So as you're out merrily spending for the holidays...are you already thinking about how you'll pay the credit card bills when they arrive? Maybe you're thinking you'll use that juicy tax refund you're expecting - but wouldn't it be nice if you had that money now? Sure, many individuals who are expecting refund checks have discovered services that give them an advance on their money. And while these services will give you the cash right at the time of filing for your taxes, the fees involved can take a hefty chunk out of your refund. So what's a tax (over) payer to do? The IRS can actually help. When you think about it, getting a refund check means that you let the IRS use your money throughout the year without paying you any interest. Wouldn't you rather have the money during the year yourself? Here's how you do it. The IRS allows you to increase the number of dependants on your W-4 withholding form, meaning that less will be withheld for taxes from each paycheck. In the past, if you claimed greater than nine dependants, an explanation and approval may have been required. But the IRS has lifted this restriction, allowing you to voluntarily increase your dependants claimed. This lets you have more money in each paycheck instead of "loaning" the money to the IRS and having to wait for a refund. But let's not go overboard...you should only lessen the periodic tax withholding to match the expected refund. This way you are taking your refund as you go; instead of letting the IRS hold on to it. There is even a nifty calculator the IRS has provided for free, which lets you see how a change in withholding will affect your paycheck. Here's the link to the free withholding calculator: IRS Bean Counter And managing your withholding can also be a great tool if you are currently renting, but are about to buy a home. The new housing expense may be greater than the rent payments, but the new home will give you some important tax deductions. By adjusting your withholding when you buy a home, you can get the benefit of the new home deductions spread into each paycheck...which can make that new home payment a lot more comfortable. Before you make any changes, you want to be sure you are balancing the amounts carefully and correctly, so it is always a good idea to check with your tax professional. And if you need a referral, just give me a call! Courtesy of One Source Mortgage & Investments

Did you hear about the guy that got pulled over by a Policeman in Scottsdale, Arizona and was asked for his Real Estate License. "Don't you mean my Driver's License?" he asks. "No," said the Policeman "not everyone in Arizona has a driver's license!"

5 acre homesite, great for building luxury home and horse property, located in Goldfield Ranch just outside of Fountain Hills. Beautiful up and coming area surrounded by multi-million dollar homes. Zoned R-190, 1 house per 5 acres. Exclusive area, under 10 minutes from Fountain Hills on Beeline Hwy, on the way to Saguaro Lake. Gorgeous city lights, mountain views (Tonto Nat’l Forest). Minutes from shopping, schools, golf courses, & lakes. Call Kelli Grant, Owner/Realtor with Keller Williams High Desert Realty at 602-799-5420. Visit www.scottsdalehomesforlife.com for more properties. Call toll free 1-888-710-6349, ext 2 for a free recorded message. Equal Housing Opportunity. MLS # 2585005

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at 6:13 pm Thunderbirds Branch of the Boys and Girls Club 20199 N. 78th Place The City of Scottsdale is in the process of designing recreational amenities for Phase I of the new Grayhawk Community Park to be located on the southwest corner of Hayden Road and Thompson Peak Parkway adjacent to the Thunderbird Branch of the Boys and Girls Club. Preliminary plans include lighted ball fields, a lighted off-leash dog area, lighted multi-use courts and a playground. Please join the design consultants and City staff at a public meeting to review preliminary plans for the new facility and let us know what you think. The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 19 at 6:30 p.m .at the Thunderbirds Branch of the Boys and Girls Club, 20199 N. 78th Place. Grayhawk Community Park is funded by Bond 2000 and construction is expected to begin in 2007. For more information on this project or the upcoming public meeting, please contact Parks & Recreation Director Judy Weiss at jweiss@scottsdaleaz.gov or call (480) 312-2416. Click For a Project Status Report Capital Project Management 7447 E. Indian School Rd., Suite 205 Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Phone: (480) 312-7250 Fax: (480) 312-7971

Be Sure To Mark Your Calendar, This One is FREE!! Instant Tax Relief for Maricopa County Realtors® and Business Owners Featuring: Ed Lyon, JD Amercia's Tax Coach Tuesday, September 19th 9:00AM -11:00AM Registration & Breakfast 9:00-9:30AM Scottsdale Plaza Resort 7200 North Scottsdale Road More Information on Seminar by One Source Mortgage Helping to keep this event free for you is One Source Mortgage

Fancy master bedrooms, complete with a bedroom kitchen and sitting room, is a popular home amenity with today's affluent home buyers, according to a report in the current issue of Unique Homes magazine. The publication lists 35 of the most sought-after amenities in today's luxury homes. Decorative glass tiles are in, as are special features made from unique and exotic woods, it was noted. And, of course, a private spa has almost become a basic feature in upper-end homes. Showers must have all the bells and whistles, including multiple sprays and shower heads and even waterfall fixtures that mimic rainfall. Upscale kitchens often include a butler's pantry, along with state-of-the-art upgrades in standard features such as a drawer refrigerator and drawer dishwasher. High-tech home offices are also becoming a standard feature. In fact, some new homes now feature dual "his and her" home offices. Exercise rooms and special "meditation spaces" are included in many of today's luxury homes. Home theaters are becoming more popular and common. Smart-house technologies are an integral part of many new homes. Garages have undergone some of the most dramatic changes. They've become huge, accommodating many vehicles (or a lot of toys). They now include cabinet systems, artistic flooring and even appliances. Outside, in addition to lush landscaping some homes include putting greens or a private golf course. Some have a stocked fishing pond, while a waterfront home may have its own deep-water dock. The objective of all these luxury features is to enhance the owner's living experience and enrich their lives. That works well for those who can afford it. For the rest of us, there are other ways to enrich our lives.

