"We are not recession-proof, but we are recession-resilient," says Jim Reichardt, executive director of Jacksonville-Onslow (County) Economic Development.

The area has a major asset: It's home to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River. As a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure program, the region gained about 12,000 military jobs.

•Sales status. The housing market benefits from the steady flow of Marines. On average, military home buyers only stay for three to five years, and real estate agents sell the same houses again and again, says Melissa Worrell, president-elect of Jacksonville Board of Realtors.

In September, Jacksonville's home sales were 10.1% higher than the same month last year. Because of the military bases, the city has one of the youngest populations in the nation. For that reason, first-time home buyers account for the majority of sales, Worrell says.

•Price points. Only six homes sold in the past 12 months exceeded $500,000, Worrell says. But that doesn't mean prices have fallen. Jacksonville never saw a boom in new construction, and home foreclosures have not dragged down home values. In September, the median price was 10.3% higher than a year prior.

•Local economy. Jacksonville's unemployment rate was 8.3% in September, less than the state's rate of 10.4%. Military personnel have a stable disposable income, which has helped local auto dealers, restaurants and retail stores, Reichardt says.

•Hot 'hoods. About 20 years ago, downtown Jacksonville seemed mostly a wild and wooly place filled with bars, says Dennis Burgard, former president of Bettering Our Local Downtown, a non-profit organization. That's mostly been cleared, and the non-profit is trying to revitalize the area along the banks of the New River, where walkways and waterfront access abound.

Vacant properties are being used for new homes that are modeled after Victorian-style homes in downtown Charleston, S.C. Prices range from about $160,000 to $220,000. One developer has sold seven homes fairly quickly in the lower price range, Burgard says.

For more information on this article, please go to http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/closetohome/2009-11-17-closetohome17_ST_N.htm

The hometown of the Marines' Camp Lejeune — Jacksonville, N.C. — soared to the nation's 32nd-highest income per person in 2009 among the 366 U.S. metropolitan areas, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis data. In 2000, it had ranked 287th.

 The Jacksonville metropolitan area, with a population of 173,064, had the top income per person of any North Carolina community in 2009. In 2000, it ranked 13th of 14 metro areas in the state.

 The USA TODAY analysis finds that 16 of the 20 metro areas rising the fastest in the per-capita income rankings since 2000 had military bases or one nearby. Other examples: 

•Manhattan, Kan., home of the Army's Fort Riley, is the state's most affluent metro area. In 2000, it was the poorest of the state's six metros.

•Killeen, Texas, home of the Army's Fort Hood, is today more affluent than Austin, the state capital and university town 60 miles away.

What's driving the income growth: pay and benefits in the military have grown faster than those in any other part of the economy.

Soldiers, sailors and Marines received average compensation of $122,263 per person in 2009, up from $58,545 in 2000.

Military compensation — an average of $70,168 in pay and $52,095 in benefits — includes the value of housing, medical care, pensions, hazardous-duty incentives, enlistment bonuses and combat pay in war zones. More than 300 U.S. servicemembers have died this year in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"You have to have a good compensation package if you want to recruit and retain the best people," says Pentagon spokeswoman Eileen Lainez.

After adjusting for inflation, military compensation rose 84% from 2000 through 2009. By contrast, compensation grew 37% for federal civilian workers and 9% for private sector employees during that time, the BEA reports.

The military has met or exceeded its recruiting goals in 2009 and so far this year, helped by a weak economy and the improved compensation.

"It's booming here," says Mona Patrick, president of the Jacksonville-Onslow (N.C.) Chamber of Commerce. Construction is robust, she says. Extended-stay hotels are full of military contractors.

The Marines have added 10,000 active-duty personnel at Camp Lejeune since 2000 for a total of 48,000, plus 5,000 civilian employees.

Places without links to the military were the decade's biggest losers. Doing poorly:

• High-tech centers. San Jose, the heart of the Silicon Valley, recorded the nation's biggest decline in income per resident since 2000 — a 23% drop after adjusting for inflation.

• College towns. Despite a reputation for economic vibrancy, many well-known college towns — from Boulder, Colo., to Raleigh and Durham, N.C. — registered declining or flat per-capita incomes.

• Industrial cities. Falling hardest: Auto supplier Kokomo, Ind., started the decade ranked 128th in per-capita income and ended ranked 293rd.

