Blogging From The Desk of Alicia Lagarde Craig
Indoor Lighting: 10 Money Saving Tips
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Lighting is critical for comfort and security and would you believe that it accounts for up to 15% of your annual electricity costs? By reducing lighting energy consumption
is one of the fastest and most effective ways to lower your utility bill. There are many things you can do to improve the energy performance of your home's lighting, including the following:
1.Turn the lights off in any room you are not using and throughout the house when no one is home.
2.Instead of lighting an entire room, focus low-power light exactly where you need it aka task lighting. For example, try using a portable lamp for your home office, or use under cabinet lighting in your kitchen area.
3.Use high-efficiency fluorescent tube lights in garages, work rooms & laundry rooms.
4.Clean light bulbs regularly to maximize light output. Who would have thought to clean their light bulbs?
5.Taking advantage of natural light during the day is one of my favorites. You can open blinds, shades and other window coverings.
6.Use three-way lamps as they make it easy to save energy by reducing light levels when a bright light isn't needed.
7.Install dimmer switches to reduce the intensity of light in a room which will always helps to save energy.
8.Replace low-efficiency incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). They use a lot less energy and last up to 10 times longer.
9.Use high-performance, light-emitting diode (LED) lamps for decorative lighting, holiday lighting & under kitchen cabinet lighting.
10.Consider installing occupancy sensors to control when & how long the lights in garages, storage rooms and other areas of the house will stay on.
When shopping & purchasing light bulbs....Think Lumens, Not Watts.
Lumens measure the light output of a bulb, while on the other hand, watts measure the amount of energy they use. For decades, consumers have purchased bulbs based on watts. In today's lighting market, with such a large variety of energy efficient lighting products available, it is more economical to compare lumens rather than watts.
Source: http://www.energystar.gov/
To view ALL HOMES in any Louisiana Parish, visit:
www.myNOLAhomes.com
Let us know how our Real Estate Team can help you!!! Call Today 504-382-3724 or 504-352-6190
Showing posts with label New Orleans Real Estate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Orleans Real Estate. Show all posts
Friday, October 18, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Money Saving Tips for Heating Your Home During the Winter
Blogging From The Desk of Alicia Lagarde-Craig
Money-Saving Tips for Heating Your Home
Space heating accounts for more than 40 percent of annual energy use in a typical home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. By taking action before and during the heating season, you can reduce your heating costs and make your home more comfortable during those cold winter months.
Get your home ready for winter
•Have a qualified technician inspect and clean your heating system before the start of cold weather to ensure your system is running efficiently.
•Inspect the ductwork in exposed areas such as the basement or attic, and repair any leaks or disconnections.
•Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows to prevent heat loss.
•Make sure your home is insulated to levels recommended for your climate zone.
•Seal gaps and air leaks in your chimney, plumbing access and other often-overlooked areas of the home. For more information, see Hidden Sources of Home Heat Loss.
•If your heating system is more than 15 years old, consider replacing it with a newer, more efficient unit. If you install a new system, make sure it is ENERGY STAR qualified. ENERGY STAR, which is a joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, tests and certifies products for energy efficient performance.
Saving energy during the heating season
•Change the air filter on your furnace once per month during the heating season. A dirty filter restricts air flow and causes the system to run less efficiently.
•Save energy by setting your thermostat at the lowest comfortable temperature. Optimize savings by lowering your thermostat setting when you are sleeping or away from home. Afraid you might forget? A programmable thermostat can make the adjustments for you.
•Reverse the airflow direction of ceiling fans, forcing warm air to bounce off the ceiling down into the living space where you need it.
•Open window treatments on south- and east-facing walls during the day to let in warming sunshine. At night, close them to keep cold air out and maintain the heat inside your home.
For Market Information in your Neck Of The Woods, visit: http://www.mynolahomes.com/mimarket
If you or anybody you know needs assistance with real estate, please call me at (504)382-3724. Thanks, Alicia
Money-Saving Tips for Heating Your Home
Space heating accounts for more than 40 percent of annual energy use in a typical home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. By taking action before and during the heating season, you can reduce your heating costs and make your home more comfortable during those cold winter months.
