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Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with your families. My wife and I are doing two different family meals: 1 with her family for lunch and 1 with my family for dinner. I expect to gain 11 lbs in the next day or two.

Inside Tiger Wood’s House

What do my clients think of me?

Inquiring minds want to know! Well, I’d like to know.

Today I dropped in the mail a simple 1-page Customer Satisfaction Survey for my past and current real estate clients. I’m looking for honest feedback, whether it be positive or negative, on how I can become an even better Realtor. So when you receive your survey in the mail I do hope you answer the questions openly and honestly. I’d like to learn and grow from this experience so don’t be shy.

Your survey will look similar to:

1. How would you rate your overall satisfaction with me as your Realtor?
___    Very Satisfied        ___   Satisfied         ___   Dissatisfied        ___   Very Dissatisfied

2. Would you consider hiring me again or referring your family and friends to me?
___   Yes           ___   No

3. Have you hired another Realtor or referred your family or friends to another Realtor at any time after I was your Realtor? Please be honest! This is very important to me.
___   Yes            ___   No

4. Please share constructive criticism about your experience with me as your Realtor. Even if you were happy with me please tell me how I could have done an even better job.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

5. If you were happy with my real estate services would you consider writing a brief testimonial for www.CallChrisToday.com/testimonials/?        ___   Check here to publish testimonial anonymously.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

6. Have you ever visited www.CallChrisToday.com and how often do you visit?
___   Yes, and often          ___   Yes, but rarely          ___   No, but I will           ___   No, and I’m not interested

7. What type of articles would you like to see at www.CallChrisToday.com? Are there any specific real estate subjects or questions you would like addressed on my blog?
____________________________________________________________________________________

8. Would you like to continue receiving my monthly printed newsletter?
___   Yes, I enjoy the articles           ___   Yes, but only to keep in contact           ___    No, thank you

9. Have you changed your email address or phone number? Let me know of any changes so that we can keep in contact with each other.

Email: ____________________________________________           Phone: ___________________________

Please use the enclosed postage paid envelope to return your survey. Thank you for your time!

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The Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County offering down payment assistance for first-time home buyers

A new mortgage program from the Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County could hold the key to homeownership for first-time homebuyers. The First-Time Homebuyers Program is for individuals who have never owned a home, have not owned a home in the last three years or who are veterans.

Now is a great time to buy and take advantage of additional savings with the federal first-time homebuyer credit of up to $8,000. Homes must close before Dec. 1, 2009 to receive this additional credit.

Down payment and closing cost assistance is also available. This program is available for a limited time.

For more information, call (727) 464-8210 or visit the Housing Finance Authority.

“Pooches for the Planet” Pet Adoption Promotion Has Environmental Message

Throughout November, anyone who adopts a dog at the Pinellas County Animal Services shelter or the Humane Society of Pinellas shelter will receive a free Pooches for the Planet adoption kit filled with valuable information and free goodies.

The program is part of a campaign to promote proper disposal of dog waste to prevent water pollution. Major sponsors are the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Pinellas-Anclote Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Pinellas County Animal Services, and the Humane Society of Pinellas.

Additionally, dozens of area pet-related businesses have contributed toys, treats and discount coupons for pet products or services for the adoption kits. A special $25 gift certificate for PETCO is included in the kit, offered to the first five people who adopt a dog during the event kick-off on Saturday, Nov. 7, at either of the two participating animal shelters. The promotional offers are focused on bringing attention to Tampa Bay Estuary’s “Scoop the Poop” campaign, which promotes responsible pet ownership.

Every day in Pinellas County, an estimated 12 to 28 tons of dog waste is left on the ground. Pet waste contains disease-causing bacteria, viruses and lots of nutrients. This waste is washed down storm drains and delivered untreated to the closest waterway during rain events.

Pet waste poses a threat to both public health and water quality. It contributes harmful bacteria that can make people ill, as well as excessive nutrients that cause algae blooms that in turn rob the water of oxygen needed to support fish and other marine life.

Pooches for the Planet partners hope to encourage responsible pet ownership through a three-month promotion with the two animal shelters. From November through January, anyone who adopts a dog from Pinellas County Animal Services adoption center or the Humane Society shelter will receive an adoption kit containing an eco-friendly Pooches for the Planet reusable shopping bag filled with valuable goodies, including:

• A Bags-on-Board, pet-waste bag dispenser that clips to a leash
• A listing of county dog parks
• An immunization schedule card
• Discount coupons for a variety of pet services, such as grooming and pet sitting
• Treats, toys and other items donated by generous local and national pet care companies

“I am excited about our partnership with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program,” said Dr. Welch Agnew, director of Pinellas County Animal Services. “I believe that it will further our combined goals of adoptions to responsible pet owners and environmental awareness. After all, responsible owners always pick up after their pets.”

• For more information visit Pooches for the Planet.
• For more information and hours visit Pinellas County Animal Services located at 12450 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33774.
• For more information and hours visit Humane Society of Pinellas located at 3040 State Road 590, Clearwater, FL 33759.

Homestaging a Bedroom

A rainbow over Rainbow Muffler

A few months ago my wife and I were driving down Belcher Road when we saw a beautiful rainbow in the sky. We snapped the following photos and wanted to share them with you all. I’m going to have to email these photos to Rainbow Muffler in Clearwater, FL.

Not necessarily an $8,000 tax credit…but probably close!

