Five Things We're Thankful For

1. Fresh, running water. You really can't leave this out, can you? The World Health Organization reports that 1.8 million people die every year from diarrheal disease, and that an estimated 88% of those deaths are attributed to unsafe water supply, sanitation and hygiene. In the meantime, we run the water while we brush our teeth.
   
   
2. Our family and the friends who have become family.These are the treasured people who get us through rough years. We need them almost as much as we need fresh water.
3. Surviving the market downturn. We're still here and we're not going anywhere. We made the cut, and we still like our jobs.
   
   
4. Living in a country where we can have a job that we love. Like fresh water, it's easy to take this for granted. Not having to rely on degrading or exhausting, low-paying just to put food on the table; not being forced to work 18 hour days (oh...wait!); never being coerced into a job--these are things we're thankful for, and that makes us some of the luckiest people in the world.
   
   
5. Food. Like piping hot turkey, homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes, steaming ladles of gravy, pumpkin pie...

HAPPY

THANKSGIVING.

Count your blessings. Even the water.

And speaking of tax credits...

Here is an EXCELLENT rundown of fact versus fiction on tax credits for energy-effecient improvements to your home, courtesy of the National Association of Home Builders (link here).

You can even download a handy-dandy little fact sheet.

Wondering what your remodeling project is worth? We can help you find the answer.

Three Things You Can Do With the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit

1. Talk to your parents about selling their house. If (you or) your folks, like many of ours, have owned their home for years and years, they are in a unique situation to sell, actually make a profit and still find another house at a great price.

2. Stop sweating over that short sale. Are you one of the thousands of buyers taking advantage of the tax credit and trying to get your short sale closed? You aren't alone! Now you don't have to worry about getting it closed before December 1.

3. Buy. These tax credits are sweet, but they won't last forever. It's hard to imagine a better time to buy. When you're at the bottom, there's nowhere to go but up.