North Providence is in bad financial shape.  To make up for deficits, they have approved a tax increase from $22.70 per 1000 to $25.60 per 1000.  This equals a 12.7% increase!  New tax bills are going out at the end of the month. There also may be another supplemental tax increase in January, which has not been approved yet, but more than likely will.  Total tax increase is supposed to be 17%.

Click here for current Rhode Island Municipal Tax Rates.

Discussing new mortgage appraisal guidelines with Steve Tetzner.

Listen to Real Estate Insight every Sunday on

Talk Radio 920-WHJJ from 10:00-11:00 AM.

Discussing the capture of an Open House thief with Steve Tetzner.

Listen to Real Estate Insight every Sunday on

Talk Radio 920-WHJJ from 10:00-11:00 AM.

Discussing breaking listing contracts with Sally Lapides.

Listen to Real Estate Insight every Sunday on Talk Radio 920-WHJJ from 10:00-11:00 AM.

Discussing home pricing strategy with Sally Lapides and Steve Tetzner.

Listen to Real Estate Insight every Sunday on Talk Radio 920-WHJJ

from 10:00-11:00 AM.

Steve and Rich discussing responsibility of bad sub-prime loans.

Listen to Real Estate Insight every Sunday on Talk Radio 920-WHJJ from 10:00-11:00 AM.

More discussion the effects of foreclosures and short sales on active listings.

Listen to Real Estate Insight every Sunday on Talk Radio 920-WHJJ from 10:00-11:00 AM.

I was going to reserve complete judgment on the stimulus bill until after I learned how homeowners and buyers will be affected.

To be brief, the $35 billion proposal promised by the Senate (written about previously) which would have offered a $15,000 tax credit to any home buyer has been chopped.  Instead of $35 billion, the provision is a bit smaller at $2 billion to $3 billion.  And the $15,000 credit has been reduced slightly to $8,000.  And only for first time home buyers.

The ONLY positive move in this shame of an attempt is the the $8,000 will not be a non interest need-to-be-repayed loan like the previous $7,500 first time home buyer credit was.

Congressional aides cautioned Wednesday that the credit’s size was still subject to negotiation.  Super.

Discussing the effects of foreclosures and short sales on active listings.

Listen to Real Estate Insight every Sunday on Talk Radio 920-WHJJ from 10:00-11:00 AM.

In studio with the boss – Sally Lapides, discussing condo alternatives for first time home-buyers, and pretty much everything related to Rhode Island real estate.  As we gear up for Green Week Sally interviews our guest, organizer expert and author Candita Clayton who just wrote a book titled, “Clean Your Home Healthy, Green Cleaning Made Easy“.  Click the play button below to hear a cut and you can listen to the entire podcast right here!