Insurance All American Storage & U-Haul Holtzman Real Estate: Rentals & Property Management

Congratulations! George, Jimmy and Toby!

 

The Liberty County Chamber of Commerce Installed Toby Mahan of Holtzman Real Estate Services as 2010's Chamber President. The Chamber also presented the Business Leader of the Year Award to George Holtzman and the Small Business of the year to Jimmy Shanken!! A very proud moment for the Holtzman Companies! Pictured above are (L to R) are Brian Maike, George Holtzman, Babs Holtzman, Brigitte Shanken, Jimmy Shanken and Toby Mahan.

'Tis The Season!

 

Holtzman Companies, which is made up of Coldwell Banker Holtzman, Realtors, Holtzman Insurance Agency, Holtzman Real Estate Services and All American Storage & U-Haul is proud to say that 2009 has been a fantastic year in collections for our annual Christmas drive. Below is what the combined effort of our staff, agents, customers, vendors and a very generous community were able to do for those in need:

-We collected 1265 items of food for our local food bank "The Manna House".

-Over 1532 cans of food and miscellaneous items were donated for the Liberty County Humane Shelter.

-We were also able to give 252 residents of our local Nursing Homes each, a lap blanket, slipper socks, powder and a Teddy Bear.

-In addition, $800.00 was given to furnish the children's counseling room of the Fraser Counseling Center.

We would like to thank all involved to make 2009 the Best Year Yet!

Home buyer tax credits: Frequently Asked Questions

 

If you're in the market for a home, the world is your oyster. Interest rates are at record lows. Housing prices in many parts of the country are still depressed. And you may be eligible for a generous tax break, even if the home you buy isn't your first.

On Nov. 6, President Obama signed legislation that provides a $6,500 tax credit for some current homeowners who buy another home. The law also extends the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers, scheduled to expire Nov. 30, until next spring.

Judging from the mail we've received, a lot of people are interested in taking advantage of this tax break. But the expanded credit also has whipped up a lot of confusion. Here are some answers to questions from readers:

Q: How do I qualify for the $6,500 credit?

A: This credit is available for home buyers who sign a binding contract on a new or existing home by April 30, 2010, and settle by July 1 (deadlines that also apply to the first-time home buyer credit). You must have lived in your existing home for five consecutive years out of the last eight. The home you purchase must be your primary residence. However, the law doesn't require you to sell your old home, says Bob Meighan, vice president at TurboTax, the tax software provider. You can use it as a second home or a rental and still claim the credit, he says.

Q: I sold a home I had lived in for more than five years and bought a new one in August. Do I qualify for a tax credit?

A: No. For existing homeowners, the $6,500 credit is limited to homes purchased after Nov. 6.

Q: Does the home I buy have to be more expensive than the one I own now?

A: No. While the real estate industry is hopeful that homeowners will use this credit to buy a nicer place, there's no prohibition against using it to downsize, Meighan says. That makes this credit particularly useful for seniors who are interested in moving into a smaller home.

If you are planning to move up, keep in mind that you can't claim the credit if the purchase price of the home exceeds $800,000. Unlike some other tax credits, this one doesn't slowly phase out once you exceed the threshold, Meighan says. If you buy a home for more than $800,000 — and that refers to the purchase price, not the assessed value or the amount of your mortgage — you are ineligible for the credit, period.

The $800,000 cap also applies to first-time home buyers, but only those who purchase a home after Nov. 6. First-time home buyers who bought a home for more than $800,000 between Jan. 1 and Nov. 6 can still claim the credit, assuming they meet the other criteria, Meighan says.

Q: I'm an existing homeowner, and would like to build a new home. Can I claim the credit?

A: Yes, but make sure your builder is good at meeting deadlines. You can claim the credit as long as you have a binding contract in place by April 30 and close by July 1. In the case of a new home, the closing date is the day you move in, Meighan says. If your home isn't habitable by June 30, you won't be able to claim the credit, he says.

Q: I bought a home in 2008 and claimed the old $7,500 first-time home buyer's credit, which must be repaid over 15 years. Did the new law change that rule?

A: No. That credit, which was available for homes purchased between April 9, 2008, and Dec. 31, 2008, must still be repaid.

The $8,000 first-time home buyer credit, available for homes purchased after Dec. 31, 2008, doesn't have to be repaid as long as you remain in the home for at least three years. Existing homeowners who qualify for the $6,500 credit don't have to repay that money, either, as long as they meet the three-year requirement.

Q: We have a rental home and would like to sell it to our son, who has never owned a home. Would he qualify for the first-time home buyer credit?

A: No. The legislation specifically prohibits taxpayers from claiming the credit if the sale is between "related parties," Meighan says. A home sale to a parent, grandparent, child or grandchild would fall into that category.

Q: I sold my home this year and have been renting since. If I buy a new home, do I qualify for the expanded credit?

A: Yes, as long as you meet all of the other requirements, says Mel Schwarz, partner with Grant Thornton in Washington, D.C. The eight-year period used to determine eligibility ends on the day you buy your new home, he says.

Credit: USA Today

J.D. Power and Associates Ranks Coldwell Banker Highest In Home Seller Satisfaction

 

PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Sept. 17, 2009 – Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC ranked highest among real estate companies in satisfying home sellers according to the recently released J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Home Buyer/Seller StudySM.

“This recognition is a testament to the brand’s legacy as an industry leader, our commitment to innovation and, above all, our powerful network,” said Jim Gillespie, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “With unsurpassed local knowledge, expertise and work ethic, we at Coldwell Banker have always felt that our network of professionals is the greatest in the industry, and we’re pleased J.D. Power and Associates recognized it.”

The independently administered study measured customer satisfaction of homebuyers and sellers among the largest national real estate firms. The study incorporates more than 3,100 evaluations from 2,801 respondents who bought or sold a home between April 2008 and June 2009. The survey was fielded between April and June 2009.

J.D. Power and Associates examined four factors in the home-selling experience including: agent; marketing; office; and package of additional services. Among home sellers, Coldwell Banker Real Estate ranked highest with a score of 815 and performed particularly well in all four factors.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate also ranked particularly high in the home-buyer segment. The brand ranked second with a score of 801 on a 1,000-point scale, performing particularly well in the office factor.

Holtzman 30th Anniversary Cookbook!

 

Do you still need holiday cooking ideas? George & Babs Holtzman, owners of the Holtzman Companies, along with their agents and staff invite you to stop by our office to pickup your FREE copy of the Holtzman Companies Cookbook. This year we dedicated our 30th Anniversary Edition to the returning 3RD Infantry Division Mechanized Soldiers and their Families for a job well done in the Global War on Terrorism. The Holtzman Companies’ cookbook is a wonderful collection of favorite recipes from various sources, handed down or written by the individual members of the Holtzman Companies’ team, family and friends. The entire Coastal community is invited to stop by Coldwell Banker Holtzman, Realtors® office building at 730 General Stewart Way to pick up a complementary Holtzman Companies Cookbook or call 368-4300 to reserve a copy. It’s our way of saying, “Thank you!”

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