Good News for those looking to move in, up or around in New Territory as Congress recently voted to extend the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit to April 30, 2010 and to allow credits to current homeowners who have lived in their homes for five of the last 8 years.
The credits are:
1)$8,000 for a couple or $4,000 for individuals who are purchasing their first home between January 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010 and 2) $6500 for couples or $4,000 for individuals who currently own and have lived in their principal residence for five of the eight previous years and buy a new home between November 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010.
According to the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit which became effective on Noevember 7, 2009, income levels for eligibility are $125,000 a year for single buyers and $225,000 a year for married couples.
Tax credits are only given on homes purchased for $800,000 or less.
The rules also state that purchasers have until July 1, 2010 to close on their homes—as long as they have a written, binding contract executed on or before April 30, 2010.
This information as obtained from the National Association of Realtors, Government Affairs Division. Go to Realtor.com to ready more about it.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
NEW TERRITORY SCHOOLS HONORED FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Two of the four FBISD schools recognized this year as Honor Roll Schools by the Texas Business and Education Coalition were in New Territory: Sartartia Middle School and Walker Station Elementary School. Less than four percent of the 8,000 Texas public schools receive this designation. The 254 schools recognized by the TBEC were selected based on the percentage of students with commended performances on the state’s TAKS tests. “The 2009 standards were by far the toughest in the 10 year history of the award,” says the TBEC on their website. “All schools were expected to improve their commended performance for 2008 and every school was required to have a minimum of 20% of students tested performing at the commended level on ALL tests for 2009.”
This is the third consecutive year that Sartartia Middle School has been named a TBEC Honor Roll School and the second consecutive year for Walker Station Elementary School. Both schools, as well as Brazos Bend Elementary School, received “exemplary" ratings by the Texas Education Agency this year.
The other two FBISD schools to be honored were Fort Settlement Middle School and Commonwealth Elementary School, both in First Colony.
Katy ISD had two schools on the TBEC Honor Roll list, Kilpatrick and Roosevelt Alexander Elementary Schools. Lamar CISD had one: Wessendorf Middle School.
“Being named a TBEC Honor Roll school is the most prestigious academic award given in Texas,” says their website.
The TBEC analyzes three years’ of performance data for every public school in Texas. Those schools chosen as Honor Roll Schools have the highest percentage of students meeting state standards on every TAKS test for three consecutive years, and have the highest percentage of students performing at the commended level in every subject. The selection criteria also considers the school's demographics, number of subjects tested and grade levels.
To view the actual scores for each school, go to tbec.org.
The TBEC will recognize all Honor Roll Schools at an awards ceremony in San Antonio in November.
This is the third consecutive year that Sartartia Middle School has been named a TBEC Honor Roll School and the second consecutive year for Walker Station Elementary School. Both schools, as well as Brazos Bend Elementary School, received “exemplary" ratings by the Texas Education Agency this year.
The other two FBISD schools to be honored were Fort Settlement Middle School and Commonwealth Elementary School, both in First Colony.
Katy ISD had two schools on the TBEC Honor Roll list, Kilpatrick and Roosevelt Alexander Elementary Schools. Lamar CISD had one: Wessendorf Middle School.
“Being named a TBEC Honor Roll school is the most prestigious academic award given in Texas,” says their website.
The TBEC analyzes three years’ of performance data for every public school in Texas. Those schools chosen as Honor Roll Schools have the highest percentage of students meeting state standards on every TAKS test for three consecutive years, and have the highest percentage of students performing at the commended level in every subject. The selection criteria also considers the school's demographics, number of subjects tested and grade levels.
To view the actual scores for each school, go to tbec.org.
The TBEC will recognize all Honor Roll Schools at an awards ceremony in San Antonio in November.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Breaking News: Fort Bend County Bans Fireworks
Fort Bend County officials have banned the sale, use, and possession of aerial fireworks in unincorporated areas like New Territory because drought conditions could increase the risk of fires, said County Attorney Roy Cordes. The emergency order, signed by County Judge Bob Hebert on June 24, was legally possible to enact because the Governor had already issued a disaster declaration warranted by the recent drought, said Cordes.
By state statute, the order can only cover a 60 hour period, but the county requested the Governor’s Office to extend the ban up to 30 days, said Cordes.
The order does not pertain to licensed pyrotechnics who are discharging fireworks for an approved event like the one at New Territory’s Sports Complex, clarified Cordes.
As a precaution, the fire department will be present at the fireworks show in New Territory, said Community Manager Dwayne Lowry.
