Florida Real Estate Blog

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.  Suggest you go to the following Home Builders link below it has all the info you need.

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/faq.php

How can you not love our Government? Every time they attempt to do something to help the people they show just how inept they really are. So here we go again.

$8,000 first time home buyer credit. Sounds great and this time (unlike the $7,500 of last year) you don’t have to pay it back. But the devil is in the details. To qualify for this you cannot have owned a home in the past three years. Well that’s not entirely correct. You see in this new economy of ours we are neutral on all things that our founding fathers held dear. I.E. Marriage. In the details of this package a couple (not married but living together) can purchase a home and qualify for the $8,000 credit even if one of them has owned a home in the last 3 years. Where as a Married couple that has owned a property cannot qualify for even half of the credit. So the lesson to be learned from this is “Parents don’t let your kids grow up to be married”. In this case you are treated as a 2^nd class citizen and it cost you $8,000. Oh yes that’s right our new government as our President said during the campaign will decide how much you really need and what did Joe say, Oh yeah it is patriotic to give. I just don’t understand how a married couple making $50,000 has any more money to give than an unmarried couple making the same amount and living together has. Could someone explain this to me?

We have all been in the meetings where they talk about this. Now they have put it in writing. Here is the link.

http://wl.peer360.com/b/3NWlW75VtlkIs1ZcHxY0/article.asp?MID=843456&hl=131252040

Erroll Estates 7:58 AM

It is a beautiful morning as Greg, Lou and JR meet at the practice facility. Greg is in the cat bird seat in the 2^nd half with a commanding lead. He knows that if he can secure points today and JR does not win, he is a lock for the CW cup. CW is seen arriving just in time for our match and we have the opportunity to chat with a few of our AT&T fellow contestants as they tee off in front of us.

The Front 9 today will be played on the Highland while the back will be on the Lake. Note we have not played a round on the Grove since early summer. They must be doing some major work out there. To the Tee and Greg is the only one not is some sort of trouble off the tee. It shows as he would record the only double bogie. Putting is a challenge on that green as CW sets a new record with a 5 putt green. Ouch! The 2^nd finds CW and Greg with a tie and Lou and JR one back. The par 3 third generates some big numbers with JR and Lou the only two to bogie. Trees where the culprit on the 4^th as they either encumbered your swing or knocked down the perfect shot into the green. Seems this is the type of day our wana be champions would be faced with.

This game requires accurate shots into the green and you must be able to two put to win in the CW. Two requirements that this band of competitors seem to be lacking today.

The 5^th had great ball striking by Greg, Lou and JR but all putters would provide only bogies with CW just 1 back. The 6^th found only one bogie that being JR. On to the par 3 7^th where CW would record a par, yes that is correct we are through 7 holes before one of the band can record a par. As I have always said this group is made for each other. On to the long down hill 8^th. Drives where well struck with Lou only 125 out from the green. Yet this game requires laser like 2^nd shots with the putters these four have in their bags. So Lou wins the hole by 1 over JR and Greg (that after JR 3 putts from 9’) oh those fickle putters. The 9^th finds Greg dangerously close to OB on the left but he recovers to match Lou with a bogie and makes the turn up by 2 on Lou who is in front of JR by 2 and CW has JR in his sights only 4 back.

Everyone feels this is their day and Greg can be caught as they stand on the 10^th overlooking the lovely hollow that contains the Lake. The course wraps itself around this large body of naturally grassy waterway. Again drives are well struck with Lou now flirting with OB left but does a great job recovering. CW looks to make a name for himself today as he records another par on this hole. Yet he gives back to the boys on the next hole when he records 2 over the three of them. The 12^th finds two more pars from JR and Lou and the wind is beginning to howl. It always seems to blow making the turn from 12, 13 and 14.

It should have a name to it (like Mann’s Corner at Rolling Hills) but no one has tamed it yet. Although CW is looking good and has some history that leads me to believe it may become his name sake. Not today as he would double 12, triple 13 and bogie 14 to go 6 over par while Lou and JR sneak back towards Greg by shooting just 3 over par over the same three holes. I do believe they are the defining holes on that back nine. Greg gave up two strokes over those holes and our boys are sensing a change is in the air. The par 5 15^th is long and up hill and Greg settles in with a par of his own to extend his lead back to 3 over Lou and JR.

