Nov
5
2009
Congress has approved the extension and expansion of the home buyer tax credit into 2010. It is on its way to President Obama and is expected to be signed as early as tomorrow. Buyers who have a sales contract in place by April 30, 2010 and close by June 30th will be able to receive the $8,000 credit. Active military who are deployed overseas in 2008 or 2009 can claim the tax credit until April 30, 2011. The tax credit has been extended to allow home buyers who already own a home to receive a $6,500 credit when buying a new primary residence. See our previous blog post for more information.
According to the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) they estimate “that the extended and expanded home buyer tax credit will create 211,000 jobs and generate 180,000 additional home sales in the coming year. It is also expected to generate $9.6 billion in wage income and $6.9 billion in federal, state and local taxes.”
Tags: home buyer, sales contract, tax credit
Posted in Blog, Buying a Home, Corporate, Financing a Home, Selling a Home
Nov
3
2009
An extension of the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit seems to be gaining momentum through the Senate. The Obama administration called upon Congress to give home buyers the ability to claim the tax credit until April 30, 2010.
Qualified first time home buyers will be able to claim $8,000 for house purchases under $800,000. To be able to qualify couples must make under $225,000 and single buyers under $125,000, which is up from the previous $150,000 for couples and $75,000 for individuals. The bill was expanded to include current homeowners as long as the house they are vacating has been their primary residence for a minimum of 5 consecutive years of the past 8. They can claim $6,500 when purchasing a “move up” home. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: chief economist, congress, current home owners, economy, first time home buyer tax credit, first time home buyers, mark zandi
Posted in Blog, Buying a Home, Corporate, Financing a Home, Selling a Home
Oct
13
2009
Real estate professionals have a unique opportunity to step up and successfully guide buyers. You will be ahead of the game if you help clients separate the facts from the hype and clarify how national real estate conditions affect local markets. Buying a home can be stressful under the best of conditions. When you add in general anxiety and confusion about the housing market, you’re bound to have buyers waiting on the sidelines for a better day.
Go local. The Internet puts today’s consumers a click away from a world of real estate information. Use this to your advantage by positioning your name & your brand accordingly. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Buying a Home, display advertising, Homes.com, marketing tools, real estate professionals
Posted in Blog, Buying a Home, Corporate, Newsletters
Sep
30
2009
Beginning on Jan.1 the Federal Housing Administration will implement new rules for appraisals and tighten credit standards. The tighter policy is to ensure the loan guarantees will continue to be funded by premiums paid by borrowers and not taxpayers, even though Federal Housing Commissioner David H. Stevens assures that FHA’s insurance fund is sufficient to cover future losses.
The new policies include guidelines for ordering appraisals that are intended to protect appraisers from pressure by lenders. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: fannie mae and freddie mac, fha appraisal, fha approved lenders, inman news
Posted in Blog, Buying a Home, Financing a Home
Jul
10
2009
Homes are one of the most costly investments you will make in your lifetime; but it doesn’t have to be that way. You can optimize your living arrangements to better suite your needs and desires. Buying a home can often times be to your advantage, but there are times when it may not be. Therein lies the question… “Should I rent or buy?” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: buy, home, homeowner, rent
Posted in Blog, Buying a Home