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“The Most Recognized Field in Golf”

The greatest players and biggest names in sports and entertainment will take center stage at the 20^th American Century Championship, celebrity golf’s most popular tournament at Edgewood Tahoe, July 14-19, 2009. The American Century Championship will award $600,000 in prize money – with $125,000 to the winner. Scoring is based on a modified Stableford format with 10 points for a double eagle, 8 for a hole-in-one, 6 for eagle, 3 for birdie, 1 for par, 0 for bogey, and minus 2 for double-bogey or higher.

Last year’s field of 78 starts was the brightest in the 19-year history of golf’s grandest celebrity gathering, including Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Tony Romo, Ray Romano, Mario Lemieux, John Elway, and Jerry Rice.

First timers include NASCAR superstar Dale Jarrett, sports announcer Joe Buck, and 11-time national sports writer-of-the-year Rick Reilly.

South Shore Lake Tahoe was the hangout for celebrity sightings, parties and superstar entertainment throughout the week. The increased participation of entertainment luminaries and hot, new personalities and athletes has tournament buzz starting early.

Tickets are available daily at the gate. Prices are $15 each day for the Lake Tahoe Celebrity-Amateur on Tuesday, July 14, the practice round on Wednesday, July 15, and for the American Century Celebrity-Am on Thursday, July 16, and $25 for each tournament round, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A Season Pass for $60 provides admission for all six days of the event. Kids 10 and under are free with a paid adult. For tournament tickets, information and lodging packages, visit: www.BlueLakeTahoe.com.

If you are one of the fortunate people living in or visiting the Reno / Tahoe region, you don’t have to go far (or maybe nowhere at all) to enjoy a fine Memorial Day holiday weekend.

All U.S. Forest Service operated beaches and campgrounds are scheduled to be open this weekend. The Taylor Creek Visitor Center, located off Emerald Bay Road (Highway 89) provides information on beaches, picnic areas, camping sites, horseback riding, mountain biking, nature walks and off-highway vehicle activities on U.S. forest service lands in the basin. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. this weekend. The stream profile chamber, revealing the underwater landscape of Taylor Creek, is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Tallac Historic Site will be open on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The Baldwin Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and tours of the restored Pope Estate start at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day. Volunteers are also needed to greet visitors and provide tourist information.

– D.L. Bliss State Park and Lester Beach are open this weekend. Camping at the California State Park will be limited because a portion of the campground is closed. Eagle Point campground is closed entirely.

– Vikingsholm will have tours on Saturday and through the weekend. The first tour of the day starts at 10 a.m. and the last tour at 4 p.m. All tours are guided and take approximately a half hour. The tour costs $5 for adults and $3 for youths 6 to 17. Children under 6 are free. The maximum number of people on a tour is 49.

– The 17-piece Tahoe Dance Band will perform on Friday at the Spring Fling Dance at the South Lake Tahoe Senior Center from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Appetizers, wine, desserts, big band dancing and door prizes are part of the festivities. All ages welcome. $8 at the door. Dressy clothing is optional.

– Lake Tahoe Community College will host the Tahoe Environmental Film Festival at 7 p.m. on Friday. Four dollars gains access to environmental films, local photographers and educational booths. Proceeds support the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Environmental Scholarship for local high school seniors.

– Kahle Community Center hosts a Friday Night Teen Scene every Friday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Basketball, volleyball, arcade games, television and working out are available to grades six through 12.

– The Tahoe Area Sierra Club will host hands-on discussions of native plants and when to plant them at Aspen Hollow Nursery on Friday. The event starts at 5 p.m. and costs $15 per person.

Near Stateline

– The gondola opens to the public for sightseeing Friday through Monday this weekend. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, with tickets priced at $28 for adults, $24 for teens and seniors, and $18 for children ages five to 12. Kids 4 and under ride for free, as do 2007-08 Heavenly Pass holders. Café Blue at the Observation Deck and the Adventure Peak Grill will both be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, and hiking trails will also be open. The gondola closes after Memorial Day, re-opening June 15 for the remainder of the summer.

– A John Wayne Centennial Birthday with be held from noon to 4 p.m. on May 26 and 27 in front of Cowboys and Indians in Heavenly Village. Activities will include old west gun fights, hay wagon rides, “Bail me out” jail, old-time photo opportunities, John Wayne poster and memorabilia and raffle drawings. Proceeds will benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

– DJ Paul Oakenfold will play MontBleu on Saturday. Tickets are $30 plus tax. Doors open at 8 p.m. The show is 21 and over and doors open at 8 p.m.

– The Killers concert at MontBleu, scheduled for Monday, has been postponed until Sept. 21 due to an illness of lead singer Brandon Flowers.

