Armed Service Members Have Extra Year for Home Buyer Tax Credit

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) wants members of the military, foreign service, and intelligence communities to know that they may have an additional year to buy a home and claim the home buyer tax credit, which expired to most Americans on April 30.

The law provides qualified service members who served on official extended duty outside of the United States for 90 days or more at any time between January 1, 2009, to April 30, 2010, another year to buy a home and claim the credit. They have until April 30, 2011, to sign a sales contract and until June 30, 2011, to settle and close on the home. Both the $8,000 first-time and $6,500 repeat home buyer tax credits are included in the rule.

“Congress recognized that many service members may have missed out on the home buyer tax credit due to being posted overseas,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Jones, a builder and developer in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. “It is only fitting that they be given another year to take advantage of this opportunity in appreciation of the sacrifices they have made serving our country.”

“Qualified service members” are defined as a member of the uniformed services of the United States military, a member of the Foreign Service of the United States, or an employee of the intelligence community.

The rule that requires buyers to repay the credit if they move out of their home within three years has also been waived for qualified service members if they have to sell their home due to receiving government orders for extended duty service.

NAHB provides information on the home buyer tax credit, including eligibility requirements and links to home buying resources, on its consumer website http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com./

Local Realtor® Is Serving The Children

Chantel Markel, Realtor® with Tolbert and Nielsen Realty Group, is involved in helping children find some peace in their lives by being active in the foster children programs of the Washington County area.

A wonderful article paying tribute to Chantel's efforts was published in the Spectrum.  To read the whole article go to:  http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201005060455/LIFESTYLE/100506003

We applaud Chantel as one of the exempelary agents doing good things apart from real estate in our community.

St George Housing Market Shows Signs of Recovery

A recent article in The Salt Lake noted that the real estate market in St. George and Washington County is showing sings of revovery.

To see the whole article click on this link: http://www.sltrib.com/ci_15046557?source=email

Real Estate Agents Compete In Race

St. George hosted the Ford Ironman St. George tri athlon competition and out of some 2,500 participants there were three who were local real estate agents.

Coldwell Banker wants to applaud not only the other athletes who put forth their best effort in the St. George Ironman by show ing courage and strength but also congratulate Greg Sampson and Brittany Dell, both of Coldwell Banker Premier, as well as Candice Calder, of River Realty, for taking part in the triath lon and showing that even real estate agents run the distance, swim the miles and bike the roads to get it done.
BY THE SPECTRUM & DAILY NEWS

LOCAL REALTOR® awarded SFR® Designation

KAY HANCOCK, GRI, ABR, SFR and Owner of Real Estate Professionals, was recently presented with her certificate for successfully fulfilling the educational and experiential requirements to earn the SFR (Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource). Kay Hancock came to St. George from the Roosevelt, Vernal area in 1984, and was licensed as a real estate agent with Green Valley Real Estate, selling condominiums at Green Valley Resort. In 1987 she started her own real estate company in St George, and is an exclusive buyer's broker 100% of the time. Prior to the start of her real estate career, Kay became an insurance agent with New York Life Insurance Company in 1977, and in the first year sold more than two million dollars worth of insurance to become a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table. In 1978 she received her Real Estate Broker's License and was the owner/broker for Labrum Real Estate full service offices in Roosevelt, Vernal and Richfield.


Kay was licensed as a Certified General Appraiser for Utah and Idaho, and was an Associate Member of the Appraisal Institute 1987 to 2005. She received her appraisal education through the Appraisal Institute taking classes in Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Maryland, Texas, California, and Oregon. Kay also received her Idaho Brokers license through the College of Southern Idaho and opened her own office in Driggs, Idaho. She was also the broker for the Real Estate of Jackson Hole, in the Driggs office for over a year.

Active in community service over the years, Kay has been on the Dixie Health Care Foundation Board of Trustees, was involved in the formation of the Jubilee House, and served on the Roosevelt Area Chamber of Commerce as a member, director and Vice President. One of the original organizers of the Uintah Basin Board of Realtors, Kay received the Professional Image Award and the Top Investment Sales Person award from that Board. She was a member of the NY Life Star club, Top Club and the first Utah woman to become a member of the Woman's Leader's Round Table. She was licensed by the State of Utah as a Real Estate Instructor for over eight years. Kay and her husband have 5 children, 20 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. As a member of the LDS Church, Kay has served in many positions. She loves to play golf, dance, read and garden.

The SFR certification program includes training on how to manage short sale, foreclosure and estate-owned transactions. Contact the Washington County Board of Realtors for more information on designation courses at 628-7374.