Keller Williams Realty offices around the Country joined to together for a great cause on May 14th 2009. It was said that upwords of 78,000 Keller Williams agents participated in the RED DAY events, and many more volunteers joined the cause all over the US.

Keller Williams “RED” DAY stands for Renew | Energize | Donate and is a collabrative effort to give back to the communities we live in and the people we care about.

The Keller Williams Westfield Real Estate family from Orem, Utah and it’s non-profit KW Cares organization chose to help out the great folks at the Lindon Care Center. This is a care center for the mentally handicapped, and was in need of some love and attention for the facility to go along with the love and attention the wonderful staff and volunteers provides for the 66 or so residents who live there. So Keller Williams Westfield and a whole list of volunteers spent the day Cleaning, Painting, Landscaping, and doing Maintenance projects at the Lindon Care Center.  

You can read more about this event and see a short video (Yes even with a Cameo by ME!!!. Exciting I know ) that was done by the Daily Herald at: http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/309011/17/ 

I also have created a video from pictures that were taken at the event, I hope you enjoy it…

And THANK YOU to all who participated!!!

(Thank You Bob Richards for sharing your photos, so this video was possible)

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All data and information provided on this Blog are for informational or entertainment purposes only. It does not reflect the opinions of any affiliated Brokerage(s). Evergreen Real Estate Group makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this Blog and will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use; including, but not limited to, blown gaskets, body odor, Computer and Keyboard Rage. All Blog posts are the constantly changing opinion of the author(s) and may occasionally contain bad opinions. They are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
© Copyright 2008-2009, Evergreen Real Estate Group

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Did you know that Mapleton Utah has a Recycling Program? Mapleton City does Not have a city run program, however a Great Mapleton Family has stepped up to the challenge. Roger and Lana Merrell and their wonderful family have started their own, family run recycling program for Mapleton Residents, called Merrell Recycling. They have been providing recycling services for several years now, however a lot of Mapleton residents may not know about them.

When my Wife Laura and I moved to Mapleton years ago, we called the Mapleton City offices and asked if there was a recycling program in Mapleton. We were actually told, “No”. (They did not mention Merrell Recycling as an alternative?) We later found out about Merrell Recycling while figuring out how we were going to recycle (We moved from Washington, and they have extensive environmental protection programs up there, and they have great curbside Recycling Programs, so living without recycling was not an option for us).

Just one thorough look through your weekly trash, would reveal that Most of what you throw away each day is recyclable or compostable. If you are throwing everything in your trash can, I’m sorry to say, but you are doing your part to destroy our planet at an accelerated rate. If everyone just took and wasted our natural resources that way, our planet would be in far worse peril than it already is. Without drastic steps to correct our years of taking and wasting of our planets resources, our children and their children face a grave, polluted and unhealthy future.

I’m sorry if that sounds doom and gloom, but I am very passionate about leaving the planet a better place when we leave it, and not leaving a wake of waste and destruction expecting “Others will take care of it”. It’s pretty simple math really, if the Billions and Billions of people on this planet EACH generate “Approximately 1,500lbs of trash each year” (Src. EPA), and the resources are not recycled, reused, or replenished, then it can easily be over 4 Trillion Tons of trash each year! Our Planet cannot continue to supply us with the resources for that kind of waste.

According to the EPA’s “What’s in our Trash?” this is what is in the average “trash”:

(National Averages Shown)

38% Paper

8% Metals

8% Plastic

7% Glass

7% Food Waste

18% Yard Trimmings

14% Other

In Mapleton, with the Merrell Recycling program and the Free Yard Waste Recycling available, you could then conceivably recycle about 80% of what you throw away. (100% - 7% glass, - 14% Other = 79%). Now assuming some of that “Other” includes electronics that can be reused or recycled and Motor Oil that can be recycled at your local Auto Parts store, that number could be higher than 80%. additionally there are glass recycling locations in Salt Lake County and up in Park City. So you could add another 7% to that recycling total if you just saved your glass recyling (I save mine in a box in my garage) and then just bring it with you when you were already going up to the Salt Lake area or Park City area for a nice day anyways.

I have created an entire page on our Mapleton Real Estate Website about Merrell Recycling. For more information and to get signed up visit: www.MapletonUtahHomes.com/MapletonRecycling

Thank You for doing your part to make our world a better place.

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All data and information provided on this Blog are for informational or entertainment purposes only. It does not reflect the opinions of any affiliated Brokerage(s). Evergreen Real Estate Group makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this Blog and will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use; including, but not limited to, blown gaskets, body odor, Computer and Keyboard Rage. All Blog posts are the constantly changing opinion of the author(s) and may occasionally contain bad opinions. They are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
© Copyright 2008-2009, Evergreen Real Estate Group

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I recently attended a great class on “Pre-Listing Home Inspections” put on by Jared Fenn with Pillar To Post. Jared is an extremely knowledgable Home Inspector in Utah County.

