Friday, April 1, 2011
Monday, November 22, 2010
Thanksgiving is only a couple of days away



Thanksgiving is only days away and the holiday season is quickly approaching, meaning, your dining room is about to take center stage. You can count on several big, family dinners and plenty of entertaining (whether you’re the host or the guest). We love a dining room that has a personality – it simply enhances the experience – and oftentimes, the more unusual or unexpected the space is, the better! Some dining rooms to inspire:
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
13 Things a Burglar won't tell you
With summer approaching, many of our clients may be considering family vacations. You know who else is looking forward to their summer vacation? Neighborhood thieves!
AT Urban Realty, we want to keep in touch and help you protect your home by passing along a couple of useful articles on how burglars determine if a home is a good topic. From Reader's Digest, these two articles are great conversation starters:
13 Things a Burglar Won't Tell You
http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/13-things-a-burglar-wont-tell-you/article156709.html
8 More Things a Burglar Won't Tell You
http://www.rd.com/living-healthy/article-8-more-things-a-burglar-wont-tell-you/article156681.html
Also, you may be interested to discover this ingenious little device which simulates the look of someone watching television at night. The "FakeTV" creates the exact same sort of random illumination that a 27-inch television does, at a fraction of the electricity usage:
For $29.95, its a great way to deter a casual thief! (Editor's note: We were not paid or compensated in any way to mention the FakeTV device; we simply thought it might be interesting to our community members.)
Friday, April 16, 2010
New Rule!
A new rule will go into effect this month requiring renovation and repair contractors to be EPA-certified to work with lead paint hazards if they will work on a residential property built before 1978 in which lead-based paint may be disturbed. HUD estimates that this could be as many as 35 million properties. The rule also applies to places where children under 6 spend large amounts of time, such as child care centers and schools. The certified contractor must provide the occupants (owner or tenant) with a new information booklet and must follow lead safe work practices.
There are several important exemptions to this rule:
1. Homeowner occupants or tenant occupants may do the work themselves without certification.
*Due to the potential hazards, EcoBrokers would recommend that these individuals be provided with the booklet mentioned below to avoid exposing the occupant families to lead hazard.
2. A residence where there are no children under 6 and no pregnant women as regular residents is a possible exemption.
3. If the area disturbed is less than 6 square feet indoors or 20 square feet outdoors, the project is exempt. Because lead paint was so prevalent on window frames in pre-1978 houses, window replacement on these homes is never exempt.
4. If a qualified lead test specialist certifies that no lead paint will be disturbed, the project is exempt.
5. There are a few additional less likely exemptions.
The required disclosure booklet is to be provided by the contractor, but you may wish to have it for your reference as well. You can get it at
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf
(English) or http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochuresp.pdf (Spanish). The EPA has also prepared a 17 minute film of information for Realtors - they appear to believe that all real estate brokerage professionals are members of the National Association of REALTORS®. That film is available to everyone at http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid25955667001?bctid=29590050001
Friday, January 22, 2010
Tax news to use!!!
Angelo Datseris
President
Leverage Lending Group LLC
Phone: 704-631-9276
Fax: 704-353-7003
angelo@lendwithleverage.com
www.lendwithleverage.com
$8,000 Tax Credit Extended and Expanded
With tax season approaching, we decided to focus this edition of our quarterly newsletter on a few tax incentives we think you'll definitely want to discuss with your tax professional. Feel free to share this newsletter with your friends and loved ones as they prepare their 2009 returns.
Up first is the popular $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers. Originally scheduled to expire on November 30th, 2009, this valuable tax credit of up to 10% of the purchase price or up to $8,000 was extended into 2010 (purchase agreements must be signed by April 30, 2010, and closings must be final by June 30, 2010). The new program was also expanded to include a tax credit of up to $6,500 (or up to 10% of the purchase price) for qualified buyers of a second or "replacement" home under the same deadlines. To qualify, home purchasers must have owned and occupied a primary residence for five consecutive years during the last eight years. Most importantly, the new program significantly increases previous income requirements.
There are other important guidelines to meet in order to qualify, so be sure to discuss your situation with a tax professional. And don't forget, you can still buy a home before April 30th and qualify – even you've already filed your 2009 taxes – so don't hesitate to give us a call.
Property-Tax Deduction for Non-itemizers
You don't have to be a new homeowner in 2009 to deduct qualifying property taxes, but prior to 2008, you did have to itemize your taxes in order to receive the benefit – not anymore. Under the new rule, homeowners who don't itemize can boost their standard-deduction amount by up to $500 if they're single and up to $1,000 if they're married and file a joint return to account for property taxes paid during 2009. You'll need to include a Schedule L with your 2009 tax return, but it's definitely worth it if you qualify. Talk to your tax preparer and don't be one of the millions of taxpayers who will claim the standard deduction and miss out on the savings.
Refinancing Points – When you buy a house, you get to deduct (all at once) the points paid to get your mortgage. When you refinance a mortgage, though, you have to deduct the points over the life of the loan. That means you can deduct 1/30th of the points per year if it's a 30-year mortgage. It's not a lot of savings, but everything helps when you're legally trying to lower your tax bill.
