Surviving the Holocaust-Putting Things In To Perspective

I had the privilege to hear one of the most moving messages from a couple yesterday.

We all have gotten somewhat caught up in the “poor me” attitudes as of late.  Some with good reason but others simply because we have been unwilling to do what it takes to continue our successes in real estate.

Yesterday, Holocaust survivors Les and Eva Aigner shared with our Keller Williams Owner Mastermind group their story of surviving the Holocaust.  Both lost family members in this tragedy.  Les was actually imprisoned in 4 concentration camps through his ordeal.  They had kept quiet about what had happened to them until the late 1980’s when there seemed to be a sentiment by some that the Holocaust never happened.  Then they stepped forward to share their story.  They shared they chose to do this to never let us forget what discrimination can do to people’s lives. 

Les was a 15 year old boy in 1944, and because he was Jewish, he was taken from his home in Budapest, Hungary, to Auschwitz Concentration Camp and on to 3 other camps during his imprisonment.  He was liberated in Dachau, Germany by the American forces.  After liberation he returned to Hungary only to discover most of his family was killed in the Holocaust.  His father miraculously survived after being taken to the Russian front. 

Eva tells her story of almost being killed on the shores of the Danube just days before liberation.  She was 7 years old at the time.

Why am I sharing this?  Because I feel their story truly put in to perspective the lives we have the opportunity to live here in the U.S.  Along with that, Les Aigner made a statement that I wrote out as a truly powerful sign of the times.  He said “The Road to Auschwitz was built by Hate and paved by Indifference”. 

Let us never allow indifference in our opportunities to allow ourselves to be grateful for the opportunities we have in front of us as U.S. citizens and business people.

I’ll step off of my soap box now.

Thanks for reading.

$8,000 Tax Credit Explained

IRS Guidance for Filing for the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, qualifying taxpayers who purchase a home before Dec. 1 receive up to $8,000 or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately. The IRS recently released additional information to help homebuyers understand the ways they can file to claim the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit for 2009 home purchases.

For people who recently purchased a home (closed or took up residence in new construction) or are considering buying in the next few months, there are several different ways that they can get this tax credit even if they’ve already filed their tax return. The Treasury Department encourages taxpayers to explore these options to maximize their credit and get their money back as fast as possible. “The new credit can get money in the pockets of first-time homebuyers quickly,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.
People can claim the credit either on their 2008 tax returns due April 15 or on their 2009 tax returns next year. The filing options to consider are:
1. File an extension. Taxpayers who haven’t yet filed their 2008 returns but are buying a home soon can request a six-month extension to October 15. This step would be faster than waiting until next year to claim it on the 2009 tax return. Even with an extension, taxpayers could still file electronically, receiving their refund in as few as 10 days with direct deposit.
2. File now, amend later. Taxpayers due a sizable refund for their 2008 tax return but who also are considering buying a house in the next few months can file their return now and claim the credit later. Taxpayers would file their 2008 tax forms as usual, and then follow up with an amended return later this year to claim the homebuyer credit.
3. Amend the 2008 tax return. Taxpayers buying a home in the near future who have already filed their 2008 tax return can consider filing an amended tax return. The amended tax return will allow them to claim the homebuyer credit on the 2008 return without waiting until next year to claim it on the 2009 return.
4. Claim the credit in 2009 rather than 2008. For some taxpayers, it may make more financial sense to wait and claim the homebuyer credit next year when they file the 2009 tax return rather than claiming it now on the 2008 tax return. This could benefit taxpayers who might qualify for a higher credit on the 2009 tax return. This could include people who have less income in 2009 than 2008 because of factors such as a job loss or drop in investment income.

The IRS reminds taxpayers the amount of the credit begins to phase out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is more than $75,000, or $150,000 for joint filers. Taxpayers can claim 10 percent of the purchase price up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately.
IRS.gov provides more information, including guidance for people who bought their first homes in 2008. To learn more about the overall implementation of the Recovery Act, visit www.Recovery.gov.

From the IRS news release IR-2009-27: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=205416,00.html

The Mortgage Meltdown-2nd Wave Coming

The Mortgage Meltdown

This is a sobering video piece.

Homes Sales Increase 5% in February

Dane County Farmer’s Market Soon To Begin

As one of the usual signs that winter has passed and we’re out of the snow and cold of  Wisconsin winter, the Dane County Farmer’s Market will resume on the capitol square next Saturday, April 18.

The Summer market runs every Saturday from 6:00 a.m. until 2 p.m.  For best selection and lowest crowds to deal with, come early.

Here are some does and don’t’s.

Do:  Bring your own bag and help save on waste

Don’t:  Bring your dog(unless it’s a service dog), they are not allowed on the square during Farmer’s Market.

Do:  Bring a laid back attitude.  It can get very crowded.  Chill and enjoy the people, the produce and the views.

Don’t: Get hooked on a cell phone conversation and continue to walk amidst the crowd while engrossed in conversation.  We don’t care to hear who did what with whom last night.

Do:  Stop and ask the vendor questions.  I’ve learned a lot about how to cook with some of the produce that I never would have imagined had I not asked. 

Don’t:  Stop in the middle of the sidewalk and visit with friends you met at the market.  Be courteous and step to the side of the sidewalk away from the vendor booth to visit.  Notice I said away from the vendor booth.  They are there to sell products, don’t hinder that by blocking their stand.

Do:  Be adventurous in what you buy to eat.  I discovered a vegetable I never imagined last year and now it’s a staple in our kitchen.  Fennel bulbs are awesome and can be found by mid-summer at the market. 

Don’t:  Chain smoke while in the middle of the crowd.  OK this is my own private don’t but please be courteous.  I’m a guy who bartended in smokey bars for 10 years in Chicago.  Now a cigarette bothers me outside when in a crowd.

I hope that doesn’t come down too heavy handed.  I just love the market and want to make sure everyone can enjoy this great Madison tradition.

Visit their website for even more information.  You can find that by clicking here.

I’ll see you at the market!

Nick’s-A Friendly Place On State Street

Since moving downtown a little over 1 year ago, I’ve found that I tend to wander back to the same places for lunch week after week.  One of my favorites is Nick’s Restaurant at 226 State Street.  What do I like about Nick’s?  A lot of things.  Their pricing for one, their beer selection (but not always at lunch for me) as another.  The fact that there’s still some great Greek menu items is yet another.  Finally the friendliness and laid back attitude of the staff and clientele is really what brings me back in.

Stopped there today on my walk back from the hardware store.  Sat at the bar and ordered a Gyro with fries and a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.   The gyro was a plate full of pita, meat and the freshest tomatoes I’ve had since last summer.  The food came out within 5 minutes of my order and was good to the last forkfull.

Lunch came to $12.96

What surprised me is that there were only 6 other diners the entire time I was at the bar.  This was noon hour in central Madison.  Where was everyone?  The thought that lunch might go away at Nick’s scares me.

It’s nothing fancy.  In fact it has the friendly feel of my old hangout in Chicago, The Golden Waffle at Broadway and Peterson Avenues.  It’s like the place on “Rules of Engagement” where the main characters always seem to eat.  I love that feeling as a local “hang out” in the middle of the city.

Don’t miss the Fish Fry on Friday nights as well.  It’s very good and it won’t kill you budget for food either.  Add a brandy old fashioned to your meal and you’ll truly get a Wisconsin Friday night experience.