And patrol deputies with the Pct. 4 Constable’s Office will also be making the rounds in New Territory over the holiday weekend, said Chief Deputy Chad Norvell. “We will definitely be enforcing the ban”, he said.
Violators may be charged with Possession of Fireworks, a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500, he said.
Fort Bend County has been experiencing a heat wave for the last few weeks, with temperatures in the 100’s. According to rain gauges at the Brazos River Bridge in Richmond, the last measurable precipitation (in total inches) was .03 on May 24. There was less than an inch of rain reported for the month of May and none in June.
Similarly, discharge rates at the Brazos River (how much cubic feet of water is moving downstream each second) is at record lows,
said a spokesperson with the Texas water Science Center in Galveston. On June 24, 2009, the discharge rate was 413 cfs. The lowest recorded rate for this date in history was 482 cfs in 1952. The median rate is 4690 for this time of year.
If water usage increases in New Territory as a result of the lack of rainfall and extreme, hot weather, the MUDs may have to implement their drought contingency plan. Currently, the wells are operating below 70% of capacity. If they run at 85% of their capacity for three consecutive days, the MUDs will initiate Stage One which is voluntary conservation, said the Operator. According to the plan, participating residents would alternate watering their lawns based on an even numbered or odd numbered house number. The next stage, mandatory conservation, kicks in when the wells are running at 90% capacity, said the Operator. Violators would face significant fines if their water usage exceeds stipulated limits, she said.
Signs will be posted throughout the community if the drought contingency plan is implemented, she said. “Of course, we are encouraging conservation at all times. By conserving now, we may be able to keep water usage low enough to avoid the drought contingency plan,” she commented.
By state statute, the order can only cover a 60 hour period, but the county requested the Governor’s Office to extend the ban up to 30 days, said Cordes.
The order does not pertain to licensed pyrotechnics who are discharging fireworks for an approved event like the one at New Territory’s Sports Complex, clarified Cordes.
As a precaution, the fire department will be present at the fireworks show in New Territory, said Community Manager Dwayne Lowry.
And patrol deputies with the Pct. 4 Constable’s Office will also be making the rounds in New Territory over the holiday weekend, said Chief Deputy Chad Norvell. “We will definitely be enforcing the ban”, he said.
Violators may be charged with Possession of Fireworks, a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500, he said.
Fort Bend County has been experiencing a heat wave for the last few weeks, with temperatures in the 100’s. According to rain gauges at the Brazos River Bridge in Richmond, the last measurable precipitation (in total inches) was .03 on May 24. There was less than an inch of rain reported for the month of May and none in June.
Similarly, discharge rates at the Brazos River (how much cubic feet of water is moving downstream each second) is at record lows,
said a spokesperson with the Texas water Science Center in Galveston. On June 24, 2009, the discharge rate was 413 cfs. The lowest recorded rate for this date in history was 482 cfs in 1952. The median rate is 4690 for this time of year.
If water usage increases in New Territory as a result of the lack of rainfall and extreme, hot weather, the MUDs may have to implement their drought contingency plan. Currently, the wells are operating below 70% of capacity. If they run at 85% of their capacity for three consecutive days, the MUDs will initiate Stage One which is voluntary conservation, said the Operator. According to the plan, participating residents would alternate watering their lawns based on an even numbered or odd numbered house number. The next stage, mandatory conservation, kicks in when the wells are running at 90% capacity, said the Operator. Violators would face significant fines if their water usage exceeds stipulated limits, she said.
Signs will be posted throughout the community if the drought contingency plan is implemented, she said. “Of course, we are encouraging conservation at all times. By conserving now, we may be able to keep water usage low enough to avoid the drought contingency plan,” she commented.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
HWY 90 Improvement Meeting May 26th
TXDOT is conducting a public meeting at Brazos Bend Elementary School from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26 to discuss proposed improvements to US 90A from Hwy. 6 to Loop 762 in Richmond. One of the proposed design changes includes a multi level interchange at US 90A and SH 99 (the Grand Parkway). These Direct Ramps would allow traffic to continue without stopping along 90A and SH99. Additional right-of-way would be required for the proposed design change.
All interested citizens are invited to the meeting which will be an “open house” format for the two hour period. Exhibits will be displayed and representatives from TXDOT will be on hand to answer questions and to gather public input.
All interested citizens are invited to the meeting which will be an “open house” format for the two hour period. Exhibits will be displayed and representatives from TXDOT will be on hand to answer questions and to gather public input.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)