Archive for the ‘3) General’ Category

Seller financing PG County MD | owner financed homes for sale

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

The below homes in Prince George’s County Maryland show active SELLER FINANCED listings for sale in the MRIS as of today.  This is a keyword search, and sometimes you will also see other homes listed as well. 

Whenever you check back you will be updated with the latest listings, as this info is updated daily

Bowie MD homes, seller financing

Greenbelt MD homes, seller financing

Laurel MD homes, seller financing

Upper Marlboro MD homes, seller financing

To do your OWN keyword search, go to choicerealestate.net and type in the “Keyword Search” box at the top of every page.  For instance, “seller financing Oxon Hill”.

Housing affordability in Maryland, D.C., Virginia

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

Interest rates for 30-year fixed mortgages are at astoundingly and historically low levels.  But lending standards are stricter, so fewer potential buyers are able to qualify for them.  The Fed will pump hundreds of billions of dollars into the mortgage market this year to keep rates low.  Its program to buy Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities has helped to push rates for 30-year fixed conventional mortgages down to below 5%, a reported 4.82% average in mid-April.

Due to the combination of low mortgage rates and the decline in home prices, America’s houses are at record levels of affordability. The National Association of Realtors’ Housing Affordability Index stood at 173.5 in February and should climb to even greater heights in succeeding months. The index is at 100 when a family with the median income has exactly enough income to purchase a median priced home (assuming 20% down, with housing principal and interest at 25% of income).  The affordability index averaged 107.6 for 2006.

An immediate result of the low mortgage rates was a refinancing boom.  The boom, which has been in full swing for a few months, got a boost from the administration’s Making Home Affordable foreclosure prevention program, which will reach some who have been ineligible for a refi under the old rules.

Fannie Mae’s Home Affordable Refinance and Freddie Mac’s Relief Refinance Mortgage provide refinance options for those current on their mortgage payments, but who, due to a decline in home prices or where mortgage insurance is not available, have been unable to refinance in order to obtain a lower payment or move to a mortgage with a more stable rate.

The Fannie and Freddie programs will permit loan-to-value ratios of as high as 105%.  The programs started functioning in April and will continue in operation until June 10, 2010.  Click here anytime for the latest Montgomery County MD listings between 250k and 350k…  now that’s affordable!  These listings are updated daily.

BJ Matson, 240-281-6732
Montgomery County Realtor®
choicerealestate.net contributing writer

Repairing short sales, bank owned properties

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Repairing Distressed Properties
Terrific bargains are being found among short sales and foreclosures.  Real estate investors are taking their fair share, but many are being purchased by owner-occupants, including first-time homebuyers.

But a problem, especially with foreclosures, can frustrate buyers with limited resources: Many homes need work; some are not even in livable condition.  As a homebuyer, you may have enough money for a downpayment and to fund your reserves, but no money to do upgrades and repairs.

If you have the funds to do the work, your lender probably wants the work completed BEFORE funding the loan.  The best deals are on bank foreclosures but it also seems that these properties seem to be the
hardest to purchase because of the amount of fixup work required. 

What can you do?  For buyers of homes that need minimal work to meet the lender’s requirements, find out specifically what will be necessary.  If the owner is a bank, they might be willing to make the repairs if the work can be done simply, cheaply and, most importantly, quickly. If you are fully approved and the repair is the only bar to a quick settlement, banks are now willing to negotiate in order to get the property off their books.

If the seller is the owner-occupant, you have the ability to negotiate until the matter is resolved to your satisfaction.  This is an area where you can look to your Realtor for valuable assistance.  What about situations where the home might require considerable work? Consider the situation where you find the home in the right neighborhood at a price you can afford, yet nothing inside the house appeals to you. 

The kitchen and its appliances are dated; the bathrooms need to be
renovated; new energy-efficient windows and doors are needed and
carpeting and a fresh coat of paint would be nice too.  The chances that the seller will redo the home are non-existent and financing all that work on your Sears and Home Depot credit cards (at double digit interest rates) doesn’t thrill you.

The solution? Consider doing a FHA 203k streamline loan.  So long as you are using a licensed contractor, none of the work is structural and the total bill is less than $35,000, you can purchase a home and totally renovate it with one loan.  To put it in other words, you can buy the house, get a brand new kitchen with top of the line appliances, with the countertops you fantasized about; all the bathrooms redone; new windows and the color and grade of carpeting you want with fresh paint at an affordable monthly payment.

Let’s say that you can purchase the home in as-is condition for $250,000.  And let’s say that all this work can be done for $35,000.  In the traditional approach, your downpayment in a FHA loan would be 3.5% or $8,750 and your PI would be $1,295.08 (at a 5% 30-year fixed rate).  Then you would put $35,000 on your credit cards and, on average, you would be paying an additional $950 per month as a MINIMUM monthly payment.

