Thursday, April 29, 2010

Realtor® = Member of the National Association of Realtors®


Our real estate brokerage began in 1958, when my father, I.L. "Tommy" Tucker decided to branch out on his own. In 1969, we located to our current location of 613 2Nd Avenue SE in Downtown Cedar Rapids.

On Thursday, April 29Th, the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors® held a brokers' meeting, in which we are a part of. My father, Tommy, has been a broker for 52 years now.

We discussed various topics, as well, as comments were made about City of Cedar Rapids staff's interest in changing Chapter 29 of the Municipal Code (Rental Housing). Many in the real Estate industry have concerns on the proposed change in Chapter 29, as well as the process being used to adopt changes. Not all providers of Rental Housing in Cedar Rapids would be classed as investors, but it can include people facing unemployment and those who have a family home that they need rented, while they are gone.

Monday, April 26, 2010

We have 2 Bedroom and 4 Bedroom Houses for Rent in the Cedar Rapids-Marion area ...


We just listed late last week a very nice Executive Rental in Marion (Linn-Mar Community Schools) that backs up to Willowood Park at 1930 39Th Street. This lovely four bedroom, two-story house will rent for $1650.00 per month. Drive by today and give us a call at 1.319.365.6956 to set up a showing. Possession is May 16, 2010 or after.

We are currently marketing in The Gazette three houses in the $525.00 to $575.00 per month range near Daniels Park on the NE side of Cedar Rapids. These properties would be in the Cedar Rapids Community Schools (Garfield ES - Franklin MS - Washington HS). Each property is a two bedroom one-story with gas hook-up for stove, laundry hook-ups (gas) in unfinished basement and one stall detached garage.


We have a lovely four bedroom, two-story house coming available June 1, 2010 for $1,525.00 per month in Cedar Rapids (College Community Schools). The property is located at 3420 Falcon View Rd SW and is a great example of country living with all the services of living in the city.


We invite you to visit our web site for Tommy Tucker Realty Co. for more information on these and other property services. We can be reached at 319.365.6956. If we are out of the office, please leave a voice message, so we can follow up with you. You can also contact us by e-mail.

Cedar Rapids Downtown District Announces “Bringing Downtown to Life” Launch Week


We received the following E-mail today regarding some Community News in the Downtown District of the City of Cedar Rapids ...


CONTACT:
Quinn Pettifer
Cedar Rapids Downtown District
319.398.0449
quinn@downtowncr.org
Downtowncr.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cedar Rapids Downtown District Announces “Bringing Downtown to Life” Launch Week
Three Events Scheduled to Showcase Sectors of Organization

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – April 26, 2010- The Cedar Rapids Downtown District has announced the launch of its new brand “Bringing Downtown to Life” scheduled for the week of May 10. Three events will correspond with the launch week, representing various sectors of downtown life.

The branding strategy for the Downtown District brand comes from a nearly two year evaluation of the organization’s past identity and broad range of sectors represented. Months of internal and external research including evaluation of current awareness, relatable messaging and perceptions of downtown all contributed to creation of the new brand.

The organization introduced a new logo and Web site in June 2009, then continued work on creating a comprehensive plan on how the organization should be identified, making it relevant not only to those directly connected to downtown, but for those who have yet to discover what’s happening in the core of our community.

“Bringing Downtown to Life” stems from the action-oriented dynamics of our organization, including the countless individuals who contribute energy and talent to cultivating an extraordinary downtown,” explained Quinn Pettifer, Director of Marketing and Community Outreach for the Cedar Rapids Downtown District. “The new brand and strategic marketing plan will allow us to keep current and prospective patrons aware of how we are all “Bringing Downtown to Life.”

Starting soon, the new messages and new brand will be seen and heard in a variety of traditional media, as well as newer methods of communication such as social media, blogs and a text program.

The week of May 10 will display three contributing factors of downtown life, including the Downtown Business Summit, Downtown Clean Up, and the return of the Taste of Downtown:


Downtown Business Summit Monday
May 10, 5-8PM at the Armstrong Centre (222 3rd Avenue SE)

The Downtown Business Summit is a free event, designed for those current or prospective business owners interested in learning more about the benefits community resources can provide, with specific focus on downtown Cedar Rapids. Discover who does what and how the Cedar Rapids Downtown District, City of Cedar Rapids, Entrepreneurial Development Center and many other local resources can assist with a variety of business-related concerns and issues. The evening will begin with registration and networking, followed by a downtown development update and community guest speakers. The second portion of the night will include an expo atmosphere with sponsor and collaborator representatives at individual booths.

