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Home Buyer Tax Credit is Extended to April 2010!!!
According to the National Association of REALTORS the following are answers to frequent questions about the new Homebuyer Tax Credit Changes. *Question: Existing homeowner credit: Must the new house cost more than the old house? *Answer: No. Thus, for example, individuals who move from a high cost area to a lower cost area who meet all eligibility requirements will qualify for the $6500 credit. *Question: I am an existing homeowner. On October 25, 2009, I signed a contract to purchase a
new home. I have lived in my current home for more than 5 consecutive years and am within the new income limits. I will go to settlement on November 20. If President Obama has signed the bill by the time I go to settlement, will I qualify for the new $6500 tax credit? *Answer: Yes. The existing homeowner credit goes into effect for purchases after the date of enactment(when the bill is signed). There is no reference to the date of contract for the new credit. The provision looks solely to the date of purchase, which is generally the date of settlement. *Question: I am a firsttime homebuyer but was not within the prior income limits at the time I entered into my contract to purchase on October 30, 2009. I will be covered, however, by the new income limits. If the new rules have been signed into law by the time I go to settlement, will I be eligible for a credit? *Answer: Yes. The new income limitations go into effect as soon as the President has signed the bill. The income limit and other eligibility rules will look to your status as of the date of purchase, which is the settlement date. So if the new rules have been signed when you go to settlement, you should be eligible for the credit (or a portion of the credit if you're within the phase out range). *Question: I am an eligible existing homeowner. I have a fair amount of equity in my home. I have found a home with a nonnegotiable price of $825,000. Will I be able to use any of the $6500 tax credit? *Answer: No. The $800,000 cap on the cost of the purchased home is firm at $800,000. Any amount
above $800,000 makes the home ineligible for any portion of the credit. The $800,000 is an
absolute ceiling. *Question: I owned my home for 10 years, but sold it two years ago year and have been renting
since. If I purchase a home, will I be eligible for the $6500 tax credit if I meet all the
other eligibility tests? *Answer: Yes. Because you lived in the home for more than 5 consecutive years of the previous 8, you will qualify for the $6500 credit. For example, Say John and his wife bought a home in 2000 and lived there until 2008 when he got a divorce. Whether John has been renting or bought in the interim, he WOULD INDEED be eligible for the credit because he owned a home and
occupied it as his principal residence for 5 consecutive years out of the last 8 years. The
keyword here is "consecutive." As long as he lived in that house for 5 years straight what he
did since 3 years doesn't impact eligibility. *Question: I am an eligible firsttime homebuyer. I entered into a contract to purchase on November 1, 2009. Do I have to go to closing before December 1? How does the extension date affect me? *Answer: You do not have to close before December 1. Once the legislation has been signed, it will be as if the Nov 30 date had never existed. Therefore, so long as the contract settles before April 30 (or July 1, worst case), the purchaser will be eligible for the credit. Please email us with any questions and we will provide you with additional information. National Association of REALTORSŪ Government Affairs Division
500 New Jersey Avenue, NW,
Washington DC, 20001
Working With An Agent >Real Estate Finesse
Many changes can occur in a real estate transaction between the initial meeting of the minds and the completion of the sale. This is where having a professional to handle the sale of your home makes a big difference.
Real estate professionals view such changes as challenges, rather than problems. Many potential problems are predictable, but their consequences can be minimized by anticipating them. Real estate agents draw on their experience and the experience of their colleagues to ensure a successful closing for the buyers and sellers. When disputes arise, our expertise helps to create a win-win situation. This approach to selling real estate makes the difference for my buyers and sellers. I go the extra mile to handle the countless details and to keep my buyers and sellers informed at each step of the transaction.
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| Q |
What is currently the most technologically advanced way to vacuum your home?
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| A |
The self-propelling Dyson DC06 scans and maps a room with sensors and is controlled by built-in computers that prevent it from falling downstairs. |
 See More Real Estate Trivia > |
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