Sunday, November 30, 2008

Sitting on your hands??? - Maybe you are!

The Time to Buy is NOW
By Pat Riley, President, Chief Operating Officer, Allen Tate Realtors

What’s on your “to do” list that won’t get done today?

Most of us walk around with some kind of priority list, some sense of what we need to do and when we need to do it. Today’s instant technology gives us an easier opportunity to make that call, or return that message, but doesn’t necessarily allow us to focus on our true priorities.

In recent years, buying a home was a priority for many of us. First-time buyers were anxious to settle in; others were quick to move up when the idea of a fourth bedroom, a bonus room, a deck or a more desirable community was considered. Relatives flocked to new cities to be near children and grandchildren; friends enticed friends to move close by. Hard-working employees channeled raises and bonuses into real estate, which steadily appreciated in value.

Today, the market is different, and yesterday’s buyers are “sitting on their hands,” waiting. Buyers are putting off buying because they are paralyzed by fear. And the fear comes from lack of understanding of the market, its challenges, and its opportunities. We fear what we do not understand, and we tend to avoid what we fear.

The economy, the Presidential election, rising gas prices, banking mergers – all have created uncertainty and eroded consumer confidence; we get that. What many would-be buyers don’t understand is that today’s market offers opportunities like never before. Interest rates are the best they’ve been in 25 years. Lenders still have mortgage money to lend, assuming you have the basics of a job, decent credit, and ability to come up with a reasonable down payment of 3 to 5 percent.

Sellers can leverage the equity in their existing home to make a move up. If you reduce your selling price by 10 percent and purchase a new home at the same discount, you’ll realize a net gain of thousands. It’s a matter of keeping it in perspective.

This isn’t a market where you’re going to steal on the sale and also on the buy. It’s not an environment where people who can’t make monthly payments will be handed an adjustable mortgage by unscrupulous lenders. It’s not a time where you’re going to get the price your neighbor got for his home two years ago. And it’s not a time when you are going to sell a house without the assistance of an experienced real estate professional.

If you’re a seller, you need to be willing to price aggressively and do what it takes to sell your home. Neutralize your color scheme. De-clutter. Repair, polish and shine every corner and crevice. Make it memorable. And most importantly, list with us the real estate leader and take our advice early and often.

If you’re a buyer, stop waiting for the bottom. We’ve already been there and we’re working our way back out. Interest rates won’t stay low forever, and even an increase of one percent will give you a significantly higher monthly payment on a home with a lower value. We’re headed there soon. There’s money to lend – a variety of desirable loan programs are still available. Inventory is great and sellers are motivated.

The habit of putting off an experience until the time is right, or the conditions are perfect – will rob you of life’s greatest joys.

If you’ve been thinking, even casually, of buying a home, make it today’s priority. Put it on your “to do” list and start the process. Don’t look back years from now, with regret, saying “I should have … I could have … if only I would have.”

Pat Riley
President/COO
Allen Tate Company

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit - $7500

This new program presents an excellent oppertunity for anyone who has been contemplating that first home purchase to realize a financial benifit along with owning a house. The $7,500 credit would come as additional refund money on your next tax refund check.

A great strategy to use this would be to pay off any car loans, student, or credit card loans shortly after buying your home this winter. This would save you money on interest and free up more money in your monthly budget. If you do not have that to conern yourself with, then it would be wise to invest this money back in to your home in the form of upgrades or in to another investment that will draw interest.

Please read over the FAQ's below, this is excellent information. Contact me with any questions you might have!

Frequently Asked Questions

A refundable credit means that if a taxpayer pays less than $7,500 in federal income taxes, the government will write them a check for the difference. For example, if $5,000 in federal taxes is owed, the taxpayer would pay nothing and a $2,500 payment would be received from the IRS. If a qualifying home buyer were owed a $1,000 tax refund, they would receive $8,750.
Buyers can take the tax credit on their 2008 or 2009 tax return. Those who close in 2008 take the credit on their 2008 return. Buyers in 2009 have the option of taking the credit on their 2008 or 2009 returns.

The tax-credit program also has payback provisions.The credit essentially serves as an interest-free loan to be repaid over 15 years. For example, a home buyer claiming a $7,500 credit would repay the credit at $500 per year. If the home owner sold the home, then the remaining credit would be due from the profit of the home sale. If there is insufficient profit, then the remaining credit payback would be forgiven.

1. Who is eligible to claim the $7,500 tax credit?
First time-home buyers purchasing any kind of home — new or resale — are eligible for the tax credit.

2. What is the definition of a first-time home buyer?
The law defines "first-time home buyer" as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase. For married taxpayers, the law tests the homeownership history of both the home buyer and his or her spouse. For example, if you have not owned a home in the past three years but your spouse has owned one, neither you nor your spouse qualifies for the first-time home buyer tax credit.

3. What types of homes will qualify for the tax credit?
Any home purchased by an eligible first-time home buyer will qualify for the credit, provided that the home will be used as a principal residence and the buyer has not owned a home in the previous three years. This includes single-family detached homes, attached homes like townhouses, and condominiums.

