:00pm - Indian River SummerFest Carnival - Inland Lakes Schools

Operated by:

Rides & games for the whole family.

6:00pm – 8:00pm - Saturday Night Entertainment Tent - Marina Park

Sponsored by:

Enjoy live entertainment by Mike Ridley - 21 and over only

$5 SummerFest button is valid for both Friday and Saturday Night Entertainment Tents

8:00pm – 12:00am - Saturday Night Entertainment Tent - Marina Park

Sponsored by:

Music by Jelly Roll Blues Band - 21 and over only

$5 SummerFest button is valid for both Friday and Saturday Night Entertainment Tents

10:30pm - SummerFest $15,000 Raffle Drawing - Marina Park

1st Prize: $10,000

2nd Prize: $2,500

3rd Prize:$1,500

4th Prize: $500

5th Prize: $250

6th Prize: $250

Need not be present to win

Ticket Cost: $100.00 each

Raffle License #R11385

Sunday, July 17th

8:00am – 12:00pm - VFW Community Breakfast at Cochran-Roberts VFW Post #7439

Sponsored by:

All you-can-eat breakfast. $7 for adults and $3.50 for children 12 and under.

9:00am - 11:00am - 4th Annual Kayak Bike Biathlon - DeVoe Public Beach

Sponsored by:

Prizes Sponsored by:

3 miles of kayaking on the Inland Waterway and 12 miles of biking on the North Central State Trail.

Click here for registration brochure.

10:00am - 3:00pm - Flea Market Under the Tent - Marina Park

Join us for a flea market held under one roof during SummerFest.

Click here for registration brochure.

Click here for rules.

12:00pm – 6:00pm - LAST BLAST - SPECIAL PRICING

Indian River SummerFest Carnival - Inland Lakes Schools

Operated by:

Rides & games for the whole family.

12:30am - 3:00pm - Youth Bike Race

Cooperation Park

Sponsored by:

Citizen's National Bank; Custom Carpets & Furniture; Fraternal Order of Police; Ken's Village Market; Mann's Budget Storage; Personal Graphics; The Stop Shop; Xcel Physical Therapy

Prizes Sponsored by:

Goldilocks Hair Salon; Hometown Inn; Latitude 45; Murdicks Fudge

100 yard Guppy, 1 mile Minnow, and 4 mile Musky races by age.

Click here for registration brochure.

3:00pm - NEW Tuscarora Twp Fire Dept vs. Topinabee Fire Dept Waterball

Cooperation Park

The Gratitude Campaign

2011-07-05T15:25:00.002-04:00

Be Thankful for the Right to Be Who You Are: The cost for such is very high and paid by the many men and women and their families.

It may not be new to you and I don't know sign language but this is pretty neat idea - a simple "Hand signal" to thank our military personnel.

Have you ever seen one of our military walking past you and wanted to convey to them your thanks, but weren't sure how or it felt awkward?

Recently, a gentleman from Seattle created a gesture which could be used and has started a movement to get the word out.

Please take just a moment to watch a 30 second video.

Forward it to your friends and use the sign!

Burt Lake SandBar. GPS: 45.478700, -84.705920

2011-06-27T11:39:00.000-04:00

Boating around Burt Lake and the Inland Waterway is a wonderful way to spend a summer day.
There is a sand bar on the northwest corner of the lake where my family and many others park our boat and hang out in the fun. There is every size boat from new to old anchored in. We put out the WaterMat, grab a football and play for hours. One nice feature of this area is that it is adjacent to many acres of land owned by the State of Michigan so we disturb no one on shore.
If you are out and about on a sunny Sunday afternoon and see the "My teaM" boat anchored, stop by and say hello. If you don't know where the sand bar is, set your GPS for 45.478700, -84.705920

Chocolate Milk Gives Athletes Leg-up After Exercise

2011-06-23T10:30:00.000-04:00

My sports medicine background still has a special place in my heart as does my beloved University of Michigan. Mike Barwis is the former strength and conditioning coach at Michigan. He touted chocolate milk as a more effective way to replenish the body after his legendary "to failure" workouts.

Chocolate Milk Gives Athletes Leg-up After Exercise, Says University of Texas at Austin Study

June 22, 2011

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AUSTIN, Texas — Not only does chocolate milk taste good, but two recent studies from The University of Texas at Austin show that it’s also the ideal post-workout recovery drink.

"Serious and amateur athletes alike enjoyed physical recovery benefits when they drank low-fat chocolate milk after a vigorous workout," said Dr. John Ivy, lead researcher on the studies and chair of The University of Texas at Austin College of Education’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Education. "The advantages for the study participants were better body composition in the form of more muscle and less fat, improved times while working out and overall better physical shape than peers who consumed sports beverages that just contained carbohydrates."

Ivy is a nationally renowned sports nutrition expert who established the importance of post-exercise nutrition to athletes' physical performance and recovery, as well as the timing of nutrition intake, and authored the groundbreaking book "Nutrient Timing."

In his two recent, related studies, Ivy and his research team compared the recovery benefits of drinking low-fat chocolate milk after exercise to the effects of a carbohydrate beverage with the same ingredients and calories as typical sports drinks as well as to a calorie-free beverage.

After riding a bike for 90 minutes at moderate intensity, then for 10 minutes of high intensity intervals, 10 trained cyclists had significantly more power and rode faster (reduced their ride time by an average of six minutes) when they consumed low-fat chocolate milk rather than a carbohydrate sports drink or calorie-free beverage.

Compared to the other recovery drinks, chocolate milk drinkers had twice the improvement in maximal oxygen uptake after four and a half weeks of cycling, which included intense exercise five days a week, with each exercise session followed by one of the three recovery beverages. Maximal oxygen uptake is one indicator of an athlete's aerobic endurance and ability to perform sustained exercise. The study included 32 healthy, amateur male and female cyclists.

Ivy's research also revealed that low-fat chocolate milk drinkers built more muscle and shaved off more fat during training, ending up with a three-pound lean muscle advantage after four and a half weeks of training as compared to study participants who consumed a carbohydrate drink. This study also included 32 healthy, amateur male and female cyclists who rode for one hour, five days a week, and drank one of the three recovery beverages immediately following and one hour after the bout of exercise.

"We don’t yet understand exactly what mechanism is causing low-fat chocolate milk to give athletes these advantages — that will take more research," said Ivy, "but there's something in the naturally-occurring protein and carbohydrate mix that offers significant benefits."

Ivy notes that a three-minute recovery window after exercise, for people of all fitness levels, is as important as the nutrition supplement that's consumed.

For more information, contact: Kay Randall, Office of Public Affairs, 512 232 3910.

Ex-Lion Chris Spielman has strong message for college athletes From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110531/SPORTS0203/105310392/Ex-Lion-Chris-Spielman-has-strong-message-for-college-athletes#ixzz1PRqitD3z

2011-06-16T10:29:00.000-04:00

The turmoil at The Ohio State University has caused many of the people that know me to ask how happy it makes me. The reality is, while anything that helps Michigan is good, it hurts everyone. Chris Spielman is one of my favorite football players of all time. It is of no surprise that someone who played with such passion and intensity, saw his wife step by step through a devastating disease, and has always worked to be the best at everything he does would be so blunt about doing it the right way. His recent message about the actions of the Buckeye football players is one everyone should take to heart. As expected, Spielman tells it like it is. And should be.

Last Updated: May 31. 2011 1:00AM

Ex-Lion Chris Spielman has strong message for college athletes

The Detroit News

Chris Spielman, an All-American linebacker at Ohio State and Pro Bowl player for the Lions, has a strong message for college football players who run afoul of NCAA rules:

Learn to live within your means.

Spielman, 45, was a guest on Frank Beckmann's show on WJR-AM 760 on Tuesday and his contempt for players who accept benefits from overzealous boosters was evident.

Beckmann raised the issue to Spielman by quoting former Ohio State defensive end Robert Rose, who told Sports Illustrated he traded school memorabilia for tattoos.

"I knew how much money thatthe school was making," Rose told the magazine. "I always heard about how Ohio State hadthe biggest Nike budget. I was struggling, my mom was struggling. … It was just something that I had to do."

Beckmann pointed out that the Big Ten has considered giving athletes additional money to cover living expenses such as travel to home.

This is how Spielman responded:

"I wouldn't mind a stipend for players. If the Big Ten wants to add a stipend … fine. But here's what I would say to any player:

"OK, you're struggling with money. How about this. How about you rent an apartment with four guys, to cut down on your living expenses. How about not getting the latest, greatest smart phone. How about not downloading 100 dollars or 50 dollars worth of iTunes. How about going to a discount retailer and getting a coat and a tie and wearing that every week. How about not driving a (nice) car; get a used beater for a thousand bucks.

"How about doing things the right way. How about sharing rides. Let's do that instead of thinking that you're owed something.

"See my problem is we live — and we've got to be careful as parents — in a very narcissistic society because everybody believes they're owed something. Because we have Facebook and all these social networks and everybody thinks they're a freaking star: Let's post pictures online so everyone can see my great accomplishments.

"So until we get guys to realize it's not about them, it's about the team … And it's OK to suffer a little bit financially while you're in school, and you're going to be better for it. Then kids will make better decisions.

"But don't whine to me about money when you're getting free money already (scholarship, living expenses). We'll give you a little extra. But, hey, sacrifice on the clothes, the cars, the electronic toys. And maybe go without a PlayStation or an Xbox for a while, too. See how that works."

An MLB Umpire Helped This Kalamazoo Wiffleball Team

2011-06-12T12:44:00.003-04:00

My Blog is about good things that happen both in real estate and in the world. I really don't write enough about the latter but I thought this was a good story from Deadspin.com. billy

How An MLB Umpire Helped This Kalamazoo Wiffleball Team Win Its Game

Jack Dickey — The Kalamazoo Wiffle League is the No. 1 competitive wiffle league in the nation, one of its players tells me. This becomes apparent when you see Steve Everett's leaping catch below, and even more so when you see the lengths the wifflers went to verify the call. At stake were the tying runs in the last inning, after all. So they phoned an MLB umpire. Who wouldn't?

The scene: On Monday, the league's two best teams—the 10-1 Industrials and the 10-2 Friars—met for a doubleheader at Oshtemo Township Park. The Industrials took the first game, 1-0, but our dramatic scene takes place in the second game, top of the sixth and final inning, two out, men on first and second for the Friars, who are down 6-3, with Kevin Marszalek up.

This is why it pays to have 6-foot-6 left fielders like Steve Everett, who made the catch here. When the left field foul pole is 82 feet away, you want height. However marvelous the catch, there had to be a morning after. Or at least a beat after. Everett caught the ball and then carried it into home run territory. The Friars thought it was a home run; the Industrials thought it was an out. Ryan Winfield, another player, joked that the group should phone Tim Welke, an MLB umpire since 1984 and a Kalamazoo native.

So Everett called Welke.

Actually, Everett said, I think I have Bill Welke's card. Bill—Tim's brother—has umpired in MLB since 1999, and his son is an athlete at Marshall High School, where Everett works as an athletic trainer. (The school is about an hour outside of Kalamazoo.) When else could an umpire's card come in handy?

Everett recapped the call:

Luckily, the card had his cell phone number. I then called Bill Welke not knowing what to expect. He answered, "Bill Welke."
Steve Everett - "Bill Welke. Hi, this is Steve Everett, the Athletic Trainer at Marshall High School"
Bill Welke - "Hi Steve, how's it going?"
S.E. - "Good. I have a baseball related question for you."
B.W. - "Well, you're talking to the right guy. I'm actually in San Diego with four other baseball umpires. Here, let me put you on speaker phone." (He places me on speaker phone and says "Go ahead." I then explain the situation to him and the other umpires.)

After Everett explained the situation, Welke delivered his ruling: "If a fielder catches a ball, then goes out of bounds it is then ruled a catch (out), and if there are runners on base, the runners move up one base. Right guys?" The other umpires—on that day, Tim Tschida, Jeff Nelson, Mike Estabrook, and an unknown replacement—agree with Bill. And, for the record, so does Rule 7.04(c).

