Woodstock GA and Surrounding Areas Homes for Sale – Update by Red Hot Atlanta Homes

November 9, 2009

Expanded Homeownership Tax Credit

As most of you have heard by now, last Friday President Obama signed The Worker, Homeownership and Business Asssistance Act of 2009 (Tax Act). We recently blogged in support of legislation to extend and expand the homebuyer’s tax credit. Thankfully, both branches of Congress and The President recognized the importance of assisting the housing industry and passed the Tax Act.

Like most legislation, the devil is in the details- and we’re not sure all the details have yet surfaced. However, the National Association of REALTORS® has posted a comparison chart that shows the major differences compared to the 2008 First Time Homebuyers Credit. There’s also a FAQ sheet provided by NAR.Dollars

Other provisions of the Tax Act assist the unemployed and also businesses with tax cuts on business losses. Both provisions should also indirectly benefit the overall housing market – the extension of unemployment benefits help families pay mortgage bills or rent, plus hopefully helps with other debt to buffet credit scores; business tax cuts should help with job recovery.

We’ll be talking more about the Tax Act and the “devil” of the details in the coming days and weeks. For now though, Thank You to ALL legislators and our President for getting this bill passed!

November 2, 2009

Another New Homeowner – 1st Time Homebuyer

Filed under: Rambling Thoughts — Tags: , — Kathy and Ben @ 8:07 pm

It’s always exciting to help someone find their home home – a place they can call their own.  Congratulations to Mavis, a first time homebuyer, on her new home.  This family will be moving in over the week-end and look forward to showing off their new home. 

The new home is located in Lawrenceville off I-85 and Old Peachtree Rd.  It’s a wonderful 3 bedroom townhouse with a fireside Great Room and eat-in Kitchen.  A large storage closet off the Great Room will be the perfect place for toy storage and cozy place for a child to play.  Upstairs the bedrooms are nice size with lots of windows. 

The new homeowner qualifies for the $8000 Tax Credit as a first time buyer and chose a 30 year fixed rate FHA loan at 5% interest with 3.5% down payment.  All it took was approximately $4000 for the down payment to get into this wonderful home. 

This transaction is an example of the impact of the $8000 Tax Credit working to help the housing industry.  When Mavis purchased this home, the Seller was able to move to their second home at higher price range – that ripple effect is good for everyone.

If you are thinking about purchasing a home remember these are sellers wanting to sell and very reasonable interest rates.  Check out homes for sale to see if you can find something that interest you.

October 29, 2009

* FHA Loans a good option for many homebuyers

Filed under: Rambling Thoughts, Woodstock — Tags: , — Kathy and Ben @ 10:02 pm

For several years, it looked like FHA loans had gone the way of the dinosaur.  InsteMoney Ladyad, zero down payment programs became the extinct species and FHA loans are again a great option for many homebuyers.  Read more.

October 26, 2009

Urge Congress to extend and expand the Homebuyers’ tax credit now!

Filed under: Rambling Thoughts, Woodstock — Tags: — Kathy and Ben @ 10:00 am

If you’re a REALTOR® reading this post, you’ve seen the positive effects of the homebuyers’ tax credit on the housing market, which unfortunately is due to expire December 1.  You have also likely noticed a recent drop off in showings with the expiration date of the credit looming.  Hopefully, the House of Representatives and Senate will act soon to extend and expand the credit; otherwise, the chill of winter will likely be felt throughout the housing market.

Fortunately, bills to extend the homebuyers’ credit are moving thru both the House and Senate.  GA Senator Johnny Isakson (R) has co-sponsored a Senate bill and recently took the unusual step of testifying before the Senate Banking and Housing Committee, urging its members to extend and expand the credit to all homebuyers, saying that the expansion of the credit would help get critical “move-up” buyers back into the market.  Isakson was a leading real estate broker in metro Atlanta for over 30 years and personally understands the importance of keeping the housing market stable.

If you haven’t done so already, please join the 170,000 plus REALTORS® who have written their Congressmen to ask them to vote to extend and expand the homebuyer tax credit.

October 15, 2009

Jumbo Money Available – Milton Real Estate

Filed under: Milton, Rambling Thoughts — Tags: , , — Kathy and Ben @ 10:46 pm

We all know that credit guidelines to purchase real estate have become much more difficulJumbo Moneyt in the last year or so.  However, there is still credit available at all price points- we know this to be true because we are working with home buyers in all segments of the real estate market.

A common homebuyer complaint is about the difficulty in obtaining a loan to purchase a home priced at over $500,000.  With an average home price of around $800,000 in Milton, GA, this can be particularly frustrating.   

Tricia Elliott, of The Real Estate Mortgage Network, has a Jumbo Loan program with terrific rates, currently 4.25% for a 5/1 ARM and 4.75% for a 7/1 ARM.  What’s a Jumbo Loan?  A Jumbo Loan is required when purchasing a home with a loan amount over $417,000- this cap is set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  While a 25% down payment is required for this loan program, credit guidelines are pretty standard with no unreasonable hoops to jump thru. 

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