Energy and Home Improvements Credits
Homeowners can make energy-conscious purchases that will provide tax benefits when filling out their tax returns for 2009. The new law provides tax credits for making your principal residence more energy efficient and for buying certain energy efficient items.
Residential Energy Property Credit – The new law increases the energy tax credit to 30% of the cost of all qualifying energy-efficient improvements to existing homes. It also raises the maximum credit limit to $1,500 for improvements placed in service in 2009 and 2010. Qualified improvements include adding insulation, energy efficient exterior windows, energy-efficient heating, air conditioning systems, and more. A similar credit was available for 2007, but was not available in 2008. Ask your tax professional about the IRS' issued guidance, deadlines, and other important qualifying factors for this and the following tax credit.
Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit – You can receive a tax credit of 10% of the purchase price of qualified energy-efficient products installed in the taxpayer's main home in the United States. The tax credit for home improvement purchases is limited to $500 and applies to the total credit you can claim for all years combined.
Other 2009 Tax Breaks
New Car Purchases – If you bought a qualifying new car or truck ($49,500 or less) between February 16 and December 31st, you may be able to deduct the sales or excise tax. Your income must be less than $125,000 for a single taxpayer or $250,000 for a couple to get the full deduction. The benefit applies to more than one vehicle, as long as all of them qualify and delivery was taken by Dec. 31.
Unemployment Benefits – Unemployment benefits are usually fully taxable. If you received any unemployment benefits at any time during 2009, however, you are eligible to exclude the first $2,400 of these benefits when you file your tax return. For a married couple, the exclusion applies to each spouse separately.
Moving expenses – If you were unemployed in 2009 but you got a new job, moving expenses may be deductible, if you moved more than 50 miles away – and you don't have to itemize to get it. For 2009, you can deduct the cost of getting yourself and your household goods to that new area 50+ miles away, this includes 24 cents per mile for driving your own vehicle, plus parking fees and tolls.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Everyone!!!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Tax Credit Extension has Passed!!!
Under the legislation, homebuyers will qualify for the tax credit until April 30, 2009 (as long as they have entered a binding contract), and have an additional 2 months (until June 30, 2009) to close the transaction. Borrower income limits have also been increased to $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for couples (up from $75,000 and $150,000 respectively under the current program). The legislation also includes a tax credit not exceeding $6,500 for move up buyers who have owned their current homes for at least 5 years.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Halloween Safety
Here are some tips from the Fire Department to keep you, your guests, and all your little goblins safe as you create your own “Monster Ball” or get ready for a night of trick-or-treating:
1. Keep candles and jack-o-lanterns away from curtains, decorations, and other combustibles.
2. Never leave candles unattended.
3. Make sure indoor or outdoor lights have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory. Check wiring and extension cords for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
4. Don't overload extension cords or electrical sockets.
5. Keep candles and jack-o-lanterns away from high traffic areas to avoid being knocked over.
Other safety tips include:
• Look for “Flame Resistant” labels on costumes.
• Make sure masks do not hamper the visibility of the wearer.
• Choose costumes made with bright colors to make them visible to motorists.
• Give Trick-or-Treaters flashlights to help them see better at night.
• Costumes should be well fitting to prevent tripping or falling.
• Children should use crosswalks and not run into the street from between parked cars.
• Parents or other responsible adults should accompany children.
• Parents should closely examine the treats collected by the children to ensure that they are safe to eat.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Movies in the Park
Presented by Watershed and the Char-Meck Park & Recreation Department.
::DETAILS ::
•All movies take place on the 2nd Friday of the month
•All movies begin at SUNSET
•Located at the Freedom Park Amphitheater (bring a chair/blanket!)
•Popcorn provided FREE of charge
•Drawings for prizes (DVD players, gift certificates, and more!)
•Fun for the whole family, a date, your dog, or just you!
•TOTALLY FREE
This month's movie is August Rush.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Charlotte's Dilworth Neighborhood Home Tour

Yep, It's that time of year again that Dilworth is revving up for their annual home tour. Save the dates: September 18 and 19. There will be a wine tasting Friday night at 5pm Spetember 18 at The Wine Shop on Park Road to kick off the tour---grab a friend, mark your calendars now and stay tuned for details. We still need volunteers to work a 2 hour shift in one of the tour homes.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Charlotte's South End - The Tremount
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Charlotte Restaurant Week Continues
This 10-day feast is a great opportunity to try some of Charlotte’s most remarkable chefs and trendy hot spots. If you are working on a budget you can’t beat these deals. See the menus of all the participating restaurants.
Almost all my favorites are on the list. In the Elizabeth neighborhood, Carpe Diem, Customshop and Cajun Queen all offer a great New American menus. In Dilworth you can do a “Taste of the World” tour with the scrumptious Italian of Dolce, Indian at Copper, Spanish at Sole and fine Asian at Zen.
