Delaware Valley Real Estate - OnPoint with Letitia Stevenson

First Time Home Buyer Seminar - Delaware (February 27, 2010)

Attend a FREE First Time Home Buyer Seminar! And, Get Your Questions Answered!

Register for one of the two First Time Home Buyer Seminars:

DATE: Saturday, February 27, 2010

LOCATION: New Castle County, DE

(Click below "Seminar Sign Up" for Location Details)

TIMES: 10:00am - 12:00 pm  (1^st Seminar), 1:00pm - 3:00 pm (2^nd Seminar)

Each First Time Home Buyer Seminar will cover:

The Basics: The Home Buying Process

Mortgages: How They Really Work

Financing: FHA Loans, VA Loans, and Other Financing Options

Credit: Understanding and Improving Your Credit Score

$8,000 Tax Credit: How it Works and How to Use It, and More

Each attendee will receive:

Free Home Buying Guide

Additional Tips and Resources

Local Market Reports

Opportunity to Meet with Industry Professionals

Martin Luther King Jr. 2010 DAY OF CELEBRATION (January 18, 2010)

A day of celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this event includes educational art and essay contest awards, interactive activities including science, wellness and empowerment zones, and community exhibitors. 

• When:            January 18, 2010, 11:30 AM until 5:30 PM
• Where:           Chase Center on The Riverfront, Wilmington, DE
• Cost:              FREE
• More Info:       http://mlkcelebration.dupont.com

While the accuracy of this information is deemed reliable, remember to always call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information.

New Homebuyer Credit Form Now Available!

The new homebuyer credit form - First-Time Homebuyer Credit and Repayment of Credit (Form 5405) - is now available on the IRS website. The new form comes with new document (settlement statement & other documents) requirements to prove eligibility in the efforts to prevent fraud related to the first-time homebuyer credit.

2008 Form 5404:

Taxpayers who purchased a home in 2009 on or before November 06, 2009 must use the 2008 version of First-Time Homebuyer Credit form (2008 Form 5404).

New Version of Form 5404:

Taxpayers who purchase a home on or after November 07, 2009 must use the new version of the form to claim the credit (whether the credit is claimed for 2008 or for 2009). Taxpayers claiming the credit on their 2009 returns, no matter when the house was purchased, i.e., in 2009 or in 2010, must also use the new version of Form 5405.

Taxpayers who claim the credit on their 2009 tax return will not be able to file electronically but instead will need to file a paper return.

For more information, please visit:

• IRS News Release on New Homebuyer Credit Form
• IRS First-Time Homebuyer Credit page
• IRS New Form 5405 (Rev. December 2009)

This post is for informational purposes only and should be verified by a qualified tax professional. Please consult your tax advisor/accountant/cpa for tax advice and to determine whether you are eligible for this tax credit.

Haiti Earthquake Relief: Clinton-Bush HAITI Fund Launched...

President Barack Obama has named former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to serve as co-chairs of the U.S. relief efforts in Haiti. The two former presidents will lead the private-sector fundraising efforts to support immediate relief and promote long-term rebuilding of Haiti.

Please support the earthquake recovery efforts in Haiti. To learn more about the fund and make a donation, please visit the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund online at the newly launched website:

www.ClintonBushHaitiFund.org

Ghost Tweeting: Appropriate or not? What are your thoughts?

I just read an article by Mike McDonald at Web Pro News where he talks about an interesting and debatable subject: Ghost Tweeting.

Ghostwriting has been a staple of business and academia for ages. In fact, it is a standard practice across industries, in both professional and personal writing, in the form of bylines, press releases, articles, books, etc.  So why is ghost tweeting - tweeting on another person's behalf - any different? 

Is there something about Twitter - the micro-platform that packs a big communications punch - that makes it seem less appropriate for ghosting? What are your thoughts?

Hands Off: Wilmington's Ban on Use of Handheld Cell Phone While Driving Takes Effect

Effective today (January 1, 2010), anyone caught talking on a handheld cell phone while driving a motor vehicle (or riding a bicycle) in Wilmington, Delaware will face a $50 fine.

This measure, passed by Wilmington City Council on August 20th, also bans the use of cell phones for texting and emailing. There are exemptions from the ban for emergency use of phone, law enforcement and emergency personnel who need to make work-related phone calls from their cell phones while driving.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to You and Yours!

Remembering the past, celebrating the present, and believing in the future…Happy New Year! Peace on Earth and best wishes throughout the New Year! Celebrate the New Year and make a resolution to enjoy every day of it! Wishing you and yours a Healthy, Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year!