Get your home ready for winter
•Have a qualified technician inspect and clean your heating system before the start of cold weather to ensure your system is running efficiently.
•Inspect the ductwork in exposed areas such as the basement or attic, and repair any leaks or disconnections.
•Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows to prevent heat loss.
•Make sure your home is insulated to levels recommended for your climate zone.
•Seal gaps and air leaks in your chimney, plumbing access and other often-overlooked areas of the home. For more information, see Hidden Sources of Home Heat Loss.
•If your heating system is more than 15 years old, consider replacing it with a newer, more efficient unit. If you install a new system, make sure it is ENERGY STAR qualified. ENERGY STAR, which is a joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, tests and certifies products for energy efficient performance.
Saving energy during the heating season
•Change the air filter on your furnace once per month during the heating season. A dirty filter restricts air flow and causes the system to run less efficiently.
•Save energy by setting your thermostat at the lowest comfortable temperature. Optimize savings by lowering your thermostat setting when you are sleeping or away from home. Afraid you might forget? A programmable thermostat can make the adjustments for you.
•Reverse the airflow direction of ceiling fans, forcing warm air to bounce off the ceiling down into the living space where you need it.
•Open window treatments on south- and east-facing walls during the day to let in warming sunshine. At night, close them to keep cold air out and maintain the heat inside your home.
For Market Information in your Neck Of The Woods, visit: http://www.mynolahomes.com/mimarket
If you or anybody you know needs assistance with real estate, please call me at (504)382-3724. Thanks, Alicia
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Five Great Things about Homeownership
Blogging From The Desk of Alicia Lagarde Craig
If you've been on the fence about homeownership, now is the time to take a leap! Don't let the negative press deter you from one of life's greatest joys.
Take a look at five short and sweet reasons that homeownership is great!
1. Equity: When you pay rent, you never see that money again. It is lining the landlord's pocket. Yes, buying a home may come with some hefty initial costs (downpayment, closing costs, inspections), but you will make that money back over time in equity built in the home. Historically, homes appreciate by about 4 to 6 percent a year. Some areas are still experiencing normal appreciation rates. For the areas that have seen harder times since the recession, experts feel that the housing market will recover. Homeownership is about building long-term wealth. A home bought for $10,000 in 1960 is most likely worth 10 times that in today's market.
2. Relationships: Renters tend to see their neighbors come and go quickly. Some people sign year leases while others are in the community for much shorter terms. Apartment complexes also tend to have less common shared space for people to meet, greet, and socialize. Homeowners, however, have yards, walking trails, or community pools and clubhouses where they can get to know each other. Neighbors stay put much longer (at least three to five years if they hope to recoup their closing costs). This means more time to develop relationships. Research has shown that people with healthy relationships have more happiness and less stress.
3. Predictability: Well, as long as you have a fixed-rate term on your mortgage it's predictable. Most people buying homes today know that a fixed-rate is the way to go. This means your payment amount is fixed for the life of the term. If your mortgage payment is $500 today, then it will still be $500 a month in 10 years. This allows for people to budget and make solid financial plans. The sub-prime crisis meant many homeowners with adjustable rate mortgages saw their monthly payments rise and then rise some more. Homeownership, though, generally comes with a predictable table of expenditures. Even the big purchases are predictable. You know most roofs last just 15 years (or so). You know that each year you'll need to pay for the gutters to be cleaned, and so on.
4. Ownership: Okay, this is a given. Homeownership means you "own" your home. That comes with some incredible perks, though! You can renovate, update, paint, and decorate to your heart's desire. You can plant trees, install a pool, expand the patio, or do holiday decorating that would rival the Kranks (if the HOA allows!). The bottom line is this is your home and you can personalize it to your taste. Most renters are stuck with the same beige walls and beige carpet that has been standard apartment decor for 20 years. Now is your chance to let your home speak!
