• 

  5 Tips for Saving Energy in the Family Room

  Reduce your electricity bills by systematically purging your family room of wasteful energy practices. Read

• 

  12 Tips for Saving Energy in Your Home Office

  Cut your power consumption, lighting, and heating and cooling costs when you work from home. Read

• 

  7 Tips for Saving Energy with Home Lighting

  Lighting eats up as much as 20% of your annual electric bill, but using energy-efficient bulbs and making other simple changes can cut lighting costs dramatically. Read

• 

  7 Tips for Saving Energy in the Laundry Room

  Understanding your laundry room appliances is part of a smart plan to help you save energy in your home. Read

• 

  Understanding Real Estate Representation

  Whether you’re buying or selling, it’s important to choose representation that meets your needs in the transaction. Read

• 

  7 Tips for Improving Your Credit

  Here’s how to clean up your credit so you get the least-expensive home loan possible. Read

• 

  7 Steps to Take Before You Buy a Home

  By doing your homework before you buy, you’ll feel more content about your new home. Read

     First time buyers are still entering the marketplace and it is important to educate these potential buyers.  Real estate transactions are overwhelming and complicated. Please forward these articles to anyone you know looking to purchase real estate. If you are looking for more information on any homeownership related topics please contact me.

Best Regards,

Michael Oppler | e-PRO®, GREEN
Sales Associate
Prominent Properties
Sotheby’s International Realty
1608 Lemoine Avenue
Fort Lee, NJ
201-707-7425 (Cell)
201-585-8080 (Office)
www.PascackValleyLiving.com

In three days the homebuyer tax credit will expire. I have recently been asked multiple times, “Will the homebuyer tax credit be extended?” Unfortunately the answer is no. On the other hand millions have taken advantage of the homebuyer tax credit and it has helped to stimulate the housing market. I am curious to see the actually numbers later in the year.

The upcoming months will be an important indicator of whether or not the market has returned to positive growth without the influence of goverment incentives. Either way expect interest rates to rebound. So if you were unable to take advantage of the tax credit do not be discouraged. Now is still the time while interest rates are at historic lows and the opportunity for home ownership is within your reach.

Did you know there are a variety of other tax credits waiting for you to exploit that could save you thousands??? Find out how to redeem these benefits by contacting me.

Michael Oppler | e-PRO®, GREEN
Sales Associate
Prominent Properties
Sotheby’s International Realty
1608 Lemoine Avenue
Fort Lee, NJ
201-707-7425 (Cell)
201-585-8080 (Office)
www.PascackValleyLiving.com

Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty has strengthed its footprint in the North Jersey real estate marketplace. The new office in Hillsdale, New Jersey will be located at 137 Broadway. Expected opening date is currently Feb. 1, 2010 and we look forward to welcoming Dennis Rinzler as the manager of this real estate office.

Prominent Properties Sothebys’s International Realty now has locations in Alpine, Basking Ridge,Fort Lee, Franklin Lakes, Saddle River, Hoboken, Montclair, Tenafly, Ridgewood, and HILLSDALE.

HOUSELOGIC.com

This site has been developed by the National Association of Realtors® to create free credible resources for homeowners. Houselogic.com educates and guides a homeowner in all aspects of homeownership. The content is relative and all encompassing which will ultimately create more informed consumers. This is a great initiative by NAR and will greatly benefit the homeowner community.

Michael Oppler
Sales Associate
Prominent Properties
Sotheby’s International Realty
PascackValleyLiving.com

December 15, 2009

Recently the Senate Commerce Committee supported a bill to require New Jersey real estate licensees to undergo continuing education (CE) for salespersons, broker-salespersons, and brokers. The CE requirement is a vital addition to the New Jersey real estate community. Consequently an increased level of professionalism will greatly benefit the industry. I applaud the support of this bill and would like to see it reach the desk of the governor.

Michael Oppler e-PRO ®, GREEN

Sales Associate

Prominent Properties

Sotheby’s International Realty

1608 Lemoine Ave

Fort Lee, NJ 07024

201-585-8080 ext 123 (office)

www.PascackValleyLiving.com

Michael.oppler@sothebysrealty.com

Expected to contribute approximately $22 billion to the economy, Congress overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan measure this week extending the $8,000 home buyer tax credit to April 30, 2010.

The legislation, which is part of a larger bill that also extends unemployment benefits, was signed into law by President Obama today.

More people are now eligible to take advantage of the law, which includes a $6,500 tax credit for buyers who are current home owners and have lived in their home for five of the past eight years.

Income limits for eligible home buyers were also expanded to $125,000 for single buyers and $225,000 for couples, up from $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples. Qualifying home prices are capped at $800,000.

NAR’s Government Affairs Division has compiled facts on the changes made to the current tax credit. NAR members sent more than 500,000 letters to leaders in Congress and made nearly 13,000 telephone calls to Senate offices last weekend to encourage support. So far this year, REALTORS® have spent nearly $14 million lobbying Congress, according to federal campaign finance records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Georgia Republican and a former member of NAR, was key in extending the credit, as well as pushing it through initially. Other prominent boosters include the National Association of Homebuilders and the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Listen to NAR President Charles McMillan’s podcast announcement.

NAR economists estimate that approximately 2 million people will take advantage of the tax credit this year.

Sources: NAR and The Associated Press, Julie Hirschfeld Davis (11/06/2009)