BAP site syndication http://www.welcometolexington.com Sun, 05 Sep 2010 09:08:40 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.welcometolexington.com/images/M_images/ http://www.welcometolexington.com BAP site syndication http://www.welcometolexington.com/buyer-info/five-surprising-reasons-to-buy-a-home-now.html Low mortgage rates serve as an equity shock absorber. When buyers borrow at today's record-low rates, they start building equity as soon as they close. That means they can absorb a few ups and downs as the still-recovering housing market gains traction. Houses are in move-in condition. Home owners have continued to spend on maintenance and repair, according to the Harvard Joint Center on Housing. As these houses enter the market, they are in marked contrast to tattered foreclosures. Terrific houses are coming on the market. Foreclosures are finally starting to clear the system, and they are being replaced by some very attractive properties. Appraisal regulations are finally aligned with market realities. Fannie Mae has adjusted its appraisal guidelines, giving appraisers more flexibility to set values that reflect the current market. Plenty of programs. Many programs that encourage middle-class families to buy homes continue to exist, despite market downturns. Buyers who qualify can get a big boost by combining one of these programs with today's low mortgage rates. For more inforation about the Lexington, South Carolina Real Estate (http://www.welcometolexington.com)market, visit my website at www.CharlesStill.com (http://www.CharlesStill.com) or fill out the following information and I will be in contact with you shortly. Blog - Buyer Info Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:43:27 +0100 http://www.welcometolexington.com/buyer-info/five-surprising-reasons-to-buy-a-home-now.html http://www.welcometolexington.com/seller-reports/south-carolina-reale-estate-sales-up-for-2010.html Home sales across South Carolina rose 25% in June from a year earlier and were up 23% from last year in year-to-date figures, the South Carolina Association of Realtors reported Thursday. The biggest gain was seen in the Hilton Head area, where year-to-date sales were up 45% from last year. Regional gains included: Main Content - Seller Reports Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:41:11 +0100 http://www.welcometolexington.com/seller-reports/south-carolina-reale-estate-sales-up-for-2010.html http://www.welcometolexington.com/general-content/home-buyer-tax-credit-deradline-extended.html After a close brush with the deadline, Congress has passed an extension of the Homebuyer Tax Credit closing deadline, the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act (H.R. 5623). The extension applies only to transactions that have ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010 that have not yetclosed. The legislation is designed to create a seamless extension the new closing deadline for eligible transactions is now September 30, 2010. There is will be no gap between June 30 and the date the President signs the bill into law.NAR worked closely with Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle to enact this important legislation. Extending the Tax Credit Closing deadline will help provide additional stability to real estate markets across the nation. For more information on everything dealing with Lexington South Carolina Real Estate (http://www.WelcomeToLexington.com)visit our website at http://www.WelcomeToLexington.com (http://www.WelcomeToLexington.com) or fill out the following form and I will be in touch with you shortly. Main Content - General Content Thu, 01 Jul 2010 09:45:56 +0100 http://www.welcometolexington.com/general-content/home-buyer-tax-credit-deradline-extended.html http://www.welcometolexington.com/timeline-for-the-homebuyer-tax-credit-by-lexington-sc-realtor-charles-6.html Timeline for the Home Buyer Tax Credit- 70 Days Remaining!!!!!!!!!! Feb18, 2010 (Bankrate.com) Time is running short for people who want to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credits. There are two homebuyer federal income tax credits: the first-time homebuyer tax credit of up to $8,000, and the move-up homebuyer tax credit of up to $6,500. Both come with deadlines. To collect either tax credit, buyers have to have homes under contract by April 30. That means that both buyer and seller must have signed the purchase contract by that date. After that, there's another deadline: The transaction has to close by June 30. If you want to collect the tax credit, don't wait until the last half of April to begin looking for a house. Yes, it's possible that you could do it all in a couple of weeks: find a house that you like, negotiate a price and secure mortgage financing. Possible, but not probable. "Don't wait till the last minute, and be prepared to stay on top of things from the very outset," says Neil Garfinkel, a lawyer with the law firm of Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson LLP, on New York's Long Island. Below is a timeline for homebuyers who want to complete the transaction on time to collect the federal income tax credit. The following dates aren't ironclad; the real estate agent, lender and title company will know if you need to deviate from this timeline because of your situation or location. Use this timeline as a general guide and as motivation to take action quickly. Now: Homebuyers wabting ti take advantage of the tax credit must act now. Now - Mid-March: Find a mortgage lender and understand what it takes now to qualify for the best rates. Mid-March: Find an experienced Realtor who can recommend an inspector, title insurance company and attorney. March 31: Federal Reserve plans to stop buying mortgage-backed securities and rates may rise. April 2: The new FHA insurance premiums rise to 2.25 percent, equal to $500 for each $100,000 borrowed. April 15: As the April 30 deadline nears, it will be harder to bargin with seller. Get the deal done now. April 27: Check your state laws to be sure there are no other roadblocks to signing a contract by April 30. April 30: Buyer and seller must have a signed purchase contract by this date for the buyer to claim the credit. For more information on everything dealing with Lexington South Carolina Real Estate (http://www.WelcomeToLexington.com) visit our website at http://www.WelcomeToLexington.com (http://www.WelcomeToLexington.com) or fill out the following form and I will be in touch with you shortly. Blog - Buyer Info Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:10:08 +0100 http://www.welcometolexington.com/timeline-for-the-homebuyer-tax-credit-by-lexington-sc-realtor-charles-6.html http://www.welcometolexington.com/planning-to-buy-in-lexington-south-carolina-7.html If you are planning to purchase a home in Lexington, South Carolina (http://www.CharlesStill.com), now is the time to start looking. As you may be awary, we still have the Homebuyers Tax Credit that is available to first-time homebuyers as well as repeat home buyers that meet certain restrictions. From everything I see and read, the market is starting to turn around. It is going to be a slow recovery, but as things improve, the selection of homes is going to be decreasing slightly and sellers with homes in the price ranges and areas that are recovering are going to be less likely to take drastic price reductions. This does not mean that you can't still get a good deal on a Lexington, South Carolina (http://www.WelcomeToLexington.com)home, but it does mean that there may be slightly less to choose from. Interest rates are still staying around 5%, but as always the can change daily. While we don't expect to see any drastic incresases in interest rates, we don't expect to see them drop much, if any, either. This means that this is the best time to move forward with the purchase of your first home or replace your existing home. For more information on everything dealing with Lexington South Carolina Real Estate (http://www.WelcomeToLexington.com) visit our website at http://www.WelcomeToLexington.com (http://www.WelcomeToLexington.com) or fill out the following form and I will be in touch with you shortly. Blog - Buyer Info Sat, 02 Jan 2010 10:36:45 +0100 http://www.welcometolexington.com/planning-to-buy-in-lexington-south-carolina-7.html