Great News for Members of the Military, Foreign Services, and the Intelligence Community!

Congress has acknowledged circumstances for members of the military, foreign service and the intelligence community that extend both the $8,000 tax credit for first time homebuyers and the $6,500 for qualified repeat buyers!  If you're looking for a home at Kirland AFB, this can help.

Normally, homes that are resold or that cease to be used as a principal residence within three years of the initial purchase are subject to recapture of the tax credit. However, qualified service members who sell or move from a tax credit home within the three years of the initial purchase due to Official Extended Duty may be exempt from the recapture rule.

Additionally, for qualified service members who are ordered on a period of extended duty, the deadlines are extended from April 30, 2010 to April 30, 2011 and closed by June 30, 2011! Official extended duty means any period of extended duty outside the United States for at least 90 days between December 31, 2008 and ending before May 1, 2010.

So, if you're in the military, foreign service, or intelligence community, and you were on official extended duty for missions outside the United States for 90 days or more beginning December 31, 2008 and ending May 1, 2010 you may be able to take advantage of the extended Tax credits of $8,500 or $6,500.

Visit our website and look through the Albuquerque MLS, or just learn about the different neighborhoods.  We can help you with every facet of your home buying experience!

6 Tips to Improve Your Home's Sales Appeal

From Southern Living

We've all heard the advice about staging your home's interior to make it warmer - much of buying a home is based on the emotions of the buyer. A recent article on MyHomeIdeas.com listed some quick and easy ideas for sprucing up the entrance of your home. Every small spruce-up helps to add more money when you sell, and a little bit of effort on your part may get that contract in your hands sooner!

1. Trim your shrubbery and add new ones to help with overall yard appeal.
2. Add shutters to the windows. Don't buy cheap plastic ones, either. Toss just a few more dollars in the purchase and get wooden ones. Nice coordinated shutters dress up any home!
3. Build a window box. Whether under a window or complimenting your new shutters, nothing adds to the beauty of a home more than a huge window box bursting with gorgeous blooming plants. Be sure to make plenty of drain holes in the bottom so the water doesn't collect and drown the plants.
4. Add potted plants around the home's entrance. Inexpensive pots that match your trim is the key, and the placement counts too. Keep the plants in the walkspace low and out of the foot path. Place larger plants on the ground near the steps to accentuate the home's entrance.
5. Add dark mulch or pine needles to cover the bare spots around the plants and shrubs.
6. Fertilize, patch spots with turf, water more, and make your grass green and healthy. Be sure to keep it freshly mowed for the most inviting look and smell!

Just a little bit of extra effort can make your home look like a showplace, and get it sold faster. Ask us for more tips on dressing up your Albuquerque home for sale! We've got 35 years of experience in selling real estate in Albuquerque NM.    ~Tim Fish