To the tee on 16 where drives are well struck by Lou, CW and JR and then Greg launches one with a tail to the left and we feel it will be found inbounds. Not the case after looking for some time he goes back to the tee box to hit again and launches one down the right side. Is that a light at the end of the tunnel the boys ask. Sure enough Greg’s next shot is in the rough and the ball is found to be unplayable. He drops back two club lengths and strikes again. The ball clips a tree and bounces OB. Always remember in this game of golf. NEVER say NEVER. He would go on to record an 11 and Lou springs in front of JR by one as we head to the 17^th. Par 3 and all would record bogie. Very little chatter can be heard at this time as all are sensing the victory could be theirs. The 18^th (yes CW’s debacle as the historian would say) Is a 4 par uphill across the grass marsh lands. Drivers hit by all are in play. Lou is looking to make bogie while JR needs Par to catch him. Greg is looking for Par to catch JR and CW is looking to enjoy some fine shot making. CW does strike the ball well but a tree redirects it OB while Lou and Greg hit second shots to within 20 yards of the green 3^rd shots are on or just off. Greg strolls across the green and removes the flag (even though his ball is off the green) he strikes the side hill putt 18’ to the bottom of the cup. This requires JR to make his 25’ uphill putt to tie for 2^nd. He misses and all is history as Lou secures his win, Greg is 2^nd 1 back and JR is 2 back of Greg while CW is 4 back of JR.

Greg secures the 2^nd half and the overall CW championship as JR is the only one that could catch him at this time and with only 5 matches left if he was to win out it would only generate 50 points. He needs 58 to beat Greg. A great summer by Mr. Mann and some fine golf has been seen by our competitors. Now we must decide what the future holds for this group. It is a great game and a fantastic way to enjoy this beautiful country we live in. Here is hoping we don’t have to partake in the Wealth Re-distribution concept next year. If so we may all be giving up this game and meeting on my back porch each week to play checkers.

Sweetwater Country Club 7:22 AM

It is a beautiful morning as Greg and JR meet at the practice facility. Greg is in the cat bird seat in the 2^nd half with a commanding lead. He knows the if he can secure points today and JR does not win he is nearly a lock for the CW cup. They chat about our current economic situation but both are focused on their ball striking as the battle shall soon be joined.

Lou and CW arrive on time and we all chip and putt together briefly before teeing it up.

1^st hole Mr. Mann by 1. The 2^nd hole always chews up some one today it would be CW and Greg. 3^rd had bogies by three while JR records a double. The 4^th saw Greg escape an OB but had such a terrible lie that he would record a triple. The 5^th which is Greg’s home hole provide a tie with he and Lou. The match was square between Greg, CW and JR and Lou was only one back. These guys have a way to stay around one and other. 6^th had 3 bogies and Lou would record a 6. The 7^th saw wheels fall off for both Greg and JR while Lou made up many strokes. On to our 8^th the par 3 water hole. It seemed that CW was in a zone again as he secured a par on this tough hole. All the rest where double bogie or worse. On the 9^th Greg felt he could catch CW and recorded an easy par to be one back at the turn. Lou was 3 back of him and JR 2 back of Lou.

Greg how am I doing on the score so far?

10^th saw the leader come back one to tie Greg and the match was up in the air. JR would record bogie on the tough 11^th a 5 par and close the gap on the leaders by 2 more. His par on the 12^th was a statement that today maybe his day. So on to 13. Here we go again with the ground keepers. Remember RSR and the devilish pin placements. Today they decided to play with the rough. At one point it was measured at 4” ( by our resident member). Well it clearly added an hour to our round as every ball not on the fairway required 4 people doing a walkabout to find it. To our competitors surprise not one ball was lost off the fairway today. Yet holes 13 to 16 produced some very high numbers as all of our boys found the rough numerous times. As we find ourselves on the 17^th par 3 CW has a 2 shot lead over Greg followed by JR and then Lou.

Well CW hits his 3 wood perfectly on to the green while all others are off. Chips are hit and putts rolled. The only par was CW’s so on to the 18^th CW in control with a 3 stroke lead. He and Greg are secure in 1^st and 2^nd while Lou is chasing JR. Down by 2 and hoping for a par and a double to square their match. Drives are struck and all parties can hit again. Lou is on the green in two. JR and Greg are off the front while CW is in the rough. He chips his on and it rolls and rolls and rolls until it finds the downhill side of the green. There any other week it is in the water and he would be hitting from the rough again but lying 4 with Greg licking his lips. Yet today that same grounds keeper has grown even that rough up and the ball stops 12 inches from the water.

None of our boys where proud of the play today but a winner has been crowed that be CW. He bested Greg by 3 who beat JR by 2 and he was over Lou by 2. We all hope that the cryptic scoring prevents anyone from really understanding what a blood bath we had today.