5. Great Deals: It's a great time to buy. Interest rates are at historic lows. We're talking 3.25 percent instead of 6.0 or higher. This means BIG savings for today's buyers. Home prices have also taken a dip since the recession, which means homes are more affordable than ever. If you have steady income and cash for a downpayment, then be sure to talk to your local real estate agent about what homes in your area could be a fit for you.
Homeownership is a real joy. It's time to get off the fence and into a home that is right for you!
For Market Information in your Neck Of The Woods, visit: http://www.mynolahomes.com/mimarket
If you or anybody you know needs assistance with real estate, please call me at (504)382-3724. Thanks, Alicia
If you've been on the fence about homeownership, now is the time to take a leap! Don't let the negative press deter you from one of life's greatest joys.
Take a look at five short and sweet reasons that homeownership is great!
1. Equity: When you pay rent, you never see that money again. It is lining the landlord's pocket. Yes, buying a home may come with some hefty initial costs (downpayment, closing costs, inspections), but you will make that money back over time in equity built in the home. Historically, homes appreciate by about 4 to 6 percent a year. Some areas are still experiencing normal appreciation rates. For the areas that have seen harder times since the recession, experts feel that the housing market will recover. Homeownership is about building long-term wealth. A home bought for $10,000 in 1960 is most likely worth 10 times that in today's market.
2. Relationships: Renters tend to see their neighbors come and go quickly. Some people sign year leases while others are in the community for much shorter terms. Apartment complexes also tend to have less common shared space for people to meet, greet, and socialize. Homeowners, however, have yards, walking trails, or community pools and clubhouses where they can get to know each other. Neighbors stay put much longer (at least three to five years if they hope to recoup their closing costs). This means more time to develop relationships. Research has shown that people with healthy relationships have more happiness and less stress.
3. Predictability: Well, as long as you have a fixed-rate term on your mortgage it's predictable. Most people buying homes today know that a fixed-rate is the way to go. This means your payment amount is fixed for the life of the term. If your mortgage payment is $500 today, then it will still be $500 a month in 10 years. This allows for people to budget and make solid financial plans. The sub-prime crisis meant many homeowners with adjustable rate mortgages saw their monthly payments rise and then rise some more. Homeownership, though, generally comes with a predictable table of expenditures. Even the big purchases are predictable. You know most roofs last just 15 years (or so). You know that each year you'll need to pay for the gutters to be cleaned, and so on.
4. Ownership: Okay, this is a given. Homeownership means you "own" your home. That comes with some incredible perks, though! You can renovate, update, paint, and decorate to your heart's desire. You can plant trees, install a pool, expand the patio, or do holiday decorating that would rival the Kranks (if the HOA allows!). The bottom line is this is your home and you can personalize it to your taste. Most renters are stuck with the same beige walls and beige carpet that has been standard apartment decor for 20 years. Now is your chance to let your home speak!
5. Great Deals: It's a great time to buy. Interest rates are at historic lows. We're talking 3.25 percent instead of 6.0 or higher. This means BIG savings for today's buyers. Home prices have also taken a dip since the recession, which means homes are more affordable than ever. If you have steady income and cash for a downpayment, then be sure to talk to your local real estate agent about what homes in your area could be a fit for you.
Homeownership is a real joy. It's time to get off the fence and into a home that is right for you!
For Market Information in your Neck Of The Woods, visit: http://www.mynolahomes.com/mimarket
If you or anybody you know needs assistance with real estate, please call me at (504)382-3724. Thanks, Alicia
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
7 Reasons Why Now Is The Best Time To Buy a Home
Blogging From The Desk of Alicia Lagarde Craig
1. Homes have never been more affordable.
Do you realize that today people are buying houses at the same prices they were ten years ago? It's like having a time machine: you get to go back and buy at yesterday's prices today. One of the advantages of buying at the lower end of the market is that in a few years it will appreciate more than homes that are more expensive. Homes that now cost $100,000 are likely to appreciate to between $130,000 and $150,000, while homes starting at the $500,000 won't reach $650,000-$700,000 in the same time frame. That's because there is less demand the higher you go. Demand drives price increases and, as the market improves, demand for lower price points will go up faster than at the higher end.