What I learned was so important, that I made an entire webpage about it on our Mapleton website www.MapletonUtahHomes.com and have decided to offer a Free Pre-listing Inspection to our listing clients for their single family homes in Utah County.

To learn more about Pre-Listing Inspections and for details about how you can get one Free when you list your home visit www.MapletonUtahHomes.com/Pre-Listing-Inspections

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All data and information provided on this Blog are for informational or entertainment purposes only. It does not reflect the opinions of any affiliated Brokerage(s). Evergreen Real Estate Group makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this Blog and will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use; including, but not limited to, blown gaskets, body odor, Computer and Keyboard Rage. All Blog posts are the constantly changing opinion of the author(s) and may occasionally contain bad opinions. They are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
© Copyright 2008-2009, Evergreen Real Estate Group

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 The 2009 Utah Valley Home Expo has come and gone. Laura and I made it to the event after we completed the Provo 5K event on the same Saturday. Thanks to everyone who requested Home Expo tickets, and attended the event. I hope you picked up some valuable advice and information to make your home improvement projects a little easier; I know I did.

I found a few really great companies that I will likely utilize on my own home in the future.

1. Bio Green - Complete Landscape Nutrition

Bio Green is a professional landscape spraying service that uses Organic-Based Formulasto provide essential nutrients to your lawn. What I like is that it is environmentally friendly and supposed to be safe for children and pets. Their product works on grass, trees shrubs, plants Etc…

Here is a link to a .PDF copy of their Brochure with a lot more information: Open Bio Green Brochure

Visit their website at: www.biogreen.com

2. Miracle Method - Surface Restoration

Miracle Method is a professional resurface/surface restoration company. They can restore/resurface sinks, countertops, showers, bathtubs, tile and more. They have a variety of attractive colors and textures to choose from, and the finished product looks amazing.

Visit their website at: www.miraclemethod.com  

When/If I actually find the “spare time” to use these services I will thoroughly document the process with descriptions pictures and videos on our blog, so you can benefit from my experience with these projects.

Please share your Home and Garden Expo experience with us and what vendors you will use, in the comments section of our blog, below.

Also if you want your home improvement project featured on our website/blog, so others can learn from your experience, let us know.

Remember you can still sign up on our website for Home Expo tickets. The page is still for this past event, however just fill out the form and we will keep in touch with you and get you tickets for the Autumn Home and Remodeling Expo coming up on September 25^th and 26^th 2009. We should be able to get you Free tickets to that event too, so by signing up you will be the first to you know as we get closer to the event.

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All data and information provided on this Blog are for informational or entertainment purposes only. It does not reflect the opinions of any affiliated Brokerage(s). Evergreen Real Estate Group makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this Blog and will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use; including, but not limited to, blown gaskets, body odor, Computer and Keyboard Rage. All Blog posts are the constantly changing opinion of the author(s) and may occasionally contain bad opinions. They are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
© Copyright 2008-2009, Evergreen Real Estate Group

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Provo 5K Run/Walk for Child Abuse Prevention - Paul Ream Wilderness Park - April 25th 2009, 9am.

It is Saturday, April 25th 8:30am (Registration & warm up time), a cool and damp morning. My wife Laura and I are at Paul Reams Wilderness Park along the Provo River, getting ready for our second year of participation in the 5K Run/Walk…

April was National Child Abuse Awareness Month, and there was a great event held Saturday, April 25th - at Beautiful Paul Reams Wilderness Park in Provo. It was the 5K Fun Run/Walk and Kids Walk. My Wife and I did this event last year for the first time and had a great time. We returned for 2009 ready for more. The weather in 2008 was much nicer, but a little rain this year didn’t stop us. We packed our rain coats and hit the trail for a good cause. It only rained for a few minutes during the event, not even enough to warrant using the rain gear, however it was pouring rain after we finished. So Thank You, Mother Nature, for parting the clouds for this great cause.

This year feels different than last year (our first year), more familiar, more exciting and once we hit the trail… Much Shorter… it’s kind of like that car trip to a new vacation destination always seems farther on the way there, than on the way back. I guess because you know what to expect, and then the unknown surroundings become known? For you not familiar with how far a 5K is in miles (I had to ask Laura, I forgot ) it is just barely over 3 miles long. While that may not seem far to run for some, for others like my wife and I, our bodies cannot handle that long of a run, flat out, so it is a 5K Walk with an occasional burst of speed. My wife and I both have had neck/back/shoulder type injuries in car accidents, and she had a major work related back blow out years ago as well. And I am paying for my “Invincible Years” as a teenager, where I raced Motocross and promptly broke and dislocated a lot of body parts, leading to everyday pain where my 30’s feel more like my 60’s+ sometimes. So suffice it to say that we are happy just being able to participate in the whole 5K without a breakdown of our bodies. We just do a brisk walk, which if you know my wife and I, that is a brisk “Walk” for me (I am 6′ 4″ - Mostly in legs) and more of a leg smoking trot for my wife to keep up (she is 5′ 6″), them’s the breaks of being a Shorty, sorry honey