Metros with top income gains

Metro areas that saw the biggest percentage gains in per-capita income 2000 to 2009

Metro area	Per capita income, 2000	Per capita income, 2009	Percentage change, adjusted for inflation	Military connection
Jacksonville, N.C.	23,455	44,664	66%	Camp Lejeune (Marines)
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, La.	21,939	38,060	49%	Military shipbuilding
Manhattan, Kan.	23,348	40,345	48%	Fort Riley (Army)
Fayetteville, N.C.	23,894	40,917	47%	Fort Bragg (Army);Pope Air Force Base
Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, Texas	22,766	38,757	46%	Fort Hood (Army)
Lawton, Okla.	21,697	36,748	45%	Fort Sill (Army)
Farmington, N.M.	19,140	30,479	35%	-
Hinesville-Fort Stewart, Ga.	16,790	26,681	34%	Fort Stewart (Army)
Las Cruces, N.M.	18,102	28,251	31%	Multiple bases
Hanford-Corcoran, Calif.	16,920	26,371	31%	Naval Air Station Lemoore
Clarksville, Tenn.	23,269	36,233	31%	Fort Campbell (Army)
Cheyenne, Wyo.	28,601	44,273	30%	Warren Air Force Base
Morgantown, W.Va.	22,412	34,412	29%	-
Lafayette, La.	25,511	38,944	28%	-
El Paso, Texas	18,833	28,638	27%	Fort Bliss (Army)
Columbus, Ga.	24,372	37,011	27%	Fort Benning (Army)
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, Fla.	27,500	41,624	27%	Eglin Air Force Base
Cumberland, Md.	20,844	31,420	26%	-

Bureau of Economic Analysis, USA TODAY research

Contributing: Tom Vanden Brook

 For more information on this article, please go to http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2010-08-16-military-towns_N.htm

1. Start early-  Almost everyone has more stuff than they think they do, and almost no one leaves enough time to pack it.
2. Room Lists- Start by forming two room lists, one for your current place and one for your future place.  This will help you manage what has to go where.
3. Room Inventory- Go to each room and write down the types of things that need to be packed: furniture items, length of shelving, closets, etc. 
4. Time Allotment- Make sure to leave enough time.  The most common timeframe reported by people moving is that it takes a month to pack.  One study reported that it takes 4-5 hours to pack an average dorm room, so that should give you an idea of what’s involved.
5. Calendar- Pull out a calendar and plan by day when each room will be completed.
6. Delegation- If you’re moving with family members, agree with them exactly while tasks they will be doing and the date they will be finished.
7. Track your progress- at least once per week track where you are against the date on the calendar.  Revise your plan if you’re falling behind.

Finding Great Movers

1. Only hire the best-  If you choose to hire professional movers, do your research and hire good ones.  Poor quality movers really can be worse than none at all.
2. Referrals-  Get referrals from local real estate agents and friends who have moved recently.
3. Licensing-  Only consider movers that are licensed, bonded and insured.
4. Research-  Investigate your potential movers through the U.S. Department of Transportation, MovingScam-dot-com and the Better Business Bureau.
5. In-home estimates- Evaluate a minimum of 3 movers based on in-home estimates of goods to be moved.
6. Price- Price isn't the only factor- extremely low bids indicate a desperate mover.
7. "Binding Not-To-Exceed"- Ask for written "Binding Not-To-Exceed" estimates.
8. Avoid "rogue movers"- if you feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts!  Never agree to move your possessions with anyone you don’t trust.  

 General Packing Tips

1. Pack a suitcase- For each member of the family moving, pack a suitcase as if you’re all going on a 3-day vacation, including changes of clothes, medications, eyeglasses, toiletries, etc.  Keep the suitcases separated from all the other items to be moved, such as in your car, at your new workplace, etc. so you’ll have everything you need for the first few days without searching through boxes.
2. Create “Open Me First” boxes- Pick one or two boxes per room as "Open Me First" boxes.  Put in them the things you'll need first at your new location.  Then mark the sides of the boxes so you'll know which ones are which.
3. One at a time-  Wherever possible, work on packing just one room at a time (instead of several all at once) to keep things focused and organized.
4. Less is more-  Use packing as a way to clean out belongings for donations, a yard sale, and/or the recycling center.  Aim to eliminate 1/3 of your belongings.  You'll save time and expense.
5. Off the floor- Instead of the floor, use a completely cleared-off table top or counter in each room for packing boxes.  You'll find you get much more accomplished.
6. Tracking small parts- When taking apart items to be moved, such as tables, securely tape screws and other small parts securely to the underside of the item.  You'll always know where to look and save time putting things back together.
7. Save space- Use towels, pillows and t-shirts you’re packing as extra padding around fragile items.  It will save room in your boxes.
8. Criss-cross tape- Tape boxes along the seams where the flaps meet together.  Then tape perpendicularly at the center of the first tape, forming a cross.
9. Stacking-  Stack boxes with the heaviest on the bottom, lightest on top to prevent crushing.
10. The 30-pound rule-  Keep each box below 50 pounds absolute maximum and below 30 pounds wherever possible.  Heavier boxes lead to injuries, are much more likely to burst their tape or seams and tend to get dropped.
11. Scale- Keep a bathroom scale in the room you're packing so you can keep the boxes below the weight limits.

