Houston Real Estate

3510 HIGHLAND LAKES Dr - SOLD

2011-01-14T10:35:00.000-08:00

3510 HIGHLAND LAKES Dr

Relax & entertain in this backyard oasis.Cul de sac location! Heated pool,spa, & immense 30X13, covered patio; all designed for family fun & entertaining.Interior colors in soothing neutral palette. Sumptuous granite in the kitchen/bar/half bath, carpet 4/08, updated baths & richly stained oak leaded glass front door. Expansive views to pool from open oversized living/den area. Master w/ 2 walk in closets. Secondary bdrms w/ 2 huge walk ins. PLEASE MEASURE FOR PRECISE MEASUREMENTS

2434 ROMAN FOREST Blvd

2011-01-14T08:55:00.000-08:00

2434 ROMAN FOREST Blvd

See Docs.for site and floor plans. Owner used this building for a church and television studio. The building sits on almost two acres and a one acre lot across street that will be sold with the building. Parking will never be a problem. The City of Roman Forest has building unrestricted and can be used for almost anything. Home, office or wedding banquet facility.

5707 SPRING LODGE Dr - SOLD

2011-01-14T08:54:00.000-08:00

5707 SPRING LODGE Dr

Great buy in prestigious Sand Creek! Fantastic floorplan, master down, fabulous master bath, formal dining room, updated floors, counters, upgraded 3 finger and dental molding, wet bar, cozy gaslog fireplace, huge gameroom up w/ built-ins, island kitchen with electric cooktop, screened porch and relaxing pergola in backyard.

26921 CARRIAGE MANOR Ln

2011-01-14T08:51:00.000-08:00

26921 CARRIAGE MANOR Ln

JUST LISTED IMMACULATE 'LENNAR RALEIGHT' IN KINGS MANOR. FEATURES FANTASTIC CURB APPEAL, INVITING ENTRY, OPEN CONCEPT KITCHEN/BREAKFAST/LIVING AREA, FIREPLACE, ENTERTAINMENT CENTER BUILT-INS, SPLIT FLOORPLAN, FORMAL DINING ROOM AND MUCH MORE! MASTER SUITE FEATURES SEPARATE SHOWER, GARDEN TUB, AND A HUGE CLOSET! THIS HOUSE IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND WON'T LAST LONG!

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended

2010-11-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

First-Time Homebuyer Credit: Members of the Military and Certain Other Federal Employees

The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which was signed into law on Nov. 6, 2009, extends and expands the first-time homebuyer credit allowed by previous Acts.

The new law:
Extends deadlines for purchasing and closing on a home.
Authorizes the credit for long-time homeowners buying a replacement principal residence.
Raises the income limitations for homeowners claiming the credit.
Under the new law, an eligible taxpayer must buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy, a principal residence on or before April 30, 2010 and close on the home by June 30, 2010. For qualifying purchases in 2010, taxpayers have the option of claiming the credit on either their 2009 or 2010 return.

For the first time, long-time homeowners who buy a replacement principal residence may also claim a homebuyer credit of up to $6,500 (up to $3,250 for a married individual filing separately). They must have lived in the same principal residence for any five-consecutive year period during the eight-year period that ended on the date the replacement home is purchased.
People with higher incomes can now qualify for the credit. The new law raises the income limits for homes purchased after Nov. 6, 2009. The credit phases out for individual taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) between $125,000 and $145,000 or between $225,000 and $245,000 for joint filers. The existing MAGI phase-outs of $75,000 to $95,000 or $150,000 to $170,000 for joint filers still apply to purchases on or before Nov. 6, 2009.
Several new restrictions apply to homes purchased after Nov. 6, 2009.
Purchasers must attach a properly executed settlement statement to their return.
No credit is available if the purchase price of the home exceeds $800,000.
The purchaser must be at least 18 years old on the date of purchase. For a married couple, only one spouse must meet this age requirement. A dependent is not eligible for the credit.

The new law gives the IRS broader authority to deny first-time homebuyer credit claims, without having to first audit a taxpayer’s return. Known as math error authority, this authority applies, retroactively, to credits claimed on original and amended 2008 returns, as well as to claims yet to be filed.

Additionally, there are new benefits for members of the military and certain other federal employees:

Members of the military and certain other federal employees serving outside the U.S. have an extra year to buy a principal residence in the U.S. and qualify for the credit. Thus, an eligible taxpayer must buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy, a principal residence on or before April 30, 2011. If a binding contract is entered into by that date, the taxpayer has until June 30, 2011, to close on the purchase. Members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community are eligible for this special rule. It applies to any individual (and, if married, the individual’s spouse) who serves on qualified official extended duty service outside of the United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning after Dec. 31, 2008, and ending before May 1, 2010.

In many cases, the credit repayment (recapture) requirement is waived for members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community. This relief applies where a home is sold or stops being the taxpayer’s principal residence after Dec. 31, 2008, in connection with government orders received by the individual (or the individual’s spouse) for qualified official extended duty service. The credit is still allowable even if this happens during the year of purchase. Qualified official extended duty is any period of extended duty while serving at a place of duty at least 50 miles away from the taxpayer’s principal residence (whether inside or outside the U.S.) or while residing under government orders in government quarters. Extended duty is defined as any period of duty pursuant to a call or order to such duty for a period in excess of 90 days or for an indefinite period.

Save at the Gas Pump - Tricks to Get More of Your Money's Worth For Every Gallon

2009-05-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

I don't know what you guys are paying for gasoline.... but here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon...

*** Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening....your gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role. A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

*** When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some other liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.

*** One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, every truck that is unloaded is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.

*** Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.