Downtown Spring Clean Up
May 12, throughout downtown


The Downtown Spring Clean Up is scheduled for Wednesday May 12 in support of maintenance and streetscape work downtown. The Spring Clean Up is made possible through the United Way of East Central Iowa’s volunteer program “Day of Caring 2010.” The United Way program will provide more than 1,000 volunteers from 57 companies and organizations, bringing volunteers from local companies and organizations together to complete more than 100 service projects for 48 local non-profit agencies. The Cedar Rapids Downtown District will have a designated a team of more than 50 volunteers for a day of downtown clean up, flower planting, repair work and more, preparing downtown for its peak event season including the Downtown Farmers’ Markets, Freedom Festival, Uptown Friday Nights and others.

Taste of Downtown
Kick off May 15, 6PM-9PM in Skogman Realty Parking Lot

Taste of Downtown, a week-long event highlighting the restaurants and nightlife available in downtown Cedar Rapids, will feature a kick off sampling event Saturday May 15 from 6-9PM in the Skogman Realty parking lot along 1st Avenue in Downtown Cedar Rapids. Patrons will enjoy unlimited food and beverage sampling from participating bars and restaurants for a $20 admission fee. Musical entertainment from Jeff Craft will also be on site. Patrons must be 21 to attend. Participating vendors for the kick off night include Gringos, Big Daddy Dogs, Bricks, DC Riverwalk, Volume and Dublin.

The week of May 17-22 will continue Taste of Downtown events as participating Downtown restaurants and bars will offer week-long specials encouraging local residents and newcomers to get a “taste” of what downtown Cedar Rapids has to offer.

Full event details on all Cedar Rapids Downtown District events can be found at
www.downtowncr.org.

##

ABOUT THE CEDAR RAPIDS DOWNTOWN DISTRICT:
The Cedar Rapids Downtown District mission is to cultivate and promote a dynamic downtown through business advocacy, riverfront enhancement, community development, sustainable infrastructure, flood recovery and first-rate event programming for the benefit of the greater Cedar Rapids community. Get the latest on downtown news and events by visiting downtowncr.org or join us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.


*** *** ***

Tommy Tucker Realty Co. was founded in 1958 and has always been located in Downtown Cedar Rapids. We are currently located at 613 2Nd Avenue SE. We located at our current location in 1969. Tommy Tucker Realty Co. provide real estate brokerage services, as well as specializes in property management service in the greater Cedar Rapids area ...

Tax Policy impacts on Real Estate: Fact and Fiction, after Health Care Reform ...



What's ahead in Washington D.C. after Health Care Reform. There is some Tax Policy discussions that caught our eye today.

This morning we received our R&P Report from National Write Your Congressman, which included a section that could impact S Corp and self-employed. Many in the Real Estate Industry are self-employed.



Tax Writers and S Corporations: Lawmakers looking for
revenue to offset the costs in a tax bill are taking a close look at certain
types of small businesses. They are considering a provision that would make it harder for owners of those companies to avoid paying employment taxes.


A similar provision that would have affected companies organized as S
corporations was included in a 2007 proposal. That provision would have required employees who are also owners of service businesses to pay self-employment taxes on their profits. (
H.R. 4213)
To voice your opinion on this issue, go to
www.nwyc.com.

We made a phone call to our local association, with some concerns about upcoming legislation this week in Washington D.C. Another item was relayed to us, which turned out to be false, but it highlights the frustration with current public policy discussions in Washington D.C. today.


What is Fact and what is Fiction?


There is a lack of accountability and transparency with Health Care Reform, current Banking Reform and how proposed legislation rules are being addressed, discussed and disclosed. In some cases, the rules will follow the Federal Legislation, which leads to transparency and accountability problems, like the following.

The following appears to be false, after receiving an E-mail about it earlier today:

Have you received this E-mail circulating on the Internet?

Real Estate sales tax

Under the new health
care bill - did you know that all real estate transactions are subject to a 3.8% Sales Tax?

If you sell your $400,000 home, this will be a $15,200 tax.
(The copy of the article in the E-mail had $200,000 home and a $7,600.00 hand written as tax.)

