Spring fever is here.

I can tell spring is in the air. I've had a noticeable uptick in inquiries about real estate the last couple weeks. Folks are getting a little anxious for the spring feeding frenzie we all hope is around the corner.

Just received some info from the local mortgage rep... rates have been teetering around the 5.25% mark for a bit. Also got the scoop on the real estate Federal Tax that was slipped in on the health care bill. It appears it's the real deal effective January 1, 2013. It's a 3.8% tax and as it relates to real estate, it appears to be a capital gains tax, but there are a lot of caviats.

First, it is not imposed on all real estate transactions, only on the gains less losses of a real estate transaction. It is only imposed on individuals with an adjusted gross income over $ 200,000, and couples with an adjusted gross income of over $ 250,000. I put this info out there since I've had a lot of questions recently about the rumored real estate tax in the bill... by all means, check with your accountant especially if you are planning on selling a rental property after January 1, 2013.

I wanted to give out a shameless plug for a doctor in the Troy Chamber of Commerce. He told me at our meeting this morning that he is looking for companies that would like to offer a free perk for an employee appreciation day. If you think your company would be willing to have Dr. Todd Camarata and his crew come in and give employees massages on their breaks... give him a call. He did this at my office in December and everyone loved it. Call Dr. Todd at 248-338-7477 and tell him I sent you. You won't regret it.

With Spring around the bend, my Ligers softball team is lined up to start playing around mid April. First break in the weather we'll start practicing. Kel & I are chomping at the bit to hop on the motorcycles. Uncle Jim has his annual trip down to the St Pattys parade in Detroit on the motorcycles. We've gotten pretty lucky a couple years, and we've been kind of unlucky a couple years weather wise. We're hoping for Sunny and 50.

The cold and flu season has hit the fam hard. I've been texting a lot the last couple weeks due to my failing voice... if you don't get a verbal reply from me, but a text... you know why. Sorry and thanks for the patience. The grandkids all had strep throat, and flus, but at last it seems like we're all breaking out of it.

Anthony and Jessy came home last week to meet the twins. We took advantage of the time to have Austins first birthday party a few days early. He loves cake, and doesn't mind feeding himself. Mema didn't even stress out about cleaning blue frosting off everything in his vicinity.

As always, thanks so much for your referrals. They are appreciated. I am really putting the push on for listings these days though. It seems like anything listed these days that isn't a short sale gets good traffic and sells (pricing is critical though). Not sure I'm ready to say the market has bottomed out or not, but there are good signs of activity the last few months.

If you know anyone considering selling their home, even if it's months out... I'd love to talk to them. I do a lot of consulting, and don't mind at all getting to know your friends and family... you never know when they might need a great Realtor.

Thanks and have a warm March

Dave

Only three months away from better weather...

Only a few more weeks away from the spring real estate rush. Historically spring brings all the shoppers out. When? Tough to nail down but it usually coincides with sunny days and people coming out of hibernation. If you're thinking of selling, the time is now to get your home on the market. If you're a buyer looking for the right window, the time is now to beat the rush. Why compete with all the procrastinators on offers?

Interest rates are still low, financing is tough right now, but I know people. Appraisals are still tough but sellers are becoming more understanding of the market after so many years of frustration. If the Realtors do their homework during negotiations of an offer, the actual deal is typically closer to what an appraiser will approve when the time comes. It pays to go with a professional, again I know people :0).

Enough of that ... big news on the home front again. So the twins were born last month, and like a week later I get a call from Jessy asking if I was ready for grandkid number 5. Before I could spit out "what did David and Lauren do?" She told me she and Anthony were going to have a baby around September/Octoberish... Big time fun these days. Sadly I'm afraid he/she will be a Bears fans, but who could really blame "it"... i'm sure we can secretly convert the youngster to a Wings fan though.

Stay tuned for more news as it develops.

Jaxon and Carson are doing well. I had Carsons i.d. dialed in by the shape of his right ear, but the last time we were over, even that changed a bit. not sure I'll ever get them sorted out. I told the kids they better not shuffle them, that could really mess them up later in life especially if one of them has to get finger printed for work or something. Austin and Bella are doing great, Bella seems to enjoy helping, Austin just keeps saying "whats that" and pointing... Austins first snow storm yielded him an awesome fort... "whats that?"

Kel & I are fine... just watching a lot of t.v. buying time for better weather to hit and the bikes to come out of storage.

Thanks again for all your referrals. Don't be afraid to send folks my way for consultation these days. It's such a tough market, there are lots of folks with lots of questions... I'm happy to help.

See you in March

Dave