first time home buyer – owner loan

August 13, 2010

Other Tax Incentives For New Home Buyers

Luis Pezzini asked:




The government’s tax credit for first time homeowners is picking up steam as summer comes. That tax credit is as much as $8,000 for properly qualified homeowners. That’s a very good amount, but there are areas of the country that are offering extra incentives, as well as governmental recommendations for an increase in the amount of the tax credit itself.

For instance, earlier this year, the home builder Taylor Morrison offered an option for some home buyers where, for a short period of time, they would match the $8,000 tax credit, or whatever amount the home buyer qualified for. They ran that for one month, and it was only for new homes that Taylor Morrison would build, but, based on some fancy accounting work, some buyers were able to save upwards of $50,000 on the purchase of a new home.

Then we have the state of California, which has added to the $8,000 tax credit by giving an additional 5% tax credit to some home buyers, which means a home owner could end up with a tax credit of $18,000 overall. For this one, the homeowners only had to live in the house for 2 years, as opposed to the federal plan where owners have to live in the house for 3 years. Of course, since it’s a government program, it has a limitation. The credit is available for just one year, and it’s on a first come, first serve basis. Since the state allocated $100 million to it, once it runs out, that’s it. And, instead of getting the credit all at once, the credit is given out over a 3 year period, which means you could possibly be out of the house and still getting a credit.

In Georgia, a tax bill was signed in May that gives up an a $1,800 tax credit for first time home buyers who purchase their homes between June 1 and November 30, 2009. The amount is based on giving purchasers 1.2% of a credit for the purchase price up to that $1,800 figure.

Also, something not many people know is that there’s a special tax incentive for both new and existing home owners to go “green” on renovation of their homes, which could earn them a tax credit of $1,500, although it’s a one time credit and has to be claimed in either 2009 or 2010.

Of course, the big bonus is the introduction of legislation by Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson that would increase the amount of the present tax stimulus from $8,000 to $15,000, as well as eliminate financial caps now in place, making it open for more than just first time homeowners. The idea here is to allow both new and existing home owners to take advantage of the high number of foreclosed upon homes that are available, homes that were formally at a very high cost but have come down as the glut of houses kept growing.

Indeed, it looks like there are not only states that are willing to help potential home owners, but the federal government is also trying to boost what they’ve already given you. This is definitely a good time to be looking into the possibility of purchasing a new home.

Zachary

April 27, 2009

Common Mistakes of First Time Home Buyers

Stephanie Larkin asked:


Buying your first home is exciting. No more rental payments to a landlord making money for someone else. Instead, you are purchasing your own home and investing in yourself. Money paid to your home mortgage is really investing in your future. It is no wonder that first time home buyers are so excited, sometimes so excited that they make mistakes. There are a few common mistakes of first time home buyers, which with some knowledge and direction can be avoided.

First of all, it is always good to research the housing market and see what is out there. Yes, the very first house you look at may look like its perfect, but there are others out there for sale too. Be sure to at least look at a few before deciding on the one you want to buy.

Watch the cost of the home, do not be swayed into thinking that you can not barter down the cost of the house, you probably can.

Insist on a home inspection by a qualified inspector. There are plenty of people who will provide you with a home warranty when you buy their house and try to sway you from having the house inspected.

Having a home warranty is important and many first time home buyers just don’t know that they should or could get one when they are buying an older home. Home warranties are not a new product; they’ve been around for many years, but many people think that they are for new homes only, not realizing that they can be purchased for older homes as well.

A home warranty makes great sense when you are purchasing an older home – you just don’t know the house very well until you’ve lived in it. A home warranty protects first time home buyers from major expenses for repairs and replacements that could come up.

A first time home buyer can make a major mistake if he or she does not understand that if something goes wrong, they are fully responsible to fix it. There is no landlord to call and the costs are all theirs to bear. This is one of the major reasons it is so important to invest in a home warranty when you purchase an older home. If any major repairs need to happen, most often the home warranty will cover the costs, making owning a home much more feasible.

When looking for a home warranty, it’s important to have a basic understanding of what you are looking for. When you talk to an agent, there are many questions that you need to ask to be sure you know what level of warranty you are getting. Questions to ask include:

What is covered with the home warranty? Most often the electrical system, plumbing system, heating system, cooling system/air conditioning, and major appliances that are covered under the warranty.

What is excluded from coverage with the home warranty? Most often this includes outdoor water, including the sprinkler system, faucet repairs, hot tubs, pools, spas and costs of hauling away debris and old appliances.

What are the rates/premiums? How much will you have to pay for the home warranty?

What is the deductible on the home warranty? The deductible is how much you will have to pay when you make a claim. Most often the deductible is $50, this amount will be deducted from the overall cost of the reparations paid by the warranty company.

How long is the warranty active for? Most often home warranties are offered in one year terms.

Is the warranty renewable at the end of the term? If you’ve purchased it yourself as the buyer, it is likely renewable. However, if the seller purchased the home warranty, it will not be renewable.

What are the terms of the warranty? When will the warranty be void? Most often if you’ve misused the item, or if it is not up to code or not installed properly, your warranty will be void and will not cover any reparations.

How are claims handled?

How do I make a claim?

With the above information, first time home buyers can avoid some of the serious mistakes that are usually made, and then go through with their home purchase knowledgeable and safe from the fall out of a potentially serious mistake. Mistakes such as the ones listed above can land a first time home owner in serious debt paying for repairs they were not prepared for financially. Owning a home of your own is very exciting, especially a first home, but make sure you go into it with your eyes open, your finances secure and a plan for the future should a problem rise with one of the major components of the home.



Howard

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