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I just wanted to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and I hope that everybody had the chance to spend some good quality time with their families.

I am very fortunate to be in a position where I get to spend a considerable amount of good, quality time with my lovely bride and with the little monsters that I call my children. It wasn’t always that way of course, but now that I can spend the time with them I am really thankful and I appreciate all of the joys of having a strong family unit.

For far too many years I spent my time either behind the windshield driving to or from work, or behind my desk doing what I can to make my employer healthy wealthy and — er, not wise, but perhaps more effective. I was never home much, especially not enough to build and foster a meaningful relationship with my better half nor with my kids.  It took some proverbial slaps in the face and some serious soul searching to realize that I missed my family and I barley even knew them — nor they me. I realized that I did not want my children thinking that that way of life was how it was supposed to be. We had money to spare, but not much time. We really where, in many ways, strangers… It was time to make a serious change.

Sooo, the light of my life I call my bride and I talked (and talked and talked and talked …) and decided to pack up the bags, the pets — even the kids, call it quits at the job and move to Colorado Springs. We had no real plans, no contacts and no idea what we where going to do once we got here – but if we didn’t just pull the trigger right then, we may never. And never making a change, never leaving the rut, never taking that chance would mean that nothing would change — and we needed something to change.

It’s been three years now and it was the best thing we have ever done. Not a day goes by that I don’t slap myself on the back for coming up with such a fine idea   joke of course, it was all my wife’s idea.

Anyway, it’s times like this, holidays seem to bring it out more the average day, that I think about how lucky I am to have a family that I love and that supports me in whatever I do (even when I uproot them, they are a bit crazy I guess). And that I have learned how to make time to spend with them. We made the decision to slow down our life, make family a priority and not worry so much about the things that in the end, don’t really matter anyway.

Soo, I just wanted wish everybody happy holidays. I hope that you are enjoying the ones you love and that love you. Here’s to taking chances and to brighter futures!

Cheer. Brian Olsen

Just dawned on me that this tidbit of info hadn’t made it’s way into my blog yet. So, for those who did not know, the Homebuyer Tax Credit has been extended — with some changes – until April 30th 2010

Here is a summary of the changes:

First-time buyers who have not had interest in a principal residence for three years are still eligible, and the maximum amount remains the same; $8000 for married couples, $4000 for those filing separately.

Current homeowners who have consecutively maintained the home they want to sell as their primary residence for five of the last eight years are also eligible. However, the maximum amount for those homeowners is lower; $6500 for married couples and $3200 for those filing separately.

The tax credit may not be used to purchase a home for more than $800,000. All buyers who want to get the credit must include documentation of the purchase on their tax returns.

The income limits for both tax credits have been raised to $125,000 for single buyers and $225,000 for married couples.

Thats it in general terms – and in a nutshell. If you have specific questions, please contact me.

Cheers
Brian