Health
law's heavy impact - Spokesman.com - March 28, 2010

Mar 28, 2010 ... From now on, the federal government will manage the health care of all Washingtonians. ... The Spokesman-Review The Pavilion. Health law's heavy impact. Paul Guppy Special to
The Spokesman-Review ...
(this is an Web link to the E-mail rumor)
It appears that this printed article, which was shown in a E-mail circulating on the Internet and the Web Link above are untrue. With the lack of accountability and transparency in Washington D.C. today by those in the Administration and many in Congress, it's hard to know Fact vs. Fiction ...

Here was an explanation e-mailed from our State Association to our Local Association on this issue.


Sent: Mon Apr 26 11:45:47 2010

Subject: Re: Fw: Real Estate sales tax


No 4.0% "Sales Tax" on Home Sales In Recently Enacted Health Reform
Bill

Contrary to reports that are circulating widely on the Internet, there is
not a 4.0% "sales tax" or "transfer tax" on the sale of a home included in the
recently signed health care reform bill. The analysis underlying these reports
is incorrect and fails to take into account the interplay of the bill's
provisions with already existing real estate tax laws that remain
unchanged.

What was included in the health bill is a provision that imposes a new 3.8%
Medicare tax for some high income households that have "net investment income."
Any revenue collected by the tax is dedicated to the Medicare hospital insurance
program. This new tax will only apply to households with Adjusted Gross Income
(AGI) of more than $200,000 for individuals or more than $250,000 for married
couples. Since capital gains are included in the definition of net investment
income, an additional tax obligation might result from the sale of real
property.

In the case of the sale of a principal residence, the existing
$250,000/$500,000 exclusion from capital gains on the sale of a principal
residence remains unchanged. Consequently, even when the AGI limits are met, the new tax would not be applied to all capital gains that result from the sale of
a home. The new Medicare tax would only apply to any home sale gain realized in
excess of the $250K/$500K existing primary home exclusion that pushes the
filer's AGI over the $200K/$250K adjusted gross income limit.

The new Medicare tax will not take effect until January 1, 2013.

For more information on the new Medicare tax, please consult NAR's Health
Reform Q&A on this and other provisions of the new health reform law located
at www.realtors.org/healthreform.


End of E-mail


Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.

Don't miss the $8000 tax credit: very little time left.


The Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting for April 26, 2010




Today's Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting ...




Robin Tucker and Tommy Tucker are members of
Rotary International and are each Paul Harris Fellows ...

Celebrate Rotary's 105 years of service by contributing to The Rotary Foundation


Robin Tucker is planning to attend his Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Crowne Plaza Hotel at Noon

Today's Program

Shannon Ramsay
President of Trees Forever

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Open House: Sunday, April 25, 2010 from 12 pm to 2 pm in Cedar Rapids, Iowa


2753 2Nd Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403
Don't miss the $8000 tax credit

More Information on Open House from 12 pm to 2 pm

List Price $126,999

Your Host:
Joel T. Lahey, CRS, GRI, Realtor®
360-6202



Saturday, April 24, 2010

Open House on Sunday for House for Sale in Cedar Rapids; information on Rental Houses in Area

Our agent, Joel T. Lahey, will be hosting an Open House from 12 pm to 2 pm on Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 2753 2Nd Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403. Map
We invite you to visit this property ...


Don't miss the $8000 tax credit


List Price $126,999

More information on Open House


Information on Rental Houses in the Cedar Rapids - Marion, Iowa area:

We just listed this week a very nice Executive Rental in Marion (Linn-Mar Community Schools) that backs up to Willowood Park at 1930 39Th Street. This lovely four bedroom, two-story house will rent for $1650.00 per month. Drive by today and give us a call at 1.319.365.6956 to set up a showing. Possession is May 16, 2010 or after.

We are currently marketing in The Gazette three houses in the $525.00 to $575.00 per month range near Daniels Park on the NE side of Cedar Rapids. These properties would be in the Cedar Rapids Community Schools (Garfield ES - Franklin MS - Washington HS). Each property is a two bedroom one-story with gas hook-up for stove, laundry hook-ups (gas) in unfinished basement and one stall detached garage.




We have a lovely four bedroom, two-story house coming available June 1, 2010 for $1,525.00 per month in Cedar Rapids (College Community Schools). The property is located at 3420 Falcon View Rd SW and is a great example of country living with all the services of living in the city.


