first time home buyer – owner loan

March 30, 2011

Obama’s First Time Home Buyer Stimulus Plan For 2009 – A Solution For Our Time

Kary Cambell asked:




The US economy has been suffering for some time and when the recession of 2008 crept in it was obvious to many that something had to be done to stem the tide of worry and disillusionment among our citizens. In 2009 President Obama signed into being an economic stimulus program that was aimed especially at first time home buyers – people who had either never owned a home or who had not owned a home within the last three years.

This remedy became necessary when people began suffering after the downturn in the economy, resulting loss of jobs, and increasing home payments as adjustable-rate mortgage interest adjusted upward, causing many people to fail in making their monthly house payments. Those who defaulted had only a short time to recover and when they couldn’t do so, they lost their homes to foreclosure. Sometimes without recourse, people abandoned their homes and their dreams and were forced to make other living arrangements.

Americans expect support from their government in times of trouble and that support has come in the form of the First Time Home Buyer Stimulus Program. With incentives such as down payment assistance, lower interest rates, and income tax credits, home ownership is once again something about which people can dream.

When people look for their first homes, there are many emotions that go into that decision. Some would-be home buyers are reluctant to make such a huge financial commitment but their desire for a home usually wins out over their doubts. And because it is such a huge obligation, careful planning is essential. Taking advantage of the government stimulus program is going to help make more dreams come true in a relatively painless way. The loans that can be obtained will come with reasonable interest rates, lower monthly payments, and smaller down payments.

Tax credits are also a part of these programs and will save you money at tax time possibly allowing you to spend extra on something else you might want. Maybe you’ve postponed a trip or perhaps it’s been a long time since you bought something that you previously thought was frivolous. Whatever you plan to do with your money you will be helping to stimulate our ailing economy. Whenever you spend money, the ripple effect goes into motion and your dollar spent is another person’s dollar earned. When people use their money in this way, other people keep their jobs and the ripple moves on to the next person.

Consumers who consistently live frugally, may find it difficult to get past that mindset when there is an improvement in the financial landscape. The First Time Home Buyer Stimulus Program will help to ease the concerns of people who have for sometime found themselves in that category of frugal spenders. It has the potential of creating more home owners and more jobs and giving hope to a new generation of people. This can be the basis for our recovery as we try to find new and better ways of living so that we can continue to indulge in the American dream of home ownership.

Megan

March 23, 2011

Learn About the First Time Home Buyer Credit

Lokesh Nagpal asked:




There are a host of financial incentives provided by the federal government to encourage people to purchase their own home. The most important and biggest of these is the one included in the Worker, Home ownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009. In accordance with the provisions of this act, an amount of USD 8000 is extended as a tax credit amount to qualified first time home buyers. It is big monetary benefit to the first time home buyers since one does not have to repay this amount until and unless the property is sold or is not used as principle residence of the beneficiary who claimed the tax credit.

What are the necessary conditions to be fulfilled in order to be eligible to avail this tax credit? In accordance with the IRS definition, a first time home buyer is a person who has not purchased a residence during the immediate three years preceding his purchase. Income levels of single buyers and married couples have been stipulated above which the tax credit is not available. For properties purchased between the periods Jan 1, 2009 to November 05 2009, the maximum income level of a single buyer has to be less than USD 75,000 and in case of couples who are joint holders, the income levels cannot exceed USD 150,000. Similarly for sale transactions executed from November 06 2009 to April 30, 2010, maximum income level could be USD 125,000 and USD 250,000 for single buyers and couples respectively. You can file for availing a joint credit only in case either spouse has not purchased a home within the last three years. The couple still has the option of taking a credit by purchasing the house as a single buyer in the name of the spouse who has not purchased a house in the last three years.

Some important points that you need to note about the first time home buyer credit include the fact that the amount of tax credit available depends upon the property price The tax credit available equals ten percent of the property purchase price with 8000 USD being the maximum amount that can be claimed. The other key point to be noted that not all homes purchased would qualify for this rebate. Only those houses with a maximum price of USD 800,000 would be considered for granting home buyer credit. To be included in the list of beneficiaries you have to ensure that you purchase a home by April 30, 2010, sign the necessary contract papers and complete the sale by June 30, 2010 in order to be eligible under this scheme.

