New Missouri homeowner tax break wins OK

Hello Everyone - what great news. 
Tax relief for any new homeowner that purchases a new or pre-existing home after January 1, 2010.

The measure, first proposed by Governor Jay Nixon and the state Treasurer Clint Zweifel, passed 7 to 1.
This is another incentive for buyers to purchase a home.

The tax credit can range from $1250 to $1750, if the home is energy efficient or if home owner purchases Energy Star appliances.
Here is link to news article on St Louis Business Journal,  December 18, 2009.

http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2009/12/14/daily77.html?s=du&ed=2009-12-18&ana=e_du_pub&t=printable

Send any questions you have about Real Estate Taxes or purchasing/selling your home.
Thank you, Judy

NAR - National Assoc of REALTORS update Oct 25, 2009

The latest numbers  just arrived from the National Association of REALTORS. Statistics indicate that 95% of the sales to date for closed units were at a price of $500,000 or less. This is compared to the same period of 2008. The average sales price for this same period versus last year has decreased by 11%.

According to NAR (National Association of REALTORS), 87% of all home buyers used the Internet to search for homes. 94% of home buyers aged 25-45 years use the Internet to search for homes.

Additionally, according to NAR (survey conducted in July, 2009), buyers found the home they actually purchased from the following sources:

Real Estate agent 34% (48% in 2001)
Internet 32% ( 8% in 2001)
Yard/open sign 15% (15% in 2001)
Newspaper Ad 3% ( 7% in 2001)

THEREFORE:   MAKE A STRONG PRESENCE For Your Home ON THE INTERNET !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Use Red-hot-copy and creative website advertising to include buyers to your home - And as usual, price and condition are very important indicators for a SALE in the upper bracket.

Thank you for choosing  Judy Lewin to assist you in this challenging and sensitive market.

The Lady is a Dectective +++++++++++

As soon as Judy Lewin finishes rewriting her TRUE MYSTERY MANUSCRIPT,  watch for a special offer from our lady detective - possibly a magnifying glasses to help you solve your mystery.

FDIC requires banks to pay 3 years of insurance

A close friend told me that before banks can all share a level playing field, and to get financing available for investors again, the FDIC is requiring banks to pay 3 years of insurance, instead of 1 year.   This "sort of " makes sense to me.  Anything to get the economy going again.

I jumped out of my car to take a photo of this new bike sign - at Maplewood Commons - in front of Penzey's SPices on Manchester.

Enjoy your day!   Judy

BANKS will lend to investors in 2010 and here's why .....

A St Louis banker told me this morning, that the FDIC must visit every bank in the country, will complete in 2009, lay out the ground rules and by 2010 - when EVERY BANK HAS THE SAME RULES ---banks will lend to investors.

This is wonderful news, for anyone who is thinking about getting into rehabs or renovations or property investments.
Go here to view Banks on Sick List, according to Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125137695691263385.html

Here is another property for investors:  4623 Shenandoah ---- 4 family that someone can finish and make into 2 townhomes:

This is my listing on the MLS, so if you want to view or see Architect's Plans, call Judy Lewin at 314-518-5754

ASK about city of St Louis, state of Missouri and federal dollars possibly available for thie project.

Vintage VICTORIAN renovated FOR SALE - 4202 Wyoming in Tower Grove South

Stop by to view 4202 Wyoming in popular Tower Grove South, between Grand Ave and Morganford - Three Monkeys, TinCan, TFA, antiques and more. We have more, coming soon. Asking $219,000..........

Call Judy at (314) 518-5754 to view today or send email to judylewin@msn.com

G R E E N H O M E S St Louis Festival - Sept 26

Don't miss out on FREE green homes festival, sponsored by Missouri Botanical Gardens and Earthways Homes.

Senior Solution to WIN, WIN when downsizing

Let''s pretend we are playing a game of life, roll the dice, and you land on a new square. Each square is a new adventure, giving everyone new challenges, yet making NEW friends along the way.

This SENIOR SOLUTION that may work for you.

Sometimes a senior has lived in their comfortable home for many years. The senior is ready to move onto another lifestyle - but they need to SELL their current home, for the most money. A home typically gets the best price if it is in move-in condition.

TWO problems: 1. the home needs updates(a new kitchen, new paint, new roof) and 2. The senior has limited cash $$$ to make repairs.

So here is how Judy's SENIOR SOLUTION works. We will visit the home and work out a TO DO list of repairs. Sometimes just cosmetic clean up, trash hauling and repairs, with LITTLE OR NO CASH needed up front, is all we need to get us started.

We put everything in a written contract, with a plan of action.
The beauty of this is that we get paid for labor when we SELL YOUR HOME !!!!!!!!!!!!
We have successfully completed these sales. It takes a burden off the senior's family, gives a great price to the next buyer, gets the HOME SOLD FAST and best of all - the senior can go to the next square in their life.

Need Writers Software for my Book

I spent 2 hours today searching for software for writers to keep track of the chapters and subjects in my SOON to be - BEST SELLER - Nonfiction book, A Rubik's CUbe Mystery SOlved. or How I found my husband's mother, Mary Bruckheimer, after 50 years.

I have tried various software products and none seem to work for me. TOday, I found Prose Pro - an add-on for MS Word 2007 that may do the trick! The software will generate submission-ready copy of my book for my publisher.

Please send comments, or let me know what you have tried in writing nonfiction, fiction or even articles. Thanks, Judy

The FRENCH are coming - as in Louisiana Territory in Missouri

Yesterday, I met Pam (Bourisaw) Ludwinski - no relation to my surname, Lewin.
She is the owner and designer of The Blue Pineapple in popular Maplewood, Missouri.
Check out Pam's shop when you are nearby.

Anyway, she wants to solve the mystery of her grandfather, and g-grandfather, names Joseph Bourisaw. We found various spellings for Bourisaw, of French descent, and this seems to be correct spelling. She also told me most Bourisaw immigrated into Canada, then into Michigan. BUT Pam's grandmother repeated a story that their family immigrated from France, through New Orleans, into Louisiana. Then moved to Washington,Missouri area and worked as miners and farmer.

Grandma was most probably correct !!!!

I found more history behind this family and will post tomorrow. Send comments, Judy

Looking for Someone before 1950 - try Manteno State Hospital

It was a surprise to me to learn that a state Mental Health hospital, such as Manteno Mental Hospital, Kankakee County, IL were not mandated to keep records or archive inmate records or names before 1952. http://www.mantenostatehospital.com/genealogy.html

I am searching for our g-grandmother, Henrietta Lewin. She is in 1900 US Census, but can't find in the 1910, 1920, or 1930 census. She is on one of her son's obituary.

Sooooooooo, not for grandma, but suppose we wanted to find someone and they are in a mental institution. Has anyone run into this problem before? Has anyone search for mental hospital records ????

Last night, I found, and purchased online- a death certificate for Henrietta Lewin, age 62, that could be our relative. Soon, I will learn where she was when she died in 1942 - her death; and maybe a clue where she was from 1910 until 1942.

My best friend moved to California and WE MISS HER

One of our best friends, Susan, moved to California. We know she had to go, but we miss her. She was instrumental in helping us uncover an unscrupulous thief - after a property was foreclosed, the THIEF went to the St Louis city's Family and Children's Services for a tenant with kids. He packed them into the vacant property, told them he was the Property Manager, then collected rent every month.

All the thief had to do was cut the lawn!!!!!!!!! Anyway, Susan stayed on top of the problem everyday. Two months ago, the bank hired a new property manager and the home is managed. We can't thank Susan enough.

Judy Lewin, Board member of the Southwest Garden Neighborhood