Customer Service

Saturday, Feb. 14 2009  |  Posted by: Steve Stockwood  |  0 comments

On my last few trips to the grocery store I realized something, I’m getting service. Now up until a few months ago, I thought customer service was dead, but I was wrong.

With the large companies laying off countless people, we have seen a change in the quality of employee’s. Not only do people want to work, they want to work hard, and they enjoy the work, because they appreciate the fact that a job is not something to take lightly, it can disappear when you least expect.

So maybe these tough economic times are exactly what was need around the world to give us back the fabled “customer service”. To make us work hard at everything we do, because we just never know what’s going to happen tomorrow.

I pride myself on making my clients happy and working hard for them.

Call me today to find out how hard I work for my clients.

Permalink  |  Posted in: General

Tax Incentives for Home Buyers

Sunday, Feb. 01 2009  |  Posted by: Steve Stockwood  |  0 comments

Tax Incentives for Home Buyers

We’ve all heard lately about the world-wide economic downturn and its effect on Canadians. The news appears to be grim – but governments in the US and Canada are taking drastic measures to turn things around.  And home-buyers are one group that are going to benefit.

On January 27, the Canadian government introduced the 2009 budget.  This budget is aimed at stimulating the economy – which translates into – more money for taxpayers so that we, in turn, will spend and reinvigorate our economy.  Within this budget are many advantages for those who are looking to buy a home, including a response to gaps in credit markets by providing funds through the Extraordinary Financing Framework to improve access to financing for Canadian households, growing the Insured Mortgage Purchase Program to provide lenders with stable long-term financing, allowing them to continue lending to Canadian Consumers, increasing the flexibility and capacities of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and moving forward on measures to make mortgage insurance more transparent, understandable and affordable.

The two most notable additions to this budget are a Home Renovation Tax Credit and a Home Buyers Tax Credit.  The temporary Home Renovation Tax Credit is a one-year program that gives a 15% credit on eligible renovation costs that exceed $1,000 but are less than $10,000, and will provide up to $1,350 in tax relief. These renovation costs must be accumulated between January 27, 2009 and February 1, 2010 so you don’t want to miss out on your chance to access this tax credit.

What better way to utilize your renovation tax credit than on your new home?  The Home Buyers Tax Credit can assist first-time home buyers with purchasing a home with up to $750 in tax relief in 2009, as part of $5,000 non-refundable income tax credit amount on a qualifying home acquired after January 27, 2009. The $20,000 limit on using your RRSP’s for home purchasing was also raised to $25,000.

With housing prices currently at affordable levels and tax relief incentives available for this year – now is the perfect time for you to find the home of your dreams.  Let me help you to find that perfect home for you!

Permalink  |  Posted in:

Page 1 of 1 pages