The two runners advanced their base harmlessly—on paper, that is—while the Industrials won the game and swept the doubleheader, strengthening their hold on the league's best record. Later that night, the Rockies and the Padres played a game. Bill Welke was third-base umpire. There were no controversial plays, no tying runs up in the ninth, no circus catches. The biggest call Welke made all day was for 12 dudes in a wiffleball park halfway across the country.

Homestead Exemption Applications

2011-06-07T15:11:00.004-04:00

Proration Legislation up in Senate Finance Committee

Legislation has been re-introduced this legislative session to provide much needed property tax relief to Michigan homebuyers. Senate Bill 349, introduced by Senator Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell) allows buyers to take advantage of the Principal Residence Exemption even if they purchase a home after the May 1st filing deadline.

Under current law, homeowners may file a principal residence exemption on their primary home in Michigan. This exemption provides significant tax relief to those citizens that choose to call this state “home.” In order to claim this exemption, one must file the principal residence affidavit with their local government by May 1st. Buyers purchasing homes after the May 1st deadline, are hit with up to an additional 18 mills of non-homestead property taxes until the following year. This additional property tax burden is standing in the way of new homeownership and otherwise taxing those people that have declared Michigan their home, though they purchased after the deadline.

This legislation has become particularly important since “non principal residence” properties, specifically foreclosures, have flooded Michigan’s real estate market in recent years. The current situation prices buyers out of homes by forcing them to qualify for a mortgage at the higher tax rate. Those buyers that are able to purchase after May 1st are consequently stuck with a significant tax burden for the remainder of the year despite making that new purchase their principal residence. This bill would alleviate some of that pressure by prorating the tax liability for those who purchase a home after May 1st.

The legislation is up for consideration this week in the Senate Finance committee. We will keep you updated as this bill makes its way through the legislative process.

Wind Storm Today

2011-06-01T13:44:00.003-04:00

The waves on Burt Lake were as large as I have seen on a bright, blue sky, sunny day. The poor dock struggled with high water levels and intense winds gusting over 45mph according to intellicast.com.

Softball Staff's Decision Making Saves a Life

2011-05-15T11:47:00.003-04:00

May 14, 2011

University of Michigan director of athletics Dave Brandon will regularly offer his view on different topics related to U-M and intercollegiate sports. All of his posts, along with links to related content, will be available on his page, mgoblue.com/brandon, and he is also on Twitter at @DaveBrandonAD.

Competitive sports are not life and death, but the lessons learned sure can translate to everyday life, and in some cases saving one's life.

On Wednesday, April 27, at our Wilpon Softball Complex,

quick thinking, training and the resolve to win paid off big time. Not on the field but in the team lounge as the Wolverine softball coaches literally saved the life of a recruit's father.

The softball team had just finished their practice session on the field and Carol Hutchins, Bonnie Tholl and Jennifer Brundage were sitting down with a recruit and her father, watching a highlight video of Michigan softball. At the conclusion of the video, the father's head tilted back and Hutch thought he was looking up at the lights.

They called out the father's name. He was unresponsive, his eyes were open. That's when the 'team' went into action.

Tholl immediately c

alled 911

, while Hutchins and Brundage tried to lay the father down flat. Once he was on the floor, Hutch immediately

gave him CPR, starting with two short mouth-to-mouth breaths.

Jennifer quickly

went to get the automated external defibrillator (AED) located at the front door, while Hutch was working on the compression portion of the CPR. Once the AED was brought over, Hutc

h opened the man's shirt and the defibrillator pads were placed on his chest.

Brundage yelled at Hutch to get her hands off the father. The AED must first analyze the situation and any outside influence would not allow the rescue equipment to do its job.

Once the AED analyzed the individual, the AED read 'Shock Advised.' They are words that our softball coaches will never forget.

All three coaches looked at the AED to make sure what they read was what they needed to do. At that point, they applied the shock.

According to Jennifer, he didn't bounce, the shock made him jump.

"I don't think any description about the bounce effect does it justice until you see it," said Brundage.

While all this was happening, the softball freshmen were in the locker room, talking and calming the recruit, while the emergency took place in the team lounge. All this happened in minutes, maybe seconds. The ambulance arrived and the recruit's father was rushed to the University of Michigan Hospital.

Our coaching staff jumped into action having taken training courses on CPR and the proper use of an AED.

While CPR might look easy and the AED can be easily used, it was the practice and training they received that gave our coaches the confidence they needed to save someone's life.

Fortunately, this is a story with happy ending. The father survived and the Michigan softball coaching staff is credited with the biggest save of their careers. They saved a man's life.

Training, practice and the resolve of this staff to save the recruit's father made these few minutes more important than any sporting event could ever be. Our coaching staff of Hutch, Bonnie and Jennifer did not just make our athletic department team proud, they made us realize we have true heroes in our midst.

This wasn't just a game; it was truly a matter of life and death. This time they beat death. That is a big time victory.

Congratulations to our softball staff and team, we are so proud of all of you.

Go Blue!

ORV Ride and Business After Hours

2011-05-13T13:30:00.000-04:00

ORV Ride and Business After Hours

The Indian River Chamber of Commerce Ambassador’s, would like to invite you to an organized ORV ride and Business After Hours (BAH), this Saturday, May 14th, at the Black Mountain Lodge

Bring your ATV, motorcycle or ORV and enjoy the trails surrounding the Black Mountain Lodge at 1pm (or rent one from IRSC; please call ahead for rental information: 231.333.3600) IRSC will also have sport utility vehicles on site for test driving.

A special lunch menu will be available at the Black Mountain Lodge!!

You do not have to participate in the ORV ride to attend the BAH, you may join us for wonderful tastings from the Black Mountain Lodge from 3pm to 5pm.

BAH is $5 per member and $10 per not yet member. (There is no additional charge to participate in the ride)

Please RSVP with the Chamber 238-9325 or reply to this email with your info.

This should help sell waterfront property

2011-05-06T13:27:00.006-04:00

If you have followed the Asian Carp dilema, you know that the Great Lakes states - Michigan in particular - are trying to convince the federal government to take action in preventing the infiltration of these fish into the Great Lakes waters. While it is logical to most people that allowing an apex predator into the ecological system of these magnificent water bodies is not a great idea, the White House and US Federal Appeals Court don't seem to worried. After all, there are only 4 different types that area a threat to the Great Lakes (yes, not 1 but 4).

Last week, a report to the Great Lakes Commission confirmed that the food supply for the species is even better than originally believed. But it is all great...the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is studying the issue and the report is expected to be complete in 2015. You have to be @^$#%$# kidding me.

Oh well, I guess rather than sport fishing and boating on the Great Lakes and all of the inland lakes fed by direct tributaries , we will just try fishing this way...

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox is doing his best and you can help by clicking here.

Record Rainfall in Northern Michigan

2011-04-30T14:56:00.000-04:00

The local rivers filled up the boat wells and pressed to the top of the seawalls. I have never seen the river this high.
Both the Sturgeon River and Little Sturgeon River overflowed it's banks in some unprotected areas.

The 3 day storm dumped over 4" of rain on Indian River.

The Weather Man Got It Right...Unfortunately

2011-04-20T10:38:00.004-04:00

Captain's Log. Star Date April 20, 2011...

This must be some SciFi episode because it snowed 5" last night.

The accumulation would have been greater but it rained as well.

Even the summer toys are snow covered.

More soon...

Is it really April 19th?

2011-04-19T14:46:00.000-04:00

Forecast today is snow. Yes snow. Accumulation of 6"-10".

More tomorrow. Oh my.........

There is an App for that.

2011-04-13T15:04:00.001-04:00

I have been in New York for Spring Break with my family so I haven't posted in a while. While traveling, I tested a variety of real estate apps for my iPhone and my wife's Droid. I freely admit I am 100% converted to the iPhone from my years as a Blackberry guy. The iPhone really is amazing. I used the Zillow and Coldwell Banker apps for looking at home prices during our east coast adventure. It was amazing to press the locate button then suddenly have all available listings pop up on the map. It works great in northern Michigan as well. One touch and you have detailed information about the property with full color photos. Then you call me and tell me which homes we are going to look at!

To download the Zillow.com app for your smartphone:
http://www.zillow.com/mobile/

For the Coldwell Banker Apps:
iPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/app/coldwell-banker-real-estate/id325309137?mt=8
iPad: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coldwell-banker-real-estate/id424003485?mt=8&ls=1
Android: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.coldwellbanker.android.v2&feature=search_result

This video explains the features of the Coldwell Banker iPad App

Vacation- and Investment-Home Shares Hold Even in 2010

2011-03-31T13:05:00.008-04:00

I edited this article allowing it to specifically address vacation homes. Click on the link above for the full article.
billy

The market share of vacation- and investment-home sales1 held steady in 2010, although the sales volume declined with the overall market, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

NAR’s 2011 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, covering existing- and new-home transactions in 2010, shows vacation-home sales accounted for 10 percent of transactions last year while the portion of investment sales was 17 percent, both unchanged from 2009.

All-cash purchases have become prevalent in the second-home market in recent years: 59 percent of investment buyers paid cash in 2010, as did 36 percent of vacation-home buyers.

With an overall decline in home sales during 2010, the volume of 543,000 vacation-home sales was down 1.8 percent from 553,000 in 2009. Primary residence sales declined 5.6 percent to 3.81 million from 4.04 million in 2009.

The median vacation-home price was $150,000 in 2010, down 11.2 percent from $169,000 in 2009. By contrast, the median primary residence price declined a relatively modest 4.5 percent to $176,700 last year from $185,000 in 2009.

The typical vacation-home buyer in 2010 was 49 years old, had a median household income of $99,500 and purchased a property that was a median distance of 375 miles from his or her primary residence; 31 percent of vacation homes were within 100 miles and 41 percent were more than 500 miles.

“Even if purchases are delayed due to economic circumstances, the underlying long-term demand – the desire for purchasing second homes – remains because people in their 30s and 40s will reach the prime age for buying and will drive the second-home market in coming decades as conditions permit,” Yun added.

Currently, 40.7 million people in the U.S. are ages 50-59 – a group that dominated sales in the first part of the past decade and established records for second-home sales. An additional 43.8 million people are now in the primary buying demographic of 40-49 years old, while another 40.4 million are 30-39.

Lifestyle factors continue to be the primary motivation for vacation-home buyers, with the desire for rental income driving investment purchases. Vacation homes were more likely to be located in a rural area, while investment homes were more likely to be in a suburban location.

“Vacation-home buyers want the property for their own personal use, with 84 percent saying the primary reason for buying was to use for vacations or as a family retreat,” Yun said.

Thirty-four percent of vacation-home buyers said they plan to use the property as a primary residence in the future. Vacation-home buyers plan to keep their property for a median of 13 years.

Business After Hours at the Indian River Golf Club

2011-03-30T18:07:00.003-04:00

Fun Golf Scramble Business After Hours

Call and reserve your spot now!

The Indian River Chamber of Commerce Ambassador’s, Indian River Physical Therapy, Coldwell Banker and Burt Lake Marina would like to invite you to a "Fun Golf Scramble" Business After Hours (BAH), Thursday, May 12th, at the Indian River Golf Club, beginning at 5:30. Tee off @ 6:00pm; playing until 7:30pm when the appetizers will be ready.
Join us for games, prizes and fun on the course followed by wonderful hors d'oeuvres and networking, afterwards in the Clubhouse.

BAH is $10 per member and $15 per not yet member.
(There is no additional charge to golf)
There are limited spaces, so Please RSVP early with the Chamber at 238-9325.

Spring Skiing in Northern Michigan

2011-03-28T16:10:00.001-04:00

Spring skiing is my favorite. Perfectly groomed slopes. Warmer, sunny days. And I think it is fair to say the lines at the chair lift are short.

Survey: Vacation Home Market on the Rebound

2011-03-23T11:11:00.001-04:00

The following article provides secondary verification to what I have been saying for some time. The noirthern Michigan vacation home market is ceertainly making a return but buyers are cautious. They are willing to take a little less if they can spend less thus decreasing the overall investment and therefore risk. I property with 200' of waterfrontage used to be a hot commodity but the 100' lot is now acceptable in trade for a lower cost. Everybody still wants a vacation home but how much of a vacation home has changed. The important factor to remember is that vacation homes are about lifestyle and family. As one client said to me, "You can't take your kids up north to your stock options.- billy

http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/survey-vacation-home-market-rebound
After several years of negative trends in the real estate industry, finally a sign of life: A market study just out by a Stuart real estate marketing firm shows budding consumer confidence in the second- or vacation-home market.

