Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended & Expanded

You may not have heard the news. In addition to the best real estate prices in decades and the very lowest mortgage interest rates we now know that the real estate tax credit has been extended to contracts written and accepted by April 30th, 2010, and also expanded to included move-up home buyers.

Home Team Scottsdale is here to help you take advantage of the prices, rates and get all the tax credits you deserve. Call 888-925-2562 or visit HomeTeamScottsdale.com today and start your Scottsdale Real Estate search with the Home Team on YOUR side.

The National Association of Realtors published this helpful guide for comparing the program that was expiring on November 30th with the one which was just signed by President Obama.

NAR Issue Brief: Homebuyer Tax Credit

A couple of the highlights include:

• Purchase contracts must be written by April 30, 2010.
• Move-up home buyers are eligible for a $6500 tax credit, providing they meet income limits and occupancy rules.
• First-time home buyers are still eligible for a $8000 tax credit, with income limits.
• Qualifying home prices are capped at $800,000.

I suspect that there are a few home buyers that are breathing a sigh of relief, knowing that they still have time to find a home, make an offer, and close before the extended 2010 deadline.

And there’s the potential to release a whole new wave of homes for sale. Homes that have been lived in, where the owners have taken care of them, and will disclose the history of the home to the buyer. I’ve listed six houses like this in just the past two weeks, and I suspect that I will be hearing from a few more folks who’ve been sitting on the fence, deciding whether the time was right to sell and buy up.

Here’s a link to the actual language of H.R. 3548: Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009.

It is a Historic time to buy.

Wow, talk about a great time to buy.

Let's see, we have:

Historic Prices for quality real estate, Low interest rates and plenty of selection.

This could be a huge opportunity for the young too.

In addition to the obvious benefits at the end of a 15 or 30 year mortgage you will be youg enough to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Young people just starting to invest and buying their first homes are potentially the big winners in this recession.

First-time homebuyers, most between the ages of 25 and 45, accounted for about 45 percent of home sales from January through July 2009, according to the National Association of REALTORS®

"This is a historic time," says George Jaramillo, a 35-year-old business analyst in Atlanta, who recently bought three homes, two of them foreclosures. "It's a great opportunity to make some great gains in the future."

A study by investment company T. Rowe Price points out that investing when prices are low can result in amazing gains. For instance, between 1970 and 1990, the annualized rate of return for the S&P 500 was 11.5 percent.

"We need to be shouting from the rooftops that this is not the time to get out of the market if you're young," says Christine Fahlund, a senior financial planner with T. Rowe Price. "This is the time to be in the market."

Home Team Scottsdale is here to help with all your Scottsdale area purchases. Get the Home Field Advantage with HomeTeamScottsdale.com. 1-888-925-2562

Great views including the Cactus!

Just read this interesting article by a travel writer that recently visited Scottsdale.

Scottsdale is all very hip and happening, with fancy hotels, great golf courses (allegedly—I’m no golfer) and highly rated restaurants. But during my visit last year, I was mesmerized by the cacti. So many varieties, so many personalities. I snapped umpteen photos.

Sometimes we who live and work in Scottsdale forget how beautiful it is. We have one of the most beautiful deserts in the world. Even our cacti is unique.

When families are renting our vacation rental properties at SpecialtyLodging.com, we always try to feature the views, because our clients are looking for that desert view, gold course view, mountain view, sunset view or even a lake view.

When planning your next Scottsdale area visit, make sure you visit SpecialtyLodging.com for the best deal on Arizona vacation rentals and corporate housing.

Scottsdale CVB's “Name the Scottsdale Cowgirl” promotion has selected a Name

The formerly nameless diamond-roping cowgirl featured in the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau’s newest ad campaign will now be known as Camelback Kate as voting for the “Name the Scottsdale Cowgirl” promotion ended April 15.

Web site visitors chose Owen Edgar from Scottsdale for his name submission of Camelback Kate.

All total, 928 votes were received for the contest finalists. More than 4,200 names were submitted for the contest and came from 46 states, as well as throughout Canada.

The entries generated by this contest are significantly more than any other promotion the CVB has conducted in recent years. The “Name the Scottsdale Cowgirl” contest was part of the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau’s efforts to promote its new brand advertising campaign, which launched in January.

