About that First Time Home Buyer's Tax Credit

Much press has been given lately to the first time home buyer's tax credit passed as part of the economic stimulus package back in February.

With all of the media attention the previous versions of the tax credit received, it is no wonder that there is a great deal of incorrect information and rumor out there.

Here are the basics:

• In order to take advantage of the credit, you cannot have owned a home or had an interest in a home in the three years prior to buying this home. If you are married and file jointly, neither spouse can have owned a home during the last three years.
• The tax credit is for up to $8,000. Other figures were tossed around during the legislative process, but the credit the was passed had an upper limit of $8,000.
  
• The credit is figured as a percentage of the home's sale price. If you purchase a home under $80,000, the maximum credit will be fore 10% of the home's value. For any home with a purchase price over $80,000, the maximum credit is $8,000.
  
• There are income limits for the tax credit. A person filing singly can make up to $75,000 and receive the full credit allowable, or up to $95,000 and receive a percentage of the allowable credit. Married couples filing jointly can make up to $150,000 for the full credit or $170,000 for the percentage.
• The home must be your primary residence.
• You must close on the home on or between January 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009.
  
• The tax credit is refundable. That means that if your federal tax liability (the amount you owe) is less than the amount of the tax credit, you will get the excess refunded to you.

If you are looking to buy your first home or to own a home for the first time in three years, this tax credit is wonderful news for you. You can find more detailed, credible information on the tax credit here or talk with your tax preparer.

Between the tax credit, incredibly low interest rates, and the lower prices in the current home inventories, this is a fantastic time to buy a home.

Tasting Tour #1

There are some pretty amazing flavors that come out of our stomping grounds here in Green County.

Whether you are a tourist visiting the area or a long time resident, take a little vacation and sample some of our goods. Try a day trip to the area with a Tasting Tour.

I am writing these myself; they are not from any visitors guide book or tourism site, so please keep that in mind. These are just fun ways to spend a day or two here in the Green County area.

Tasting Tour #1 will focus on beverages, alcoholic and non. If you want to do the full tasting tour, start promptly at 10 am and follow the schedule as given. If you would rather linger longer in the New Glarus area, adjust the tour so that you get to Monroe in time for the 3 pm brewery tour and leave off the final winery stop.

Start your day in New Glarus at 10 am. Here is where you will find New Glarus Brewing Company, a quickly growing upstart in the craft brewing world. Fat Squirrel, Spotted Cow, Organic Revolution, Crack'd Wheat - these are names known to beer aficionados in the Midwest. Dan and Deb Carey are the founders. This company is unique because it is the first brewery in the US founded and operated by a woman. Deb runs the company, Dan is the brewmaster, and an incredible local product is the result. Self guided audio tours are available from 10 am until 5 pm Monday through Sunday. The new facility on the hill just south of New Glarus will be open to the public this year. If you would like to sample, stop in the Tasting Room where $3.50 will get you three samples and a New Glarus Brewing tasting glass.

After learning about New Glarus beers, stop over at Primrose Winery around 11 am to learn about local wines. Primrose began in 1986 when Peg and Bob Borucki decided to turn their wine making hobby into a business after many raves from their friends about their products. Primrose Winery uses Wisconsin fruits to create 13 handcrafted wines. Primrose is special because they do use chemicals to clarify their wines, instead relying on old fashioned racking. They do not offer tours, but they offer free tastings year round at their building in Downtown New Glarus. They do have an Open House event coming up in late May.

Noon means lunch time! Pick up a sandwich for lunch and the coffee drink of your choice at Fat Cat Coffee Works before leaving New Glarus. You'll enjoy the quality ingredients and the charming ambiance at this small town coffee cafe. If you want to do the full Tasting Tour, leave New Glarus at about 12:30 to give yourself enough time to get to your next tour at 1 pm. Otherwise, wander over to the New Glarus bakery for a pastry dessert and visit some of the New Glarus shops as well.

Next stop is Monroe for a tour of Minhas Brewery. This has been a brewery since 1846, the oldest continuously operating brewery in the Midwest. The name has changed a few times, the product labels are different, but the product is still the same - mostly beer. During Prohibition, they began producing excellent root beer and sodas. When alcohol became legal again, the soda stayed in the line up. The brewery has changed hands a few times in 163 years, and in 2006, it became Minhas Brewery. Minhas still produces Blumer's, Berghoff, and Huber, but has grown to include such brews as Lazy Mutt. Do stop in for a tour. They are fun and tasty experiences. Tours are offered every Friday at 1p.m. and Saturday at 1p.m. and 3p.m. It is recommended to call to reserve a spot: 608-325-3191. Tours are $10 for ages 13 years and older, kids under 12 are free with parent. The tour price does include a Minhas Craft Brewery Gift Pack including several bottles as well as Minhas gifts.

If you made the 1 pm tour at Minhas, you will have time for the final stop on our Tasting Tour. (If you had the 3 pm tour instead, browse around our Downtown or catch a matinee movie at Goetz Theater before skipping ahead to dinner).

Drive a little farther south towards Freeport, IL to tour Famous Fossil Vineyard and Winery. Famous Fossil is a charming winery that has a certified biodynamic vineryard (meets organic standards plus some). Their tasting room is open from 11 am until 5 pm on Thursdays and Saturdays, 11 until 7 on Fridays and noon until 4 on Sundays. Sit on the deck, sample the wines and enjoy the countryside and vineyard views. If you call ahead, they will arrange a box meal for you to enjoy on site.

If you prefer a restaurant dinner, drive on back to Monroe and enjoy a leisurely dinner at Barrett's Brick Cafe, Cafe Claudeen or Poncho & Lefty's, opening soon. End your tour with a stop at Baumgartner's on the west side of the Square for a final glass of your favorite beer of the day, great camaraderie and (on many Saturday evenings) live music.