One of the things we ran into on the trail was another event (Walk MS - 5K) taking place up the river from our event. I guess these groups don’t talk to one another and, and coordinate their efforts. They should of had them a weekend apart, and then promoted each other’s event. They could of both had greater turnouts for their cause. Personally we did not know about the “Walk MS” event until we passed them on the trail and read the MS (Multiple Sclerosis) info signs they had posted along the path. This is another great cause that we would of loved to participate in (a friend of ours has MS), if they had been different days. I’ll have to put that in the suggestion pot for next year, I guess?

During this year’s 5K I couldn’t help feeling the energy like I wanted to run the whole thing, but my desire was not backed up by my body conditioning. This was glaringly obvious when I decided to Run the last approximately 1/4 mile of the distance. I made it, but my hips, knees and ankles all to well remember all those injuries for my youth, so there was no way I would of even come close to running the whole thing… Gotta have a goal for next year right

THANK YOU, to everyone who participated in this event, or even the MS event. If you want to join us next year then drop us a line or E-mail and we will put you on our mailing list, or keep checking back on our websites www.UtahCountyHomeTours.com or www.MapletonUtahHomes.com and blog www.UtahCountyHomeTours.com/blog for information about upcoming events.

  Jason Daley (#982 this year) and No I didn’t iron the shirt before taking these photos, It’s a Guy Thing

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All data and information provided on this Blog are for informational or entertainment purposes only. It does not reflect the opinions of any affiliated Brokerage(s). Evergreen Real Estate Group makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this Blog and will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use; including, but not limited to, blown gaskets, body odor, Computer and Keyboard Rage. All Blog posts are the constantly changing opinion of the author(s) and may occasionally contain bad opinions. They are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
© Copyright 2008-2009, Evergreen Real Estate Group

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Earth Day 2009 - Mapleton Utah

This Earth Day started like others for me, trying to take an extra short/cool shower, keep as many lights off, not using the heating or cooling system (it was 60 in the house in the morning and 75 by the end of the day) at home, and unplugging or turning off any unnecessary household items.

Not a world changer, but more of a symbolic gesture of awareness for our worlds need for more conversation.

This year I had planned on being out and about in the car, going here and there, but was reading an article someone had done on leaving the car parked on earth day… and I thought, why not??? I can move some things around, and don’t have any pressing Need to use the car today… I can pull this off.

The day before earth day I had gone around my neighbors homes and delivered Free Utah Home Expo Tickets so my neighbors could enjoy the show too… However, I drove the car to each block and then walked about 10 homes at a time (Remember I live in Mapleton, Utah where most houses are on 1 to 5 acres lots, so they are a little spread apart) then I would Move the car to the next area, and start again…

So for Earth Day I decided to leave the car in the garage, grab a bundle of Utah Home Expo tickets, and head out on foot through my neighborhood handing out Home Expo tickets to as many neighbors as I could that day…

It was a beautiful day, about 75 degrees and sunny. The walk felt great, a little blistered on my feet from the dress shoes (have to dress nice as a Realtor, you know) but still a great walk. I had to get my legs pumping/unwinterized and ready for this Saturday’s Provo 5K Fun Run/Walk - For Child Abuse Prevention anyways, so this beat the elliptical at home

All said and done I passed out hundreds of free tickets, and got to meet some new neighbors too; sounds like a pretty good day to me.

Now the secondary effects of my free ticket/no car day… some might make the argument that by passing out all those tickets I will create secondary pollution from all those additional people going to the home expo…. I thought of that, however… The Utah Home and Garden Expo is packed full of home and garden items to update your home and increase it’s energy efficiency. The Home and Garden show also has tons of Landscaping ideas, and opportunities to green up your yard and the world just a little bit…

So my hope is that my neighbors will find themselves some great energy saving items at the show, and some great landscaping items that include planting more trees, shrubs, and flowers… So Mapleton becomes just a little Greener place to live, and all those trips to the show will be offset for years to come

If you have questions on living a little greener, please ask me, I love sharing ideas and ways to make the world a better place… And keep checking back, as I will be adding a lot more blog posts about living more energy efficient.