2. Mortgage rates are at rock bottom and won't stay there forever.
The national average on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 4.36% in August 2010 - lower than it's been in the past half century. Once rates start going up again, they can go up fast - creating a major impact on monthly finances. Do you know that if your interest goes up 1%, your monthly payment will go up 10%? What's more likely? Home values dropping 10% or interest rates going up 1%?
3. Lenders are back in the game!
The final quarter of 2009's financial meltdown led to a sense that financing had dried up, but mortgage funds are alive and available. The majority of banks make money by making loans - they simply have to get back in the game. Most people don't know that it is still possible to get a loan with as little as 0-3% down where your credit score isn't the only determining factor.
4. Prices are trending back up
Every major price index points to a housing market that has hit bottom and is moving in a positive direction. After thirty months of declining values, home prices appear to be stable or appreciating in nearly every U.S. market. Locally, in the New Orleans Uptown market, prices are trending back up and sellers are beginning to see the shift from a buyer's market to a seller's market, meaning that sellers are not willing to make the concessions that they use to make in the past and they are also starting to see competing offers from different buyers on their homes.
5. Sellers are motivated!
When speaking of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area (i.e. Lakeview/Lakefront, Metairie, Mid-City, The Northshore), Supply now exceeds demand and buyers have the upper hand. This means lots of choices, lots of negotiating power and smart sellers fiercely competing by offering great prices and excellent conditions.
6. Ownership costs are dropping below rental costs!
The recent downturn in the housing market resulted in a drop in rental rates, but rents are back on the rise while the cost of home ownership has dropped.
Did you know that everyone is buying real estate, just not necessarily for themselves? If you are renting, you are buying real estate for your landlord. Wouldn't you rather be buying it for yourself?
7. Home ownership remains at the core of the American Dream
A recent Fannie Mae study reveals that the majority of Americans still aspire to own a home.
-Owning a home is critical to financial stability and wealth building.
-A home serves as a forced savings account and provides a solid asset, as well as a place to live.
-Despite the recent market upheaval, the vast majority of Americans still consider home ownership to be important to the economy and preferable to renting.
-Since the end of World War II, promoting home ownership has been high on the list of the federal government's priorities, and will continue to be so.
If you need assistance in real estate, contact Alicia Lagarde Craig or Jeff Craig @ 504.352.6190 or 504.382.3724.
References: KW Seize the Market Action Book
1. Homes have never been more affordable.
Do you realize that today people are buying houses at the same prices they were ten years ago? It's like having a time machine: you get to go back and buy at yesterday's prices today. One of the advantages of buying at the lower end of the market is that in a few years it will appreciate more than homes that are more expensive. Homes that now cost $100,000 are likely to appreciate to between $130,000 and $150,000, while homes starting at the $500,000 won't reach $650,000-$700,000 in the same time frame. That's because there is less demand the higher you go. Demand drives price increases and, as the market improves, demand for lower price points will go up faster than at the higher end.
2. Mortgage rates are at rock bottom and won't stay there forever.
The national average on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 4.36% in August 2010 - lower than it's been in the past half century. Once rates start going up again, they can go up fast - creating a major impact on monthly finances. Do you know that if your interest goes up 1%, your monthly payment will go up 10%? What's more likely? Home values dropping 10% or interest rates going up 1%?
3. Lenders are back in the game!
The final quarter of 2009's financial meltdown led to a sense that financing had dried up, but mortgage funds are alive and available. The majority of banks make money by making loans - they simply have to get back in the game. Most people don't know that it is still possible to get a loan with as little as 0-3% down where your credit score isn't the only determining factor.
4. Prices are trending back up
Every major price index points to a housing market that has hit bottom and is moving in a positive direction. After thirty months of declining values, home prices appear to be stable or appreciating in nearly every U.S. market. Locally, in the New Orleans Uptown market, prices are trending back up and sellers are beginning to see the shift from a buyer's market to a seller's market, meaning that sellers are not willing to make the concessions that they use to make in the past and they are also starting to see competing offers from different buyers on their homes.