"It's no exaggeration to say that four years ago -- unless you count commercial buyers grabbing up ultra-cheap foreclosures -- the second-home market was dead as a doornail," said Rolly Marsh, a market analyst with Washington, D.C.-based National Association of Realtors.

The good news comes via the third annual Cotton Report, which reports a polling of more than 800 participants on housing preferences, motivating factors, pricing levels and timelines for purchase. It included participants from 39 states, Canada, Europe and Latin America.

While no direct correlation was made to the harsh winter temperatures, the research survey did point to a significant increase in the number of homebuyers looking to buy a vacation home -- in fact, a year-over-year increase of 800 percent.

This trend is further supported by an increase in the number of buyers describing their transition as "a geographic relocation." Over the three years the study has been conducted, there has been a continuous trend toward smaller homes. The most popular size? It's now between 1,700 and 2,299 square feet. Homes ranging from 1,000 to 1,699 square feet saw an increase of 5 percent in interest levels from 2010 to 2011.

The Cotton Report also shows signs that pricing levels have adjusted to meet consumer expectations.

In 2009, respondents indicated the need for a 50 percent price reduction in order to re-enter the market. In the 2011 survey, this level of price reduction has changed dramatically, down to 20 percent.

"The second-home market is improving, more orderly and more predictable," the NAR's Marsh told Sunshine State News on Friday. "The bad economy and real estate decline of 2006 to 2008 in particular weeded out the speculators. Now we have second-home buyers who buy homes to live in them. Most aren't purchasing for a quick turnover.

"Buyers are returning cautiously, buying smaller and smarter," said Marsh.

The Cotton Report, an annual consumer report, is compiled by Cotton & Co., a 28-year old firm specializing in the marketing and sales of residential real estate throughout the United States and the Caribbean.

Says Stephann Cotton, the firm’s president, “The adjustment of pricing to realistic levels has brought buyers and sellers closer together. These price adjustments combined with the brutal winter up North have resulted in strong sales in many of our resort residential properties.”
The future of the 30-year mortgage is still up in the air, Cotton acknowledges, but the survey indicates that even though 36 percent of the respondents plan to finance their purchase with a 30-year mortgage, an equal 36 percent plan to pay with cash. The rest are opting for a 15-year loan.
“One of the most dramatic changes in buyer psychology was seen in the responses from those who are uninterested in a real estate purchase,” says Laurie Andrews, Cotton & Co.’s COO. In 2010, 96 percent of these respondents cited economic conditions or political instability as the reason for not purchasing. In 2011, the number was cut in half, with 46 percent of the respondents saying they now have no desire to move.
“These results show buyers are beginning to separate the home buying process from the economic instability,” Andrews said.

Spring or Winter...Wait a Day

2011-03-11T19:00:00.007-05:00

One day it looks like February then next it looks like April all in the month of March. Hopefully this is our March "Coming in like a Lion". These photos are of the "GreenDock" on the Indian River which connects Burt Lake and Mullett Lake.

Wine Tasting at Sage in the Odawa Casino

2011-03-04T11:04:00.003-05:00

If you are looking for a fun afternoon activity while up north, this wine tasting a nice alternative.
Wine tastings take place every Saturday with the next one Saturday, March 5th, from 3:00pm to 4:30pm. The cost $10.00 per person. For more information - 231-439-6100
www.odawacasino.com

Fishing in Burt Lake

2011-03-02T17:27:00.000-05:00

I helped Joe find his cottage on Burt Lake. He knew I was great then . . . now I am his hero! lol

Haul your gear onto the lake.

Set up your stuff

Catch a Bunch of Fish

What the frack? US natural gas drilling method contaminates water?

2011-02-28T10:55:00.000-05:00

I try to include positive things in my blog but I have a responsibililty to comment when things are not as they may seem. I can't help but believe this is one of those situations. Protection comes from education and action. Whatever your opinion, please take the time to make it an informed one. The honest answer is I haven't yet made a determination for myself but the items in this chart can't be good for our water and environment. - Billy

A controversial new method of natural-gas drilling, embraced rapidly across the US, has contaminated water supplies with radioactive waste, according to an investigation by the New York Times. The paper said internal documents from the Environmental Protection Agency and state regulators showed that the dangers to the public from the drilling method – hydraulic fracturing – were greater than previously understood.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, uses huge volumes of water, chemicals and sand injected into rock at high pressure to release natural gas. Its development has unleashed a natural gas boom in the US and around the world. But the NYT said the waste water contained dangerously high levels of radioactivity. It was being sent to treatment plants that were not designed to deal with or being discharged into rivers that supply drinking water.

The NYT said its main findings included:
• More than 1.3bn gallons of waste water was produced by Pennsylvania wells over the past three years, far more than has been previously disclosed. Most of this water – enough to cover Manhattan in three inches – was sent to treatment plants not equipped to remove many of the toxic materials in drilling waste.

• At least 12 sewage treatment plants in three states accepted gas industry waste water and discharged waste that was only partly treated into rivers, lakes and streams.

• Of more than 179 wells producing waste water with high levels of radiation, at least 116 reported levels of radium or other radioactive materials 100 times as high as the levels set by federal drinking-water standards. At least 15 wells produced waste water carrying more than 1,000 times the amount of radioactive elements considered acceptable.

The investigation comes amid growing concern about the potential dangers of natural gas drilling as it spreads from western states to the more densely populated north-east. The investigative website ProPublica has published an extensive series on the threats to water supplies from hydraulic fracturing. It has also raised doubts about whether natural gas can indeed offer a solution to climate change, noting that the mining process is extremely energy and water intensive.

The dangers of natural gas drilling were also the subject of a gritty documentary, Gasland, which was nominated for an Academy Award. The film's director , Josh Fox, told the Guardian: "All these things are starting to add up in a very clear picture of a massive failure to protect public health."

Hartwick Pines to Host Three Snowshoe-Lacing Workshops

2011-02-22T17:02:00.001-05:00

Hartwick Pines State Park near Grayling is hosting three two-day snowshoe-lacing workshops Feb. 26 and 27. This is your chance to lace your own pair of snowshoes. All three workshops will be held at the Michigan Forest Visitor Center at Hartwick Pines. The workshop fee is $180, which includes all materials and equipment needed to make one pair of Ojibwe-style snowshoes with a pointed toe and pointed heel. Class size is limited and reservations are required. To make a reservation, call Theresa Neal at 906-492-3415. For more information about the workshops, including photos, go online to www.michigan.gov/dnrevisitorcenters and click on Tahquamenon Falls State Park.

What is a Michigan Man?

2011-02-10T01:17:00.002-05:00

Most people who know me are aware that after high school I attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. I loved every moment I spent at U of M and given the opportunity would choose to be a Wolverine every time. (No offense to my Spartan or Buckeye friends).

I learned so much and am very proud of my accomplishments in college. I was privileged to work directly for some of the legendary coaches like Bo Schembechler, Red Berenson, and John Urbanckek, all true Michigan men.

Over the years I have often been asked what qualifies one as a Michigan Man. The recent search for a football coach exposed some interesting viewpoints by many although most reporters have no idea what they are talking about in this regard (or others for that matter).

For me the answer is simple...it isn't a tenure or a position or even some grand accomplishment...it is a thought process, one I have seldom seen as blatantly as I did at Michigan. It is a whole-hearted belief that the program is above all else and that no person is more important than the team.

It is the knowledge that doing something the right way - with class and devotion - is more important than the final outcome. It is knowing that you can lay your head on the pillow each night knowing you did your best for yourself, your team, and your program without compromise and that you are proud of each person associated with you. It is never about me first...it is always about:

The Team. The Team. The Team.

It is a lesson I grasp tightly. I hope each day I live my life this way. I hope I pull, push, drag, carry, lead, coax - whatever it takes - each person in my life toward this mindset. The irony is that it is exactly the value set my parents instilled in me and I saw Bo instill into many. I am so thankful to have been taught this lesson and to have seen how to share it with others. Go Blue!

2011 Indian River Winterfest

2011-01-24T15:42:00.000-05:00

Fun Things to Do in Northern Michigan

The Indian River Winterfest kicks off this weekend with a variety of events for all.

Friday, January 28th
7:30 -9:00am “Business before Hours” at Citizens National Bank
5:00 - 10:00pm Winterfest Poker Run
6:00 -10:00pm Lions Club Bingo
12:00pm Downtown Business Snowman Contest Judging

Saturday, January 29th

9:00am - 4:00pm Indian River Sprint Dogsled Races- Hometown Inn
12:00 - 4:00pm   “Taste of the North” at the Indian River Golf Club
                            Cross country skiing, wine tasting and delicious food
                            from local restaurants, to benefit the Wildwood Grooming Fund
3:00 - 5:00pm    Fire Department Broomball Challenge:
                          Tuscarora vs Topinabee - Ice Rink; Cooperation Park
5:00 - 6:30pm   Dusk Snowshoe Hike - Burt Lake State Park
5:00 - 8:00pm   Indian River Physical Therapy Family Skating Party Ice Rink; Cooperation Park
8:00pm             Winterfest Party at The Inn Between, River St., Indian River

Sunday, January 30th
8:00am - 12:00pm VFW Breakfast
9:00am - 4:00pm Indian River Sprint Dogsled Races- Hometown Inn
For more information - 231-238-9325 or http://www.irchamber.com/

July 4th, 2010. Indian River Schedule of Events

2010-06-28T13:33:00.000-04:00

4th of July Parade – Sunday at 2pm

The Parade will take place downtown on Sunday, 2pm the 4th of July.

Indian River Fireworks – Saturday Night on Burt Lake
On July 3rd, the skies over Burt Lake will once again come alive with the brilliance of the Annual Tuscarora Township firework display (with a July 5th rain date).

Good Things Do Happen

2010-05-06T11:38:00.000-04:00

Wed May 05, 2010 2:37 pm EDT

When losing a golf tournament really makes you a winner
By Shane Bacon

There are times to be competitive. Moments when all you want to do is humiliate your opponent as you defeat him. It's the nature of sports, and what our internal competition meters usually read.
That, we all know, is how athletes feel most of the time. But, at times, and these are few and far between, we see acts that defy wins and losses. A moment when a girl is brought in on crutches to score a layup to break a record or someone being carried around the field after she twisted her ankle rounding the bases. Opponents coming together to transcend the game.

That is what happened between two collegiate golfers, vying for a spot in the NAIA National Championship.
Grant Whybark (left), a sophomore at the University of St. Francis, had locked up a spot in nationals with his team, which won the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship, but was in a playoff against Olivet Nazarene's Seth Doran (right) for individual honors.

As championships go, both the winning team and winning individual are asked to move on to nationals, so if Whybark won the playoff against Doran, he'd be honoring both spots and Doran wouldn't be asked to move on.

What happened next is the type of stuff movies are made about. Whybark stood over his tee shot on the first playoff hole, looked down the fairway and back at his ball, and hit it 40 yards right of the fairway, out of bounds by a mile. He made double bogey, Doran made par, and Olivet Nazarene had a man in nationals.

What makes it so incredible? Whybark intentionally did it, because he felt Doran had earned a spot in the next round. "We all know Seth very well," Whybark explains, "and he not only is a very good player, but a great person as well. He’s a senior and had never been to nationals. Somehow, it just wasn’t in my heart to try to knock him out.

"I think some people were surprised, but my team knew what I was doing and were supportive of me. I felt Seth deserved to go (to nationals) just as much as I did. "It was one of those things where I couldn’t feel good taking something from him like this. My goal from the start was to get (to nationals) with my team. I had already done that."
Too many times we read about cheap shots or fights or cheaters, and it is stories like this that make it all seem petty. A golfer simply knew his place, was comfortable with where he was, and thought that a senior, playing in his final tournament as a collegiate golfer, had done enough to earn one more week with the game he loved.

I'm not a big believer in karma, and I'm sure the story won't end the way it should, but if Whybark somehow won nationals, it would make for a really nice screenplay. Whybark did what most of us would never do, and although he is short a trophy in his case, he earned respect from anyone reading this story.
Nice shot, kiddo.