This is a promise to purchase the home within a specified period of time. The escrow deposit is non refundable. A portion of it may come back to you at the time of closing but all of this needs to be defined in a document created by an Attorney.

A Realtor can negotiate and create the contract to purchase but the Attorney creates the lease agreement.

The Lease amount can have a portion returned to the Buyer at the time of closing. This helps the buyer pay their closing costs.

i.e. Sale price $445,000 to close on or before December 15 2009. Escrow deposit of $10,000 to be held in the Real Estate Escrow account.

The lease amount is $1,900 a month with $400 of that coming back to the buyer at time of closing. So in this situation the Buyer would have the following.

At time of closing 12/15/09 $435,000 after escrow removed is what is left to pay for the property. 12 months of lease payments provides $4,800 to the buyer at time of closing. This would be a credit back from the seller or a reduction of the sales price by that amount.

The Attorney gets paid at the time he creates the lease. The Realtor gets paid his commission at the time the Sale closes. Most contracts do have a portion of the Escrow deposit going to the Realtor at the time the agreement is signed by all. That amount is reduced from their commission at the time of sale.

Rock Springs Ridge 8 AM October 2, 2008 The front would be played on the North and the back on the South. Lou would not play today due to a back injury.

So the three tee it up and JR and Greg make par after being off the green in regulation and CW makes bogie when he is on in regulation. It is a very funny game. After 4 holes CW is up by 2 and playing well yet Greg seems to like this track and JR is hitting driver well so it is any ones opportunity to win. Yet Greg does seem to get the job done hole over hole and makes the turn up by 7 over everyone.

JR gets two back on 10 with a par and he and Greg go on and match scores over the next 5 holes with the exception of the par 3 ( wait we have not discussed the terrible pin placements on this course, this day) They sucked, I have never seen placements like this except for Sunday Tournament play. The South course had pin placements that border on illegal. The rules of golf state that you must be able to put your ball close and it should remain in that area. They were border line today. On that par 3 JR is 15’ off the pin on 2 and hits a good put that places him down hill with 25’ to the hole. What’s wrong with that picture? So instead of staying 5 back of Greg he is now 6 back and that is the way they would play over the next 4 holes. While CW found himself in many different issues.

Greg locked it down on 16 and with the exception of his double hit on 18 he would have recorded a good round. Yet he is the winner with a 97 and CW records the highest score of 122. On to the end of the season. Greg is nearly dormy with a 48.5 point lead. Some one is going to have to get hot and win 6 of the remaining 8 matches to have a chance.

RHGC 7:32 AM

It is a wet day today. We had a soaking last night and if not for a lake leveling device installed back in 98 ( under my reign I might add) we would be playing the par 4 12^th as a par 3 today.

Anyway, the blog is normally composed in the evening of the event but tonight we have the Baseball post season and Tampa is playing Boston. So you may not get my attention yet we will review in the morning prior to posting to assure our Champion gets his just due.

So off we go, the first tee is well played by all and Greg takes the lead with a par. CW comes back with a par on the 2^nd to draw even and all play on. Third shows that Charlie

has game as his putts seem to roll beyond the hole and then drop in. Clearly he is in the Zone. The 4^th is a battle and Greg and JR manage par Lou and CW double. 5^th Greg sticks one close CW is on the green and both would par the hole. Lou has been seen grimacing a sign that all is not well with the back even after a week of rest.

The 6^th is the 6^th and you have to accept it as a road hole. It will produce high numbers.

On to the 7^th Lou and Greg have strong drives while CW and JR have issues on the left.

CW’s turn out to be bigger. See CW will not hit a provisional. In golf lingo that means I don’t have to come back here. CW has played with us for over 3 years and still does not understand this fact. It is a courtesty of the game. So we go out to the area and find his ball (out of bounds) and he has to drive back to the tee box to hit another ball. Time is lost and for the rest of the round we had that team breathing down our neck. For all readers of this blog, please do not do as CW continues to do. When you do not know where your ball has landed. Please hit a provisional. It helps the entire field behind you.

Oh by the way, don’t spend more than 2 minutes looking for that ball either.

8^th was played well by CW and JR with Pars and both would repeat with pars on the 9^th.

The turn would fine CW at 44, Greg at 48 JR 49 and Lou at 54. On to the back nine.

JR pulls to a tie with Greg after 10 but finds the water on 11. While Lou hits the green and rolls the put for the first birdie of the day. Lou is coming back….. The 12^th is very wet today and CW finds himself in a bad situation off the drive. He would record a 9 while Greg closes to within 2 strokes and we are headed to Greg’s corner. Hang on CW.