4. Are there income limits to determine who is eligible to take the tax credit?
Yes. Home buyers who file their taxes as single or head-of-household taxpayers can claim the credit if their modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is less than $75,000. For married taxpayers filing a joint tax return, the MAGI limit is $150,000. The limit is based on the buyer’s modified adjusted gross income for the year that the house is purchased, except for certain purchases in 2009.

5. What is “modified adjusted gross income”?
Modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI, is defined by the IRS. To find it, a taxpayer must first determine “adjusted gross income,” or AGI, which is total income for a year minus certain deductions (known as “adjustments” or “above-the-line deductions”), but before itemized deductions from Schedule A or personal exemptions are subtracted. On Forms 1040 and 1040A, AGI is the last number on page 1 and first number on page 2 of the form. For Form 1040-EZ, AGI appears on line 4 (as of 2007). Note that AGI includes all forms of income — including wages, salaries, interest income, dividends and capital gains.To determine modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), add to AGI certain amounts such as foreign income, foreign-housing deductions, student-loan deductions, IRA-contribution deductions and deductions for higher-education costs.

6. If my modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is above the limit, do I qualify for any tax credit?
Possibly. It depends on your income. Partial credits of less than $7,500 are available for some taxpayers whose MAGI exceeds the phaseout limits. The credit becomes totally unavailable for individual taxpayers with a modified adjusted gross income of more than $95,000 and for married taxpayers filing joint returns with an AGI of more than $170,000.

7. Can you give me an example of how the partial tax credit is determined?
Just as an example, assume that a married couple has a modified adjusted gross income of $160,000. The applicable phaseout to qualify for the tax credit is $150,000, and the couple is $10,000 over this amount. Dividing $10,000 by $20,000 yields 0.5. When you subtract 0.5 from 1.0, the result is 0.5. To determine the amount of the partial first-time home buyer tax credit that is available to this couple, multiply $7,500 by 0.5. The result is $3,750. Here’s another example: assume that an individual home buyer has a modified adjusted gross income of $88,000. The buyer’s income exceeds $75,000 by $13,000. Dividing $13,000 by $20,000 yields 0.65. When you subtract 0.65 from 1.0, the result is 0.35. Multiplying $7,500 by 0.35 shows that the buyer is eligible for a partial tax credit of $2,625. Please remember that these examples are intended to provide a general idea of how the tax credit might be applied in different circumstances. You should always consult your tax advisor for information relating to your specific circumstances.

8. Does the credit amount differ based on tax filing status?
No. The credit is in general equal to $7,500 for a qualified home purchase, whether the home buyer files taxes as a single or married taxpayer. However, if a household files its taxes as “married filing separately” (in effect, filing two returns), then the credit of $7,500 is claimed as a $3,750 credit on each of the two returns.

9. Are there any circumstances under which buyers whose incomes are at or below the $75,000 limit for singles or the $150,000 limit for married taxpayers might not be able to claim the full $7,500 tax credit?
In general, the tax credit is equal to 10% of the qualified home purchase price, but the credit amount is capped or limited at $7,500. For most first-time home buyers, this means the credit will equal $7,500. For home buyers purchasing a home priced less than $75,000, the credit will equal 10% of the purchase price.

10. I heard that the tax credit is refundable. What does that mean?
The fact that the credit is refundable means that the home buyer credit can be claimed even if the taxpayer has little or no federal income tax liability to offset. Typically this involves the government sending the taxpayer a check for a portion or even all of the amount of the refundable tax credit. For example, if a qualified home buyer expected federal income tax liability of $5,000 and had tax withholding of $4,000 for the year, then without the tax credit the taxpayer would owe the IRS $1,000 on April 15. Suppose now that taxpayer qualified for the $7,500 home buyer tax credit. As a result, the taxpayer would receive a check for $6,500 ($7,500 minus the $1,000 owed).

11. What is the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction?
A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in what the taxpayer owes. That means that a taxpayer who owes $7,500 in income taxes and who receives a $7,500 tax credit would owe nothing to the IRS. A tax deduction is subtracted from the amount of income that is taxed. Using the same example, assume the taxpayer is in the 15% tax bracket and owes $7,500 in income taxes. If the taxpayer receives a $7,500 deduction, the taxpayer’s tax liability would be reduced by $1,125 (15% of $7,500), or lowered from $7,500 to $6,375.

12. Can I claim the tax credit if I finance the purchase of my home under a mortgage revenue bond (MRB) program?
No. The tax credit cannot be combined with the MRB home buyer program.

13. I live in the District of Columbia. Can I claim both the D.C. first-time home buyer credit and this new credit?
No. You can claim only one.

14. I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I claim the tax credit?
Maybe. Anyone who is not a nonresident alien (as defined by the IRS), who has not owned a principal residence in the previous three years and who meets the income limits test may claim the tax credit for a qualified home purchase. The IRS provides a definition of “nonresident alien” in IRS Publication 519 (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p519.pdf).