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All data and information provided on this Blog are for informational or entertainment purposes only. It does not reflect the opinions of any affiliated Brokerage(s). Evergreen Real Estate Group makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this Blog and will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use; including, but not limited to, blown gaskets, body odor, Computer and Keyboard Rage. All Blog posts are the constantly changing opinion of the author(s) and may occasionally contain bad opinions. They are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
© Copyright 2008-2009, Evergreen Real Estate Group

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        Do you have a “Programmable Thermostat” for your heating and cooling system? If not you are likely burning a lot of energy and money each year. You can buy one at your local home improvement store for $20-$30 with more expensive units going up to $100+. Honestly I don’t feel you need to spend $100 to get a good unit. The minimum you want to look for is a “7 Day Programmable” with “Weekends”. This will allow you to set a multiple temperatures during the week, and have different settings for the weekends.

       If you do have one already Congrats, however, is it programmed correctly, do you even know how to set it correctly? There are some not so user friendly thermostats out there, and if you do not know how to set it, it may be cheaper to buy a new one with instructions or a simpler interface. The cost savings for a properly programmed thermostat can cover the initial cost of buying a new one quickly.

        Here are pictures of a cheap, yet effective programmable thermostat that I picked up at my local Sunroc/Ace Hardware in Springville. I believe I paid about $20 on sale for this unit years ago. It has provisions for “weekday” and “Weekend” programs, as well as 4 settings for different times during each day.

       It has a setting for “Morning”, “Day”, “Evening”, and “Night”. What this allows you to do is have different settings for when you wake up, during the daytime, in the evening, and also while you sleep.

 Here’s how I have mine set:

“Morning”: 6:30am the temp goes up to 66 degrees…

 “Daytime”: 10:00am the temp goes up to 67 degrees… This is because someone is home almost every day, if everyone leaves the house at a certain time in the morning, then you should have the temp drop several degrees about 1/2-1 hour before everyone leaves.

“Evening”: 7:00pm the temp goes down to 65 degrees… This is in anticipation of sleep time. Remember it usually doesn’t mean that the house immediately drops to that temperature, the furnace just isn’t running to maintain the higher temp at this time, it still usually takes hours for the house temp to actually drop this far.

 “Night”: 9:00pm the temp drops to 62 degrees… now you may be saying BBBRRR… right about now, but we used to keep our house much warmer than this at night, and we noticed we woke up a lot HOT, and kicking off covers. You really can have this low of a temp at night, just throw on your warm PJ’s and an extra blanket, and you too may find you sleep a lot cozier.

 The weekends we use a similar shedule, slightly modified for wake up and sleep times etc…

Air Conditioning

You can do a similar thing with your air conditioning settings. It amazes me how many A/C units I can hear running at night in the summer time around our neighborhood. That can be a huge waste of energy and money. The average high for the hottest month (July on average) is 92 degrees, the average low for July is 59 degrees. which means there is no reason you need your A/C running all night long. You could cool the house with the A/C before bedtime, and then have the thermostat set higher for when you sleep, then you can open your windows at night and close them in the morning, the fresh air will do you good, and can help lower indoor air pollutants.

Evapoartive Coolers (Swamp Coolers)

        Personally we do not have air conditioning, we have an evaporative cooler (which we prefer over A/C anyways - another blog for another day). If you have a swamp cooler, you can similarly get a timer to control the on and off of your cooler. We use an electronic timer to set our cooler for a few hours when we go to bed, usually we use the “Fan Only” setting to bring in the already cool nightime air, however on really hot nights we use one of the cool settings.

        The problem that we had before the timer is it was either too hot to just turn it right off at bedtime, or if we left it on, then inevidably we would wake up in the middle of the night FREEZING cold, and have to get up to turn it off. By installing the timer, we can go to bed and based on how hot the house is/outside we can guess (After a few times you get pretty good at guessing) how long to run the cooler or fan for. After it shuts off the window are still open, and we wake up with a nice cool house, we close it up, and don’t need to run the cooler until late afternoons on hot days. This is a great way to save energy and money, over running a system more often.

        I have thought about having 2 timers, 1 for the “Water Pump” and 1 for the fan, so I could really control the cooling/wetness factor at night, as well as having a Thermostat so I could just leave it on and have it activated soley by the tempeature in the house (with the ability to manually overide it myself)… But this setup that we have works pretty good for us now.

These tips could cut your heating and cooling expenses and reduce energy usage.

I hope you will use them for controlling your furnace and cooler, which in the spring time in Utah could mean you are using your heater one day, and your cooler the next day

Happy energy savings…

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 a. $15
b. $40
c. $75
d. $100

The answer is d.

