By SAM SCOTT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 6:22 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 6:22 p.m.

– Mona Behan, Foss Creek Villas Homeowner

Sonoma County home sales picked up in February, cutting into the supply of houses priced below $500,000, according to a report released Thursday.

It was the first monthly increase since October, said Rick Laws, manager of Coldwell Banker in Santa Rosa, which compiles data for The Press Democrat monthly housing report.

“There’s a very high level of demand,” he said. “The market is starving for good inventory.”

Buyers purchased 302 single-family homes in February, up nearly 18 percent from January. The median price was $350,000, slipping about 1 percent from the prior month.

Read the entire article on pressdemocrat.com

Healdsburg, CA February 01, 2010 – Healdsburg entrepreneur Michael Houlihan has brought an innovative “family first” economic stimulus program to Healdsburg that promises to generate up to $35,000 for local retailers. As Managing Member of Foss Creek Villas, LLC, he is giving new owners of these downtown luxury condos a move-in gift of $1000 to spend with any Healdsburg merchant who are part of the “Trade Links” Merchant Referral Program.

“Its simple,” said Houlihan.  “Homeowners cash in at close of escrow, and can spend a $1,000 gift certificate with the Merchant partner store of their choice. Merchant partners must either prominently display our marketing brochure in their stores, or link their websites to the Foss Creek Villas website (www.fosscreekvillas.com).”

“This is where the ‘trading links’ designation was born,” he said.  He added that merchants seeking their share of remaining available funds should contact Deborah Longfellow at 707.433.8500 immediately.

The program launched last fall and since then, local merchants have reaped $15,000 in gift certificates, while seven homeowners have gone shopping. Merchant beneficiaries to date include Cena Luna, Costeaux French Bakery, Dry Creek Kitchen, Garrett Hardware, Gift Horse, Healdsburg Furniture, Hudson Street Design, St. Dizier Home and Souverain.

“This program is novel, practical and positive, and we’re delighted to be part of it,” said Rich Zahedinia of Healdsburg Furniture.  “We are benefiting financially, we’re meeting our new neighbors and we’re helping them get settled into their new home and community—it’s all good!”

The $1,000 figure means substantial help for move-in buyers, according to Houlihan. “They typically need a gift certificate of this size for big-ticket items like window coverings, furnishings, artwork, kitchenware etc,” said Houlihan. “For those who delight in Healdsburg’s food and wine, a sizable credit at a favorite establishment is terrific—or buyers can make life easy for visiting family and friends coming to a participating Healdsburg inn or hotel.”

Houlihan believes other communities could adapt the Foss Creek Villas Economic Stimulus Program. “The concept is easy to implement and a big plus for all participants,” he said. “We would like to see the word spread, with business networks in other cities using this as a prototype to give their downtowns a solid boost.”

Houlihan’s commitment to providing more than required also encompasses green measures at Foss Creek Villas, many of which surpass minimum compliance standards.  An example is the complete—and voluntary—restoration of Norton Creek, a tributary of Foss Creek. Here, the planting of more than 100 native trees and plants followed a massive cleanup.  The restoration provides a green buffer between the Villas and Grove Street, a permanent viewscape from Grove Street, a restored wild life habitat and a reduced carbon footprint for Foss Creek Villas and the city.

Foss Creek Villas provides maintenance and irrigation for the restoration with a private, onsite well that also irrigates its own three landscaped acres. Green goes inside every home, too, with low-e windows, water-thrifty plumbing and hot water exchange systems for heaters.

“I truly think buying here was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life,” said Mona Behan, who purchased her Foss Creek Villas condo last September. “The beautiful landscaping, well-appointed units, proximity to Healdsburg’s downtown and farmers market, and the growing community of friendly and interesting neighbors make this the most welcoming second home I could imagine–and an outstanding value.”

Foss Creek Villas is located at 200 Foss Creek Circle in Healdsburg and is exclusively represented by Frank Howard Allen Realtors. Homes are open Thursdays through Tuesdays from noon to 5 p.m. or by appointment anytime; please call 707-473-3434 for more information or to schedule a tour.

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Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday voted 402-12 to approve an extension and expansion of the popular housing tax credit and, they hope, supporting the fragile housing market until the economy improves. The Senate passed the measure 98-0 Wednesday; the bill will now go to the White House, where President Obama is expected to sign it.

