Building on its status as a destination for superior service and a magnet for wealth, the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota is considering expanding its number of rooms by nearly half, to 385.

Know these dates: April 9, 2008, through June 30, 2009.  They mark the eligibility time span to qualify for the home purchase tax credit created by the massive housing bill approved by Congress. If you have not owned a house during the past three years—or are considering buying your first home—and can go to closing before the end of next June, you may be eligible for up to a $7,500 credit against your federal taxes for 2008 or 2009 ($3,750 if you file taxes as a single person).

Existing-home sales rose in July to the highest level in five months, although sales have hovered in a relatively narrow range over the past 11 months, according to the National Association of Realtors.

When a property owner fails to pay property taxes by June 1, the county deems the taxpayer delinquent, said Debbie Coulter, a tax deed sale specialist with the Sarasota County Tax Collector’s Office. The county then sells the right to collect those taxes to investors, who bid against each other for interest payments associated with the unpaid debt.

On Tuesday, the euro slid to a six-month low against the dollar, falling to $1.4691.