With the huge interest in my post on $8,000 Credit for Home Buyer in New Stimulus Plan, I thought it would be good to layout what exactly IS the new $8,000 Home Buyer's Tax Credit.  Below is a brief list of some things that you need to know about the tax credit. First-Time Home Buyers ONLY The new tax credit, similar to the previous one, is for 1st time home buyers only purchasing a primary residence.  The tax credit is 10% of the home purchase up to the full $8,000.  Unlike the previous $7,500 tax 'credit' this one is a true credit and does not have to be repaid. The definition of "1st time Home Buyer" for the purpose of qualifying for this tax credit is any person that has not owned a principle residence within the last 3 years prior to purchase.  If you're married, both you and your ... 02/21/2009

Is your little one about to turn a year older and are you looking for ways to make it great but still save some $$$ in the process?  Look no further!  Hickory Dickory Dock is currently offering free birthday parties for children. You heard it right! Free birthday parties.  The Dock is offering these birthday parties for up to eight children, Mondays through Thursdays and include two slices of pizza per child, chips, unlimited drinks, a themed birthday cake, invitations to the party, soft play, inflatable bounce, mini-golf, 10 tokens, bumper cars and the option to get 100 tokens for $20.  And of course, a t-shirt for the birthday boy/girl.  The cost for any additional kids over the included 8 would be $8.20 per child. Eddie Mitchell, general manager at Hickory Dickory Dock, says that the... 02/18/2009

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2009 from 2-4pm   Great two floor condo with three bedrooms and two full baths. The home features a newly updated kitchen with new appliances, cabinets, counter tops and tile floor. This home has a spacious open floor plan. The bathrooms have been upgraded with new tile floors and new fixtures. Sit on your private patio area as you enjoy grilling and eating outside.  The complex has multiple common areas that are very well maintained.  Conveniently located off of Grace Chapel Road minutes from Route 321. Schools: Granite Falls Elementary School, Granite Falls Middle School, South Caldwell High School Directions:  321 North cross bridge into Caldwell County, Right on Grace Chapel Road, Left on Timberlane Terrace, home on the left. 02/17/2009

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2009 from 2-4pm   This super ranch home is located at the end of a quiet street in the Pine Meadows Subdivision. It has a brick and vinyl exterior. This home features three bedrooms and two full baths. It has laminate wood floors throughout and no carpeting to clean or replace. All appliances remain with the home. Enjoy sitting on the rocking chair front porch or the wood deck in the backyard. It is located in Burke County just minutes from Hickory and close to major roads. Schools: Ray Childers E.S., East Burke M.S., East Burke H.S. Directions:  Travel west on 1st Ave SW through Longview, right on Cape Hickory RD, make a right on Pine Meadows Circle, home is on the right. 02/17/2009

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2009 from 2-4pm    Nicely updated home with three bedroom and two baths. New kitchen with new cabinets, counter tops, sink, dishwasher and range. New carpet throughout the house. Gas log fireplace in the large living room. Large fenced back yard. Schools: Webb A.Murray Elementary School, Arndt Middle School, St.Stephens High School Directions: From Hickory, Take Springs Road North, Turn right on 27th ST PL NE. Home is on the right 02/17/2009

Recent news reports that the initial review of the new stimulus plan has indeed cut out the proposed $15,000 tax credit for home buyers.  But, apparently, there is a new proposal in the new stimulus plan for an $8,000 tax credit. There aren't a lot of details as of yet, but this tax credit would be for first-time home buyers only (not any home buyer, as was with the $15K plan) and it would be an actual tax credit.  In others words, it will not have to be repaid. At this time, it's unclear exactly when the tax credit would take effect.  It could be at the signing (and President Obama wants to sign by Monday at the latest), or as it's been rumored, it would count toward anything bought as of Jan. 1st, 2009.  The tax credit would run until either July 31st or Aug 31st (again, details vary ... 02/12/2009

It's all over the news wire!  A new deal has been reached on the the newest stimulus plan which is coming in at $789 Billion right.  Unfortunately, the newest deal also has effectively cut out the proposed $15,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit. That's right, folks.  One of the keys to jump starting housing again, and something that many buyers have been waiting on the sidelines for weeks to see what happens, has, at this time, been eliminated from the Stimulus Plan.  The main reason cited for it's removal was to try to pare down the cost of the plan. Details are still sketchy, it there may be a provision to keep the original $7500 first-time homebuyer tax credit/loan in place for awhile longer. While this is only the newest proposal of the deal, it's very doubtful that the Home Buying Tax Credi... 02/11/2009