The process of making a claim for the home buyer credit is easy. Submit two statements namely the HUD-1 settlement statement and the IRS from 5405 and walk away with a maximum credit of USD 8000 provided you fulfill the eligibility conditions stipulated by the federal government. IRS allows all those people who buy a home in 2010 to file an amendment to their 2009 tax return and stake their claim.

Colleen

March 10, 2011

First Time Home Buyer Programs

Damian Sofsian asked:




Eventually, everything boils down to owning that house that you have been dreaming of. You have tried and have become tired of living in apartments, in condominiums, in rental homes, and in your parents’ living room. However, you still crave and long for that structure that would be under your name and that you can call your home. And if luck prevails, you may own the home that you have been dreaming of.

One of the things that helps out first-time home buyers are first-time home buyer programs. These programs have been designed to assist people who are engaging in buying a home for the first time. Also, they have been designed to assist low-income families or to interest first-time home buyers. These types of programs assist those people who are in dire need of help when it comes to purchasing a home.

One of the tips that these first-time home buyer programs give to interested parties is that every buyer should be able to take full advantage of the various programs for first-time home buyers, because these can greatly assist them in obtaining lower interest rates. Most of these groups that provide first-time home buyer programs are generally aware of the situations that different types of interested parties have. That is the reason why these groups have also considered these situations and have provided various kinds of assistance for people with different needs.

Knowledge of how these first-time buyer programs work could prove to be an essential tool in taking advantage of them. Further information could be gathered through the Internet, or people could also get in touch with these groups that provide first-time buyer programs.

Irene

Benefits to First Time Home Buyers in This Real Estate Market

Indra S. Asserfea asked:




Real Estate has always known to be a good investment. If you look Although you may say “No, look at what happened to our economy because of real estate”. Well my answer to that is it isn’t the real estate itself but, the system that was in place and the methods that were used to purchase real estate is what got us into this mess. Now with the government’s help and new rules and regulations for all of us, our sources of funds to continue buying real estate still remain with the banks. Banks will begin to lend again but with those new rules in place otherwise we will not be helping the “flow” of our economy and getting ourselves out of a recession. So now that you can trust again, let’s look at the benefits for a first time home buyer especially in this economy.

1) Low Price – It is a “Buyer’s Market” and what this means is that there are multitudes of houses in the market place for buyers to choose from. There are both good and bad to this type of market. The good thing is that prices are extremely low and this is really, really good for a first time buyer. The bad thing is because you have so many to choose from, a buyer becomes indecisive. Why? Because a buyer thinks he’s making the wrong choice over another property. This, for a first time home buyer who does not know the pros and cons can be an excruciating ordeal which could lead to a “freeze mode” and thus, end up not making a decision to buy at all. So do not allow the numerous choices to get you down, buy now because the prices won’t always be like this.

2) The New Federal Housing Tax Credit – A tax credit of up to $8,000 has become available for first time home buyers if they were to purchase a home between now and the end of this year 2009. Plus this credit does not have to be repaid. If you have not owned a home in the previous three years you are eligible. Income is also a determination as to the amount that you may be eligible for. The reason this was enacted is to help put some surge into our economy and we should take advantage of it if we can. It is free money that you file for in your 2010 tax return. So hurry! You only have nine months left and considering it takes approximately 60 to 75 days to close a loan, you might want to begin your search now if you haven’t already done so.

3) Don’t Have a Lot of Money? – No Problem. There are still many types of loans that are out there for a first time home buyer. Speak with your Realtor if you are using one or your Mortgage Broker if you know of one or any direct lender. You can also go on to my website for more information [http://rem10p.uellc.net] and or send me an email if you’re seriously interested in buying a house at this time and I can help you achieve your goal.

Brent

February 24, 2011

Moving Tips for First-Time Home Buyers to Save You Money

Janet Corniel asked:




If you are about to embark on purchasing a home for the first time, congratulations! It is a wonderful feeling to own your own home for the first time. However, there are many hidden costs that are associated with purchasing and moving into your new home that you may not be fully aware. The best way to mitigate these costs is preparation and education.

