Tax Credit

When the tax credit disappears at the end of November, the average sales price for homes in the Twin Cities will drop 4%-7%. Just saying.

Certainly some areas will be less while others will be more, but this will be the average change. One contributing factor to this drop is that it is a notoriously slow time of the year anyway. Take away one large dangling carrot and....poof, suddenly homes aren't nearly as enticing.

Opportunity knocks

If you have never purchased a home and are even remotely contemplating it....yes, your hunch is correct! NOW IS THE TIME!!!!!

Not only can you capitalize on historically low interest rates and rock bottom home prices, you can collect one of many government stimulus benefits. $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit! Up to $35,000 for a rehab loan! Several counties and cities are offering cash from $1,000 to $15,000. It is possible to use all of these incentives together...that's right, you don't have to choose your bounty. You can collect more than once!

The overused cliche "you snooze you lose" might actually be appropriate in these economic conditions!

Dan's Invention

Dan's car for the blind.

I think this has serious potential!!!

Costa Rica

Costa Rica was a great time! We played in the ocean, in the hotel pool, in hot springs on a volcano, and in the rainforest. We went deep sea fishing, horseback riding, ziplining, water sliding and got vocanic mud wrapped! Of course, there are tons of pictures...so I'll throw just a few on here!

Also of note, we officially joined a CSA with friends of ours. We are looking forward to excellent environmentally conscious responsibly grown (and good tasting) produce!

Update

I don't have a lot to say other than that I am thankful for a lot of things in life. It is so easy to be negative and whiny, but it is so short-sighted much of the time. So, instead I will smile!

Aanna got into the Nurse Practiioner program at the U of M. Yippee for her. I'm still working shifts and selling houses which is a gig I am quite familiar with and good at! Look for some promotional material and website soon. After almost 4 years and not spending any money to market myself, I'm looking to step up my game a bit and do it right!

We are going to Costa Rica March 8th-15th. I'll put up pictures after we get back!

We haven't gone snowshoeing yet this winter, but we've got a great pair of brand new snowshoes.

We are excited about our recent dietary changes as a result of reading Michael Pollan's books, The Omnivores Dilemna and In Defense of Food.

Home Prices Solution

Thanks Dan for the link...brilliant!

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/rx-ailing-economy/story.aspx?guid=%7B88DF203F%2D2E84%2D43AC%2DA1EE%2DB9B803EBFEBF%7D

Skating

We went skating with our friends Jake and Javi, but the only two people who could really skate were Aanna and Jake. Javi was trying for the first time with single blades and was quite persistent in his attempts. At a few points in the evening it appeared that he was having a lot of fun just falling down! I clearly have no skill as it was my first time ever on skates. Aanna did a few tricks, went backwards, and did some small jumps. I definitely recommend going to Rice Park and trying it yourself!