 Subscribe in a reader Does this graphic look familiar? It's an RSS feed button. Get used to it because it's here to stay.  This technology has forever changed the way we look at the internet... The great thing about subscribing to a reader is that it saves you time.  Instead of having to check to see if your favorite website or blog has fresh information or content the RSS Feed does the work for you.  It delivers the latest information to you so that you do not have to waste your time looking for it. By subscribing to our RSS Feeds on the Mike Kelly Jr. Real Estate Blog - you will get a steady stream of updates and news that will have you on the cutting edge of the Hickory Area News and Information. When new information is available in our area you will receive updates from my blog. Si... 02/05/2009

Best Selling author, Terry McMillan, is scheduled to visit Hickory, NC on Feb 19th, 2009 and participating in two public events on that day. At 12 noon, Ms. McMillan will be at the Patrick Beaver Memorial Library, located in Hickory, NC for a book signing event.  She will also be giving a talk about her work, with a book signing as well, at the P.E. Monroe Auditorium on the Lenoir-Rhyne University campus. Both of these events are free and open to the public. The Patrick Beaver Memorial Library is located at 375 3rd Street NE, Hickory, NC.  The phone number is 828-304-0500. Lenoir-Rhyne University P.E. Monroe Auditorium is located at 775 Sixth St. N.E., Hickory, NC.  The phone number is 828-328-7254. 02/05/2009

The City of Hickory Catwawba County will be presenting an introduction to the North Carolina Rehab Code and City of Hickory Redevelopment Programs. The workshop will take place on Thursday, February 26 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Highland Recreation Center Community Room, at Stanford Park, 1451 8th Street Drive, NE, Hickory. Information about its Operation No Vacancy Initiative which aims to redevelop older commercial and industrial corridors, will be provided. Attendees will be given an overview of the process for renovating and occupying an existing vacant building. Information will be presented about grants and programs through the City of Hickory which target older commercial and industrial areas. Catawba County officials will also present an introduction to the North Carolin... 02/04/2009

 Many economists and pundits feel that the housing market is finally beginning to bottom and that bottom and subsequent bounce could be sped up if Congress passes a rumored bill that will extend the first time buyer credit till the end of 2009 and possibly make it available to all buyers. If this happens I think it would be a great opportunity for people who want to move up to a bigger home. The trouble is that most people need to sell their home before they buy a new one. Someone who puts their home on the market in the next 12 months will likely have quite a bit of competition and the best way to stand out from the crowd is to start making smart updates now so that your home is ready to go when it is time to sell.   Here are a few basic trends that I have noticed in my market that I ... 02/02/2009

In a previous post (check it out Here), I mentioned the real estate investors that advertise with the "We Buy Houses" type ads.  You usually see these ads in your local papers and on signs posted through out the area.  In that article, I said that if you are needing to sell quickly, that calling a local real estate investor may be an option, but there are some things you need to know before calling. #1: A Real Estate Investor is Looking for a Deal If your house is worth $100,000 and you're wanting $95,000 out of it, you're not going to get it from a real estate investor.  Investors need to buy houses at a significant discount in order to make their profit margins.  The range may vary a bit depending on price and area and condition, but a general rule of thumb is no more than 70% of true... 02/01/2009

Okay, maybe not the world, but they definitely are the hit of the year.  For those of you that don't have a clue what a Snuggieis (and if you don't, where have you been?), that's the weird looking blanket with arms.  Late-nighters have seen the commercials for awhile now.  A picture's worth a thousand words, right? I'll be honest, when I first saw these things, I never thought that it would even be a success, much less a cult hit!  Since October of 2008, over 4 million Snuggies have been sold.  I guess I was in the minority of thought when they showed a family proudly wearing these things in public at some game.  My thought was "I'd freeze to death first!" Still, it's good to hear a success story in the news, what with all the other bad things that they have to talk about right now.  An... 01/29/2009