Spring Snow

2010-04-10T11:58:00.000-04:00

We all knew it was too good to be true...75 and sunny during March? No snow on the grouds. Golf courses open and lawns turning green. March came in like a lamb and left the same way but this Spring Break week has been unpleasant to say the least. Like always in Northern Michigan...wait a few days and it will change...74 degrees this Thursday - during my continuing education class of course.

Click here to see more photos of the ice pushing inland from Burt Lake

2010-03-30T18:21:00.000-04:00

The ice is now off Burt Lake and has landed on the eastern shore. I was taking photos of a new listing and the beauty of the ice was breathtaking. It is like a mini-glacier moving onto land. The ice must have been slush in the water as it is not in sheets but rather volleyball-sized pieces pressed together.

2010 Indian River Easter Egg Hunt

2010-03-30T18:11:00.001-04:00

Hippity-Hoppity, Easter Egg Hunt!

Come to Indian River’s Annual EASTER EGG HUNT Saturday, April 3rd, 11 am at Cooperation Park. The Egg Hunt is open to toddlers, preschool and elementary aged children at NO COST! Prizes include bikes, Drost’s filled basket and more. Bring the kids out for a fun time! For directions to the park, click on the title to this post.

2010 2nd Annual Indian River Walleye Tournament

2010-03-29T13:12:00.002-04:00

2nd Annual Indian River Walleye Tournament

Mark the date! The Indian River Chamber of Commerce, Indian River Sportsmen’s Club and Cochran Roberts VFW Post #7439 are excited to announce its 2nd Annual Indian River Walleye Tournament will be held on Saturday, May 29th.

A maximum of 75 boats (2 anglers per boat, or 3 if one is 16 years or younger) will be given the opportunity to fish for the largest Walleye on the Inland Waterway. A purse worth up to $3600 will be available for winning, based on the number of entrants. In addition, many prizes will be given away! Entrance fees are $60 per boat. The Weigh-in will be at 3pm at Fay Martin River Resort on the Indian River. For further information on events in the Indian River area, please contact the Indian River Chamber of Commerce at 231-238-9325 or 1-800-EXIT-310 or kwegner@irchamber.com

Rainbows and Sunsets

2010-03-16T15:39:00.003-04:00

It has been a beautiful week in Northern Michigan with the shining sun and far above average temperatures. We well know a blizzard leaving 10” of snow on our lawns is possible – and another snow storm probable – but the thought of Spring leading into summer is just too exciting!

I was thinking a round of golf and a boat ride across Burt Lake to see the sunset on another Up North day. Sunsets & Rainbow Skies………doesn't that sound like a Jimmy Buffett or Kenny Chesney song?

top 10 things the IRS wants you to know about the expanded credit

2010-03-04T15:33:00.000-05:00

IRS Special Edition Tax Tip - Here are the top 10 things the IRS wants you to know about the expanded credit and the qualifications a person must meet in order to qualify for it.

Here are the top 10 things the IRS wants you to know about the expanded credit and the qualifications a person must meet in order to
qualify for it.
1. You must buy – or enter into a binding contract to buy a principal residence – on or before April 30, 2010.
2. If you enter into a binding contract by April 30, 2010 you must close on the home on or before June 30, 2010.
3. For qualifying purchases in 2010, you will have the option of claiming the credit on either your 2009 or 2010 return.
4. A long-time resident of the same home can now qualify for a reduced credit. You can qualify for the credit if you’ve lived in the same
principal residence for any five-consecutive year period during the eight-year period that ended on the date the new home is
purchased and the settlement date is after November 6, 2009.
5. The maximum credit for long-time residents is $6,500. However, married individuals filing separately are limited to $3,250.
6. People with higher incomes can now qualify for the credit. The new law raises the income limits for homes purchased after November
6, 2009. The full credit is available to taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes up to $125,000, or $225,000 for joint filers.
7. The IRS will issue a December 2009 revision of Form 5405 to claim this credit. The December 2009 form must be used for homes
purchased after November 6, 2009 – whether the credit is claimed for 2008 or for 2009 – and for all home purchases that are claimed
on 2009 returns.
8. No credit is available if the purchase price of the home exceeds $800,000.
9. The purchaser must be at least 18 years old on the date of purchase. For a married couple, only one spouse must meet this age
requirement.
10. A dependent is not eligible to claim the credit.
For more information about the expanded First-Time Homebuyer Credit,
visit IRS.gov/recovery.

2010 Indian River's Summer Calendar of Events

2010-02-24T11:52:00.010-05:00

There is much to do in Indian River this summer. The Indian River Chamber of Commerce has many events scheduled:

May 29th – Indian River Walleye Tournament
June 2nd – Indian River Chamber Golf Scramble
July 3rd – 4th of July Fireworks
July 4th – 4th of July Parade
July 13th – 18th – Indian River Summer Fest
July 17th – 23rd – Michigander Bicycle Tour
July 30th – Aug. 1st – Top of Michigan Outboard Boat Races

I will post more information about these events as they get closer.

Cross In The Woods

2010-02-16T14:54:00.012-05:00

If you happen to be near Indian River, Michigan, you may want to visit the National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods. Regardless of your faith, the largest crucifix in the world is a powerful symbol of Christianity that can be appreciated by all.
I took these photos after a mid-October snowfall, a time when the autumn leaves were in brilliant color. Even in northern Michigan a heavy snowfall then is rare. I recall dropping my children off at school and noticing the ambient light having a beautiful blue hue. The orange, yellow and green colors shining through the sparkling white snow was just spectacular. As I exited the school, I saw the sign for the Cross in the Woods and my mind wandered to a thought, "What does the Cross look like in this snowfall?"

How glad I am that I took a moment and my camera to investigate. The scene was amazing. I have been to the Cross countless times in my life (even being married outside under the Cross) but never has it projected such a beauty for me. I treasure each photo.
I used a Canon 35mm Digital Rebel to photograph the scene which did a great job expressing the contrasts of the colorful leaves, brightness of the snow, and blue aura. The 28 foot tall, 7 ton bronze Corpus was cast in Olso, Norway and was (at the time) one of the largest castings to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The pinnacle of the 55 foot, Oregon-grown Cross sits atop a knoll, the total structure reaching over 205 feet above ground level.

I hope you enjoy the photos. If you are traveling through northern Michigan, on your way to ski at Boyne Highlands, or visit the many other great activities in the area take a moment to visit. The Cross in the Woods is just 1 mile west of I-75's Exit 310, Indian River. You won't be disappointed.

I made a mistake...and will do better

2010-02-11T14:02:00.009-05:00

I have been working on several blogs for a while. I have this main blog I planned to use for real estate purposes. I have experimented but really not done much with it. The posts are boring and not at all fun.
I contemplated a blog called "Good Things Happen Here" which would be a forum to talk about the fun things in northern Michigan. This is a great place to live, great place to visit and great place to vacation with so much to do all times of year.
Knowing I didn't know much about blogging, I started reading and discovered my approach was flawed. I truly felt like an idiot because I wasn't seeing what I profess each day...real estate is about relationships and lifestyle.
So I learn and adapt. Look to my blog for fun things happening in this wonderful area, stories about the "Good Things that Happen Here", and a little bit of real estate. This is my space on in the electronic world and share I shall.

Topinabee Big Chill Winter Carnival 2010 February 13th

2010-02-11T13:40:00.006-05:00

Spend your UpNorth Saturday at Topinabee's 11th Annual Big Chill Winter Carnival.

9:00am - 11:00am Firefighter's Pancake Breakfast at the Topinabee Township Hall.

12:00 - 3:00 The Big Chill Chili Cookoff, horseshoes, BroomBall, ice skating, family games, and warming tent all on the ice.

Come see the Hovercraft Demonstration!!!!

Kid's games at Township Hall

Burt Lake Access with Dockage

2010-02-04T14:14:00.002-05:00

Prepare Your Heart For The Hunt

2009-11-09T13:58:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of John K. Everett, D.O. - Indian River Medical Center. It’s that time of year again. Thousands of people get up at the crack of dawn during firearm deer season to hunt down that big buck. And every year, media reports include stories of hunters suffering heart attacks while in the woods. If you’re not prepared, haven’t had a physical and haven’t exercised much in the year since the last hunt, you may be putting yourself at a risk of a heart attack. According to the American Heart Association, hunters rarely consider that their sport is actually an athletic event and that the excitement and exertion take a toll on their bodies. Hunters should start training and conditioning months before they “perform”, but most don’t and their heart and circulatory system sometimes suffers the consequences. Like everyone else, hunters should have an annual checkup. “People should take a look at their major risk factors for heart disease regularly,” says John K. Everett, D.O. “Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and make sure that strenuous exercise is recommended.” Everett is a Family Practice physician who sees patients at the Indian River Medical Center. Everett is also an avid sportsman. “I love being out in the woods,” he stated. “But, I also know there are several precautions you have to take to be safe. It’s much more enjoyable when you’re healthy.” Smoking is another major risk factor for heart attack and heart disease. Other tips include avoiding a heavy breakfast before heading out into the woods and avoiding hunting alone. Bring a cell phone to reach emergency services if needed and tell friends or family your location and scheduled return. Other factors to consider helping reduce risk of suffering a heart attack include:

· Avoid drinking alcohol before going in the field.

· Layer your clothing. Remove as body heat rises with increased physical activity

· Weather conditions such as cold wind, deep snow, mud and even steep terrain place additional stress on the heart.

Warning signs of a heart attack are an uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back again. Also, the pain spreads to the shoulders, neck and arms and is often accompanied by lightheadedness, sweating, nausea and shortness of breath. Stroke is also a concern while hunting and its warning signs include a sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, and a sudden dizziness and loss of coordination. Both heart attack and stroke are medical emergencies and 9-1-1 needs to be accessed immediately. Try staying active. This will not only help with physical fitness come deer season, but also with overall general health. Studies show that being physically fit lowers heart disease risk even in people who have other risk factors like high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. Be careful out there, and be aware. Deer season can be a rush for many hunters. Hopefully, it’s not a rush to the ER! For more information, you can contact the Cardiac Wellness Center at the Cheboygan Memorial Health Center, (231) 627-1458, or, the American Heart Association (800) 968-1793. Dr. Everett’s office is located at the Indian River Medical Center, 6135 Cressy Street, Indian River and is part of Cheboygan Memorial Hospital. For physician referral, call (800)866-9196, or go to www.cheboyganhospital.org.

Congress Passes Homebuyer Tax Credit Expansion

2009-11-05T16:37:00.001-05:00

RISMEDIA, November 6, 2009—After the Senate gave final approval last night without a dissenting vote, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly this afternoon to pass legislation containing an extension and expansion of the homebuyer tax credit, completing Congressional action and sending the tax credit to President Obama for his signature, possibly as early as tomorrow.
The $8,000 homebuyer tax credit for first-time buyers, due to expire in 25 days, will be extended through April 30 of next year and buyers will have an additional two months, until the end of June, to close. First-time buyers who are in the process of making a purchase will no longer need to worry about qualifying for the $8,000 credit if they close after the November 30 deadline. The new legislation increases the income limit for couples with income up to $225,000, a nearly $55,000 increase above the level in existing law.
For the first time, the new legislation makes buyers who already own a home eligible for a credit. A $6,500 maximum credit will be available to existing homeowners who have lived in their current residence for five of the prior eight years. The legislation limits eligibility for the existing homeowner credit to homes worth $800,000 or less. The legislation takes effect December 1 and is not retroactive. Both credits are available only for primary residences, not second homes or investment properties.
In the House debate, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) took the floor to say the homebuyer tax credit was helping a new generation of Americans live out their dream of homeownership and financial independence. Debate on the homebuyer credit was overwhelmingly positive and the legislation passed 403 to 12. However, several leading economists have voiced concern about the $16.7 billion cost of the credit and the wisdom of spending up to $400,000 per homebuyer to stimulate real estate sales and White House support for extending the credit has been lukewarm at best. However, it is virtually certain that the President will sign the legislative package, which contains an expansion of unemployment benefits as well as the tax changes.
In the Senate, the homebuyer tax credit was amended to a bill expanding unemployment benefits by 20 weeks for those who have exhausted their benefit.
The latest unemployment numbers are due out tomorrow and Congressional leaders are rushing the unemployment bill to the White House so that the President can show compassion by signing on the same day more job losses are announced.
The legislation included provisions added to address complaints of fraud. The Internal Revenue Service is given greater authority to oversee the process to root out fraud, and provisions are added in response to past abuses of false sales or underage buyers. An investigation by the Treasury Department’s Inspector General for Tax Administration found that more than 580 children, some as young as four years old, had received $627,000 in first-time homebuyer credits. The IRS has identified 167 suspected criminal schemes and opened nearly 107,000 examinations of potential civil violations of the first-time homebuyer tax credit.

email clean-up

2009-09-23T14:36:00.000-04:00

This email is to purge invalid email addresses.