I’ve recently been asked quite a few questions about the $8,000 first-time home-buyer tax credit. What needs to be understood is that you’re not necessarily getting the full $8,000. Your credit amount is based on the value of the home you purchase. It is the lesser of either 10% of the home’s cost or $8,000. So a $150,000 home will get the full $8,000 tax credit whereas a $50,000 home will get $50,000 x 10% or $5,000. The max amount is $8,000 so basically any house priced less than $80,000 will result in a tax credit less than $8,000, while any home priced over $80,000 will still only get the max amount of $8,000.

This blog post is only addressing this one simple question and is not a blanket statement about whether or not you might qualify for the tax credit. Please contact me if you have additional questions or simply ask them right here on www.CallChrisToday.com. I hope this explanation helped some of you.

Serval Rescued by Big Cat Rescue of Tampa

An African Serval was limping along in the Arizona desert until she collapsed alongside a road. She had almost completely given up the will to live. She was probably a pet or perhaps used in the hybrid breeding scheme that has become all the rage where Servals are bred to domestic house cats to produce Savannah Cat hybrids. The domestic cats are often killed in the process. The kittens sell for thousands of dollars, but when they mature they typically spray and bite and make awful pets. The hybrids are usually discarded by the time they are two or three years old.

This Serval was obviously abandoned and was placed by authorities at the Tucson Wildlife Center, a non-profit sanctuary dedicated to native wildlife. Lisa Bates-Lininger the founding president of the Tucson Wildlife Center said, “She was dehydrated and tired and just ready to give up. She may have died last night, but luckily we got her in. We got her emergency treatment, fluids for shock, and she’s also missing a rear leg.”

Despite 18 media posts including TV news in Tucson and a post on Craig’s list looking for the owner no one admits to having abandoned this Serval to die in the desert. Thanks to some very generous supporters the serval was flown to her new permanent home at Big Cat Rescue where she is recovering well. Servals can live into their late teens and proper care is thousands of dollars each year. Her new 1,200 square foot Cat-a-tat had to be specially modified to accommodate her three legged hopping. It seems that she only recently lost her leg as she has a very difficult time keeping her balance. We are writing vets in the Tucson area to find out if any of them know what tragedy caused her to lose a limb and to see if there is any way to prosecute those who exposed her to such danger.

See a video of this Serval here.

The above article was posted with permission of Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL. Months ago I emailed the owner expressing a interest in her business and mission to help abandoned and neglected big cats. She gladly allowed me to post the articles. Please consider visiting Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, FL soon. My wife and I visited many months ago and it was an amazing experience. Directions to Big Cat Rescue are here.

President Obama Signs Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension

This last Friday, President Barack Obama signed the new tax credit legislation which provides:

• Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.

• Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

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Beverly Hills Mansions

Tampa Bay market is starting to heat up!

The statistics show that the real estate market in the Tampa Bay area is really starting to pick up. If you’re thinking of buying a new house or condo you might want to start getting serious now. Have prices hit rock bottom yet? There is no way to tell, but most people in the business don’t see them going much lower. If you can buy real estate priced relatively cheaper than comparable properties you should be in good shape over the course of the upcoming months or even year.

The most beautiful house in the world

Breaking News: Congress Extends Tax Credit

Tax credit extension passes House and Senate

By Florida Realtors®

WASHINGTON – Nov. 5, 2009 – The $8,000, first-time homebuyer tax credit has not yet been extended beyond its Nov. 30 end date, but it’s very close to gaining a longer life.

The extension was added as an amendment to an existing bill, HR 3548, that extends unemployment benefits. The U.S. Senate passed that bill on Wednesday and, after debate, the U.S. House passed HR 3548 this afternoon. It now needs only President Obama’s signature to become law, and the White House has indicated it will sign it, perhaps as early as tomorrow.

Until the president signs the bill, however, it is not law.

In addition to extending the tax credit for first-time homebuyers under the current rules, the bill adds a smaller tax credit for move-up homebuyers who have lived in the house for five of the past seven years. The bill also increases the income limits of homebuyers from $75,000 (single) to $125,000; and from $150,000 (married) to $225,000.

Florida downpayment assistance

After the president signs the bill and extends the tax credit, the Florida Homebuyer Opportunity Program – a downpayment and closing costs assistance program relating to the federal tax credit -automatically gets extended too. The state still has about $28 million available for homebuyers. The money is essentially a loan to first-time buyers; they receive it upfront, use it for a downpayment or other costs, and pay it back once they get their federal refund.

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The Death of Print Newspapers is Near

I think it is inevitable that, in the near future, most print newspapers and magazines will go 100% electronic. Fewer and fewer people will be interested in receiving information the old fashioned way. Only those businesses that embrace the new communication technologies will survive.

The other day I was talking to my wife about how newspapers are going out of business across the country and I thought of a new way to deliver the daily paper to consumers. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to order and receive the newspaper directly on your television set? Imagine not having to hold the huge paper in your hands. You could use a remote control to flip through the pages, click on links, access videos and even save and email favorite articles. Advertisers could include direct links to their business web sites.

I guess what I’m saying is…the Internet will probably soon be available through the TV in your living room. And I know it already is if you use an Apple TV, but I’m more talking about a system where the Internet is available, by default, on all cable TV systems.

The death of print newspapers and magazines is near. He who accepts the future can capitalize on it.