 Packing Electronics

1. A picture is worth 1000 words-  Use a digital or cell phone camera to take pictures of how complicated wiring (computer cords, speaker wires) is hooked up.  Be sure to use plenty of light and careful focus so the pictures will be clear. Print each picture and put it in the top of the box holding the item.  This will make hooking up the items in your new place much easier.
2. Original is best-  Always use the original packaging when available.  (I realize that most of us don’t have the original packaging for much of anything, but I thought I would bring it up anyway).
3. Double boxing-  For especially fragile electronics, pack them first in a box with an excessive amount of biodegradable packing peanuts.  Then pack that box in a larger box filled with biodegradable packing peanuts.  This two-box system seems like a pain but seems to do a better job isolating items from jarring impacts.
4. No loose ends-  Wrap each cord carefully with cable organizers, heavy twist ties or heavy rubber bands.  Never throw unwrapped cords into boxes- they get tangled and caught on other items.
5. Cord labels-  Consider getting a label maker and labeling the end of each.  Then you'll know exactly which cord you're seeing and where each end connects when you put things back together.
6. The two-inch rule-  Use at least 2" of biodegradable packing peanuts around each side of fragile items.

 Box Inventory and Labeling 

1. “Fat” is in-  Use the thickest, darkest marker you can find for labeling boxes. Pencils, pens, tin or light markers are almost impossible to see even just a few feet away.
2. Two sides-  Label each box on the two broadest sides, opposite one another.  That way if a box gets turned, you can still identify its contents.
3.  Abbreviate room names-  Start box labels with the abbreviated name of the room followed by a box number, such as “BTH2-6” for "second bathroom, 6th box."  You can then track each box to make sure everything arrived safely.
4. Label "Open Me First" on boxes where it applies.
5. Mark "Fragile" where appropriate.
6. Identify contents- Identify the major contents and where they came from, such as "Medicine Cabinet" or "Linen Closet- Towels and Wash Cloths."
7. Box Inventory-  Keep a clipboard and write down each box's room, box number and contents (graph paper is great for keeping things recorded neatly). 
8. Verifying delivery- When unloading, check off each box as it gets unloaded at your new place.  Then you'll know everything arrived safely.
9. Labels out- Ask movers to stack boxes in your new place with the labels facing out so that you can easily spot a specific box.

Letting People Know

1. Post Office- File your change of address with the Post Office at least 30 days prior to the date of the move.
2. Referrals- Ask everyone you notify for a referral in your new area.
3. Records- Get copies of your existing records (transcripts from schools, medical records from doctors, etc.) while you’re notifying the changes of address.

Change of Address- Who To Notify

1. Accountant/tax preparer; Alumni associations; Attorneys
2. Babysitter/ child care provider; Banks (auto loans, checking accounts, credit cards, home equity, IRA’s, mortgage, safe deposit box, savings account); Broker; Business cards (order new ones if applicable)
3. Cell phone provider; Child care/ daycare; Chiropractor; Courts, especially for traffic tickets or local disputes; Credit bureaus; Credit card issuers
4. Dentist; Department of Motor Vehicles; Diaper service; Doctor; Dry cleaning pick-up and delivery
5. Family members and friends
6. Health clubs; House cleaning service; House of worship
7. Insurance providers (auto, health, life, other vehicles); IRS (form 8822)
8. Lawn care; Luggage tags (replace existing ones)
9. Magazine subscriptions
10. New business cards; New employer; Newspaper subscriptions
11. Old employer; Orthodontist
12. Parent-teacher association; Passport; Pet sitter/ dog walker/ pet day care; Pharmacy (BONUS: get year-to-date expense summary for taxes); Physical therapist; Physician (BONUS: get referral for new location); Post office; Professional organizations
13. Retirement plan holders; Return address labels (order new ones)
14. Schools (BONUS: get copies of transcripts); Snow removal service; Social Security Administration; Swimming pool maintenance (pool cleaning, pool opening or closing); Swimming pool memberships
15. Veterinarian BONUS get vet records and recommendations
16. Water delivery service

