Entries Tagged as 'Home Buying Tips and Advice'

Homebuyer Tax Credit Closing Deadline Extended to September 30th

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The Closing Deadline Has Been Extended to Sept. 30 for Eligible Homebuyer Credit Purchases  

Update: IR-2010-80, July 2, 2010

WASHINGTON — Eligible taxpayers who contracted to buy a home, qualifying for the first-time homebuyer credit, before the end of April now have until Sept. 30, 2010 to close the deal, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010, signed by the President today, extended the closing deadline from June 30 to Sept. 30 for any eligible homebuyer who entered into a binding purchase contract on or before April 30 to close on the purchase of the home on or before June 30, 2010. The new law addresses concerns that many homebuyers might be unable to meet the original June 30 closing deadline.

The IRS reminds taxpayers that special filing and documentation requirements apply to anyone claiming the homebuyer credit. To avoid refund delays, those who entered into a purchase contract on or before April 30, but closed after that date, should attach to their return a copy of the pages from the signed contract showing all parties' names and signatures if required by local law, the property address, the purchase price, and the date of the contract.

Besides filling out Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit and Repayment of the Credit, all eligible homebuyers must also include with their return one of the following documents:

A copy of the settlement statement showing all parties' names and signatures if required by local law, property address, sales price, and date of purchase. Normally, this is the properly executed Form HUD-1, Settlement Statement.

For mobile home purchasers who are unable to get a settlement statement, a copy of the executed retail sales contract showing all parties' names and signatures, property address, purchase price and date of purchase.

For a newly constructed home where a settlement statement is not available, a copy of the certificate of occupancy showing the owner’s name, property address and date of the certificate.

Besides providing a tax benefit to first-time homebuyers and purchasers who haven’t owned homes in recent years, the law allows a long-time resident of the same main home to claim the credit if they purchase a new principal residence. To qualify, eligible taxpayers must show that they lived in their old homes for a five-consecutive-year period during the eight-year period ending on the purchase date of the new home. Homebuyers claiming this credit can avoid refund delays by attaching documentation covering the five-consecutive-year period:

Form 1098, Mortgage Interest Statement, or substitute mortgage interest statements,
Property tax records or Homeowner’s insurance records.
There are three options for claiming the credit on a qualifying 2010 purchase:

If a 2009 return has not yet been filed, claim it on Form 1040 for tax-year 2009. Though these returns cannot be filed electronically, taxpayerscan still use IRS Free File to prepare their return. The returns must be printed out and sent to the IRS, along with all required documentation. The IRS urges taxpayers claiming refunds to choose direct deposit.

If a 2009 return has already been filed, claim it on an amended return using Form 1040X.

Whether or not a 2009 return has been filed, wait until next year and claim it on a 2010 Form 1040.

More details on claiming the credit can be found in the instructions to Form 5405, as well as on the First-Time Homebuyer Credit page on IRS.gov.

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Tips for Buying a Home Fast and Efficiently in Todays Real Estate Market

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Tips for Buying a Home Fast in Todays Real Estate Market

  1. Start your home search online - If you're serious about finding a new home taking leisurely drives to find For Sale signs and open houses isn't the best approach to house hunting. Shopping for a home online will streamline your entire house hunting process. Searrching for a home online lets you browse thousands of homes for sale and narrow down your search by price, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage and many other criteria. You can even find information about the area such as local restaurants, hospitals, schools and other points of interest near that home. When you use the Web to narrow down your options, you can create an efficient plan for touring homes in person.
  2. Get pre-approved - Have your pre-approval letter in hand when you start house hunting. This allows you to make an offer as soon as you see a home you're interested in.  A pre-approval letter states your maximum purchase price, so you won't waste time looking at homes you can't afford.  Be sure to stay in constant contact with your lender throughout the homebuying process so nothing gets overlooked and the loan can close on time. We have several lenders available for questions or interest in obtaining approval.

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Homestead Exemption Assistance Available at Boynton Library

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Homestead Exemption Assistance Available at Boynton Library
When:  Wednesday, Nov. 21, 11:00 A.M. – Noon
Address:  208 S. Seacrest Blvd.

A representative from the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office will be on hand to assist homeowners in registering for a Homestead Exemption

For more information visit the Palm Beach County Appraiser’s website at www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/papa or call 561-355-2866.

The first-time homebuyer credit extended and expanded until June 30th 2010.

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First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

Updated Nov. 6, 2009, to reflect new legislation.

New legislation, the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which was signed into law on Nov. 6, 2009, extends and expands the first-time homebuyer credit allowed by previous Acts.

The new law:

  • Extends deadlines for purchasing and closing on a home.
  • Authorizes the credit for long-time homeowners buying a replacement principal residence.
  • Raises the income limitations for homeowners claiming the credit.  

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6 Reasons You Should Buy a New Home This Year

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Mortgage Rates Are At Historic Lows

Mortgage rates reached their 2008 apex in July, when the long-term average rate hovered just below 7%. They’ve since dropped to and are around 5%.  The low rates makes financing your home significantly easier, as the money you spend over a thirty year period paying off your house gets lowered to something you may actually be able to afford.

Home Prices have Dropped

Experts indicate that we haven’t seen the bottom yet in all markets, but planning for that bottom and hitting the housing market at the perfect time may be more difficult than worth your while.

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