Thanks.

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Ten Reasons Why a Cottage LLC Makes Sense

2009-08-24T10:36:00.002-04:00

Traverse The Magazine had a great article on their website about cottage ownership. I have many clients who have taken this step and I believe it to be a prudent one. If you love northern Michigan and don't subscribe to this magazine, you should consider it - they do a great job.

Ten Reasons Why a Cottage LLC Makes Sense
Good succession planning when organizing your estate can make all the difference when passing your cottage, cabin or family home onto the next generation. Here are ten reasons to consider a Cottage LLC.

Sometimes the one place in the world that seemed to bring your family together—the cottage, cabin or cherished family home—is the very thing that rips the family apart. Different expectations for what to do with the real estate, different feelings about cashing out versus preserving that special place can be so strongly felt they actually destroy even strong relationships.
Stuart Hollander has written Saving the Family (and the) Cottage, a guide to help you plan your estate in a way that includes a succession plan to preserve your special place and your the family.
Here he shares the ten reasons you should consider a limited liability corporation for your cottage, cabin or family home.
1. Prevents an owner from forcing the sale of the cottage through an action for partition.
2. Is an alternative to allowing common law rules to dictate how the cottage operates.
3. Prevents transfer of an interest in the cottage outside the family. (This includes preventing an in-law from acquiring an ownership interest in the cottage.)
4. Helps protect the owners from creditor claims.
5. Establishes a framework for scheduling use of the cottage.
6. Provides sanctions for nonpayment of cottage expenses.
7. Can serve as a vehicle for an “endowment” (money set aside to fund cottage expenses).
8. Can require mediation or arbitration of family disputes.
9. Allocates control of the cottage between or among generations of owners.
10. Can help delay (but not avoid) the uncapping of Michigan property taxes.

My being a Realtor specializing in waterfront properties, the ten points should be discussed by every family. I have seen many unfortunate situations that would have been alleviated had some basic planning been done.
billy

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

2009-04-17T12:23:00.001-04:00

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit The Internal Revenue Service announced that taxpayers who qualify for the first-time homebuyer credit and purchase a home before December 1, 2009, have a special option available for claiming the tax credit either on their 2008 tax returns due April 15, 2009, or on their 2009 tax returns next year.
Qualifying taxpayers who buy a home before December 1, 2009, can get up to $8,000 or $4,000 for married filing separately.
ÒFor first-time homebuyers this year, this special feature can put money in their pockets right now rather than waiting another year to claim the tax credit," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. ÒThis important change gives qualifying homebuyers cash they do not have to pay back.Ó
The IRS has posted a revised version of Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit, on www.IRS.gov. The revised form incorporates provisions from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The instructions to the revised Form 5405 provide additional information on who can and cannot claim the credit, income limitations and repayment of the credit.
This year, qualifying taxpayers who buy a home before December 1, 2009, can claim the credit on either their 2008 or 2009 tax returns. They do not have to repay the credit, provided the home remains their main home for 36 months after the purchase date. They can claim 10 percent of the purchase price up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately.
The amount of the credit begins to phase out for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is more than $75,000 or $150,000 for joint filers.
For purposes of the credit, you are considered to be a first-time homebuyer if you, and your spouse if you are married, did not own any other main home during the three-year period ending on the date of purchase.
The IRS also alerted taxpayers that the new law does not affect people who purchased a home after April 8, 2008, and on or before December 31, 2008. For the taxpayers who are claiming the credit on their 2008 tax returns, the maximum credit remains 10 percent of the purchase price, up to $7,500, or $3,750 for married individuals filing separately. In addition, the credit for these 2008 purchases must be repaid in 15 equal installments over 15 years, beginning with the 2010 tax year.

March 2009 Sales

2009-04-10T15:37:00.000-04:00

Frequently Asked Questions About the Home Buyer Tax Credit

2009-03-21T13:17:00.002-04:00

This excellent FAQ is from the National Association of Home Builders.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Home Buyer Tax Credit

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 authorizes a tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.

The following questions and answers provide basic information about the tax credit. If you have more specific questions, we strongly encourage you to consult a qualified tax advisor or legal professional about your unique situation.

Who is eligible to claim the tax credit?
What is the definition of a first-time home buyer?
How is the amount of the tax credit determined?
Are there any income limits for claiming the tax credit?
What is "modified adjusted gross income"?
If my modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is above the limit, do I qualify for any tax credit?
Can you give me an example of how the partial tax credit is determined?
How is this home buyer tax credit different from the tax credit that Congress enacted in July of 2008?
How do I claim the tax credit? Do I need to complete a form or application?
What types of homes will qualify for the tax credit?
I read that the tax credit is "refundable." What does that mean?
I purchased a home in early 2009 and have already filed to receive the $7,500 tax credit on my 2008 tax returns. How can I claim the new $8,000 tax credit instead?
Instead of buying a new home from a home builder, I hired a contractor to construct a home on a lot that I already own. Do I still qualify for the tax credit?
Can I claim the tax credit if I finance the purchase of my home under a mortgage revenue bond (MRB) program?
I live in the District of Columbia. Can I claim both the Washington, D.C. first-time home buyer credit and this new credit?
I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I claim the tax credit?
Is a tax credit the same as a tax deduction?
I bought a home in 2008. Do I qualify for this credit?
Is there any way for a home buyer to access the money allocable to the credit sooner than waiting to file their 2009 tax return?
If I’m qualified for the tax credit and buy a home in 2009, can I apply the tax credit against my 2008 tax return?
For a home purchase in 2009, can I choose whether to treat the purchase as occurring in 2008 or 2009, depending on in which year my credit amount is the largest?

Who is eligible to claim the tax credit?
First-time home buyers purchasing any kind of home—new or resale—are eligible for the tax credit. To qualify for the tax credit, a home purchase must occur on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. For the purposes of the tax credit, the purchase date is the date when closing occurs and the title to the property transfers to the home owner.

What is the definition of a first-time home buyer?
The law defines "first-time home buyer" as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. For married taxpayers, the law tests the homeownership history of both the home buyer and his/her spouse.

For example, if you have not owned a home in the past three years but your spouse has owned a principal residence, neither you nor your spouse qualifies for the first-time home buyer tax credit. However, unmarried joint purchasers may allocate the credit amount to any buyer who qualifies as a first-time buyer, such as may occur if a parent jointly purchases a home with a son or daughter. Ownership of a vacation home or rental property not used as a principal residence does not disqualify a buyer as a first-time home buyer.

How is the amount of the tax credit determined?
The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.

Are there any income limits for claiming the tax credit?
Yes. The income limit for single taxpayers is $75,000; the limit is $150,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. The tax credit amount is reduced for buyers with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of more than $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. The phaseout range for the tax credit program is equal to $20,000. That is, the tax credit amount is reduced to zero for taxpayers with MAGI of more than $95,000 (single) or $170,000 (married) and is reduced proportionally for taxpayers with MAGIs between these amounts.

What is "modified adjusted gross income"?
Modified adjusted gross income or MAGI is defined by the IRS. To find it, a taxpayer must first determine "adjusted gross income" or AGI. AGI is total income for a year minus certain deductions (known as "adjustments" or "above-the-line deductions"), but before itemized deductions from Schedule A or personal exemptions are subtracted. On Forms 1040 and 1040A, AGI is the last number on page 1 and first number on page 2 of the form. For Form 1040-EZ, AGI appears on line 4 (as of 2007). Note that AGI includes all forms of income including wages, salaries, interest income, dividends and capital gains.

To determine modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), add to AGI certain amounts such as foreign income, foreign-housing deductions, student-loan deductions, IRA-contribution deductions and deductions for higher-education costs.

If my modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is above the limit, do I qualify for any tax credit?
Possibly. It depends on your income. Partial credits of less than $8,000 are available for some taxpayers whose MAGI exceeds the phaseout limits.

Can you give me an example of how the partial tax credit is determined?
Just as an example, assume that a married couple has a modified adjusted gross income of $160,000. The applicable phaseout to qualify for the tax credit is $150,000, and the couple is $10,000 over this amount. Dividing $10,000 by the phaseout range of $20,000 yields 0.5. When you subtract 0.5 from 1.0, the result is 0.5. To determine the amount of the partial first-time home buyer tax credit that is available to this couple, multiply $8,000 by 0.5. The result is $4,000.

Here’s another example: assume that an individual home buyer has a modified adjusted gross income of $88,000. The buyer’s income exceeds $75,000 by $13,000. Dividing $13,000 by the phaseout range of $20,000 yields 0.65. When you subtract 0.65 from 1.0, the result is 0.35. Multiplying $8,000 by 0.35 shows that the buyer is eligible for a partial tax credit of $2,800.

Please remember that these examples are intended to provide a general idea of how the tax credit might be applied in different circumstances. You should always consult your tax advisor for information relating to your specific circumstances.

How is this home buyer tax credit different from the tax credit that Congress enacted in July of 2008?
The most significant difference is that this tax credit does not have to be repaid. Because it had to be repaid, the previous "credit" was essentially an interest-free loan. This tax incentive is a true tax credit. However, home buyers must use the residence as a principal residence for at least three years or face recapture of the tax credit amount. Certain exceptions apply.

How do I claim the tax credit? Do I need to complete a form or application?
Participating in the tax credit program is easy. You claim the tax credit on your federal income tax return. Specifically, home buyers should complete IRS Form 5405 to determine their tax credit amount, and then claim this amount on Line 69 of their 1040 income tax return. No other applications or forms are required, and no pre-approval is necessary. However, you will want to be sure that you qualify for the credit under the income limits and first-time home buyer tests. Note that you cannot claim the credit on Form 5405 for an intended purchase for some future date; it must be a completed purchase.

What types of homes will qualify for the tax credit?
Any home that will be used as a principal residence will qualify for the credit. This includes single-family detached homes, attached homes like townhouses and condominiums, manufactured homes (also known as mobile homes) and houseboats. The definition of principal residence is identical to the one used to determine whether you may qualify for the $250,000 / $500,000 capital gain tax exclusion for principal residences.

I read that the tax credit is "refundable." What does that mean?
The fact that the credit is refundable means that the home buyer credit can be claimed even if the taxpayer has little or no federal income tax liability to offset. Typically this involves the government sending the taxpayer a check for a portion or even all of the amount of the refundable tax credit.

For example, if a qualified home buyer expected, notwithstanding the tax credit, federal income tax liability of $5,000 and had tax withholding of $4,000 for the year, then without the tax credit the taxpayer would owe the IRS $1,000 on April 15th. Suppose now that the taxpayer qualified for the $8,000 home buyer tax credit. As a result, the taxpayer would receive a check for $7,000 ($8,000 minus the $1,000 owed).

I purchased a home in early 2009 and have already filed to receive the $7,500 tax credit on my 2008 tax returns. How can I claim the new $8,000 tax credit instead?
Home buyers in this situation may file an amended 2008 tax return with a 1040X form. You should consult with a tax advisor to ensure you file this return properly.

Instead of buying a new home from a home builder, I hired a contractor to construct a home on a lot that I already own. Do I still qualify for the tax credit?
Yes. For the purposes of the home buyer tax credit, a principal residence that is constructed by the home owner is treated by the tax code as having been "purchased" on the date the owner first occupies the house. In this situation, the date of first occupancy must be on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.

In contrast, for newly-constructed homes bought from a home builder, eligibility for the tax credit is determined by the settlement date.