5. Sellers are motivated!
When speaking of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area (i.e. Lakeview/Lakefront, Metairie, Mid-City, The Northshore), Supply now exceeds demand and buyers have the upper hand. This means lots of choices, lots of negotiating power and smart sellers fiercely competing by offering great prices and excellent conditions.
6. Ownership costs are dropping below rental costs!
The recent downturn in the housing market resulted in a drop in rental rates, but rents are back on the rise while the cost of home ownership has dropped.
Did you know that everyone is buying real estate, just not necessarily for themselves? If you are renting, you are buying real estate for your landlord. Wouldn't you rather be buying it for yourself?
7. Home ownership remains at the core of the American Dream
A recent Fannie Mae study reveals that the majority of Americans still aspire to own a home.
-Owning a home is critical to financial stability and wealth building.
-A home serves as a forced savings account and provides a solid asset, as well as a place to live.
-Despite the recent market upheaval, the vast majority of Americans still consider home ownership to be important to the economy and preferable to renting.
-Since the end of World War II, promoting home ownership has been high on the list of the federal government's priorities, and will continue to be so.
If you need assistance in real estate, contact Alicia Lagarde Craig or Jeff Craig @ 504.352.6190 or 504.382.3724.
References: KW Seize the Market Action Book
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Update Regarding The Mortgage and Conveyance Division's Online Data Recovery
Blogging From The Desk of Alicia Lagarde-Craig
Update from Dale Atkins, The Clerk of Civil District Court
The following updates took place as of December 7, 2010:
PERSONNEL:
In total, 90 men and women are working on the data recovery project as of today, and the Clerk of Court's office is continuing to add personnel to complete this task as soon as possible.
BACKLOG COMPLETED:
The backlog of documents in the Conveyance and Mortgage divisions has been eliminated. This means all mortgage and conveyance documents received between October 26 and November 18, when the system was reactivated for data entry and cashiering, have been entered in the system.
CERTIFICATES:
As it relates to Sheriff’s sales, they are current on all Sheriff Certificates through sale date of December 29, 2010. The Clerk of Court's Office forgot to mention that the houses that are going through a Sheriff's Sale at this time were marketed 45 days in advance, meaning these houses were advertised in October, before the online data crash.
RESTORATION OF DATA PROJECT: CONVEYANCE
The Clerk's office is confident the final delivery of the 60,000 conveyance instruments which are currently being re-entered by the Windward Group will be Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011. Once the data is delivered, the only task will be to verify the information. The first delivery of a 1000-piece sample was successfully delivered by the Windward Group on Dec. 1, 2010 and successfully uploaded into the Clerk's database. This data is now being verified. Another 10,000 records are expected for delivery on Friday, Dec. 10, 2010. As more records are entered, more personnel will be shifted to data verification to speed this project along. The date of January 2, 2011 that the Clerk's office mentions is not a guarantee.
RESTORATION OF DATA: MORTGAGE DIVISION
The Clerk of Court's office is in the final stages of negotiating a contract for the data input of the more than 119,000 mortgage documents which need to be restored in the online system. Until the contract is signed, the work is being done internally. Nevertheless, the Clerk's office feels confident this data will be completely uploaded by mid-January 2011, but they are pushing for a commitment to an earlier delivery date of the data. Again, once data is delivered successfully into the system, the Clerk's office begins a verification process of the entries. The time frame for the verification process is about 7-14 days, but there are no guarantees on this either.
In short, this means that there will be very few closing until Mid-January 2011.
If your closing has been delayed as a result of the online data crash in Orleans Parish, here is a checklist of things that you can provide to the Title Company that may help to speed up the closing:
-Obtain Financial Statements from the Seller(s)
-Obtain Forwarding Address of the Seller(s)
-In Whose Name Is The Property Assessed?
-What is the Assessed Value?
-Any Outstanding Mortgages (1st Mortgage, 2nd Mortgage, HELOC)?