– Miss the rains down in Africa? Toto plays the Harrah’s South Shore Room on Friday. Tickets are $60 and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

– MontBleu will host an art and music exhibition on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Artwork by Melissa Warren will be featured and music by Edwing will start at 9 p.m. each night in the Galerie Blu’u on the way to “Onsen Spa.”

– The Improv at Harvey’s will feature comedy from John Henton and Don Barnhart on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Shows are hosted by Howie Nave and start at 8 p.m.

– Bill’s Casino hosts Piano Blast! Sing along with Guido on Friday and Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. The show includes comedy, dedications, requests of any genre of music, dancing and audience participation.

– Anita Mann’s “Party Girls” runs every night, except Monday, starting at 10 p.m. Edgy new adult shows, dancers, and Cooley Jackson, who reportedly taught Michael Jackson the Moonwalk are featured.

– Horizon Golden Cabaret at the Horizon Casino Resort features TV’s Magic Stars, a magic act that is fun for the entire family. Shows run nightly, except Tuesday, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $24.95 plus tax. A special Kids free matinee starts at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

– Lakeside Inn will broadcast Ultimate Fighting Championship 71 on Saturday, featuring Chuck Liddell vs. Quinton Jackson at 7 p.m., with a 10 p.m. replay.

A tax credit of up to $8,000 is now available for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. Unlike the tax credit enacted in 2008, the new credit does not have to be repaid. Learn how you can take advantage of
this $8,000 tax credit to buy the home of your dreams.

House OKs ‘cram-down’ compromise

Bill would let bankruptcy judges modify mortgages

What Can You Afford?

Now that you know what you’re looking for, the next step is figuring out what you can afford. A review of your income, savings, monthly expenses, and debt will be necessary. Early on in the process, you’ll want to get pre-qualified for a mortgage loan, which helps determine how much you can afford. It enables you to move swiftly when you find the right home, especially when there are other interested buyers. It also indicates to the seller that you are serious and can afford to buy the property. A pre-approval is a simple calculation done by a mortgage lender that tells you the amount you’ll be able to finance through a loan and what your monthly payment will be. When you find a home to buy, a pre-approval also reassures the seller that you have the financial means to purchase his or her home. Know what you can afford is the first rule of home buying, and that depends on how much income and how much debt you have. It pays to check with several lenders before you start searching for a home. The price you can afford to pay for a home will depend on several factors, such as: gross income the funds you have available for the down payment, closing costs and cash reserves required by the lender your debt your credit history the type of mortgage you select current interest rates

A lease option is an arrangement between you and a seller to exercise the option to buy a house after you have rented it for a specific period. A portion of your rent would be applied toward the purchase if the option is applied. This is referred to as rent credit, which most institutional lenders will accept as part of the down payment if rental payments exceed the market rent and if a valid lease-purchase agreement is in effect, a copy of which must be attached to the loan application. Read any lease option arrangement carefully for details on transferring the option and other important concerns. For information on lease options, contact your real estate agent (some even specialize in such transactions) or read up on lease options at the public library or on the internet. If you have a real estate attorney, ask if he or she has any prepared information you can review

Before deciding which house to buy, think about your lifestyle, your current and anticipated housing needs, and your budget. It’s a good idea to create a prioritized list of features you want in your next home – you’ll soon discover finding the right house involves striking a balance between your “must-haves” and your “nice-to-haves.” To start, consider your lifestyle. If you love to cook, you’ll want a well-equipped kitchen. If you’re into gardening, you’ll want a yard. If you’re planning your office at home, you may want a room for a separate library or work space. If you have several cars, you may require a larger garage. Use this list as your search guide. Next, think about what you might need in the future. As you consider your housing needs, it’s important to consider how long you may live in your home. If you’re newly married, you might not be concerned with a school district right now, but you could be in a few years. If you have aging parents, you may want to look at homes that offer living arrangements for them as well as you. It’s important to think about your new home’s location just as carefully as you do about a house’s features. Location is a huge part of any move. In addition to considering the distance to work, you need to evaluate the availability of shopping, police and fire protection, medical facilities, school and day-care, traffic and parking, trash and garbage collection, even recreational facilities. Perhaps the most important decision is deciding on the type of home you want. Do you want a condominium or a co-op? A town house or a detached single-family home? Do you want brick, stone, stucco, wood, vinyl siding, or something else? Do you prefer a new home or an older one? Through all of this, make sure to talk to your real estate professional about where you want to live. While more buyers now use the Internet to gain access to listings, or available properties for sale, it is still a good idea to use an agent. The agent brings value to the entire process: he or she is available to analyze data, answer questions, share their professional expertise, and handle all the paperwork and legwork that is involved in the real estate transaction. CENTURY 21 professionals have the expertise to help their clients narrow down their choices by sharing market trends and local information.