 Moving With Kids

1. Get a children's book on moving for smaller kids.  Consider “The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day.”
2. If appropriate, let children pick their room.
3. If possible, let kids pick a decoration (poster, light switch, name banner, etc.) for their new room. 
4. Pack a kid's sized suitcase and let each child pick out a special toy to keep with them and a special outfit to wear on "new home day."
5. If the child has a special dish or cup, include it in the kitchen "Open Me First" box so familiar items await them at their new place.
6. Consider unpacking the kids' rooms first, or at least their "Open Me First" boxes to help them settle in.

 Open Me First Box: The Kitchen

1. Aluminum foil or plastic wrap
2. Break-proof or disposable flatware, cups, and plates
3. Coffee maker and coffee (don’t forget the filters!)
4. Dish detergent
5. Frying pan and spatula
6. Pet food and bowls
7. Scissors
8. Tea kettle

 Open Me First Box: Main Bathroom

1. Bath mat
2. Bath towels
3. First-aid kit (aspirin, band-aids, hydrogen peroxide)
4. Shampoo
5. Shower curtain and rings
6. Soap
7. Toilet paper
8. Toothbrushes and toothpaste

Open Me First Box: Tool Room or Drawer

1. Duct tape
2. Flashlight
3. Flat-head screwdriver
4. Hammer
5. Level
6. Phillips-head screwdriver
7. Picture hangers
8. Tape measure
9. Utility knife

Moving Day

1.  Again, start early- You want to have everything as organized as possible prior to the arrival of the movers.
2. Use sitters-  Recruit help in watching your small kids and pets on Moving Day.  Your attention will be needed for the nuts and bolts of the move.
3. Have food ready-  Whether you have professional movers or friends and family, having coffee, orange juice, and bagels or donuts available will make it easier for everyone to get started.
4. Cell phone numbers- Make sure you have the cell phone number of the driver of the truck entered into your cell phone, and that the driver has yours in case you get separated or have a problem.
5. Proper payment- Almost all professional movers will demand payment in full and in cash before they will unpack a single box.  Make sure you have payment ready.
6. Directions- Have directions and a map ready for anyone will be driving between your old place and your new place.

 Unpacking

1. Unpacking Plan- Just like with packing, have a plan for unpacking.  Otherwise you're likely to end up frustrated with a sea of half-opened boxes with your necessities still "missing in action."
2. Prioritize Rooms- Focus on "Open Me First" boxes in the bathrooms and kitchen first. 
3. Trash and Recyclable Boxes- Keep at least one trash bag (for the real trash) and one large emptied box (to hold used packing paper and biodegradable "peanuts") available in each room BEFORE you start the heavy unpacking.
4. Time Limits- Set an objective of unpacking a certain number of boxes each day until all the boxes are all unpacked.

For more information on moving tips, please visit www.Movers-Edge.com

Congress has acknowledged the unique circumstances affecting members of the military, the foreign service and the intelligence community by making the following exceptions that apply to both the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers and the $6,500 tax credit for repeat home buyers.

Exemption From Tax Credit Recapture Rules

• Typically, homes that are sold or that cease to be used as a principal residence within three years of the initial purchase are subject to recapture of the tax credit.
• However, qualified service members who sell or move from a tax credit home within three years of the initial purchase due to official extended duty are exempt from the recapture rule.

Extension of Tax Credit Deadlines

• The home buyer tax credit is available for qualified purchases with a binding sales contract in place on or before April 30, 2010 and closed by September 30, 2010.
• However, for qualified service members who are ordered on a period of official extended duty, these dates are extended. For these home buyers, the tax credit applies to sales with a binding sales contract in place on or before April 30, 2011 and closed by June 30, 2011.
• A person who is forced to return to the U.S. for medical reasons before completing an assignment of at least 90 days of qualified official extended duty outside of the United States may qualify for the one-year extension.

Definitions

• “Qualified service member” means a member of the uniformed services of the U.S military, a member of the Foreign Service of the U.S., or an employee of the intelligence community.
• “Official extended duty” means any period of extended duty outside of the United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning after December 31, 2008 and ending before May 1, 2010.

For more information on the $8000 Home Buyer Tax Credit please visit

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/service_mem.php

Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability. Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows. Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!

While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life. It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone." To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.

Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.