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Another builder is leaving the central Ohio market. Beazer announced on Friday, February 1st that they will stop building new homes in the Columbus, Ohio market. New home builders have really been affected by the real estate slow down. Beazer is the second major new home builder to pull out of our market in the last year. Last Summer, Centex homes stopped building in our area.
Last week, National City Bank announced that they will lay off 900 employees from their National City Mortgage division. National City has decided to shut down their wholesale mortgage department. The wholesale department was responsible for originating first and second mortgages with other mortgage brokers. National City will still originate 
mortgages to the consumers through their branch office networks.
National City Bank is the the state of Ohio’s largest bank. The layoffs can be directly tied to the problems in the sub-prime mortgage crisis. This is another example of Banks “circling the wagons” and tightening credit options. As an Exclusive Buyer Agent I am actually more concerned with the trend of banks restricting or tightening credit options then with the layoffs. Tightening credit options & layoffs are both terrible for our economy. But, in my opinion, the bank management decisions to tighten credit and make it harder for the consumer to obtain mortgages will be a lot more detrimental to our economy and recovery in the long run. Contact me if you have any questions or if you are looking for a lender.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 offers generous energy tax credits to consumers and businesses that purchase fuel efficient cars and/or energy efficient items for their home. 
Homeowners can receive a tax credit up to $500. Homeowners that purchase and install certain energy efficient products for their home such as; windows, exterior doors, heating and cooling systems, water heaters, storm doors, insulation, etc. (see chart for more information) prior to the end of the year will be eligible for the tax credits. The energy tax credit program is scheduled to end December 31, 2007. So HURRY up and ACT now! A tax credit is more beneficial than a tax deduction. A tax credit reduces your actual tax amount due “dollar for dollar”. A tax credit can provide substantial savings to the homeowner. Click here for more information about tax credits from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Good luck and stop procrastinating. Uncle Sam wants to give you money for going GREEN!
Another great, informative web site to check out is the Energy Star Program.
Did you know that the “Do Not Call” list is expiring? Don’t fret, most of us didn’t know either!
The National Do Not Call Registry was started 5 years ago (September 2002) to protect us from annoying telemarketer jerks and “phone spammers”. The “Do Not Call” (DNC) list has been an extremely popular piece of legislation with the public. Nearly half of the 140 million phone numbers in the DNC list were registered within months on the new law taking effect in September 2002. Your phone number is only vaild on the DNC list for 5 years after you have registered. You have to re-register every 5 years or your phone number will expire from the DNC list.
So take a few minutes to re-register all of your phone numbers (up to 3 phone numbers). You can also register cell phone numbers. In the past, fake email scams and bogus information circulated on the Internet that cell phone numbers would be under attack by telemarketers because cell phone numbers were exempt from the list. This is totally FALSE. Get the real scoop here: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/02/dnccellphones.shtm
Please make sure all of your friends, family members and co-workers are aware of this information. No one wants to start getting “bombarded” again with phone calls at dinnertime regarding lawn care specials, 20% discounts on duct work cleaning for the next 30 days and the “most popular” annoying telemarketing call of all time; how to save money on your long distance service.
Here are some “FAQ’s” that also might help you.
Good Luck!
My Buyer Broker Advocate! 
Cool Comments!