One great way to save energy and money in winter is to install a programmable thermostat. When installed and used with the four pre-programmed temperature settings for weekend and weekdays, you can save about $100 each year while staying comfortable. Before leaving for vacation, turn down your thermostat (to “hold” a lower setting) so that you don’t waste money and fuel by fully heating an empty house. Due to the potential fuel savings, your programmable thermostat will likely pay for itself in its first year. More tips for weathering the winter

A common misconception associated with thermostats is that a furnace works harder than normal to warm the space back to a comfortable temperature after the thermostat has been set back, resulting in little or no savings. This misconception has been dispelled by years of research and numerous studies. The fuel required to reheat a building to a comfortable temperature is roughly equal to the fuel saved as the building drops to the lower temperature. You save fuel between the time that the temperature stabilizes at the lower level and the next time heat is needed. So, the longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy you save. More on thermostats and control systems (the US Department of Energy)

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All data and information provided on this Blog are for informational or entertainment purposes only. It does not reflect the opinions of any affiliated Brokerage(s). Evergreen Real Estate Group makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this Blog and will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use; including, but not limited to, blown gaskets, body odor, Computer and Keyboard Rage. All Blog posts are the constantly changing opinion of the author(s) and may occasionally contain bad opinions. They are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
© Copyright 2008-2009, Evergreen Real Estate Group

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It is that time of year again, when the World goes dark, time zone by time zone, for 1 hour each. It’s Earth Hour 2009. To participate all you have to do is shut off your lights, and preferably heaters, computers, and other electronic devices for just 1 hour, starting on March 28th, 2009 at 8:30pm your local time. This is a perfect opportunity to have a quiet evening with family or friends. Play games by candle light with your kids, or spend a romantic candlelit evening with that special someone. If there are clear skies where you live, it will propably be a perfect time to gaze into the heavens and see the beauty of the stars. If you live in a brightly lit city, it may be one of the few times, besides a power outage to see the stars.

The environmental group WWF - World Wildlife Fund www.worldwildlife.org started Earth Hour on March 31st, 2007 in just 1 City, Sydney, Australia with 2.2 Million of It’s residents participating.

By 2008 others around the world in 35 Countries and More than 400 Cities had joined in to the tune of 50 Million people. From Rome’s Colosseum to the Sydney Opera House and even all the way to Antarctica, Normally floodlit icons of civilization went dark for Earth Hour in a worldwide campaign to highlight the threat of climate change.

“What’s amazing is that it’s transcending political boundaries and happening in places like China, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea,” said Andy Ridley, executive director of Earth Hour. “It really seems to have resonated with anybody and everybody.”

 In the US alone over 36 Million People flipped the switch Off for Earth Hour in 2008.

Google showed it’s support for the 2008 Earth Hour by Blackening their normally white home page and telling visitors: “We’ve turned the lights out. Now it’s your turn.”

Not quite everyone participates in the event, Ireland’s more than 7,000 pubs elected not to take part in the 2008 Earth Hour. Partially because of the risk that Saturday night “revelers” (Nice word for Drunks) could end up smashing glasses, falling down stairs, or setting themselves on fire with candles. Well I guess drunk people, highly flammable beverages and Fire are never a good combination.

Earth Hour is a largely symbolic event, since it will have no Major effect on yearly energy usage, but the World Wide comrodery, and awareness it creates is a step in right direction toward a better World. I hope You will join us this year for an hour of darkness and tell your friends and family members to do the same.

I Hope You Enjoy Your Candle Lit and Quiet Evening with someone special.

You can find additional information and get signed up to participate, on the Earth Hour website: www.EarthHourUS.org

Watch the Earth hour 2009 Video on YouTube

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All data and information provided on this Blog are for informational or entertainment purposes only. It does not reflect the opinions of any affiliated Brokerage(s). Evergreen Real Estate Group makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this Blog and will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use; including, but not limited to, blown gaskets, body odor, Computer and Keyboard Rage. All Blog posts are the constantly changing opinion of the author(s) and may occasionally contain bad opinions. They are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
© Copyright 2008-2009, Evergreen Real Estate Group

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We just picked up a stack of Utah Valley’s 2009 Spring Home and Garden Expo Tickets. These tickets are good for One $5 admission each. We have set up a special webpage on our website where you can claim your Free tickets, compliments of us - UtahCountyHomeTours.com. Just visit www.UtahCountyHomeTours.com and scroll to the bottom of the page to see the Utah Home Expo information and additional links.