Builders, who say the tax credit has revived their buyer traffic and sales in a very difficult year, promptly celebrated.

“We commend lawmakers for acting in a bipartisan manner to extend the first-time home buyer tax credit beyond its Nov. 30 deadline and expand it to a wider group of home buyers,” said Joe Robson, who is chairman of the National Association of Home Builders and a builder in Tulsa, Okla. “The tax credit has proven to be a powerful economic incentive. Today’s action by Congress will further stabilize housing and the economy by creating new jobs, stimulating home sales, reducing foreclosures, cutting excess inventories and stabilizing home prices.”

Mortgage bankers agreed. “At a time when we are finally starting to see some signs of life in the housing and mortgage markets, extending and expanding the home buyer tax credit is a critical step to keeping the momentum,” said Robert E. Story, Jr., who chairs the Washington, D.C.-based Mortgage Bankers Association.

The tax credit approved today will take the housing market into the critical spring selling season. To receive the credit, buyers must sign a purchase agreement by April 30, 2010, and close on the home by June 30, 2010. As was the case with the credit that has been in use for most of this year, the extended credit will provide first-time home buyers up to $8,000, depending on the price of the home and their household income.

But there are several important differences, too. The newly approved tax credit also covers people who have lived in their homes for at least five years; they can claim a credit of up to $6,500 if they purchase a new home. Finally, Congress raised the income limits on the program, which will now allow singles who make up to $125,000 and married couples with a household income of $225,000 to be eligible for the credit.

The new version of the credit has a price tag for the government of $10.8 billion in lost taxes.

From: Builder Magazine

WASHINGTON – Buying a home is about to get cheaper for a whole new crop of homebuyers — $6,500 cheaper.

First-time homebuyers have been getting tax credits of up to $8,000 since January as part of the economic stimulus package enacted earlier this year. But with the program scheduled to expire at the end of November, the Senate voted Wednesday to extend and expand the tax credit to include many buyers who already own homes. The House is scheduled to vote on the bill Thursday.

The rest of the article is located at:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_homebuyers_tax_credit

Convenient, upscale homes in a walkable, cosmopolitan setting and attractive pricing and financing define the core value. This, plus limited new home availability in Healdsburg, has boosted demand.

Community-focused referrals the marketing team calls their “local economic stimulus package” provides unique additional attractions. This co-branding initiative provides substantial gift certificates new buyers can use with participating merchants, while website links and collateral reinforce merchants’ name recognition with prospective customers.

“Our Merchant Referral Program showcases the advantages of living four blocks from downtown Healdsburg,” said Jo Healey, marketing consultant for Foss Creek Villas. “And since new residents have families, friends and business networks, the ripple effect is definitely in play.”

Foss Creek Villas buyers can also feel good about their new neighborhood’s green measures. In the homes, standards include low-e windows, water-thrifty plumbing and heat exchange systems for the water heaters.

Outside, Foss Creek Villas, LLC completely—and voluntarily—restored Norton Creek, a tributary of Foss Creek that runs the length of the Foss Creek Villas property between the Villas and Grove Street. Cleanup included removal of invasive plant species and some 10 tons of rubbish. Creek restoration experts Circuit Rider Productions then undertook the planting of more than 100 native trees and plants, with three years of careful nursing and protection paying off: the most recent survey on file with the City shows a survival rate of more than 95% (compared with a state wide average of 75%).

The restoration also generated a green buffer for the homes, a permanent viewscape from Grove Street, a restored wild life habitat and a reduced carbon foot print. Foss Creek Villas provides maintenance and irrigation for this restoration with a private, onsite well that also irrigates its own three landscaped acres.

Priced from $299,000 to $359,000, Foss Creek Villas has one and two-bedroom designs with single-level living and designer-selected finishes and fixtures. All homes include a private deck or patio; vaulted ceilings enhance the upper level units. As of October 14, 23 homes were sold, with just four still available.

Foss Creek Villas is at 200 Foss Creek Circle in Healdsburg and is exclusively represented by Frank Howard Allen Realtors. Homes are open Thursday through Tuesday, noon to 5 p.m. or anytime by appointment. Call 707-473-3434 or visit www.fosscreekvillas.com