The Catawba County Community College will be purchasing the old Ryan's restaurant on US 70.  The site is within close proximity of the college campus.  The building will provide about 10,000 square feet of additional facilities for the college.  The college has an all-time high enrollment and needs the additional space.  This acquisition by the CVCC Center for Emerging Manufacturing Solutions will help to create new and protect existing jobs in the Catawba Valley. It will attract more manufacturers to the area. The Catawba County Board of Commissioners approved the spending of approximately nine hundred fifty thousand dollars from the School Construction fund and CVCC will pay the balance of two hundred fifty thousand dollars to purchase the property for $1.2 million. According to the C... 01/24/2009

As a census taker, you will perform important and valued work. You will work individually as part of a small team in your own local community. Although your work hours will be flexible, you will be expected to complete your work assignments on time. The local pay rate will start at $15.25 per hour.  Our area is offering the highest pay rate in the state.   You will be expected to visit all the residences in your assigned area to verify address lists. You will record information on a small, hand held computing device, which will transmit the data via wireless communications. In most cases, you will need a vehicle and valid drivers license to work as a census taker.  If you work in a Local Census Office, you will perform standard office processing work, usually during normal weekday busin... 01/23/2009

The Green Building incentives section of the Catawba County's building fee structures is a special allowance to provide an incentive for building in accordance with LEED, Energy Star, and NC Healthy Built Homes. The incentive based fee structure is intended to increase renewable/sustainable energy technologies and green building certifications for homes and commercial buildings in Catawba County. Various permit and plan review incentives are available for new and existing construction. To qualify, the builder or owner needs to obtain all permitting from Catawba County and a green building certification from a third party agency (LEED, Energy Star, etc.). For new construction, once a Certificate of Occupancy is issued, a percentage of the permit fees will be reimbursed to the permit hold... 01/23/2009

The following are some area events and happenings currently in the Hickory NC area. The Friends of Hickory Public Library is hosting their Fourth Saturday Book Sale this Saturday, 1/24/09, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Patrick Beaver Memorial Library.  Book prices will be $1-$2 for Hardcover books, 50 cents for paperbacks and 50 cents to $2 for children's books. For information about the sale, book donations or Friends' membership, call Janice Knotts at the library at 304-0500x 7277. The library is at 375 3rd Street NE on the SALT Block in Hickory. Rick Cline's Jazz on Tap at the Olde Hickory Tap Room is completing an 8 year run in downtown Hickory.  They will be starting on Sunday, 1/24/09.  The new hours will accommodate people who like to eat earlier. Jazz will begin at 7 p.m. and end at... 01/23/2009

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners gave its approval for the Western Piedmont Council of Governments to apply for federal grant to finance the purchase and renovation of about 35 houses that have been seized in recent foreclosures.  These homes will be renovated and made available for first time home buyers. Catawba County is applying for a portion of the fifty-two million dollars that North Carolina is set to receive.  Grants will be provided based on need.  Need is determined by the percentage of foreclosures, sub-prime mortgages, and the number of homes that are delinquent on payments.  The money comes from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, giving funds to state and local governments showing the greatest need. GOOD N... 01/22/2009

The Catawba County Government has made a concerted effort to promote education and responsible behavior regarding conservation of energy, recycling, waste management, energy efficient building, and beautification. The following is a list of just some of the steps a few of the county departments have taken. Catawba County Government Ranked in the top five counties within North Carolina for recycled materials for the last six years Created a buy recycled policy for all departments, employees, and buyers Tracks the annual purchases of recycled content goods and products Asks all staff to turn off their electronic equipment when they leave work Operates 12 hybrid vehicles   Catawba County Schools Will be constructing Snow Creek Elementary with new energy efficient materials. These materials... 01/22/2009

One of the most common complaints about Hickory is that the streets are confusing and it is tough to find your way around town.  The good news is that we are one step closer to making it easier. The Hickory City Council voted 4-3 to approve a contract with Frasier Associates to develop an updated logo for the city and develop a wayfinding plan that will incorporate the new logo on strategically located signs that will guide travelers to and from Hickory's various businesses and points of interest. Frasier Associates is a Virginia-based architecture and planning firm that has worked with a number of North Carolina cities, including Morganton, to develop wayfinding plans. Their contract with Hickory will cost the city nearly $74,000 and the money will come from the city's parking fund.  T... 01/21/2009