We invite you to visit our web site for Tommy Tucker Realty Co. for more information on these and other property services. We can be reached at 319.365.6956. If we are out of the office, please leave a voice message, so we can follow up with you. You can also contact us by e-mail.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Linn Mar - Cedar Rapids - College Community: Houses for Rent in Marion and Cedar Rapids ...


We just listed this week a very nice Executive Rental in Marion (Linn-Mar Community Schools) that backs up to Willowood Park at 1930 39Th Street. This lovely four bedroom, two-story house will rent for $1650.00 per month. Drive by today and give us a call at 1.319.365.6956 to set up a showing. Possession is May 16, 2010 or after.

We are currently marketing in The Gazette three houses in the $525.00 to $575.00 per month range near Daniels Park on the NE side of Cedar Rapids. These properties would be in the Cedar Rapids Community Schools (Garfield ES - Franklin MS - Washington HS). Each property is a two bedroom one-story with gas hook-up for stove, laundry hook-ups (gas) in unfinished basement and one stall detached garage.


We have a lovely four bedroom, two-story house coming available June 1, 2010 for $1,525.00 per month in Cedar Rapids (College Community Schools). The property is located at 3420 Falcon View Rd SW and is a great example of country living with all the services of living in the city.


We invite you to visit our web site for Tommy Tucker Realty Co. for more information on these and other property services. We can be reached at 319.365.6956. If we are out of the office, please leave a voice message, so we can follow up with you. You can also contact us by e-mail.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Happy Earth Day 2010: the 40Th anniversary


A Brief History of Earth Day - Earth Day 2010 and a Look Back at ... - Gather.com
Earth Day is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It was founded by US Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin as an ...
The DIY Genius of the Original Earth Day‎ - Wired News
At 40, Earth Day Is Now Big Business‎ - New York Times

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Real Estate Today Show and news on Rental Housing in Cedar Rapids



Attended the Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtor's monthly meeting on Wednesday, which covered the subject: Credit, Financing and Underwriting Process. There is a lot of changes that have happened in the mortgage lending process, since 2008.



The City of Cedar Rapids is exploring a change in Municipal Code 29 (current code), which governs rental housing. Unlike the City of Iowa City, Cedar Rapids is not utilizing a citizen board or commission in the review of our current rental housing ordinance. This is disappointing when you consider the language found in our current Local Home Rule City Charter, which embraces the use of citizen boards and commissions.



Cedar Rapids Landlords Protest Proposed Fees - KCRG - Mark Geary
Cedar Rapids' rental fees are, in some cases, as much as four times lower ... out of the general fund or taxes,” Chief Housing Inspector Al Pansegrau said. ...

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Executive House for Rent in Cedar Rapids, as well as some smaller 2 BR Houses for Rent


Current Properties being marketed for Rent in the Cedar Rapids are:

We are currently accepting applications for Houses For Rent in Cedar Rapids, Iowa...

*** We do have a lease pending on 828 14Th Street NE, as well as 157 Hayes Street SW.

Please contact Robin B. Tucker, if you have questions about this rental property. Call Robin Tucker at 319-365-6956 ext. 103.

ttrco

Monday, April 19, 2010

April 19, 2010, the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids will have Breakout Meetings at Member Businesses

The Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids is

one of seven Metro Cedar Rapids Rotary Clubs ...

Robin Tucker and Tommy Tucker ...

are members of Rotary International and both are Paul Harris Fellows ...
Celebrate Rotary's 105 years of service by contributing to The Rotary Foundation

April 19, Breakout Meetings at Member Businesses

at Noon


Our local Realtor® Government Affairs meeting for Apirl 2010



We will meet with one of the candidates for U.S. Congress in the 2Nd Congressional District. This month's special guest is Steve Rathje, who is one of the four candidates for the Republican nomination. The primary will be held on Tuesday, June 8Th in the State of Iowa and in the 2Nd District. In May, our committee is scheduled to meet with Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, one of the other candidates.

Iowa Property Owners Alliance - Home
Information for Iowa property owners. Resources, legislation, and legal updates. Contact Iowa legislators regarding property ownership in Iowa.