15. Does the credit have to be paid back to the government? If so, what are the payback provisions?
Yes, the tax credit must be repaid. Home buyers will be required to repay the credit to the government, without interest, over 15 years or when they sell the house, if there is sufficient capital gain from the sale. For example, a home buyer claiming a $7,500 credit would repay the credit at $500 per year. The home owner does not have to begin making repayments on the credit until two years after the credit is claimed. So if the tax credit is claimed on the 2008 tax return, a $500 payment is not due until the 2010 tax return is filed. If the home owner sold the home, then the remaining credit amount would be due from the profit on the home sale. If there was insufficient profit, then the remaining credit payback would be forgiven.

16. Why must the money be repaid?
The intent of Congress was to provide as large a financial resource as possible for home buyers in the year that they purchase a home. In addition to helping first-time home buyers, this will maximize the stimulus for the housing market and the economy, will help stabilize home prices and will increase home sales. The repayment requirement reduces the impact on the U.S. Treasury and assumes that home buyers will benefit from stabilized and, eventually, rising future housing prices.

17. Because the money must be repaid, isn’t the first-time home buyer program really a zero-interest loan rather than a traditional tax credit?
Yes. Because the tax credit must be repaid, it operates like a zero-interest loan. Assuming an interest rate of 7%, that means the home owner saves up to $4,200 in interest payments over the 15-year repayment period. Compared to $7,500 financed through a 30-year mortgage with a 7% interest rate, the home buyer tax credit saves home buyers more than $8,100 in interest payments. The program is called a tax credit because it operates through the tax code and is administered by the IRS. Also like a tax credit, it provides a reduction in tax liability in the year it is claimed.

18. If I’m qualified for the tax credit and buy a home in 2009, can I apply the tax credit against my 2008 tax return?
Yes. The law allows taxpayers to choose (“elect”) to treat qualified home purchases in 2009 as if the purchase occurred on Dec. 31, 2008. This means that the 2008 income limit (MAGI) applies and the election accelerates when the credit can be claimed (tax filing for 2008 returns instead of for 2009 returns). A benefit of this election is that a home buyer in 2009 will know their 2008 MAGI with certainty, thereby helping the buyer know whether the income limit will reduce their credit amount.

19. For a home purchase in 2009, can I choose whether to treat the purchase as occurring in 2008 or 2009, depending on in which year my credit amount is the largest?
Yes. If the applicable income phaseout would reduce your home buyer tax credit amount in 2009 and a larger credit would be available using the 2008 MAGI amounts, then you can choose the year that yields the largest credit amount.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Real Estate Trends Newsletter

I am now sending out a Quarterly newsletter titled "Real Estate Trends". As you have seen over the past year the local and national markets have been quickly evolving. If you already own a home or have considered becoming a homeowner in the next few years this is an excellent resource for information.

If you are interested in getting the newsletter just send me your mailing address back. If you have questions about the market or finding that first home please contact me!

I hope you are doing well,

Brandon
919-673-7389

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Housing and Recovery Act of 2008

I received the following information recently regarding pending changes to FHA home lending. Many of these changes are designed to not only streamline the system but also to make funds available for those buyers who up until recently would be looking at conventional mortgages or first and second mortgages. These loans do not require a large down payment and are generally more flexible with qualification terms than conventional loans are currently.


This information changes constantly so you can always call or email me for the most current info.

  • Senate passed the above Bill on Saturday, expected to be signed by President Bush shortly
  • Bill covers

-FHA Modernization

-FHA Rescue(Foreclosure relief)

-GSE Reform

-Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008

-Tax Provisions(tax credit)

-Main impact for us in the next 60 days is the FHA piece (for loans that are not approved by an underwriter with a property and case# after September 30 2008). They need to be under contract and underwritten by Sept 30th.

-Seller Down Payment Assistance is going away.(ie. No more Futures, Ameridream, Nehemiah)

-The required Downpayment will be increased from 3 to 3.5%(difference can be gift/grant from acceptable source)

-Effective Oct 1, there will be a one year moratorium on the risk based pricing that was recently implemented. This is the increased mortgage insurance if their credit score is below 680.

-There will be changes in how the maximum FHA loan amount for an area is calculated from 125% of median home price(stimulus package) to 115% of median home price. We are anticipating that this will reduce our maximum FHA loan amount from those counties with $295,000 down to $272,450. However there are differences in opinion on whether this will be effective the Oct 1st date or year end.(when the original stimulus package expires)

-Separate from FHA changes is the introduction of a tax credit for first time homebuyers(defined as not having owned a home in the last 3 years) of 10% of purchase price but no more than $7,500. There are income limits $75,000 for individual and $150,000 for family. This is for purchases of homes this year and the first 6 months of 2009.(There are questions on how this will work and the IRS is looking at this)

-This also will also bolster FNMA and Freddie Mac as it create stronger regulation for these GSE’s.

Remember for the FHA provisions of this bill that nothing is set in stone until HUD issues a Mortgagee letter.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

New Website!

Please visit my new website. www.lookhereforhomes.com

Are you looking for a specific area down to a certain street or block? The new map-based search feature shows properties that meet your criteria on a map so you can get a visual idea of where they fall in relation to other things you would like to live near.

Also, my "1st to know" service allows you to enter your own criteria and be contacted with new or reduced price properties in that area. The data trickles down to my website usually within a few hours so you will never be out of the loop if you are looking for a hot property.