Live Nation and the Fillmore

Well, I am sort of, kind of excited about live music coming to Silver Spring. If you read the article about the coming of the Fillmore it just sounds too good to be true. However, I am worried that it is too large and the tickets are going to be too expensive. They say it will make money but I doubt that it will and we taxpayers will boot the bill. Still, I know some good music is going to be there and that can't be all bad, can it?

Montgomery County's Fiscal Woes. Part 1

Well, the county is pretty much out of money. They are looking for ways to raise revenues but the issue becomes where and how to squeeze the public without the public screaming and kicking back. The problem is that there is no way that they can raise property taxes. Already having sucked that cow dry when times were good they are now in a pickle as to where to turn. The solution seems to raise fees. Everywhere you look fees are going up. Parking, tickets, licensing fees, recordation fees, library fees and death fees. Not only is this happening in our county but everywhere. National, state and local governments used to feeding off property taxes have turned to increased fees to cover the shortfall. And I ask you who is not feeling these costs.

The big issue to me is how do they expect for any sort of recovery to occur if they are slamming consumers with burdensome fee hikes. I did not have a bad year this past year but am feeling the pinch of higher fees so both my wife and I don't feel like we can spend any money. I can't see how all of these fee hikes are going to do much for our household income. So nobody feels any wealthier and nobody feels like spending money. And getting people to spend money is how you dig yourself out of a recession.

This seems to happen every time we have a downturn. I wonder why the hell can't our elected officials figure this out when the economy is booming and set aside reserves for the slow times. I suppose it is just human nature and the way our system works. When we have it, we spend it all and then when we don't have it we fly into a panic. The public then suffers because there are few options to getting lost revenue unless they squeeze the cow a bit more.

Silver Spring Market

Yes, it cold out, but you can look forward to getting your fresh farm produce and other assorted goodies from the Silver Spring Farmers Market, a regular Saturday feature these past few years. Only problem is that it only runs from April to December so you will have to wait a few months. However, it is well worth the wait and now is the time to put the market on your calendar.

Terra-cotta warriors vs the Heuirich museum

For my birthday last week, my wonderful wife scored tickets to go see the Chinese Terracotta Warriors at the National Geographic Society. I was pretty excited about this, (You just have to know what excites me.) We rode the Metro down on the blessed day and chilly day and the exhibit was excellent. However, Nat Geo in an effort to squeeze some coin out of the deal over sold the tickets and the dang show was just too crowded to really enjoy. Plus they really did not manage the flow of people too well, contributing to the problem. But, I got to see the warriors (well, a few of them) and I think that it was a pretty nice deal-large crowd or not.

As a filler, she took me over for a tour of the Christian Heurich Mansion, which is located just a few blocks away. Unlike the warrior exhibit, the two of us and another lone single woman were the only souls on the tour. Our guide who happened to be the director of the museum was only too glad to give us special treatment and was more than willing to talk of the mansion that is his personal love. We had a blast looking at one of the most unique private homes ever built in Washington. Looking for an afternoon treat? Take some time off in the middle of the week and go visit the Heurich home. This is the time of year to see is as you are likely to have the whole place to yourselves. However, be careful and do not lean on the walls. They frown on that....

Tax credit extension until April 2010

Below you will find information about the extension of the housing tax credit. The credit now last until April of 2010 and can be very helpful not only for first time home buyers but move up buyers as well. The tax credit has been a devisive issue in congress and there are many who think that it is not such a great idea. As for me, I don't have much of an opinion. As a Realtor it is obvious that it will generate some business for me and that is a good thing. However, I am worried that it will only serve to increase the growing national debt and encourage some to purchase homes who really have no business doing so. I am a big believer in home ownership and think that it is the best path for most Americans to financial security. However, events in the sub prime mortgage market in the past few years clearly demonstrate that that there are a lot of people who really should "not" buy homes.



$8,000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance

The $8,000 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.

The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after the initial purchase.

The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.

The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.

The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.

For homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before November 6, 2009, the income limits are $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.
For homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010, single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

The $6,500 Move-Up / Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance

To be eligible to claim the tax credit, buyers must have owned and lived in their previous home for five consecutive years out of the last eight years.

The tax credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold or ceases to be used as the buyer’s principal residence within three years after the initial purchase.

The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $6,500.
The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.

The credit is available for homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, the home purchase qualifies provided it is completed by June 30, 2010.

Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

Silver Spring Thanksgiving Parade

Just a short plug for the annual Thanksgiving parade to be held in downtown Silver Spring later this month. It is kind of a fun deal especially for young kids. The parade will be on November 21st this year, and take place between 9:30 am and 12 noon. Go on and have a good time. The cool air will help you work up an appetite.

My razor

It is getting hard for me to find replacement blades for my Trac II razor. I have had the thing for about two decades now and it is admittedly looking pretty funky. Problem is the only alternative to my double blades is to buy cheap disposable razors or some of the new "four" track razors. These things look like ugly Japanese sports cars and have names like Quattro or MPower. The Trac II razor must have been introduced in the mid 1970s. I know that because my wife and I recently rented some of the classic Saturday Night Live shows from that period. In one show there is a "spoof" ad touting a triple track razor. It was amazing to watch the fake ad 35 years later. The end line went something like. "The Track III, because you are just stupid enough to buy one." Now I think of this SNL ad every time I go to the store and am faced with a wall of track three and four razors. God, are we really that stupid?