Can I claim the tax credit if I finance the purchase of my home under a mortgage revenue bond (MRB) program?
Yes. The tax credit can be combined with the MRB home buyer program. Note that first-time home buyers who purchased a home in 2008 may not claim the tax credit if they are participating in an MRB program.

I live in the District of Columbia. Can I claim both the Washington, D.C. first-time home buyer credit and this new credit?
No. You can claim only one.

I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I claim the tax credit?
Maybe. Anyone who is not a nonresident alien (as defined by the IRS), who has not owned a principal residence in the previous three years and who meets the income limits test may claim the tax credit for a qualified home purchase. The IRS provides a definition of "nonresident alien" in IRS Publication 519.

Is a tax credit the same as a tax deduction?
No. A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in what the taxpayer owes. That means that a taxpayer who owes $8,000 in income taxes and who receives an $8,000 tax credit would owe nothing to the IRS.

A tax deduction is subtracted from the amount of income that is taxed. Using the same example, assume the taxpayer is in the 15 percent tax bracket and owes $8,000 in income taxes. If the taxpayer receives an $8,000 deduction, the taxpayer’s tax liability would be reduced by $1,200 (15 percent of $8,000), or lowered from $8,000 to $6,800.

I bought a home in 2008. Do I qualify for this credit?
No, but if you purchased your first home between April 9, 2008 and January 1, 2009, you may qualify for a different tax credit.
Is there any way for a home buyer to access the money allocable to the credit sooner than waiting to file their 2009 tax return?
Yes. Prospective home buyers who believe they qualify for the tax credit are permitted to reduce their income tax withholding. Reducing tax withholding (up to the amount of the credit) will enable the buyer to accumulate cash by raising his/her take home pay. This money can then be applied to the downpayment.

Buyers should adjust their withholding amount on their W-4 via their employer or through their quarterly estimated tax payment. IRS Publication 919 contains rules and guidelines for income tax withholding. Prospective home buyers should note that if income tax withholding is reduced and the tax credit qualified purchase does not occur, then the individual would be liable for repayment to the IRS of income tax and possible interest charges and penalties.

Further, rule changes made as part of the economic stimulus legislation allow home buyers to claim the tax credit and participate in a program financed by tax-exempt bonds. Some state housing finance agencies, such as the Missouri Housing Development Commission, have introduced programs that provide short-term credit acceleration loans that may be used to fund a downpayment. Prospective home buyers should inquire with their state housing finance agency to determine the availability of such a program in their community.
If I’m qualified for the tax credit and buy a home in 2009, can I apply the tax credit against my 2008 tax return?
Yes. The law allows taxpayers to choose ("elect") to treat qualified home purchases in 2009 as if the purchase occurred on December 31, 2008. This means that the 2008 income limit (MAGI) applies and the election accelerates when the credit can be claimed (tax filing for 2008 returns instead of for 2009 returns). A benefit of this election is that a home buyer in 2009 will know their 2008 MAGI with certainty, thereby helping the buyer know whether the income limit will reduce their credit amount.

Taxpayers buying a home who wish to claim it on their 2008 tax return, but who have already submitted their 2008 return to the IRS, may file an amended 2008 return claiming the tax credit. You should consult with a tax professional to determine how to arrange this.
For a home purchase in 2009, can I choose whether to treat the purchase as occurring in 2008 or 2009, depending on in which year my credit amount is the largest?
Yes. If the applicable income phaseout would reduce your home buyer tax credit amount in 2009 and a larger credit would be available using the 2008 MAGI amounts, then you can choose the year that yields the largest credit amount.

Does that mean if I purchased now that I would get an extra $8,000?

2009-02-21T12:27:00.004-05:00

First-time purchasers get a tax credit windfall if they buy before December.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- There's a nice windfall for some homebuyers in the economic stimulus bill signed into law this week by President Obama. First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 - or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less - on their 2008 or 2009 taxes.
A big plus is that the credit is refundable, meaning tax filers see a refund of the full $8,000 even if their total tax bill - the amount of witholding they paid during the year plus anything extra they had to pony up when they filed their returns - was less than that amount. But there has been a lot of confusion over this provision. Adam Billings of Knoxville, Tenn. wrote to CNNMoney.com asking:

"I will qualify as a first-time home buyer, and I am currently set to get a small tax refund for 2008. Does that mean if I purchased now that I would get an extra $8,000 added on top of my current refund?"
The short answer? Yes, Billings would get back the $8,000 plus what he'd overpaid. The long answer? It depends. Here are three scenarios:
Scenario 1: Your final tax liability is normally $6,000. You've had taxes withheld from every paycheck and at the end of the year you've paid Uncle Sam $6,000. Since you've already paid him all you owe, you get the entire $8,000 tax credit as a refund check.
Scenario 2: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've overpaid by $1,000 through your payroll witholding. Normally you would get a $1,000 refund check. In this scenario, you get $9,000, the $8,000 credit plus the $1,000 you overpaid.
Scenario 3: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've underpaid through your payroll witholding by $1,000. Normally, you would have to write the IRS a $1,000 check. This time, the first $1,000 of the tax credit pays your bill, and you get the remaining $7,000 as a refund.
To qualify for the credit, the purchase must be made between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009. Buyers may not have owned a home for the past three years to qualify as "first time" buyer. They must also live in the house for at least three years, or they will be obligated to pay back the credit.
Additionally, there are income restrictions: To qualify, buyers must make less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples. (Higher-income buyers may receive a partial credit.)
Applying for the credit will be easy - or at least as easy as doing your income taxes. Just claim it on your return. No other forms or papers have to be filed. Taxpayers who have already completed their returns can file amended returns for 2008 to claim the credit.
Lukewarm reception
The housing industry is somewhat pleased with the result because the stimulus plan improves on the current $7,500 tax credit, which was passed in July and was more of a low-interest loan than an actual credit. But the industry was also disappointed that Congress did not go even further and adopt the Senate's proposal of a $15,000 non-refundable credit for all homebuyers.
"[The Senate version] would have done a lot more to turn around the housing market," said Bernard Markstein, an economist and director of forecasting for the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB). "We have a lot of reports of people who would be coming off the fence because of it."
Even so, the $8,000 credit will bring an additional 300,000 new homebuyers into the market, according to estimates by Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors.
The credit could also create a domino effect, he said, because each first-time homebuyer sale will lead to two more trade-up transactions down the line. "I think there are many homeowners who would be trading-up but they have had no buyers for their own homes," Yun said.
Who won't benefit, according to Mark Goldman, a real estate lecturer at San Diego State University, are those first-time homebuyers struggling to come up with down payments. The credit does not help get them over that hurdle - they still have to close the sale before claiming the bonus.
One state, Missouri, is trying to get around that problem by creating a short-term loan on the tax credit of up to $6,750. The state would loan borrowers the money so they could use it at closing as part of the downpayment. Then, when the buyers receive their tax credit from the IRS, they pay back the state. Other states may follow with similar programs, according to NAHB's Dietz.
Many may look at the tax credit as a discount on the home price, according to Yun. A $100,000 purchase effectively becomes a $92,000 one. That can reassure buyers apprehensive about purchasing and then watching prices continue falling, he added.
And it provides a nice nest egg for the often-difficult early years of homeownership, when unexpected repairs and expenses often crop up. Recipients could also use the money to buy new stuff for their home - a lawnmower, a rug, a sofa - and, in that way, help stimulate the economy.

From Yahoo! Real Estate By Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer
Feb 17th, 2009

Why Use a REALTOR®?

2009-02-13T10:04:00.000-05:00

All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR "®" logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.

Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $100,000. If you had a $100,000 income tax problem, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a CPA? If you had a $100,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Considering the small upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a deal in real estate without the professional assistance of a REALTOR®.

But if you're still not convinced of the value of a REALTOR®, here are a dozen more reasons to use one:

1. Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power -- that is, your financial reserves plus your borrowing capacity. If you give a REALTOR® some basic information about your available savings, income and current debt, he or she can refer you to lenders best qualified to help you. Most lenders -- banks and mortgage companies -- offer limited choices.

2. Your REALTOR® has many resources to assist you in your home search. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your agent to find all available properties.

3. Your REALTOR® can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property. Agents who are REALTORS® have access to a variety of informational resources. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning. schools, etc. There are two things you'll want to know. First, will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?

4. Your REALTOR® can help you negotiate. There are myriad negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment. The purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

5. Your REALTOR® provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property. Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few. Your REALTOR® can assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written reports. You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the property. Title indicates ownership of property and can be mired in confusing status of past owners or rights of access. The title to most properties will have some limitations; for example, easements (access rights) for utilities. Your REALTOR®, title company or attorney can help you resolve issues that might cause problems at a later date.

6. Your REALTOR® can help you in understanding different financing options and in identifying qualified lenders.

7. Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.

8. When selling your home, your REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.

9. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. Often, your REALTOR® can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of your property. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. In many markets across the country, over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate agent other than yours brings in the buyer. Your REALTOR® acts as the marketing coordinator, disbursing information about your property to other real estate agents through a Multiple Listing Service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses for agents, etc. The REALTOR® Code of Ethics requires REALTORS® to utilize these cooperative relationships when they benefit their clients.

10. Your REALTOR® will know when, where and how to advertise your property. There is a misconception that advertising sells real estate. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® studies show that 82% of real estate sales are the result of agent contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, family and personal contacts. When a property is marketed with the help of your REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.

11. Your REALTOR® can help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal without compromising your marketing position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections and financing -- a lot of possible pitfalls. Your REALTOR® can help you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it through the process.

12. Your REALTOR® can help close the sale of your home. Between the initial sales agreement and closing (or settlement), questions may arise. For example, unexpected repairs are required to obtain financing or a cloud in the title is discovered. The required paperwork alone is overwhelming for most sellers. Your REALTOR® is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing (or settlement).

IRS Speeds Lien Relief for Homeowners Trying to Refinance, Sell

2009-01-06T16:30:00.000-05:00

IRS Speeds Lien Relief for Homeowners Trying to Refinance, Sell

IR-2008-141, Dec. 16, 2008

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced an expedited process that will make it easier for financially distressed homeowners to avoid having a federal tax lien block refinancing of mortgages or the sale of a home.

If taxpayers are looking to refinance or sell a home and there is a federal tax lien filed, there are options. Taxpayers or their representatives, such as their lenders, may request that the IRS make a tax lien secondary to the lien by the lending institution that is refinancing or restructuring a loan. Taxpayers or their representatives may request that the IRS discharge its claim if the home is being sold for less than the amount of the mortgage lien under certain circumstances.

The process to request a discharge or a subordination of a tax lien takes approximately 30 days after the submission of the completed application, but the IRS will work to speed those requests in wake of the economic downturn.

“We don’t want the IRS to be a barrier to people saving or selling their homes. We want to raise awareness of these lien options and to speed our decision-making process so people can refinance their mortgages or sell their homes,” said Doug Shulman, IRS commissioner.

“We realize these are difficult times for many Americans,” Shulman said. “We will ensure we have the resources in place to resolve these issues quickly and homeowners can complete their transactions.”

Filing a Notice of Federal Tax Lien is a formal process by which the government makes a legal claim to property as security or payment for a tax debt. It serves as a public notice to other creditors that the government has a claim on the property.

In some cases, a federal tax lien can be made secondary to another lien, such as a lending institution’s, if the IRS determines that taking a secondary position ultimately will help with collection of the tax debt. That process is called subordination. Taxpayers or their representatives may apply for a subordination of a federal tax lien if they are refinancing or restructuring their mortgage. Without lien subordination, taxpayers may be unable to borrow funds or reduce their payments. Lending institutions generally want their lien to have priority on the home being used as collateral.

To apply for a certificate of lien subordination, people must follow directions in Publication 784, How to Prepare an Application for a Certificate of Subordination of a Federal Tax Lien. Again, there is no form but there must be a typed letter of request and certain documentation. The request should be mailed to one of 40 Collection Advisory Groups nationwide. See Publication 4235, Collection Advisory Group Addresses, for address information.

