TurboTax has put a good summary of the Economic Stimulus package up on their website, created by Kiplinger. The tax breaks fall into a number of catagories ...
Bob,
Wild Care, of Eastham, has been treating injured, ill and orphaned native wildlife since 1989, with a goal of releasing them back into the wild capable of independent survival. Wild Care works to prevent wildlife casualties through public education and live counseling, and to engage the community in conservation through volunteerism. Most recently they rescued a red-necked grebe from the frigid waters of Rock Harbor. Read about this rescue, and about Wild Care on their website.
It looks like the Town of Wellfleet will be limiting the size of new homes built in the National Seashore to 3,600 sqft total and 2,800 sqft of living space. This will apply, primarily, to home renovations and (the ultimate nenovation) tear-downs. Read the story in the Cape Cod Times.
The Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch published a story that highlighted why 2009 is the year to buy a home. Take a look at this story, Here... There are plenty of nay-sayers, but most of the points are good. Clearly, the low mortgage interest rates, increased inventory, and lower home prices make a strong argument in favor of 2009 being a good year to buy.
This year marks the 29th anniversary of the Hyannis Marathon, which is being run this year on Sunday, February 22nd. The day's events also include a 5K "Fun Run", a 10K, and a half marathon. Go to their website for race details. This race is a Boston Marathon qualifier race and is capped at 4200 runners. The Hyannis Marathon is a two loop course, which is extremely picturesque & historical along Craigville Beach, Kalus Beach, historic Hyannis Harbor, Lewis Bay, John F. Kennedy Memorial, and the Kennedy Family Compound. The course is paved and mostly flat with a few rolling hills, ideal for a late winter/early spring race.
Early golf legends, Bobby Jones and Francis Ouimet, played golf at Eastham's Cedar Bank Links, a private course that was constructed in the mid 1920's and existed until just after World War II. The course dominated the landscape that today is occupied by the Cape Cod National Seashore's visitor's center and the land surrounding Salt Pond. In fact, the parking lot of the visitor's center sits where the nineth hole use to be. The 17th green was near where the boathouses stand today. An interesting history of the Cedar Bank Links can be found on the Golf on Cape Cod website.
The Cape Cod National Seashore is having a lecture series on topics related to the climate change 'hot topic'. These lectures are at 4PM on Wednesdays at the Highlands Center in Truro. The lectures are...For more information, go to the NPS website... Here.
My March 2009 newsletter is available now! This issue features Part 2 of the year-end 2008 sales report. It also has the details of my Outer Cape Cod Real Estate "Stimulus" Package. To request your copy of the March 2009 newsletter, Click HERE...
A Wellfleet student will be shooting a film on-Cape starting in 2 weeks. Nate Chapman, a senior at New York University, will be directing the film, "The Evangelist", in P-Town, Wellfleet and Eastham. The Cape Cod Times ran a lengthy article this weekend. Check it out ... CapeCodTimes.com - Cape filmmaker pursues dream
As you can see, with the exception of Chatham, prices have suffered somewhat since 2004. However, they have held up well in comparison to the national average of roughly a 30% decline.
Sometimes potential home buyers need to sell their current home in order to afford their 'next' place. Although not that common in Eastham and the Outer Cape (since many of the purchases are for second homes), it can be the norm in some areas.
It appears that the $15,000 tax credit available to all primary residence home buyers, as part of the 'compromise' Federal bail-out package, has been scaled back to $8,000, and available only to first-time home buyers. The 'rules' for the $8,000 tax credit mirror those of the prior $7,500 credit with one significant change. The change is that this tax credit doesn't have to be repaid.
The episode that I did for HGTV's House Hunters with one of my Client-couples as part of their "Waterfront" series is scheduled to be re-broadcast tomorrow, on February 9th at 9 PM . We filmed 3 houses, one each in Eastham, Wellfleet, and Brewster, with my clients ultimately purchasing one of them. See if you can guess which one! The show was a lot of fun to do. Be sure to watch it, or at least TiVO it to watch later.
The Senate last night approved a $15,000 tax credit for home buyers as part of the Obama stimulus package. Some 'experts' call it a good start, but they believe that it won't do anything for the vast majority of potential home buyers. Go to the article on CNBC.com to read about the tax credit and why it may not be the solution our lawmakers are looking for.
"The U.S. economy will not recover until the housing market revives", said Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) as he renewed his call for a $15,000 homebuyer tax credit to be included in the economic stimulus package now being considered by the Senate.
Bob,
The Boston Globe ran an article about real estate in Massachusetts and the effect that the current downturn has had on propert values. The article didn't say where the data came from (probably the Bankers and Trademen newspaper), but it discussed how property has become more affordable. Interesting reading. Of note, there was a map included that graphically showed 2008's depreciation/appreciation, by town. The Outer Cape did VERY well. I cut out a section of the map as a teaser. You'll need to go to the article to see the whole map, and the key.