More people who make over $75,000 per year are buying homes than ever before. A key reason for that trend is that Baby Boomers have reached the point in life when they are making larger incomes. In many cases, their offspring are also enjoying more income. This was revealed in a recent study by Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. It was also revealed that 66 percent of survey respondents aged 61 and up, and Baby Boomers aged 42 to 60, have owned between two and five homes. And nearly half of Generation X'ers (aged 32-41 – children of Baby Boomers) have owned between two and five homes. It was also noted that about half of all respondents have owned more homes than their parents did when their parents were at a comparable age. "These findings suggest that this trend will continue as the younger, upper income generations age," said Jim Gillespie, president of Coldwell Banker. "Baby Boomers have already equaled the homeownership pace of those 61 and older, and they remain in their prime home buying years. The fact that Generation X homeowners are indicating they have owned multiple homes already shows that they understand the value of buying and owning real estate." The study was executed online by Harris Interactive, surveying about 2,500 homeowners aged 25 and over who currently own a home or condo and have a minimum household income of $75,000. The project was implemented to gain a deeper understanding into the behavior patterns of upper income homeowners, it was reported. "Interestingly, these homebuyers do not appear to be collecting houses as a means to expand their financial portfolios by constantly moving to bigger and more expensive homes," Gillespie said. "Instead, the survey respondents indicate they move according to lifestyle needs."

Some consumers seem to think the home selling market is in a nose dive. Far from it. This will probably be the third highest level for home sales on record, according to the chief economist for Freddie Mac. It's true that single-family home construction and existing home sales has declined from last year's record level, but sales and mortgage originations are still very strong. Mortgage Rates Drop Happily surprising many consumers, mortgage interest rates slowly but steadily dropped through August. By September 1, the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage had lowered to 6.44 percent, with an average 0.4 point (fees), according to Freddie Mac, a major buyer of existing home mortgages. That's the lowest rate for 30-year fixed mortgages since the week ending April 6 of this year and is good news for prospective home buyers and homeowners who want to refinance their mortgage. "Mortgage rates continue to drift lower in large part because of cooling in the housing market and in consumer confidence. It's giving financial markets reason to believe that economic growth will moderate and inflation will remain in check," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist. "As a matter of fact, the 30-year fixed mortgage is nearly 40 basis points lower than its peak of 6.8 percent in July of this year. By some indicators, personal incomes are growing faster than the cost of housing. Combined with the still historically low mortgage rates, this will help support the housing industry as it levels off from the record highs of the last few years."

Click here to see the actual article Are you looking for a Real Estate Agent you can trust? Kelli Grant is a proud member of the Keller Williams High Desert Realty team. Founded in 1983, Keller Williams® Realty Inc. is an international real estate company with more than 380 offices located across the and . Keller Williams is currently the fifth-largest residential real estate firm in North America . The company has succeeded by treating its 35,000-plus associates as partners and shares its knowledge and policy control on a system-wide basis. With over 15 years experience in business management, marketing and public relations, Kelli decided to take her expertise and focus on the real estate industry. The reason she chose Keller Williams can be summed up in their mission statement, “To build careers worth having, businesses worth owning and lives worth living.” She has lived in the “Valley of the Sun” since 1976 and seen the extensive growth blooming throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area. She is currently a member of the National Association of Realtors, Scottsdale Association of Realtors and the Scottsdale Airpark Resources Organization. Previously, she managed a company that produced software management programs for local home builders and contractors. During that time she was an active member of the Arizona Contractor’s Association, the Construction Financial Management Association, and served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Women in Construction. Her commitment to giving back to the community highlights her integrity. She volunteers for the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation in several capacities. Among them, she’s been a Mentor in their mentoring program and a speaker presenting life-changing workshops given at the Jewell McFarland Resource Center . Kelli enjoys working with people and helping to make their dreams come true whether through her volunteer work or in her profession. That has naturally led her to a career as a real estate consultant. Her business experience ranges from operations and administration to public relations and marketing. The diversity in her business background provides her with the tools to get the job done right and her ethics and values provide her with the integrity and passion to do the job in an outstanding manner. Kelli’s goal as a real estate consultant is to become a valued member of your family and friends’ trusted circle of influence. Each family has a dentist, a doctor, an accountant . . . and she’d like to be your Realtor. Your home is one of the biggest purchases you make in your lifetime, and this purchase should be handled with great care and respect. It takes heart and soul to walk you through the real estate process. You are not a “transaction,” you are a person. Patrick and Kristen Goulet said, “She was helpful in every aspect of the transaction from showing us homes, to the negotiation process and all the way through the closing. It is refreshing that Kelli has also been very involved with us even after our purchase wanting to ensure our new home was everything we wanted it to be.“ Kelli clearly values the opportunity to work with you during this exciting process. Kelli is building a referral-based business which means she dedicates her time delivering World Class service to her clients. In turn, she depends on the heartfelt endorsement and referral of valued clients, their friends, family and co-workers for buying and selling real estate. Kelli is passionate about building lasting, lifelong relationships and earning the right to be your designated Real Estate Consultant. Contact Kelli Grant for a free report dispelling the myths about the Phoenix real estate market. Call 480-889-7442 or email her at kgrant@kw.com. www.phoenixhomesforlife.com

"You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true." Richard Bach, Writer I get these insights daily from Bob Proctor and I thought this was such a powerful insight of hope! What a wonderful quote! If you would also like to receive Bob's daily insight, click here. If you would like more information on how Bob can personally coach you to greater success, here. Have a successful day!