HARRY’S COLUMN

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!

COLORADO NOW OFFERS INNOVATION INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT

The Colorado Innovation Investment Tax Credit provides a state income tax credit for qualified investors who make investments during calendar year 2010 in small, qualified Colorado businesses involved in research and development or manufacturing of new technologies, products or processes. This program is administered by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). The program is aimed at stimulating investment in innovative small businesses. For more information, contact OEDIT in Denver.

COLORADO SPRINGS IS RECOVERING FROM THE RECESSION

The December 19 issue of The Gazette reports that “the unemployment rate in Colorado Springs fell to 7.4%, the lowest level of the year”. Compared to the national unemployment rate of 10.4%, this would indicate that our local economy is 30% better off than the rest of the country.

The Gazette article goes on to point out that “most of the indicators, unemployment, sales tax collections, housing construction and sales show that the steep decline the local economy has experienced since 2007 is over”.

Although the article goes on to caution us that it will be a couple of years before we see a complete recovery, this is great news for all of us.

NAR PREDICTS A RISE IN HOME PRICES

The National Association of Realtors is predicting that 2010 will see an increase in the average price of homes. In 2008, the average home price was $198,100, which represented a decline of 9.5% from the previous year. In 2009, the average price went down again, to $172,600, a decline of 12.9%. However, for 2010, NAR is predicting an average home price of $178,800, which will be an increase of 3.6% over 2009. As the economy continues to improve, this increase in home prices is inevitable. Combine this increase in home value with the inflation that all of the experts are predicting, and your real estate investment is obviously your best vehicle for preserving and growing the value of your estate. And don’t forget that the recently extended and expanded federal tax credit for home buyers represents another incentive for buying a home now. Call me !!!

And, please remember, I would be honored to serve as your Broker for all of your residential real estate needs. I want to help you, my reader, make the most prudent and accurate Real Estate business decision.

Also if you know of anyone who desires to buy or sell local real estate, or, who is moving in or out of the Pikes Peak region, remember that, with over 37 years of providing relocation and Real Estate services to clients throughout the country, I am uniquely qualified to assist them with the relocation process, including buying and/or selling their homes on both ends of their move. Please allow me to implement my negotiating skills on your behalf.

 Just click on the icon at the top of this email to listen to my latest podcast. ….And, if you would like to learn more about our Job Loss Protection Program, or, about our CyberHomes Complete Market Analysis of a property, please contact us. 

FIRST ANNUAL SALZMAN OPINION SURVEY  

We read a lot about the various national polls that are supposed to tell us what people are thinking. Many times, it seems that these polls don’t reflect what our friends and business associates are saying. So….we are starting an annual poll of what the readers of this enewsletter are thinking. Please reply to the following question and we will publish the results in our next enewsletter.

1. What do you expect the economy to look like in 2010 ? 

            a. A lot better than 2009

            b. A little better than 2009

            c. About the same as 2009

            d. A little worse than 2009

            e. A lot worse than 2009

JOKE OF THE WEEK

A New Year Prayer for the Elderly

God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
The good fortune to run into the ones that I do, … And the eyesight to tell the difference

Dieting - New Resolutions

2006: I will get my weight down below 180 pounds.
2007: I will follow my new diet religiously until I get below 200 pounds.
2008: I will develop a realistic attitude about my weight.
2009: I will work out 3 days a week.
2010: I will try to drive past a gym at least once a week.

New Year's Day Prayer for One and All

Dear Lord

So far this year I've done well.

I haven't gossiped, I haven't lost my temper. I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent. I'm very proud of that.  But in a few minutes, Lord, I'm going to get out of bed for the first time in 2010, and from then on I'm probably going to need a lot more help.

Amen