April 26, 2011: Easter Monday

It is back to the office, after enjoying the past Easter weekend with family and friends.

We learned today that 226 31St Street NE will be coming on the market July 1St for rental. The current tenants will be moving out at the end of June.

Do you have a property underutilized that would be good for a person or family to rent in the greater Cedar Rapids area? We may be able to help match you with customers in the area.

The property at 830 14Th Street NE is pending. We expect new tenants to move in at the end of the week. The two bedroom house at 1625 12Th Avenue SE will be available June 1St. The tenants have given notice to vacate.

At my Rotary luncheon at Noon, Mayor Ron Corbett spoke on the May 3Rd L.O.S.T.T. [PDF], an extension of the local option sales tax for infrastructure purposes. Four tenths of each cent will go for existing roads in the City of Cedar Rapids. The breakdown is as follows:

• Property tax relief (10 percent),


• Flood protection systems for the east and west side of the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids (50 percent) and


• Existing road infrastructure (40 percent)

The Cedar Rapids Area Association of Realtors have endorsed the tax for Cedar Rapids. For more information on the local sales tax in Linn County, you can visit the County Auditor's site. For more information on the "yes" side of the vote, you can visit the following web site.

Talked to a prospect for a house for sale on the west side. We do anticipate some Executive Houses coming this Summer for Rent.

ttrco

Happy Tax Day to all: April 18, 2011

It's Federal Tax Day today, Monday, April 18, 2011, since Washington D.C. had a Holiday on the 15Th this year. It's also a beginning of a Full Moon.

This morning, the radio was at 3Rd Street East and the underpass of I-380 for the beginning of demolition for the new Events Center in Cedar Rapids.

City Hall to Start Demolition at Convention Complex Site on April 18 - KCRGTV9

We attended our monthly local Realtor Government Affairs meeting this morning. Good lively conversation on a variety of issues.

• Congress and President's Obama repeal of the 1099 Landlord Reporting Law



• Update on various RPAC events and fundraising



• The Chair asked a short report on the Charter Review Commission, which I and 12 other citizens were appointed to. Work will be from May 5, 2011 to August 15, 2011



• We discussed the upcoming May 3Rd LOSST votes for Linn County, including the cities of Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Robins and Fairfax



• Chapter 29 lawsuit update that will be held April 22Nd at 11 a.m. in Linn County Court - local landlords are suing the City of Cedar Rapids over Chapter 29



• Discussed the Melrose Avenue matter in the City of Iowa City



• Discussed the Mortgage Interest Deduction and the proposed $40 dues increase from the National Association of Realtors for all members



• Discussed the local sign ordinances for Cedar Rapids and Marion

At Noon, attended the Rotary Club of Cedar Rapids program from Jim Schnoebelen and Dave Elgin on Transportation, with an update on the Highway 100 extension for the City of Cedar Rapids.

Other notes for the week of April 18, 2011

• 4/18, Passover



• 4/18, Revolutionary War began on this date in 1775



• 4/22, Good Friday, our offices will be formally closed for our work families to enjoy the Easter holiday with family and friends



• 4/24, Easter

Have a great week! If you are traveling, be careful, take it easy and play it safe!

ttrco

Local Realtor Association supports extention of the Local Option Sales Tax for the City of Cedar Rapids

We attended an interesting broker's meeting today, as part of the Cedar Rapids Association of Realtors. Also previewed a possible new listing this afternoon. Nice visit with a contractor on a couple possible projects.

At the end of the day, we noticed the following e-mail from our local association of Realtors ...

At the February Board of Directors meeting the Local Option Sales Tax
extension was discussed. It was agreed that although the Corp of Engineers has
recommended a plan that only protects the East side of the river, both sides
need protection. Without flood protection on both sides another flood could
result in a significant loss of jobs and a corresponding impact on both
residential and commercial real estate sales. Property values in the downtown
commercial district and residential neighborhoods could decrease in value which
would affect the overall tax base of the City. The Board of Directors feel the
best way for the city to acquire matching funds for any state and/or federal
funding to create the flood protection plan needed is to support the extension
of the local option sales tax. The Board of Directors unanimously voted to
support the extension.

My father, I.L. 'Tommy' Tucker, has been a Realtor in Cedar Rapids, since 1955. He strongly believes flood protection is needed on both sides of the river. Ahead and during the Flood of 2008, we reflected on past floods that impacted our family and our local businesses in the past.

My grandfather and father were impacted by floods over the years at the business my grandfather began in 1945. Many of our former locations were impacted by the Flood of 2008. My father's neighborhood, when he first moved to Cedar Rapids was impacted. My grandfather and father first lived in the old Hayes School neighborhood of SW Cedar Rapids. We have had former business locations on both sides of the river that were impacted by the Flood of 2008.

ttrco