Utah residents know, to get the best ideas to create your perfect home, you must attend the Utah Valley Home and Garden Expo (at the McKay Events Center) in Orem, Utah. With Over 200 Exhibits, Expert Advice and Ideas on Home Improvement inside and out, the Utah Home Expo is the premier Utah Home Show event in all of Utah Valley. There’s no Utah Home and Garden Show like the Utah Home Expo in Utah Valley. The Utah Valley Home Expo is a Home Show and Garden Show in one amazing event. Remember to look for the many “Expo Specials” to save even more money as you get your home ready for summer, and year round enjoyment. For 2009 at the Utah Home Expo you will find all kinds of information about Landscaping, Fencing, Custom Garages and Accessories, Interior Decorating and Design, Flooring, The Latest and Greatest Home Technologies and Electronics, Home Energy Saving Ideas, Child Play Areas, Indoor and Outdoor Furniture, Concrete Specialists, New Home Construction or Remodeling and More…

Wait That’s Not All, besides seeing all of the great home & garden booths and getting the chance to win thousands of dollars in giveaways, you can enjoy Free Ice Cream from the BYU Creamery. Also Enjoy food from Bajio Fresh Mex and Rumbi Island Grill. I’m getting Hungry Just Thinking About It! The 2009 Utah Home Expo is going to be a great show packed with Exhibits from over 200 top home-oriented businesses, good Food , Free Prizes -Door prizes hourly (valued at over $300 per prize)-, Multiple Seminars, Children’s Play areas, and Much Much more… Each year nearly 13,000 visitors enjoy Utah County’s largest Home Expo, we hope to see You there!

When You Sign up to get your Free Utah Valley Home Expo (Spring Utah Home and Garden, Home Show) tickets, we will keep in contact with you and you will be first in line to get your Free Autumn Utah Valley Home and Garden Expo Tickets from UtahCountyHomeTours.com, when it comes to town around September 2009!

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All data and information provided on this Blog are for informational or entertainment purposes only. It does not reflect the opinions of any affiliated Brokerage(s). Evergreen Real Estate Group makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this Blog and will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use; including, but not limited to, blown gaskets, body odor, Computer and Keyboard Rage. All Blog posts are the constantly changing opinion of the author(s) and may occasionally contain bad opinions. They are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
© Copyright 2008-2009, Evergreen Real Estate Group

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• Description: Free Utah Home Expo Tickets For The Best Utah Home and Garden Show of the Year. Get Your Free Utah Home Show Expo Tickets for the 2009 Show, The Utah Home Expo.
• Local Post - Utah County: Utah County

Thanks to Axiom Financial for this analysis and explanation. This is really important information. Please contact your lending professional or Jason Daley for an introduction to a professional, who will take great care of you whether you’re ready to buy or just have additional questions.

In 2008, Congress enacted a $7500 tax credit designed to be an incentive for first-time homebuyers to purchase a home.  The credit was designed as a mechanism to decrease the over-supply of homes for sale.

For 2009, Congress has increased the credit to $8000 and made several additional improvements.  This revised $8000 tax credit applies to purchases on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.

Tax Credits — The Basics

1. What’s this new homebuyer tax incentive for 2009?

The 2008 $7500, repayable credit is increased to $8000 and the repayment feature is eliminated for 2009 purchasers.  Any home that is purchased for $80,000 or more qualifies for the full $8000 amount.  If the house costs less than $80,000, the credit will be 10% of the cost.  Thus, if an individual purchased a home for $75,000, the credit would be $7500.    It is available for the purchase of a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.

2. Who is eligible?

Only first-time homebuyers are eligible.  A person is considered a first-time buyer if he/she has not had any ownership interest in a home in the three years previous to the day of the 2009 purchase.

3. How does a tax credit work?

Every dollar of a tax credit reduces income taxes by a dollar.  Credits are claimed on an individual’s income tax return.  Thus, a qualified purchaser would figure out all the income items and exemptions and make all the calculations required to figure out his/her total tax due.  Then, once the total tax owed has been computed, tax credits are applied to reduce the total tax bill.  So, if before taking any credits on a tax return a person has total tax liability of $9500, an $8000 credit would wipe out all but $1500 of the tax due.    ($9,500 - $8000 = $1500)

4. So what happens if the purchaser is eligible for an $8000 credit but their entire income tax liability for the year is only $6000?

This tax credit is what’s called “refundable” credit.  Thus, if the eligible purchaser’s total tax liability was $6000, the IRS would send the purchaser a check for $2000.  The refundable amount is the difference between $8000 credit amount and the amount of tax liability.  ($8000 - $6000 = $2000)  Most taxpayers determine their tax liability by referring to tables that the IRS prepares each year.

5. How does withholding affect my tax credit and my refund?

A few examples are provided at the end of this document.  There are several steps in this calculation, but most income tax software programs are equipped to make that determination.

6. Is there an income restriction?

Yes.  The income restriction is based on the tax filing status the purchaser claims when filing his/her income tax return.  Individuals filing Form 1040 as Single (or Head of Household) are eligible for the credit if their income is no more than $75,000.  Married couples who file a Joint return may have income of no more than $150,000.

7. How is my “income” determined?

For most individuals, income is defined and calculated in the same manner as their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on their 1040 income tax return.  AGI includes items like wages, salaries, interest and dividends, pension and retirement earnings, rental income and a host of other elements.  AGI is the final number that appears on the bottom line of the front page of an IRS Form 1040.