You may want to walk to your choice restaurant so that you don't gain too much weight.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Dilworth Parade July 4th
Decorate your bikes, tricycles, strollers, and wagons
Meet at the corner of Berkeley and Lexington
The fire truck will lead the way
(look for the donation can for the firefighters)
Ribbons for the best decorations
Family Games at latta Park
Immediately following the parade
Water slide, potato sack races, balloon toss and more
Fun Fun Fun for everyone
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Brown Bag Wednesdays Summer Drop In at Freedom Park
These sessions are for boys and girls, ages 6-12. All sessions are FREE! Participants engage in a variety of fun activities including crafts, African drumming, wacky science, sports, wellness and fitness activities.
The following is a list of scheduled activities:
· June 17: Super Olympics
· June 24: Sports
· July1: Fitness with Ms. Brooke
· July 8: African Drumming
· July 15: Wacky Science
· July 22: Do it yourself crafts
· July 29: Do it yourself crafts II
· August 5: Party Time (Lunch provided this day!)
Participants must register by June 10, 2009. Space is limited. To register visit www.parkandrec.com, click on Eparks, and use Course Barcode #45427 or call 311 or Linda Ramseur Williams at 704 336-7644.
Dilworth Parade July 4th

Dilworth introduces "Dilworth Cares"
If you are not familiar with "Dilworth Cares", please read the article in the most recent Quarterly or check it out on the Dilworth website (dilworthonline.org) .
http://www.dilworthonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=213&Itemid=155
"Dilworth Cares", in a nutshell, is a new initiative of DCDA with the goal of connecting people who have with people in need. There are so many needs in our community and sometimes we are not aware of them until too late. The Dilworth Cares Loop will strive to keep you informed as to immediate needs of agencies or individuals in our community. Who knows when something you have and don't need is exactly the item that will make a difference in another person's life!
Rather than send future needs through the Neighborhood Network, we will be sending emails to only those persons who have requested to be on the Dilworth Cares email distribution list so.......................
PLEASE email Nancy Kramer (nancy1981@mindspring.com) and indicate "Yes, I want to be on the list!" in the subject line if you want to stay connected to Dilworth Cares.
Additionally, it you have ideas or are aware of needs or opportunities, please let me know. Thanks!!
Nancy Kramer
DCDA Board, DIlworth Cares Chair
P.S. We have already fulfilled a need from Pat's Place for a crib. This crib will go to a young woman who is expecting a child as a result of rape.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
June Garden Tours with Winghaven
Wing Haven Gardens in Myers Park is offering tours during the month of June. Wing Haven has been a special part of Charlotte since its creation by Elizabeth and Edwin Clarkson in 1927. The gardens, enclosed on all sides by brick walls, encompass almost three acres in the heart of Charlotte and include lovely vistas, formal gardens, and woodland areas. Throughout, the emphasis is on plantings for birds and other wildlife - providing cover, nesting sites, food, and water. Plaques and statuary, integrated into the garden walls and paths, reflect the spirit and beauty of Wing Haven and its creators.All tours are free; a $5 donation is suggested.
Charlotte Shakespeare Festival 2009

The Charlotte Shakespeare Festival returns to the Queen City for a fourth year, presenting free family-friendly performances of classic plays through June 13. The festival kicks off Sunday, May 31, with the romantic comedy “Twelfth Night” outdoors at The Green Uptown. Wednesdays are Shakespeare trivia nights - come early at 7:15 p.m. for a chance to win prizes. Sundays are family days - free Shakespeare workshops held at 5 p.m. prior to the show. Picnics are welcome. No reservations required.
The Charlotte Shakespeare Festival is also offering free Shakespeare performance workshops for young people (ages 10-18) and their families on Sundays at 5 p.m. prior to performances. The workshops are taught by professional actors/educators and will consist of theatre games, exercises and readings from the script. Bring the family and enjoy a fun hands-on experience with one of Shakespeare’s plays. No experience necessary.
For more information, visit charlotteshakespeare.com/.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Dilworth Community Meeting Tonight
Your next Dilworth community meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday) evening, June 3, at 7 PM. Join us at the Tom Sykes recreation center (entrance under the arch at Dilworth Elementary). All are welcome...
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Pet Palooza
Participants sign up to walk with their friends, family and co-workers, two-legged or four, to raise funds and awareness for the Society. PetPalooza is a fun-filled day for the entire family and includes refreshments, entertainment, a vendor fair as well as a fido fashion show, featuring the fabulous dogs from the Humane Society.
Who: You and everyone you know! Register to walk as an individual, as part of a team or sign up to be a vendor or volunteer.
What: The Humane Society of Charlotte’s largest fundraiser!
When: Saturday, May 30, 2009– 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. & Walk starts at 9:00 a.m. Rain date is June 6, 2009
Where: Independence Park - 300 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC, 28204
Why: Because it is fun and every cent helps the Humane Society of Charlotte's animals find their forver homes
How: Register today at http://humanecharlotte.donorpages.com/PetPalooza2009
For more information, please call 704-377-0534, ext. 229 or email dcanzano@humanesocietyofcharlotte.org