-Copy Of Appraisal
-Length Of Time The Seller Owned The Home? _____ Years
-Financial Statement Or Loan Application From The Borrower
If you have any questions regarding real estate, please contact me at 504.382.3724 or email me at AliciaLagarde@kw.com
Update from Dale Atkins, The Clerk of Civil District Court
The following updates took place as of December 7, 2010:
PERSONNEL:
In total, 90 men and women are working on the data recovery project as of today, and the Clerk of Court's office is continuing to add personnel to complete this task as soon as possible.
BACKLOG COMPLETED:
The backlog of documents in the Conveyance and Mortgage divisions has been eliminated. This means all mortgage and conveyance documents received between October 26 and November 18, when the system was reactivated for data entry and cashiering, have been entered in the system.
CERTIFICATES:
As it relates to Sheriff’s sales, they are current on all Sheriff Certificates through sale date of December 29, 2010. The Clerk of Court's Office forgot to mention that the houses that are going through a Sheriff's Sale at this time were marketed 45 days in advance, meaning these houses were advertised in October, before the online data crash.
RESTORATION OF DATA PROJECT: CONVEYANCE
The Clerk's office is confident the final delivery of the 60,000 conveyance instruments which are currently being re-entered by the Windward Group will be Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011. Once the data is delivered, the only task will be to verify the information. The first delivery of a 1000-piece sample was successfully delivered by the Windward Group on Dec. 1, 2010 and successfully uploaded into the Clerk's database. This data is now being verified. Another 10,000 records are expected for delivery on Friday, Dec. 10, 2010. As more records are entered, more personnel will be shifted to data verification to speed this project along. The date of January 2, 2011 that the Clerk's office mentions is not a guarantee.
RESTORATION OF DATA: MORTGAGE DIVISION
The Clerk of Court's office is in the final stages of negotiating a contract for the data input of the more than 119,000 mortgage documents which need to be restored in the online system. Until the contract is signed, the work is being done internally. Nevertheless, the Clerk's office feels confident this data will be completely uploaded by mid-January 2011, but they are pushing for a commitment to an earlier delivery date of the data. Again, once data is delivered successfully into the system, the Clerk's office begins a verification process of the entries. The time frame for the verification process is about 7-14 days, but there are no guarantees on this either.
In short, this means that there will be very few closing until Mid-January 2011.
If your closing has been delayed as a result of the online data crash in Orleans Parish, here is a checklist of things that you can provide to the Title Company that may help to speed up the closing:
-Obtain Financial Statements from the Seller(s)
-Obtain Forwarding Address of the Seller(s)
-In Whose Name Is The Property Assessed?
-What is the Assessed Value?
-Any Outstanding Mortgages (1st Mortgage, 2nd Mortgage, HELOC)?
-Copy Of Appraisal
-Length Of Time The Seller Owned The Home? _____ Years
-Financial Statement Or Loan Application From The Borrower
If you have any questions regarding real estate, please contact me at 504.382.3724 or email me at AliciaLagarde@kw.com
Thursday, August 13, 2009
First Time Homebuyers $8000 Tax Credit
Blogging From The Desk of Alicia Lagarde-Craig
We’ve been hearing a lot of questions about the new tax credit. Who qualifies? How does it work? How long will it last? We’re going to take an in-depth look at the $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers.
According to the new legislation, a first time home buyer is defined as someone who has not owned a principle residence in the past three years. Those three years are counted up to the date you take possession of the house you buy in 2009. This means that even if you’ve owned a home in the past, you can still take advantage of the tax credit as long as you haven’t purchased a primary residence since (August) 2006.
The same goes for married tax payers – they must both be first time home buyers. For non-married joint buyers, only one of them needs to be a first time home buyer, or someone who hasn’t owned a primary residence in the past three years.
Qualifying homes include:
* New homes
* Homes that are being re-sold
* Condos
* Townhomes
The main restriction is that the credit is only for those who buy a home as their primary residence. So investors looking to buy a rental property would not qualify for the credit. However owning a vacation home or a rental property already does not necessarily disqualify you from taking advantage of the credit (as long as you haven’t owned a primary residence in the past three years).