Don't forget the designated driver on this tasting tour! We want you to get back to your hotel or bed and breakfast safely.

If you are making a weekend out of visiting our area, combine this with Tasting Tour #2.

Moving Tips for Sellers

Real estate is moving and homes are selling here in the Green County area. If you are one of the home sellers in the area, here are some tips for getting ready for your upcoming move:

1. Give your forwarding address to the post office, usually 2-4 weeks ahead of the move.

2. Notify your magazine subscriptions, charge cards, and bank of the change of address.

3. Develop a list of friends, relatives, and business colleagues who need to be notified of the move.

4. Arrange to have utilities disconnected at your old home and connected at your new one.

5. Cancel the newspaper.

6. Check insurance coverage for moved items. Usually movers only cover what they pack.

7. Clean out appliances and prepare them for moving, if applicable.

8. Note the weight of the goods you’ll have moved, since long-distance moves are usually billed according to weight. Watch for movers that use excessive padding to add weight.

9. Have a “first open” box with the things you’ll need most—toilet paper, soap, trash bags, scissors, hammer, screwdriver, pencils and paper, cups and plates, water, snacks, and toothpaste.

Plus, if you’re moving out of town:

1. Get copies of medical and dental records and prescriptions for your family and your pets.

2. Get copies of children’s school records for transfer.

3. Ask friends for introductions to anyone they know in your new neighborhood or look for people from the area on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.

4. Consider special car needs for pets when traveling.

5. For safety's sake, let a friend or relative know your route.

6. Carry traveler’s checks or an ATM card for ready cash until you can open a bank account.

7. Empty your safety deposit box.

8. Put plants in boxes with holes for air circulation if you’re moving in cold weather.

adapted from the National Association of Realtors.

Moving is never simple, but hopefully with a little forethought, it can at least go smoothly for you.

Property of the Week

This week's featured property is ranch home on Skinner Creek.

Unparalleled style at any price!

This 2 year old, 3 bedroom ranch home has an enormous, bright and open great room with a large stone fireplace. The dramatic formal entry is a lovely way to enter your home every day or greet your guests. Your family will appreciate the oversized closets in all bedrooms, and the 2x6 construction with R19 insulation rating will help keep the utility bills low all winter.

This home is located on 2.57 acres with both woods and pasture. Nature lovers will love looking out there windows and gazing at deer and wild turkeys drinking out of Skinner Creek as it moseys through your land. You will be walking distance to Cadiz State Park and just a couple of minutes outside of Monroe.

Asking price is $189,000.

Things to Do around Monroe, WI

~ A new exhibit is opening in Frehner Gallery at the Monroe Arts Center. Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made Of..." is the exhibit title, and it features acrylic and watercolor media by Beki Borman, and sculpture by Darlene Wesenberg Rzezotarski. The opening reception is Thursday evening from 5 until 7 pm in Frehner Gallery, and the artists will be speaking at 5 pm. You can also preview the art that will be available during the MAC spring silent auction. These pieces will be on display, and you can also pick up tickets to the Taste of Spring event taking place on May 4.

~ Young Professionals of Green County is doing a Beer and Cheese tasting at Baumgartner's on Thursday evening starting at 5:30 pm. Registration is technically required, but contact Lori and maybe you can sneak in. $15 to sample at least 5 beers and 7 cheeses.

~ Bring the kids to Kookaburra's on the north side of Monroe's Downtown Square on Saturday from 11 until 4 to meet the Easter Bunny! Feel free to bring your camera and get some photos too.

~ "Godspell" opens this weekend! Monroe Theatre Guild is putting on an energetic and exciting performance of this Broadway hit musical. MTG does an amazing job on all of their performances, and "Godspell" will be no different. I have had the pleasure of listening to some of the rehearsals, and "Godspell" is gong to be a fantastic production. Show times are April 3, 4, 9, and 10 at 7:30 PM and April 5 and 11 at 2 pm in the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 for members, $12 for non-members for evening shows or $8 matinees for everyone. Check out the upcoming classes on the MTG website as well. There are some great workshops coming up for both adults and children.

~ Inn Serendipity will host a Sustainable Living Workshop on Saturday, April 4 from 1 until 4 pm. The half day workshop will cover buying farm property; sustainable gardening; using renewable energy; developing a diversified business from a rural setting; raising a family on the farm. It will also include resources to get started and a hands-on tour of the farm, gardens, a straw bale greenhouse under construction and various renewable energy systems. $30 per person includes instruction time, a copy of John's book The Least Imperfect Path, and printed materials.

~ End the week with a bang! Central State Fireworks will be showing off their products at the Stephenson County Fairgrounds on Saturday evening from 7 until 9:30 pm.

~ There will be a lot of live music in the area this weekend. Tofflers in New Glarus is featuring The Midwesterners on Saturday night. Baumgartner's in Monroe is hosting The Rowdy Prairie Dogs also on Saturday. The New Glarus Hotel is having music by Steve Meisner Band on Friday evening. Roadhouse in Monroe will host Mississippi Man on Saturday evening. Turner Hall will have Dick Strauss Big Band at their Dance and Dine on Sunday afternoon.

~ Blackhawk Technical College is hosting Renewable Energy Alternatives: Smart Choices to Fuel Our Future, a discussion hosted by Young Professionals Dan Harrigan and Dusty Williams. It will be on April 8 from 12:30 until 1:30 in room 413 of BTC's Monroe Campus. Snacks and beverages will be provided.

~ Plan ahead for the Bel Canto singers concert, MTG Classic Movie Night, Depot Days, Poetry on Tap, culinary classes, Tai Chi demonstrations, the Quilt Show and much, much more happening in April.

Is it any wonder I laugh when people say there this nothing to do around here?