Stacey-Ann's Blog

The Annual Bowie International Festival will be held this Saturday, October 3, 2009 (rain date 10/4/09).

The Bowie International festival features performances of music and dance, food, and activities from all over the world.  It is a great activity for adults and children, alike.

The Bowie Intenational festival will be held at the Allen Pond Park, 3300 Northview Drive, Bowie and will run from 11am - 5pm.

Come out and celebrate the diversity that makes our community so special.

I have been blogging on Activerain for about 1.5 years.  Late last year I received my first referral from activerain.  After several attempts that buyer was finally able to find a home she loved and she closed on her new home in June 2009.

This Summer I decided that I had to re-dedicate my efforts to creating a strong online presence.  I participated in the hyper-local and local business blogs and upgraded my website.  I was amazed that within 10 minutes my hyper-local blogs were on the first page of google.  Within a week of doing this I received 3 credible leads that came in as a direct result of my blogging and website

1. One couple who wanted to buy a home in Upper Marlboro.  After much searching for the perfect home, we are UNDER CONTRACT!!!!!!
2. One lady has severe credit issues but is beginning to work with a mortgage broker to put herself in a position to hopefully buy a home next year.
3. One man who is interested in buying a home in Oak Creek (one of the communities I focused on in the hyper-local blogs).  He is not local and is making arrangements to fly in to the DC area to take a look at the community more closely.

Today is the 3rd Annual Angie Houtz Memorial Golf Tournament.  This is one of the most nerve wracking mornings for me because I am constantly running through everything to make sure I did not forget anything major.  The charity is near and dear to my heart since it honors my best friend and I want the event to be a huge success.

The one thing I can't control, the weather, looks good - partly cloudy and highs in the upper 70s.  Great day for golf.

If you are in the Upper Marlboro area there's still time to play in the tournament, drop off a donation, or just come by to say hi and visit.

Tee off is at 1:00pm at the Oak Creek Club in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Of course, if you are not nearby, there is always time to mail in your tax deductible donation or donate online.

 

Wish me luck!

I am sick this week.  it's been a long time since I've felt so horrible  For days my throat was on fire and my ears hurt, then I had the runny eyes and the sneezing. Of all the weeks I didn't have time to be sick, I have my charity golf tournament tomorrow. I went to the doctor and she said it was allergies.  

I have always known that I am allergic to mold.  However, I have been in and out of these houses with mold all Summer with no problem.  It seems, though, that in the Fall there are so many mold spores present in general that I can't shake it off as easily.  This weekend I went into several homes, most of which had mold (only 1 disclosed this in the listing), and its been steadily downhill for me since.

What do I do about this?  Clearly, I can't refuse to show vacant homes, I don't want to find another job, oh no! maybe I need to wear a mask.  I'm too cute for a mask....there has to be another solution.  

Suggestions?

 

There are funds available to help first-time home buyers purchase a home in Prince George's County.  These funds are in the form of 0% interest deferred loans that can be used towards down payment or closing costs on the purchase of a home.  

The requirements of the program include:

• Purchase of a vacant foreclosed home
• Home must be located in an eligible zip code
• Purchaser must be a first-time home buyer or not have owned a home in the past 3 years
• Household income at or below 120% of the median household income for the area
• Work with a participating lender and complete a home buyer counseling course
• Most stay in the home for 10 years to avoid loan repayment

 

 

I am amazed to think that it has already been 8 years since that horrible day.  Day to day the crushing pain has lessened but the sense that something is missing from my life never goes away.  I still see things and think "Angie would like that" or hear a song that makes me think of her or remember a memory that only she and I share.  The hole that her death has left in my life will never be filled.  

One of the hardest parts of her loss for me is that fact that my children will never know her for themselves.  Of course they know her through my eyes but they have lost so much by not having her as the incredible "aunt" that she would have been.

One of the comforts was knowing that she died doing something she loved.  She took such pride in her job at the Pentagon and we have learned how important her presence was to her co-workers.  She had achieved so much and touched so many lives in her brief 27 years here with us.  

Angie was (and still is) one of the best things in my life.  She taught me incredible lessons about friendship, love, and acceptance.  I miss her more than words can say.

 

Angie Houtz Memorial Fund

Pentagon Memorial - A Must See

7 years later

 

Any home over $80,000 qualifies for the full tax credit. Homes under $80,000 qualify for a credit of 10% of the purchase price (E.G. $65,000 home qualifies for a $6500 tax credit).

To qualify for the credit the purchaser & the purchaser's spouse must be first-time home buyers.

Any single person who makes less than $75,000/per year ($150,000 for a married couple) qualifies for the full credit.  The credit phases out at higher income levels.

The tax credit does not need to be repaid provided the buyer does not sell the home within 3 years.

Though there was much talk, this tax credit cannot currently be used as a downpayment.

The 2009 $8000 tax credit expires on December 1, 2009. To qualify for the credit the real estate transaction must go to closing prior to the December 1 deadline.

If you are ready to purchase a home in Maryland give me a call.