8. What if I worked abroad for part of the year?

Some individuals have earned income and/or receive housing allowances while working outside the US.  Their income will be adjusted to reflect those items to measure Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI).  Their eligibility for the credit will be based on their MAGI.

9. Do individuals with incomes higher than the $75,000 or $150,000 limits lose all the benefit of the credit?

Not always.  The credit phases-out between $75,000 - $95,000 for singles  and $150,000 - $170,000 for married filing joint.  The closer a buyer comes to the maximum phase-out amount, the smaller the credit will be.  The law provides a formula to gradually withdraw the credit. Thus, the credit will disappear after an individual’s income reaches $95,000 (single return) or $170,000 (joint return).

For example, if a married couple had income of $165,000, their credit would be reduced by 75% as shown:

Couple’s income           $165,000

Income limit                   150,000

Excess income             $15,000

The excess income amount ($15,000 in this example) is used to form a fraction.  The numerator of the fraction is the excess income amount ($15,000).   The denominator is $20,000 (specified by the statute).

In this example, the disallowed portion of the credit is 75% of $8000, or $6000

($15,000/$20,000 = 75% x $8000 = $6000)

Stated another way, only 25% of the credit amount would be allowed.

In this example, the allowable credit would be $2000 (25% x $8000 = $2000)

10. What’s the definition of “principal residence?”

Generally, a principal residence is the home where an individual spends most of his/her time (generally defined as more than 50%).  It is also defined as “owner-occupied” housing.  The term includes single-family detached housing, condos or co-ops, townhouses or any similar type of new or existing dwelling.  Even some houseboats or manufactured homes count as principal residences.

11. Are there restrictions on the location of the property?

Yes.  The home must be located in the United States.   Property located outside the US is not eligible for the credit.

12. Are there restrictions related to the financing for the mortgage on the property?

In 2009, most financing arrangements are acceptable and will not affect eligibility for the credit.  Congress eliminated the financing restriction that applied in 2008.  (In 2008, purchasers were ineligible for the $7500 credit if the financing was obtained by means of mortgage revenue bonds.)  Now, mortgage-revenue bond financing will not disqualify an otherwise-eligible purchaser.  (Mortgage revenue bonds are tax-exempt bonds issued by a state housing agency.  Proceeds from the bonds must be used for below market loans to qualified buyers.)

13. Do I have to repay the 2009 tax credit?

NO. There is no repayment for 2009 tax credits.

14. Do 2008 purchasers still have to repay their tax credit?

YES. The $7500 credit in 2008 was more like an interest-free loan.  All eligible purchasers who claimed the 2008 credit will still be required to repay it over 15 years, starting with their 2010 tax return. 

Some Practical Questions

1. How do I apply for the credit?

There is no pre-purchase authorization, application or similar approval process.   All eligible purchasers simply claim the credit on their IRS Form 1040 tax return.  The credit will be reflected on a new Form 5405 that will be attached to the 1040.  Form 5405 can be found at www.irs.gov.

2. So I can’t use the credit amount as part of my downpayment?

No.  Congress tried hard to devise a mechanism that would make the funds available for closing costs, but found that pre-funding would require cumbersome processes that would, in effect, bring the IRS into the purchase and settlement phase of the transaction.

3. So there’s no way to get any cash flow benefits before I file my tax return?

Yes, there is.  Any first-time homebuyers who believe they are eligible for all or part of the credit can modify their income tax withholding (through their employers) or adjust their quarterly estimated tax payments.  Individuals subject to income tax withholding would get an IRS Form W-4 from their employer, follow the instructions on the schedules provided and give the completed Form W-4 back to the employer.  In many cases their withholding would decrease and their take-home pay would increase.  Those who make estimated tax payments would make similar adjustments.

Some “Real World” Examples

1. What if I purchase later this year but can’t get to settlement before December 1?

The credit is available for purchases before December 1, 2009.  A home is considered as “purchased” when all events have occurred that transfer the title from the seller to the new purchaser.  Thus, closings must occur before December 1, 2009 for purchases to be eligible for the credit.

3. I haven’t even filed my 2008 tax return yet.  If I buy in 2009, do I have to wait until next year to get the benefit of the credit?

You’ll have a helpful choice that might speed up the process.  Eligible homebuyers who make their purchase between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009 can treat the purchase as if it had occurred on December 31, 2008.  Thus, they can claim the credit on their 2008 tax return that is due on April 15, 2009.  They actually have three filing options.

If they purchase between January 1, 2009 and April 15, 2009, they can claim the $8000 credit on the 2008 return due on April 15.

They can extend their 2008 income-tax filing until as late as October 15, 2009.  (The IRS grants automatic extensions, but the taxpayer must file for the extension.  See www.irs.gov for instructions on how to obtain an extension.)