Recent Legislation in the State of Iowa
Realtors are often involved in the community at the local, State and even Federal level regarding property rights and affordable housing. Robin Tucker participated in the 2010 Realtor Bus-In held during the 2010 Iowa Legislative Session that ended in March 2010.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Can we help you with a House for Rent in the Cedar Rapids area?


Current Properties being marketed for Rent in the Cedar Rapids are:

We are currently accepting applications for Houses For Rent in Cedar Rapids, Iowa...


*** We do have a lease pending on 828 14Th Street NE, as well as 157 Hayes Street SW.

Please contact Robin B. Tucker, if you have questions about this rental property. Call Robin Tucker at 319-365-6956 ext. 103.

ttrco

Monday, April 12, 2010

The Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids program is on The Nature Conservatory for 4/12/10

Today's Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting ...


Robin Tucker and Tommy Tucker ...

are members of Rotary International and both are Paul Harris Fellows ...
Celebrate Rotary's 105 years of service by contributing to The Rotary Foundation

Noon Meeting and Program:

Monday, April 12, 2010

Crowne Plaza Hotel at Noon

Today's Program

SEAN MCMAHON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The City of Cedar Rapids City Council meeting for April 6, 2010


"The council now is discussing steering local-option sales tax money to
landlords. Flood Impacted Landlords have helped city staff develop the
guidelines,"
said Rick Smith of the Gazette, who is reporting with online Live
coverage of the Cedar Rapids City Council meeting.
LIVE COVERAGE: Cedar Rapids City Council, 4:30 p.m.
Posted on Apr 06, 2010 by
Rick Smith.

Reporter Rick Smith is providing live coverage of today’s Cedar Rapids City Council meeting, which begins at 4:30 p.m. Among the agenda items:

  • A discussion on what to do with the former Cedar Rapids Public Library building on First Street SE;

  • Awarding a demolition contract for for the fire-damaged Sinclair site, formerly the Farmstead Foods meatpacking plant; and

  • Having flood director Greg Eyerly report to the council rather than to city manager Jim Prosser.

Join the live coverage from The Gazette by following the link above, starting at 4:30 p.m.

In the coming weeks, the City Council will likely hear from City staff on proposed changes to Chapter 29 and Chapter 22 of the Municipal Code for the City of Cedar Rapids. These changes will impact property rights and costs associated with rental housing and affordable housing in the City of Cedar Rapids.

ttrco

Monday, April 5, 2010

The City of Cedar Rapids is providing Leaf Collection in April 2010


Spring is here and that means yard work is on the to-do list for many
homeowners. Starting April 5Th, you can expect to see the leaf vacuum trucks
riding around Cedar Rapids removing all of the leaves off the streets. Leaf
collection will be on your regular garbage day unless it's slowed down by
weather or volume of leaves. If you want your leaves to be picked up put them on
the grass or the parking area next to the street.Yard Waste Collection
Begins
~ reported by KGAN_CBS2


Residents should place leaves on the grass or parking area beside the street
for collection. Leaves must be kept out of the street. The vacuum truck will not
collect leaves from alleys. Leaf piles should be free from brush and debris.
Sticks and twigs can be placed in the YARDY cart for collection and litter
should be bagged and placed in your garbage can. Please do not park cars in
front of leaf piles; the truck will not be able to collect the leaves
. ~
City of Cedar Rapids

You must be receiving pick ups by the City of Cedar Rapids already to be included. Businesses are not included.

It's Butler vs. Duke tonight; while Rich Patterson is Today's program for the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids

Tonight, the men's NCAA basketball finals will pit Butler vs. Duke for the national title on KGAN_CBS2 here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa USA ...

Today's Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids meeting ...


Robin Tucker and Tommy Tucker ...

are members of Rotary International and both are Paul Harris Fellows ...
Celebrate Rotary's 105 years of service by contributing to The Rotary Foundation

Noon Meeting and Program:

Monday, April 5, 2010

Crowne Plaza Hotel at Noon

Today's Program

Rich Patterson, Director



Friday, April 2, 2010

Our offices will be Closed Good Friday through Easter


Tommy Tucker Realty Co., founded in 1958
Our founder, I.L 'Tommy' Tucker celebrates his 55Th year in real estate in 2010.
Tommy has reached REALTOR® Emeritus Status.
Robin Tucker joined Tommy Tucker Realty Co. in 1988.