Taxpayers or their representatives may apply for a certificate of discharge of a tax lien if they are giving up ownership of the property, such as selling the property, at an amount less than the mortgage lien if the mortgage lien is senior to the tax lien. The IRS may also issue a certificate of discharge in other circumstances if the taxpayer has sufficient equity in other assets, can substitute other assets, or is able to pay the IRS its equity in the property. Without a tax lien discharge, the taxpayer may be unable to complete the home ownership change and the ownership title will remain clouded.

To apply for a tax lien discharge, applicants must follow directions in Publication 783, Instructions on How to Apply for a Certificate of Discharge of a Federal Tax Lien. There is no form but there must be a typed letter of request and certain documentation. The request should be mailed to one of 40 Collection Advisory Groups nationwide. See Publication 4235 for address information.

The IRS also urges people to contact the agency’s Collection Advisory Group early in the home sale or refinancing process so that it can begin work on their requests. People sometimes delay informing lenders of the tax liens, which only serves to delay the transaction.

Currently, there are more than 1 million federal tax liens outstanding tied to both real and personal property. The IRS issues more than 600,000 federal tax lien notices annually.

Michigan Property Tax Explanation

2009-01-06T12:08:00.005-05:00

Explaining the property tax system in Michigan is a difficult task to say the least. This presentation produced by the Michigan Department of Treasury does a good job. The associated PowerPoint is helpful in following along.
(Click on the title of this post to be directed to the presentation.)

Existing home sales, prices drop at record pace; info via Yahoo

2008-12-23T16:07:00.000-05:00

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The pace of existing home sales plunged a record 8.6 percent in November and prices fell a record amount as layoffs and a stock market crash worsened an already grim housing market, a real estate trade group said Tuesday.

The median home price fell 13.2 percent on an annual basis, down for a fifth straight month to $181,300. It was the largest drop since the current data series began in 1968 and probably the largest since the Great Depression, Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, told reporters.

The pace of sales fell to a 4.49-million-unit annual rate.

Economists polled by Reuters were expecting home resales to set a 4.90-million pace. October's figure was revised downwards to 4.91 million, from 4.98 million.

"The quickly deteriorating conditions in the job market, stock market and consumer confidence in October and November have knocked down home sales to another level," Yun said.

"It is, therefore, imperative to provide incentives for homebuyers to get back into the market, Yun said.

Past experience shows when home resales slid after the 1987 and 2001 stock market crashes, they then rebounded after the third month to what had been the trend, he said.

"We hope the home sales impact from the stock market crash turns out to be short-lived, as was the case in 1987 and 2001," Yun said.

The inventory of existing homes for sales rose 0.1 percent to 4.203 million from 4.198 million in October. That translates into 11.2 months of supply, matching the record peak set in April, Yun said.

The housing malaise, which triggered a global financial crisis, has infected other sectors of the broader economy and sent unemployment rates higher.

Analysts says stability in the housing sector is key to any recovery in the U.S. economy, which has been in a recession since late last year.

Help may be on the way

2008-12-18T13:11:00.000-05:00

The Four Point Plan

The most recent economic stimulus bill, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, was a good first step towards stabilizing our nation’s economy. Unfortunately, a number of the Act’s provisions have not proven to be as useful at stabilizing the nation’s housing markets as was first thought.

Congress may consider a second economic stimulus bill this month. If they do, there are a number of changes that could help to provide more stability to the nation’s real estate markets which most agree is a necessary step towards recovery.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has urged Congress to include the following provisions in any future legislation:

1. Make the $7500 tax credit available to all purchasers and eliminate the repayment requirement. The credit’s limited availability and required repayment terms have severely limited the credit’s appeal to potential homebuyers. As a result, the credit has not been widely used or proven effective at stimulating sales.

2. Make the 2008 FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limits permanent. New rules for 2009 would significantly reduce the FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limit from their 2008 levels. Now is not the time to limit the availability of affordable mortgages.

3. Get the Emergency Treasury bank relief program back on track by targeting more funds to mortgage relief efforts and increasing efforts to mitigate foreclosures. Don't just give the banks unrestricted cash. Make the program work to improve mortgage and housing markets as it was originally intended.

4. Permanently bar banks and banking conglomerates from engaging in real estate brokerage and management. The banks have proven they have enough to do to simply properly manage their current lines of business. Do we really want them to manage the home buying process? Imagine what could have been the situation now if they already had the added ability to engage in real estate sales.

Foreclosures in the US

2006-12-02T10:09:00.000-05:00

Top 10 Metro Foreclosure Rates
Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Denver Top the List
By Rick Sharga November 21, 2006

Elevated foreclosure rates could be coming to a city near you.
Nationwide, 318,355 properties entered some stage of foreclosure during the third quarter of 2006, a 43 percent increase from a year ago and a foreclosure rate of one new foreclosure filing for every 363 households, according to RealtyTrac, an online marketplace for foreclosure properties.
Many cities documented foreclosure rates well above the national average. Leading the foreclosure rate charge were Detroit, Fort Lauderdale and Denver. Completing the top 10 were Miami, Dallas, Indianapolis, Fort Worth, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Memphis. Analysts attribute the sharp increase in foreclosures to higher interest rates, a softening real estate market and the upward adjustment of a large portion of adjustable-rate mortgages taken out in the last few years by many American borrowers.
"In the next 15 months, more than $1 trillion in loans are due to adjust upward," said James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac. "With such a large volume of these loans set to increase, it is a trend that definitely bears watching."
Top 10 Cities
Many experts believe the real estate slump could get worse before it gets better. On the other hand, a slow housing market with a glut of foreclosures presents more opportunities for buyers and investors to find bargains and profit from those bargains - if they have the patience to buy and hold. Here's a look at the Top 10 foreclosure cities.
Top 10 Metro Foreclosure Rates - Q3 2006
Metro Area
% of Households in Foreclosure
# Households for Every Foreclosure
Foreclosure Rate to National Average
1. Detroit, MI
1.25% 80 4.5
2. Fort Lauderdale, FL
1.14% 88 4.1
3. Denver, CO
1.11% 90 4.0
4. Miami, FL
1.10% 91 4.0
5. Dallas, TX
1.01% 99 3.7
6. Indianapolis, IN
1.00% 100 3.6
7. Fort Worth, TX
0.99% 101 3.6
8. Atlanta, GA
0.94% 107 3.4
9. Las Vegas, NV
0.87% 115 3.2
10. Memphis, TN
0.70% 144 2.5
% of Households in Foreclosure: Total foreclosures divided by the total households in a metro.
# of Households Per Foreclosure: Total households divided by the total foreclosures in a metro (a.k.a. "Foreclosure Rate").
Foreclosure Rate to National Average: Foreclosure rate in a metro divided by the national average foreclosure rate.

No. 1: Detroit, MI
Detroit's foreclosure rate of one new foreclosure filing for every 80 households was more than 4.5 times the national average. Job losses in the automotive manufacturing sector, a sluggish economy, falling home values and upward-adjusting mortgages are pushing more Detroit homeowners into foreclosure. Detroit automakers and suppliers are cutting thousands of jobs as part of a massive industry restructuring, leaving thousands of laid-off or underemployed Michigan residents swimming in red ink.
And with the auto industry showing no sign of recovery, the future looks bleak for Detroit. The city has lost about 100,000 jobs in the last five years, and total employment is expected to continue to decline until the end of the decade, according to a recent report by Moody's Economy.com.
No. 2: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Lauderdale's foreclosure rate ranked second highest in the nation among major metropolitan areas, with one new foreclosure filing for every 88 households - more than four times the national average.
Like the rest of the nation, the Sunshine State is experiencing a cooling economy, plus rises in property insurance premiums and interest rates. These factors have made it tougher for South Florida homeowners to keep up with their house payments.
South Florida real estate agent Bill Gardner said a lot of properties are sitting on the market unsold because the sellers have financed their properties at 100 percent of what the properties are worth, leaving the sellers no room to reduce their asking price. These sellers are more susceptible to default or foreclosure, especially since investors are now more cautious about sinking money into the housing market.
"Most of the people who are buying now actually need a place to live. And I think all of the investors are kind of pulling out of the market," Gardner said. "My only sales I am making are with people who want to occupy. The properties that are selling are the ones that are under-priced."
No. 3: Denver, CO
Two years ago, the metro Denver region was one of the hottest housing markets in the country. Houses sold in one day for full price. Today, foreclosures are so high in Denver that the state just set up a first-of-its-kind foreclosure help hotline. The hotline received 1,400 calls on the first day.
The Denver region posted the third highest foreclosure rate among the country's 100 largest metropolitan areas during the third quarter of 2006. One out of every 90 households in the metro area entered some stage of foreclosure during the quarter, compared with one out of 363 households nationally. Broad economic factors - such as a housing surplus, stagnant prices, layoffs and the heavy use of adjustable-rate mortgages and interest-only mortgages - contributed to Denver's growing number of foreclosures.
No. 4: Miami, FL
Miami ranked fourth, with one new foreclosure filing for every 91 household, although many of the properties entering into foreclosure in South Florida do not move through the entire process. Steep rises in prices the past few years enable many owners to sell out before losing their properties entirely.
Bill Gardner, the South Florida real estate agent, said buyers and investors should take advantage of the market while it lasts, which he doesn't believe will be for much longer.
"I think after the first of the year people are still going to want to move to Miami," he said. "Even though it's slower now, there are still bargains to be had and now is the time to buy.
"People looking for short-term gains, they missed that boat. But for the long haul it's still a good investment."
No. 5: Dallas, TX
Foreclosure postings in the Dallas area have surged in the past two years, and the city's foreclosure rate consistently ranks among the nation's highest. Interest-only mortgages have accounted for about 10 percent of mortgages in Dallas-Fort Worth this year, according to LoanPerformance, a San Francisco company that collects and analyzes mortgage data.
Stagnated income and rising property taxes have also contributed to the foreclosure spike occurring all over North Texas. More than 9,000 foreclosure filings were recorded in Dallas County during the third quarter of 2006, more than twice the number recorded in the third quarter of 2005.
Dallas real estate agent Jon Callaway said the prevalence of 100 percent financing is pushing many area residents into foreclosure.
"As long as 100 percent financing exists there will be an abnormal amount of people getting into financial troubles and unable to sell their home," he said. "The majority of the homes we see in trouble across the metroplex are 100 percent financing loans."
But Callaway believes the Dallas housing market is showing signs of recovery, an opinion supported by the fact that the area's foreclosure activity rose at a much slower pace than most of the other cities in the top 10.
"Investors from California, Arizona, Florida, Utah and eastern states are soaking up inventory, speculating we are going to be the next hot spot," he said. "I do see us pulling out of the stagnated market we have been in for the last five years and moving forward at a 5 to 7 percent appreciating pace."
No. 6: Indianapolis, IN
Like Detroit, Indianapolis is a big automotive industry supplier that has suffered economic setbacks, and falling home prices have made it more difficult for homeowners in jeopardy to bail out with some profit. Of the top 10 cities on the list only Indianapolis reported decreasing foreclosure rates, with a 2 percent dip from the previous quarter.
No. 7: Fort Worth, TX
In Fort Worth, the median price of a home sold in October - $143,000 - is down 3 percent from last year, according to the North Texas Real Estate Information System. Stagnated income and rising property taxes have contributed to the foreclosure spike occurring in Fort Worth and all over North Texas.
No. 8: Atlanta, GA
Atlanta ranked eighth in the country in foreclosure rate, reporting one new foreclosure filing for every 107 households - more than three times the national average.
"Mortgage fraud, liberal lending practices, and inexperienced investors, along with corporate layoffs and slashed pension funds are contributing causes for the high foreclosure rate," said Atlanta real estate agent Ken McCall.
No. 9: Las Vegas, NV
Experts say Las Vegas is outpacing the national rate as homeowners succumb to rising adjustable interest rates. Some homeowners who bought with no down payment now owe more than their homes are worth. And the foreclosure rate in Las Vegas shows no signs of slowing, with some predictions it could triple in the next six to nine months. One-third of the homes bought in Las Vegas in 2004 and 2005 were purchased using adjustable-rate mortgages. And as mortgage payments increase sharply for those with adjustable rate mortgages, the city's foreclosure rate could continue to rise by the end of the year and in early 2007.
No. 10: Memphis, TN
Memphis rounded out the Top 10 list with a foreclosure rate of one new foreclosure filing for every 144 households. The city's foreclosure rate was more than 2.5 times the national average and was up 2 percent from the previous quarter.
Memphis broker Tommie Criswell-Jones said foreclosures are present for a variety of reasons, including high-ratio loans, bankruptcy frequency, poor underwriting and mortgage fraud. She said Memphis ranks No. 8 in the country for mortgage fraud.
Criswell-Jones noted that the Memphis market is "slow and steady" and has not seen the dramatic increases in home prices in recent years. She cited strong consumer confidence and recent corporate relocations as factors that will help create a more balanced housing market in the near future.
"Sections of our MLS area have higher inventory than demand, but in those areas sales are still considered strong," she said. "We expect to see the local housing market adjust somewhat in line with the national trends, with a gentle slowdown in new home starts. We expect a more balanced market with sellers and buyers, and sales are expected to be at or slightly above 2006."