Interest rates are historically low right now, which will work in your favor. However, before you even shop for a home, run your credit score. This is key. You do not want to fall in love with a home and find out you can not pre-qualify to purchase it. Lenders are extremely picky these days. Look at your debt-to-income ratio. Make sure it would be acceptable to a potential lender.

After you clear that first hurdle, look for a reputable realtor. You may choose to go it alone to prevent paying commissions but I suggest you reevaluate that choice, especially as a first-time home buyer. It is so important to have someone represent your interest and educate you in the process to prevent losing money. I also suggest you have your realtor just represent you and not both parties (seller and buyer). We have done both and even with a good realtor, this situation is just not optimal.

Once you are pre-qualified, have your realtor and found the home for you, be prepared for all of the steps and costs involved. You will have to do a home inspection, which will cost approximately $400-$500. You do not want to skimp on this. It is important to note the costs may seem large at first but when you apply it to the overall percentage of the cost of the home, it is minimal. It is worth paying $500 for a home inspection in order to find out the home may be in such disrepair you can’t afford to fix it.

Closing costs are another expense that may be the difference of getting the deal done or not. Make sure you review your good-faith estimate carefully. This will detail all of the closing costs and what you will have to bring to the table. If you have any questions or if there are some discrepancies take it up with your lender right away. You do not want to be surprised at the closing table. A good realtor will help guide you through the process.

After you make it through your closing and get your keys, you are not out of the woods yet. You still have moving and settling-in costs. If you are moving yourself, there are many options out there for you, evaluate which is best for your circumstances. Distance and the amount of things you own will dictate the best option for you. There are ways to save yourself money. If you have a moving company move you, make sure you get competitive bids and evaluate them carefully. You can also pack it yourself and use a portable storage device that will move to your location. You can also do everything yourself and rent a truck and pack and move. If you are just starting out, the later may be best for you. However, if you are combining households and/or have a lot of stuff you may have someone do the heavy work for you. Either way, set a budget and work within it. In the stress of a move, it is easy to spend if you do not set up limits ahead of time.

Settling-in costs are another expense that will sneak up on you if you are not careful and budget for it. These may include but are not limited to carpet cleaning, painting, window treatments, appliances, landscaping, restocking a kitchen, furniture, insurance and utilities. When you are looking at homes to buy, keep these settling costs in mind. Take a notebook with you and write these possible costs down. It will help you plan and decide on which home will be the most cost-effective for your budget. It may also give you some negotiating power in a buyers market like we are in now. Due to the economy, builders are really willing to work with buyers. Many are now throwing in upgrades like granite and landscaping packages. So keep them in mind when looking at homes.

In any event, it is so important to do your research ahead of time. Set a budget and prepare yourself. The more prepared and informed you are, the less likely you will lose money.

Gilbert

February 22, 2011

Government Grants For First Time Home Buyers

Austin Warty asked:




With the billions of dollars in free grant money that the government is giving away, government grants for first time home buyers can also be obtained. These programs can help you with your down payment, reduce your mortgage interest rate, and even assist with your closing costs on the purchase of your new home. You just need to ask for it.

While a significant portion of these grants are provided for low income housing and those facing financial hardship, there are plenty of grant programs for those who aren’t necessarily having a hard time financially. For example, you can find grants for first time home buyers who are purchasing a new home in developing areas.

The grants that are available to you today vary from state to state. Each state, county and even city have different programs, so you will have to do a little bit of homework. But anyone who is purchasing a home for the first time should not overlook this option when it comes to financing their purchase. This is free money for you that you may never have to pay back.

By knocking a couple percentage points off your mortgage rate, you could save hundreds of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.

All you need to do is ask for the assistance in order to receive this money. In some cases you have to find and apply for these programs yourself, where as others may be found just by asking your lender if there are any special programs available for first time home buyers. While they may be obligated to tell you, they may not always be so willing to give up that information. After all, your lender makes money off the size of the loan they sell you.

Willie
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