Our offices will be closed for Good Friday and through Easter as our staff and families enjoy the Easter holiday here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa USA. If you need to reach a REALTOR®, please contact our office at 319.365.6956 and leave a message, we will work to have one contact you.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Happy Census Day America - April 1, 2010


From the 2010 Census:

Cities Across America Celebrate Census Day and Remind Residents to Mail Back Census Forms

Release Information CB10-CN.38

Contact:
301-763-3691
Census Day

Half of the Nation's Households Have Participated So Far

Communities nationwide are urging their residents to take 10 minutes on Thursday, April 1 — Census Day — to fill out and mail back their 2010 Census forms if they haven't already done so. As the official reference date for the once-a-decade civic ceremony, Census Day will serve as the point-in-time benchmark for the nation's population count for the next 10 years.
The U.S. Census Bureau mailed or hand-delivered about 134 million 2010 Census questionnaires to households in March. To date, just over half of those households have mailed back their census forms, an important milestone. South Dakota and North Dakota have achieved some of the highest rates of mail return so far (62 percent and 61 percent, respectively), followed by Nebraska (60 percent).

Residents still have time to fill out and mail back their 10-question census form, saving the government about $57 for each household that does not have to be visited by an enumerator. The U.S. Constitution requires an enumeration of every person living in the U.S. Every household that fails to send back its census form by mail must be visited by a census taker starting in May — at significant taxpayer cost. The easiest and best way to be counted in the census is to fill out and return your form by mail. If every household across the nation mailed back its completed form, taxpayers could reduce the cost of administering the census by about $1.5 billion.

“I'd like nothing more than to return money to the taxpayers following this census because they mailed back the census forms at a record rate,” said Census Bureau Director Robert Groves. “In the end, the American public's willingness to participate in the 2010 Census will determine its success and how much money we're able to save.”

Highlights of the Census Bureau's April 1 initiatives to raise awareness and encourage participation in the 2010 Census include:

  • In the morning, Groves will collect forms from D.C. residents at local eatery Ben's Chili Bowl. He'll then move to a celebration at Freedom Plaza, just steps away from the Old Post Office.

  • Strategically positioned outside the post office in Chicago's Federal Plaza, the 2010 Census Portrait of America Road Tour vehicle and local census staff will remind residents on their way to work to mail back their forms.

  • At state capitols in Montpelier, Vt. and Olympia, Wash.; census staff will partner with local officials and community leaders at rallies and celebrations to get the word out.

  • At the Yuma County Fair in Arizona, Atlanta's Robert Woodruff Park and the Jewish Children's Museum in New York City, local census staff will host events to celebrate National Census Day and remind residents it's not too late mail back their census forms.

A complete list of Census Day events can be found at http://2010.census.gov/news/pdf/National_Census_Day_Events.pdf. To track national and local participation rates, the Census Bureau's “Take 10” Rate Tracker widget is available for download at http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map. Anyone with a Web site can copy and paste a widget that will display and automatically update their community's mail participation rates on a daily basis. A new interactive Google Earth application also shows mail participation rates for 2010 — updated daily — a user-friendly platform for broadcast news stations that want to zoom in on their area's rates. (See: http://maplify.com/blog/ and http://maplify.com/census/).

Census data is used to apportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds annually. In 2000, the nation reversed a three-decade decline in mail rates, achieving a participation rate of 72 percent.

All census responses are confidential. Answers are protected by law and cannot be shared with anyone. The Census Bureau takes extreme measures to protect the identity of individuals and businesses. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' individually identifiable answers with anyone, including tribal housing authorities, other federal agencies and law enforcement entities.

ABOUT THE 2010 CENSUS

The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Census data are used to apportion congressional seats to states, to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to tribal, state and local governments each year and to make decisions about what community services to provide. The 2010 Census form is one of the shortest in U.S. history, consisting of 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete. Strict confidentiality laws protect the respondents and the information they provide.

*** *** ***

Tommy Tucker Realty Co., founded in 1958

Our founder, I.L 'Tommy' Tucker celebrates his 55Th year in real estate in 2010.

Tommy has reached REALTOR® Emeritus Status.

Robin Tucker joined Tommy Tucker Realty Co. in 1988.

Our offices will be closed for Good Friday and through Easter as our staff and families enjoy the Easter holiday here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa USA. If you need to reach a REALTOR®, please contact our office at 319.365.6956 and leave a message, we will work to have one contact you.

tucker pole