Five new Scottsdale ads showcase the city’s sophistication and vibrancy in the Sonoran Desert while exploring the layered experiences inherent in a quintessential Scottsdale vacation.

Specialty Lodging Is Celebrating Mom’s The Entire Month of May with A Free Rental Car

Specialty Lodging Is Celebrating Mom’s The Entire Month of May with A Free Rental Car

This May Specialty Lodging will be offering a free Enterprise Rental Car
with a weeklong vacation rental during the month of May.

Scottsdale, Arizona – April 2009/Specialty Lodging/Press Release – Specialty Lodging, the leading professional vacation rental firm based in beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona is pleased to announce, they will be celebrating mothers, grandmothers and families this May. All vacation rentals arriving in May will receive a free Enterprise rental car for one week – allowing families to get out and explore Arizona!

Specialty Lodging has plenty of properties perfect for Mom & Dad to get away for some much needed rest and relaxation. But, they also manage vacation properties that the whole family will enjoy – from Great Grandma all the way down to the youngest children. Imagine a vacation were the whole family will enjoy spending quality family time in private luxury homes with private pools, gourmet kitchens, game rooms, theatre rooms and high speed Internet. Specialty Lodging prides itself on offering luxury vacation rentals at prices that make traditional lodging prices seem Outrageous.

“With all that Mother’s do for a family, we at Specialty Lodging think they deserve more than one day a year for us to show our appreciation. An Arizona vacation with a free rental car is a great way to say thank you!” says Jim Kempski, President of Specialty Lodging. “Now that Specialty Lodging is providing a free rental car for the week families will be able to fly into Phoenix, pick up their car and head straight for their vacation – does it get much easier?”

For more information on this special offer from Specialty Lodging, interested travelers should call 866-316-4821 or visit Specialty Lodging on the web at: www.SpecialtyLodging.com.

Specialty Lodging offers vacation rentals throughout Arizona, allowing vacationers to choose a luxury home base while taking advantage of everything Arizona has to offer. Whether it is sightseeing the Grand Canyon, golfing at some of the best golf courses in the United States, enjoying the many street festivals and events, relaxing at world class spas or enjoying the dining and nightlife – Specialty Lodging has the Arizona property for your perfect vacation.

Specialty Lodging destinations in Arizona include:
• The North Valley which includes: North Scottsdale, North Phoenix, Carefree and Cave Creek
• The East Valley including: Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and the famous Phoenix Biltmore area
• Northern Arizona including Sedona, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon
• And coming soon: Tempe, Mesa and Tucson

About Specialty Lodging
Specialty Lodging LLC is a premier, luxury vacation home and rental management company. Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Specialty Lodging provides a comprehensive and fully integrated management and marketing service program to individual owners of vacation homes or investors. Specialty Lodging's Property Management Program has taken traditional property management to the next level, providing traditional services of sound property maintenance, comprehensive accounting, and adding Specialty Lodging's Comprehensive Marketing Program.

What a week in The Scottsdale area.

It has been a good week to be in the Scottsdale area. I have been to 2 Spring Training games this week, 1 more coming over the weekend and now we have 2 days of NCAA men's basketball.

Seems like the last 10 days of Spring Training brings the most night games. That makes it easier for those of us that live and work here to get to more games. The baseball fans visiting the area like it because that can watch 2 games a day now.

As we have always said, when you add the Scottsdale areas events with the sunny weather and add a great place to stay that makes for a great vacation. And with Specialty Lodging Arizona you have your choice of homes, condos, resort rentals, villas and estates to select from.

Check out SpecialtyLodging.com for the best deal on a professionally managed vacation rental and our Spring Specials.

The Scottsdale Arts Festival, one of the most premier arts festivals in the country

Another great reason to visit the Scottsdale area is always the events. This weekend we have the Scottsdale Arts Festival, one of the most premier arts festivals in the country bringing tens of thousands of visitors each day over the weekend.

The Festival is known for the high quality and variety of fine arts and fine crafts available, as well as the continuous presentations, performances and demonstrations that take place throughout the weekend.

The Scottsdale Arts Festival spans the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, located in Old Town Scottsdale, adjacent to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

Live entertainment featuring jazz, folk, classical, blues, rock and world music. Roving entertainers offer impromptu performances throughout the festival grounds. And remeber when planning your Scottsdale area visit, you need to contact SpecialtyLodging.com. "We make traditional lodging prices seem outrageous.