That creates a $2,390 monthly commitment that also ties up your credit due high credit card balances.  With a FHA 203k, your acquisition cost would be $285,000 (purchase price of home plus the $35,000 in improvements).  Your downpayment would increase by $1,225 to $9,975 and your PI would be $1,518.70 (at a 5.25% 30-year fixed rate) or $223 per month more, but it would be tax-deductible, since it is part of your original mortgage and your credit would not be encumbered by $35,000 of credit card debt that is not tax-deductible.  Another benefit is that professionals would do the work before you move in, so that trying to get settled while the renovations are going on would not disrupt your life.

Is this an oversimplification of the benefits? Maybe a little. You will be
paying for taxes and insurance in both.  You might have wonderful introductory rates on your credit cards for a year that could cost you less. You won’t get that feeling of satisfaction of doing some of the work yourself and you won’t have something you can count on having to do every evening and every weekend. The cost for these loans is only a 0.25% premium over regular rates.  It is a very small price to pay for the perceived extra risk and work that this loan requires. 

If you need more than $35,000 and/or if structural work is required, the same rate bump of 0.25% is demanded, but you will have extra costs due to special inspections and permits.  Consider also in the above example, if you are a first-time homebuyer, you would get $8,000 back as a tax credit so long as you purchased the home by December 1, 2009 effectively making your downpayment less than $2,000 with the gift from Uncle Sam.

Look at it this way, you get the home the way you want it, at some of the lowest rates in history and you help your local economy. So you can do it for yourself and do good for your country.  © 2009, Real Estate Information Services, Capitol Assets, Choice Real Estate, Inc.

Ben White, real estate agent | Choice Real Estate®

Maryland Asbestos Tips and Prevention for Home Owners

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Maryland has been an asbestos hot spot due to thriving power plants, paper mills and ship yards. These industries utilized asbestos throughout the 20th century due to its fire resistant and durable qualities. Homes built prior to 1980 still maintain the chance of containing asbestos materials.

Unfortunately, asbestos cannot be seen with the naked eye.  The home is not only a financial asset, but a place to live and raise your family. It is especially important for home owners or those seeking to buy or remodel older homes in Maryland, to determine if any health damaging materials are present. There are now green alternatives that allow for a safe and healthy home.

Although not all asbestos is considered dangerous, wear and tear can cause its fibers to become airborne, where one will inhale its damaged fibers. This can potentially lead to the development of health ailments such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, a rare form of asbestos lung cancer. Mesothelioma can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years for mesothelioma to develop, making it extremely difficult for physicians to accurately diagnose this disease.

Manufacturers of asbestos knew of its harmful qualities, but continued shipping the product anyways. The amount of incidents related to the asbestos scandal joined with the innocent fatalities has lead to mesothelioma lawyer firms advocating victims’ rights.

Home owners should hire a certified inspector to determine if any harmful materials are present and what the best course of action should be. Your family’s protection comes with knowing what you are dealing with and handling it in a responsible manner. If the inspector determines that a removal is needed, they must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor who is trained in handling dangerous substances. This process requires professional care and protective equipment. The Maryland Department of the Environment assists citizens in the inspection, removal and disposal of asbestos and other toxic qualities.

Once the process is complete, replacement options should be considered. These include cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose. Not only do these healthy substitutes provide the same qualities as asbestos, they can even reduce annual energy costs. The United States Environmental Program states that the use of cotton fiber can reduce costs up to 25 percent. These options allow for a safe, environmentally sustainable home, free of any health corroding materials.

Jesse Herman
Mesothelioma Cancer Center

www.asbestos.com

First time homebuyer credit | FHA & conforming limits raised

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

The economic stimulus bill just signed into law contains two major items for 2009 homebuyers. 
- The measure increases the first-time homebuyer tax credit to $8,000 and does away with its onerous repayment requirement.  
- It also reinstates the 2008 loan limits for FHA, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae loans, which were FannieMae loans, generally higher than the ones that have been in place for 2009.

For existing homeowners who have put off making energy-saving improvements, the time to act is now. The law has kicked up the 10% tax credit for certain energy-related expenditures to 30%! 

First-Time Homebuyer Credit
With the repayment requirement now ditched, the first-time homebuyer credit deserves a fresh look by potential firsttime buyers, many of whom were underwhelmed by the old credit with its 15-year payback. 

The credit is 10% of the cost of a home, so a house costing $80,000 will be enough to qualify for the full credit.  The credit is refundable, which means that the government will pay you the difference if your tax liability is less than your credit amount.

The credit is designed to encourage purchasers to stay for a while.  If you sell the home or stop using it as your principal residence within three years of the date of purchase, the credit will be recaptured.