He does a great job with a par on 13 but the best that anyone can do on 14 is bogie and that is by Lou. JR and CW par 15 (what is with CW) that completes Greg’s corner. For those 3 holes the total score was CW and Lou for 15, JR 17, Greg 20. May need to rename the turn.

The 16^th was no kinder as OB was found and Greg could be seen looking into his bag and trying to find the demon that now resides in his driver and for that matter his putter. CW gave one back to the field on this hole but he is in the lead by 5 with 2 to play. Not much chatter from CW at this time. He just wants to get to the barn with all wheels on. So on to 17^th a water hole today. JR finds it and records a 5 all others bogies. So here we stand on 18^th CW in command Lou has 2^nd wrapped up and Greg and JR are tied.

Off we go with good drives by all. Then Greg launches a ball over the oak trees on the left and it just clears the top and settles softly near the cart path less than 50 yards from the green. That sealed it as he would be in third place with JR trailing. CW would record his best ever at 94 beating Lou by 5 who beat Greg by 3 who beat JR by 2. You can figure out the scores if you want. I just can’t force myself to type them out. So on to Sweetwater Next week. Greg is a lock to win unless someone can string 8 victories with Greg being shut out of 2^nd on at least 5 of those. OBTW Boston beat Tampa 2 to 0.

Errol Estates 7:56 AM September 25^th 2008 The front would be played on the Highland and the back on the Lake.

Greg has been sick for a week and today was no different as he was seen hacking and sneezing on the 1^st tee. CW always thinking of the safety of the stable of athletes in the cup race suggested that JR locate some filters to protect all the rest of us. So there we stand on the 1^st tee box. Greg gasping in laughter while JR, Lou (poor attempt) and CW await the beginning of the competition with their painter filters strapped on their faces. JR always one to communicate had printed across the front of each the following.

STAND BACK MANN

Tee shots where struck and balls found many different lies and JR took the lead by 3 over Greg with Lou and Chuck following. 2^nd hole chewed CW up and he was immediately down 10 strokes to the leader. The 3 par again saw JR extend his lead as he was the only one to par. The 4^th saw Chuck, Lou and JR par and Greg fall back another 2 strokes. That’s when the earth shook, I’m sure you all felt it. JR was in a commanding lead and what does he do? He blows the ball OB and goes on to record a 9. These boys can smell blood in the water two zip codes away. Greg immediately cranks it up a notch and shoots 1 over par over the next 3 holes to close on JR and take the lead at the turn. He is up 2 on JR who is up 3 on Lou and CW is 5 back of Lou. It is a fickle game this game of golf.

The 10^th hole today would have a beautiful view looking down into the valley and all drives where struck and play would continue down the fairway. Lou was in a strong position until his 5^th shot was hit twice. Greg extended his lead by 2. The 11^th had Chuck and Lou recording par and Greg giving up two strokes. CW went in to hyper drive and recorded 4 pars in a row. At this point everything has changed from the beginning of the match. We are on the 15^th tee box and Greg leads Lou by 5 with JR and CW tied 1 back of Lou. Lou closes the gap to only 3 and we are looking for a wild ride to the club house with only 3 holes to play. There was a slight delay while Greg hosts a conference call, the other three played on and waited patiently. He was not flustered as he extends his lead back to 5 and the rest is history. That is with the one exception on the 18^th. CW is in 3^rd position 1 shot over JR. We do remember that the last place contestant has the honor of buying the Winners lunch. So one would think that CW would go into protect mode. On to the Tee box and all drives where struck. We will drop the color on Lou and Greg at this time for they are locked into their position.

JR finds himself on the green in 4. CW (remember he has a 1 stroke lead of JR) is lying 100 yards out in 2. He proceeds to hit the 3^rd to the left side of the cart path and asks for a ruling on his ball. JR and Greg confer and agree to a fee drop. This is within 30 yards of the green. He will score today a 9 on this hole. CW will have to confer with his Elders and come up with a new course or some consideration that in future matches he would be exempt from playing the 18^th hole on the Lake course. Yes this is the same hole that he (being in 1^st place with a 1 shot lead) slid all the way back to 4^th in Match 19 on June the 19^th. Always remember the Golf Gods will not be mocked. He who is looking for birdies instead of boggies is due to repeat their past errors. Or as CW likes to say. RECOVERY IS A WONDERFUL THING on to Rock Springs Ridge.