And I thought being in the doghouse was a bad thing...

2006-12-01T14:03:00.000-05:00

Daily Real Estate News December 1, 2006
Sell a Fancy Dog House, Earn a Commission

The housing market is going to the dogs – literally.Doggie Mansions, a company in West Palm Beach, Fla., that builds designer doghouses priced anywhere from $10,500 to $100,000, is offering 10 percent commissions to real estate professionals who make the sale.
Partners (and dog lovers) Stacy Small and Donald Gorbach, a veteran real estate practitioner, started the company last summer and quickly realized the value of paying commissions. "On a $25,000 home, the commission comes to $2,500, and [real estate practitioners) don't have to split it with anybody," says Small, who goes by the title Chief Barketing Officer. "This way we can have a sales force in place."
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is among the company’s customers. He spent $25,000 on a two-story, brick-faced Doggie Mansion for his three dogs – two Rottweilers, Chuck and Homer, and a Maltese named Muffin. The 8-by-10-foot luxury dog retreat is equipped with air conditioning, a brushed micro-velvet suede couch, ceramic tile floors, large arched windows, a flat-screen plasma TV that loops classic canine movies like "Benji" and "Rin Tin Tin" and, of course, football-shaped doggie beds. The mansions take two to four weeks to build, and can be shipped around the world.
The company's Web site, www.doggiemansions.com, includes listings of dog houses.

What Do Buyer's Want?

2006-12-01T10:03:00.000-05:00

From Real Trends Email Update #858, dated November 29, 2007:

===What is today's consumer's #1 incentive in buying a home?===
When consumers were asked recently what incentive appeals to them most in buying a home, three out of four chose “closing costs paid.” “Not surprising, this would represent a bottom-line savings of several thousand dollars in normal closing cost fees and services,” noted Michael Bearden, president and CEO of HouseHunt, Inc., a consumer-oriented Internet firm which conducted the national e-mail random survey. “In contrast, only two percent of respondents chose a paid trip or vacation as their top incentives.”
Placing a distant second in the homebuyer incentive survey was “free upgrades,” with nine percent of the vote. In third place at six percent was “free property inspection.” Then came “free appliances” and “flooring credits,’ at three and two percent respectively. The incentive scoring last at one percent was “landscaping credits.”Added Bearden: “Our latest national Current Market Conditions survey showed the seller-buyer ratio at 52%-36% ratio, with 12 percent reporting 50-50.
The survey also showed that it is taking longer to sell a home – 74 percent said more than 60 days -- with only 51 percent of sellers getting more than 95 percent of their asking prices. Only 11 percent reported price appreciation of 10 percent or more in the past year. Multiple offers have almost disappeared. We anticipate that results from our fourth quarter market conditions survey in late December will be similar.”

AT&T Launches Remote Home Monitoring Video Service Nationwide

2006-11-06T10:18:00.000-05:00

New Offering Advances AT&T Wireline-Wireless Convergence Strategy by Delivering Sensor-Based Video Monitoring Via Pc Or Cingular Wireless Phone
San Antonio, Texas, October 26, 2006
Imagine being on the road and receiving real-time video on your wireless phone when your children arrive safely home from school. Or checking in on a live video feed of your weekend getaway property while you're in the office.
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today launched an innovative new home monitoring service that will help customers stay more connected to their homes and families while they are away. The new service, which is available nationwide, enables customers to use both personal computers and Cingular wireless devices to access high-quality, streaming digital video and other real-time data and information from their homes — at virtually any time and from anywhere.
The new service is an example of AT&T's continuing commitment to innovation, and its strategy for delivering converged, IP-based services that enable customers to access content, critical applications and information virtually anytime, anywhere, and using any device.
The AT&T home monitor service combines live and recorded video (non-audio) capabilities with a range of environmental sensor options to provide customers with a powerful, flexible toolkit to help them stay connected to the people and things they value most. For example, the service allows users to remotely control lighting in their homes, and it can provide a range of alerts and reports on home conditions, such as motion, door and window activity, water leakage, and temperature changes.
"Keeping track of home activities is increasingly challenging today, as we spend more time on the road and on the run," said Susan Johnson, senior vice president of Business Development at AT&T. "The new AT&T home monitoring service will provide an affordable, easy-to-use solution for a variety of challenges in managing a household. This service is ideal for a wide range of potential applications, from keeping an eye on children, elderly parents or pets to monitoring a second home or vacation home."
Users can easily customize alerts and actions based on their specific needs. For example, a user can program the service to send a text message alert to a cell phone when motion is detected in an area of the home, while at the same time automatically turning on lighting and recording video of the same area.
The service is available via AT&T to customers of Cingular Wireless services, and can be accessed via virtually any Cingular wireless phone or PDA capable of supporting Internet access and Java, as well as nearly any broadband-enabled PC. The service is optimized for residential customers who subscribe to AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet as well as Cingular services.
The offering includes a starter package of equipment for a one-time cost of $199. The starter packaged includes:
A pan-and-tilt IP camera
Two power modules that enable device connectivity via home power outlets
A wireless door/window sensor
A wireless gateway for connecting equipment to a home network
All needed software and instructions
Thereafter, the service is provided for $9.95 a month.
Additional equipment is available that expands the home monitoring solution, such as additional cameras and contact sensors, wireless temperature and water sensors, and wireless power controls for light fixtures or other appliances.
All monitoring equipment is controlled via an integrated Web-based portal. Users can access these live video feeds and reports from the portal, and establish customized instructions for the service to provide alerts or to take action under specific conditions.
The AT&T home monitoring service is available today exclusively via AT&T online orders and a special customer service number. AT&T currently is marketing the service only in select U.S. states. Customers can receive additional information or order the AT&T home monitoring service by calling 800.237.4588 or by visiting www.att.com/remotemonitor.

The Haunted Cabin continued...

2006-11-01T12:27:00.000-05:00

To view more photos of The Vivio's Haunted Cabin, go to:
http://picasaweb.google.com/BillyTheRealtor/TheHauntedCabinByTheStaffVivioS

The Vivio's Haunted Cabin

2006-10-31T21:40:00.000-05:00

The staff at Vivio's closes for the evening and transforms one of the area's most popular restaurants into "The Haunted Cabin". This Halloween more than 700 people ventured through "The Cabin" compliments of Vivio's.

Winter-proof Your Home

2006-10-16T13:34:00.000-04:00

'Tis the season................

NEW YORK, October 9, 2006 — Winter storms can wreak havoc on your home, and account for a large percentage of homeowners insurance claims, so be prepared by winter-proofing your home, warned the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).Winter storms accounted for 7.8 percent of catastrophe losses from 1986-2005, with losses averaging more than $1 billion a year over that period. Water damage and freezing account for approximately 17 percent of all homeowners insurance claims, while wind and hail account for close to 50 percent. The average claim for water damage and freezing is $5,095, according to the I.I.I.However, many winter-related disasters can be prevented if you take a few simple steps to protect your home from snow, wind and freezing temperatures. “With the weather still relatively mild, autumn is the perfect time to winter-proof your home,” said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I.The first step is to make sure your home and possessions are properly insured. “Standard homeowners policies cover winter-related disasters such as burst pipes, ice dams and wind damage caused by weight of ice or snow, as well as fire-related losses,” noted Salvatore. Coverage for flooding is available from the National Flood Insurance Program, but is generally purchased through your insurance agent or company representative. Winter-related damage to cars is often covered under the comprehensive portion of an auto insurance policy.The Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting colder than normal temperatures and above average snowfall in many areas of the country this winter.To prepare for winter, the I.I.I. offers the following tips:

OUTSIDE YOUR HOME
Clean out gutters. Remove leaves, sticks and other debris from gutters, so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This can prevent ice damming—a condition where water is unable to drain through the gutters and instead seeps into the house causing water to drip from the ceiling and walls.
Install gutter guards. Available in most hardware and home stores, “gutter guards” prevent debris from entering the gutter and interfering with the flow of water away from the house and into the ground.
Trim trees and remove dead branches. Ice, snow and wind can cause weak trees or branches to break, causing damage to your home or car, as well as injury to people on your property.
Repair steps and handrails. This may prevent someone from falling and being seriously injured. Broken stairs and banisters can become lethal when covered with snow and ice.
Seal cracks in holes in outside walls and foundations. Use caulking to protect water pipes and make sure that skylights and other roof openings have proper weather stripping to prevent snowmelt from seeping in.

INSIDE YOUR HOME
Keep the house warm. Set the thermostat for at least 65 degrees, since the temperature inside the walls, where the pipes are located, is substantially colder—a lower temperature will not keep the pipes from freezing.
Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic, it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. Water can then re-freeze, causing more snow and ice to build up. This can result in a collapsed roof, and can contribute to ice damming. Ideally, the attic should be five to ten degrees warmer than the outside air. Well-insulated basements and crawl spaces will also help protect pipes from freezing. You may also consider insulating unfinished rooms such as garages to keep pipes from freezing.
Have the heating system serviced. Furnaces, boilers and chimneys should be serviced at least once a year to prevent fire and smoke damage.
Check pipes. Look closely for cracks and leaks and have the pipes repaired immediately. Wrap exposed pipes with heating tape.
Install an emergency pressure release valve in your plumbing system. This will protect against the increased pressure caused by freezing pipes and can help prevent your pipes from bursting.
Make sure that smoke and fire alarms are working properly. Residential fires increase in the winter, so it is important to protect your family with working alarm systems. Also, consider installing a carbon dioxide detector, since a well sealed home can trap this toxic gas.
Learn how to shut the water off and know where your pipes are located. If your pipes freeze, time is of the essence. The quicker you can shut off the water or direct your plumber to the problem, the better chance you have to prevent pipes from bursting.
Hire a licensed contractor to look for structural damage. If damage is discovered, you can have it repaired immediately rather than waiting for a more severe problem to occur. Also, ask about ways to prevent water damage resulting from snow-related flooding. Plastic coatings for internal basement walls, sump pumps and other methods can prevent flood damage to your home and belongings.
If you are going to be away for an extended period, take special care. Turn the water off and/or have the water system drained by a professional to keep pipes from freezing or bursting. Also, hire someone to check your home on a regular basis.

If there is a problem, it can be fixed quickly, thus lessening any damage. Activity at your home will also reduce the likelihood that it will be burglarized.
For more information on homeowners insurance, go to the I.I.I. Web site: http://www.iii.org/homei .

Flood insurance information is available from the NFIP: http://www.floodsmart.gov .

For additional tips on winter-proofing your home, as well as information on how to prepare your home if it is going to be vacant, go to the Institute for Business & Home Safety: http://www.IBHS.org .

What a morning!

2006-10-12T23:47:00.000-04:00

Sunday it was 74 degrees and there was a steady stream of golfers out on the course. The photos show what we woke up to Thursday. I never remember this much accumulation so early. I am certainly not ready for snow but it was so beautiful outside. The snow melted off the leaves and the brilliant colors against the withe snow made for a few spectacular photographs.

If it were that easy....

2006-09-30T14:18:00.000-04:00

The real estate business is one of the most interesting, competitive, exciting, and frustrating businesses there is and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing", a show about Malibu, California, real estate agents trying to sell homes, makes it look easy. I guess everything in the Malibu lifestyle probably isn't like it is anywhere else in the world. This cartoon is a bit closer to reality.