A Look at the Numbers
The tax credit is equal to 10% of the purchase price of the home, up to $8,000. The amount of the credit you can qualify for is related to how much money you earn. Here’s how the credit is scaled:
* Single home buyers earning 95K or less qualify. If you make 75K or less, you qualify for 100% of the $8000. If you make halfway, 85K, you qualify for 50% or $4000. The credit phases out gradually between 75K and 95K of income. For example, if you make halfway between the income limits, 85K, you qualify for up to half of the credit.
* The same rate applies for married couples and joint buyers whose incomes limits are doubled to $150,000 to $170,000. Married couples or joint buyers whose incomes are less would receive the full $8000 credit. At an income level of $160,000, halfway between 150 and 170, the buyers would receive half the credit – or $4,000. And the credit phases out altogether at $170,000.
This credit represent a significant amount of money. One of the biggest points of difference for the new credit from the one congress passed in July of 2008, is that the new credit does not have to be paid back.
In addition, it’s refundable, which means that if you’ve paid all your taxes as you go with an automatic payroll deduction, you would receive an $8,000 check from the IRS.
If you’re committed to buying a house in 2009 and want to use the $8000 tax credit for a down payment, consult with your REALTOR and/or Certified Public Accountant.
In Closing
Qualifying home buyers will need to make their home purchase between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009. And the home has to remain their principal residence for the following three years.
The new tax credit coupled with historically low mortgage rates and rising affordability, offers buyers a great opportunity if they act fast.
08/13/2009. Agent is licensed in the State of Louisiana, USA.
We’ve been hearing a lot of questions about the new tax credit. Who qualifies? How does it work? How long will it last? We’re going to take an in-depth look at the $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers.
According to the new legislation, a first time home buyer is defined as someone who has not owned a principle residence in the past three years. Those three years are counted up to the date you take possession of the house you buy in 2009. This means that even if you’ve owned a home in the past, you can still take advantage of the tax credit as long as you haven’t purchased a primary residence since (August) 2006.
The same goes for married tax payers – they must both be first time home buyers. For non-married joint buyers, only one of them needs to be a first time home buyer, or someone who hasn’t owned a primary residence in the past three years.
Qualifying homes include:
* New homes
* Homes that are being re-sold
* Condos
* Townhomes
The main restriction is that the credit is only for those who buy a home as their primary residence. So investors looking to buy a rental property would not qualify for the credit. However owning a vacation home or a rental property already does not necessarily disqualify you from taking advantage of the credit (as long as you haven’t owned a primary residence in the past three years).
A Look at the Numbers
The tax credit is equal to 10% of the purchase price of the home, up to $8,000. The amount of the credit you can qualify for is related to how much money you earn. Here’s how the credit is scaled:
* Single home buyers earning 95K or less qualify. If you make 75K or less, you qualify for 100% of the $8000. If you make halfway, 85K, you qualify for 50% or $4000. The credit phases out gradually between 75K and 95K of income. For example, if you make halfway between the income limits, 85K, you qualify for up to half of the credit.
* The same rate applies for married couples and joint buyers whose incomes limits are doubled to $150,000 to $170,000. Married couples or joint buyers whose incomes are less would receive the full $8000 credit. At an income level of $160,000, halfway between 150 and 170, the buyers would receive half the credit – or $4,000. And the credit phases out altogether at $170,000.
This credit represent a significant amount of money. One of the biggest points of difference for the new credit from the one congress passed in July of 2008, is that the new credit does not have to be paid back.
In addition, it’s refundable, which means that if you’ve paid all your taxes as you go with an automatic payroll deduction, you would receive an $8,000 check from the IRS.
If you’re committed to buying a house in 2009 and want to use the $8000 tax credit for a down payment, consult with your REALTOR and/or Certified Public Accountant.
In Closing
Qualifying home buyers will need to make their home purchase between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009. And the home has to remain their principal residence for the following three years.
The new tax credit coupled with historically low mortgage rates and rising affordability, offers buyers a great opportunity if they act fast.
08/13/2009. Agent is licensed in the State of Louisiana, USA.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)