5 Advantages for Move-Up Buyers In This Market
Five reasons current home owners should consider upgrading to a new home.
1. Interest rates are at historic lows: Lower interest rates means you can now buy more home then you could have a year or two ago.
2. Prices have come down: Even if your current home may be worth less than the last peak in the market, the next home you are looking for will probably be as well. The percentage decrease will actually help you get more house when buying up to a larger home.
3. There are still a good amount of homes on the market right now, both new construction and existing, giving you lots of choices and negotiating power.
4. You can move in to your new home faster, as many builders either have completed homes in inventory or they can start working right away due to the production slowdown.
5. You may have outgrown your home, but its probably someone else’s ideal starter home. With the $8,000 tax credit just recently being extended and the new $6,500 tax credit for move up buyers, now is the time to market your home to first-time home buyers.
For more information about the tax credit please visit http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/
This Real Estate Blog is by Adam Chinn
The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit is Extended!
The $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit that was scheduled to be canceled as of November 30th has been extended, which is absolutely wonderful news for all of those potential home buyers who weren’t able to find their new homes before the deadline. The new credit will be in effect until April 30, 2010. Please note that home buyers will need to be in contract by that date, but will have up until July 1, 2010 to close the escrow (that’s when you actually own the home). And, the new credit is even better than the previous one for the following reasons:
…The income limits have been raised so that now more people will qualify for the credit. Previously, if you were a single person, you could only earn up to $75,000 and, as a married couple you could only earn $150,000. Now, single people will still qualify if they make up to $125,000 and married couples will be able to receive it if they make up to $225,000. And, those earning over these amounts may still qualify a credit, but for a lesser amount. Read more
To Mod or Not to Mod?
I just found out that a friend of mine tried to modify her loan early this year. She contacted a law firm in Southern California, paid few thousand dollars and nothing has happened yet. She was told to stop making mortgage payments on her first and second loans. after 10 months in default, she has received a NOD or Notice of Default. She is now scared and worried that she’ll loose her house. She is now very confused and doesn’t know if she should continue with the loan modification process. She is also thinking about borrowing some money from family and paying all her unpaid mortgages, late fees as well as her property tax so that she can reinstate her loans and save her house.
Possibly Overstated, But That’s Okay
Many kudos have been given to the federal homebuyer’s credit for revitalizing the housing market. To be sure, the credit has moved people into the market who wouldn’t have been there otherwise. However, are we overstating the impact? The question is worth asking, considering a recent analysis of the cash-for-clunkers program by Edmunds.com, which found the overwhelming majority of auto sales during the program would have occurred anyway. In other words, sales were simply moved up a little because of the credit.
Perhaps the same situation has occurred in the housing market. Perhaps too many of us are giving too much credit to the homebuyer’s credit while giving short shrift to important economic variables. After all, low home prices and low mortgage rates should be expected to lift the market. That said, no one could say which had the bigger impact, so it is understandable the industry is playing it safe and lobbying for the credit extension. Nevertheless, should its efforts fail (and don’t get us wrong, we’d like to see the credit extended), it’s worth noting that most decisions are based on economic reasons, not tax reasons. Read more
San Bruno Halloween Houses!
San Bruno sure knows how to celebrate Halloween especially if you live on Elm Ave. (Nightmare On Elm St.) Every year families crowd the streets, trick or treating by the thousands. Most homes who give out candy run out. Lines form in front of some houses and there are traffic jams on some of the narrow sidewalks! I saw news cameras one year on the corner of Elm and Clark! Decrations are always a hit! I have posted some for you to see!
Booooooooooooooooooo! Prudential’s Pumpkin Patch – What a Great Day!
On Saturday, October 24th, a group of agents from our office held a community event that turned out absolutely perfectly. We held a combination Pumpkin Patch and Coats for Kids event. It was hugely successful.
We provided cookies and hot chocolate, as well as goodie bags for the kids and, of course, pumpkins. We, also, took photos of each and everyone that wanted one and made them a special photo card right on the spot. We even had face painting….All for free!
Many, many people brought coats for the kids, too, which was very exciting. (By the way, for those who weren’t able to attend, please know that we will be accepting coats through the end of October. If you bring a coat or sweater to our office, be sure to fill out a card so that you can enter the drawing we will be having to thank people for donating. Our office is located at 180 El Camino Real, San Bruno.)
For me, the very best part about it was that it was such a diverse event. People of just about every age and nationality attended. It was a great deal of fun for everyone, including those of us working at the event. Business is all fine and dandy, but doing things for others is really what makes life worthwhile. I am so happy that I work for a company that genuinely cares about the community.
Above, are photos of the terrific agents who participated in this wonderful event!
Kathy Wall – October 26, 2009
The Vote is In – The House is Listed
Wow! What great thoughts on my last blog http://www.pruvoices.com/2009/10/the-shoe-is-on-the-other-foot-now/. The voting overwhelmingly said hire the fist agent team I interviewed. That is whom I chose and am very happy. They have been very easy to work with and are very professional. Know anyone whom wants to buy. A 2 Bedroom 2 Bath single family home in a real nice adult community for less than a studio here in the San Bruno or South San Francisco. The bus stops in front of the complex and it is just an hour bus ride to midtown Manhattan. My wife asked me “are you sure you want to sell it?” Here is a link to the “Visual Tour” http://www.visualtour.com/applets/flashviewer2/viewer.asp?t=2029575&sk=30.
Some of the great feedback I received was: speak with the HOA president, speak with the management of the team that was not that experienced, interview CRS members in the area, and Google the agents. Read more
Prudential San Bruno 1st Annual Halloween Pumpkin Patch
Prudential San Bruno will be hosting our first annual Pumpkin Patch this Saturday October 24th from 10am-2:00pm. Our parking lot will be set up like a pumpkin patch and families are welcome to pick one pumpkin of their choice and enjoy goodies such as hot chocolate and cookies. Candy goody bags will be given to children as well as the option to have your face painted or take a picture to take home to remember the event. During the pumpkin patch we will be having our “Coats for Kids” drive so anyone who can spare a coat will be entered into a drawing to win 1 of 20 $50.00 gift cards from Target.
Please join us in making our first annual Pumpkin Patch a success!!
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