If they have filed their 2008 return before they purchase the home, they may file an amended 2008 tax return on Form 1040X.  (Form 1040X is available at www.irs.gov)

Of course, 2009 purchasers will always have the option of claiming the credit for the 2009 purchase on their 2009 return.  Their 2009 tax return is due on April 15, 2010.

4. I purchased my home in early 2009 before the stimulus bill was enacted.  I claimed a $7500 tax credit on my 2008 return as prior law had permitted.  Am I restricted to just a $7500 credit?

No, you would qualify for the $8000 credit.  Eligible purchasers who have already claimed the $7500 credit on a 2008 return for a 2009 purchase may file an amended return (IRS Form 1040X) for the 2008 tax year.   This amended return will enable them to obtain the additional $500 credit amount.

5. If I claim my 2009 $8000 credit on my 2008 tax return, will I have to repay the credit just as the 2008 credits are repaid?

No. Congress anticipated this confusion and has made specific provision so that there would be no repayment of 2009 credits that are claimed on 2008 returns.

6. I made an eligible purchase of a principal residence in May 2008 and claimed the $7500 credit on my 2008 tax return.  My brother, who has never owned a home, wishes to purchase a partial interest in the home this spring and move in.   Will he qualify for the $8000 credit, as well?

No.  Any purchase of a principal residence (or interest in a principal residence) from a related party such as a sibling, parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle is ineligible for the tax credit.  Since you and your brother are related in this way, he cannot qualify for the credit on any portion of the home that he purchases from you, even if he is a first-time homebuyer.

7. I live in the District of Columbia. If I qualify as a first-time homebuyer, can I use both the $5000 DC credit and the $8000 credit?

No; double dipping is not allowed.  You would be eligible for only the $8000 credit.  This will be an advantage because of the higher credit amount, plus the eligibility requirements for the $8000 credit are somewhat more easily satisfied than the DC credit.

8. I know there is no repayment requirement for the $8000 credit.  Will I ever have to repay any of the credit back to the government?

One situation does require a recapture payment back to the government. 
If you claim the credit but then sell the property within 3 years of the date of purchase, you are required to pay back the full amount of any credit, including any refund you received from it.  A few exceptions apply. (See below, #24).  Note that this same 3-year recapture rule applies, as well, to the $7500 credit available for 2008.  This provision is designed as an anti-flipping rule.

9. What if I die or get divorced or my property is ruined in a natural disaster within the 3 years?

The repayment rules are eased for many circumstances.  If the homeowner who used the credit dies within the first three years of ownership, there is no recapture.  Special rules make adjustments for people who sell homes as part of a divorce settlement, as well.  Similarly, adjustments are made in the case of a home that is part of an involuntary conversion (property is destroyed in a natural disaster or subject to condemnation by eminent domain by an authorized agency) within the first three years.

10. I have a home under construction.  Am I eligible for the credit?

Yes, so long as you actually occupy the home before December 1, 2009.

WITHHOLDING EXAMPLES:

Note:  The impact of estimated tax payments would be the same.

Situation 1: Sally plans her withholding so that her withholding is as close as possible to what she anticipates as her income tax liability for the year.  When she fills out her 1040, her liability is $6000.  She has had $6000 withheld from her paycheck.  She also qualifies for the $8000 homebuyer credit.

Result: Sally’s withholding satisfies her tax liability and reduces it to zero.  She will receive a refund of the full $8000.

Situation 2: Nick and Nora file a joint return.  Nick is self-employed and makes estimated payments; Nora has taxes withheld from her salary.  When they compute their taxes, their combined withholding and estimated tax payments are $11,000.  Their income tax liability is $9800.  They also qualified as first-time homebuyers and are eligible for the $8000 refundable tax credit.

Result: Ordinarily, their combined estimated tax payments and withholding would make them eligible for a refund of $1200 ($11,000 - $9800 = $1200).  Because they are eligible for the refundable tax credit as well, they will receive a refund of $9200 ($1200 income tax refund + $8000 refundable tax credit = $9200)

Situation 3: Chris and Maria both have income taxes withheld from their salaries and file a joint return.  When they file their income tax return, their combined withholding is $5000.  However, their total tax liability is $7200, generating an additional income tax liability of $2200 ($7200 - $5000).  They also qualify for the $8000 first-time homebuyer tax credit.

Result: Chris and Maria have been under-withheld by $2200.  Ordinarily, they would be required to pay the additional $2200 they owe (plus any applicable interest and penalties).  Because they are eligible for the refundable homebuyer tax credit, the credit will cover the $2200 additional liability.  In addition, they will receive an income tax refund of $5800 ($8000 - $2200 = $5800).  If they owed penalties and/or interest, that amount would reduce the refund.

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