There is an income limit, above which you won’t qualify for the credit.  You must have “modified” adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $150,000 or less if you are a couple filing a joint return, $75,000 or less if you’re single to get a full credit.  You can still get a partial credit up to $170,000 MAGI (joint) and $95,000 (single) based on where your income falls within the $20,000 phaseout range.

What constitutes a “first-time homebuyer?”
It is a person who has not owned a principal residence in the three years prior to the date of purchase of the home for which the credit is being claimed.  If you are a first-time buyer who bought on or after January 1 of this year, you already qualify for the credit. 

If you haven’t bought yet, you have until December 1 (not the 31st!) 2009 to buy and get the credit.

Restoration of 2008 Loan Limits
The stimulus bill restores the emergency 2008 high-cost FHA and Fannie Mae/ Freddie Mac loan limits for the remainder of 2009.  Those limits were equal to the greater of 125% of the 2008 local area median home price or $271,050 for FHA and $417,000 for Fannie and Freddie, with an overall maximum cap of $729,750. For the few areas where the 2009 limits were higher, the higher limits will apply. 

For communities with particularly high home prices, there may be some additional help from the new legislation.  The bill permits HUD to increase the loan limit for a “sub-area,” i.e. an area smaller than a county.  These exceptions would also be capped at $729,750. © 2007, Real Estate Information Services, Capitol Assets, Choice Real Estate, Inc.

Montgomery county realtor, real estate agent; rockville, king farm

Spring housing market | 2009 | MD VA DC

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

The spring housing market is usually greeted with eagerness and enthusiasm by home sellers and buyers, Realtors and mortgage professionals.  This year, though, it is being met with, well…hope. While there are still plenty of negatives, a sour economy and widespread job losses are at the top of the list, there are some distinct positives that have some industry experts seeing the storm clouds clearing later this year.

To start with, first-time homebuyers have every reason to step up in 2009, thanks to a more attractive federal tax credit.  The economic stimulus bill boosted the first-time buyer credit to $8,000 and removed the unpopular payback requirement.  Of course, we would like to have seen a broader and bigger credit. The homebuilders had pushed a visionary proposal for a $22,500 tax credit available to all homebuyers.  No deal.  Still, the improved first-timers credit should lend added support to what has been one of the bright spots in the market.  A plan announced by the White House to stem foreclosures, details of which are expected to be available March 4, should help stabilize the housing market if it succeeds in markedly reducing inventories and sales of distressed properties.  In some communities, foreclosures compose the majority of the homes on the market.  Most homeowners in these neighborhoods who have been paying their mortgages are unable to sell if they wanted to without having to bring cash to the table, so they haven’t. Once foreclosures are swept from those areas, prices should stop falling, as considerably fewer homes will be available. 

Historically low mortgage rates, at or below 5%, even if they aren’t available to all-comers, are a cornerstone for the foundation of an improved housing market.  Even those who don’t qualify for the very best rates will usually find better rates than they would have six or twelve months ago.  With Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac playing an even more essential role in the mortgage market these days, the Treasury recently upped its backing for Fannie and Freddie.

That move was intended to assure purchasers that Fannie and Freddie securities are still safe to buy, enabling the two mortgage giants to keep loan funds flowing.  The combination of low mortgage rates and falling home prices has sent affordability measures soaring.  The National Association of Realtors’ Housing Affordability index recently
stood at the highest reading on record.  The NAR index, started in 1970, rose to 158.7 in December.  The index tracks the relationship among home prices, mortgage rates and household incomes.  New home starts have continued to sag, falling to 50-year record low levels in January. Good.  We can’t expect to work down the inventory of existing homes if homebuilders keep adding to the overall supply of houses, so that is another positive for the market, if not for the builders.

Falling prices are starting to bring in buyers. It is a real estate truism that location is the key to the attractiveness of a home. This is true on a regional, state, metropolitan area or community level.  Some markets that have seen big price declines and sagging sales and
foreclosures have seen increases in sales volume.  Home sales posted the largest monthly gain since 2002 in December, as calmer conditions started to bring buyers out of their bomb shelters following a tumultuous October and November in the financial markets.

What was really promising is that a greater number of sales contracts were signed in December 2008 than in December 2007.  If we start seeing regular year-over-year improvements, that would be huge.  In the third quarter, homes in California sold at the fastest rate since 2006.  Arizona and Nevada saw similar bounces.  Virginia and Florida registered improving sales figures as well.  The reason?  Prices have fallen to levels
that buyers are finding irresistible.  And within regions that may not have seen a overall rebound yet, individual neighborhoods are stabilizing and sales picking up. 

Consult with your Realtor to learn the current market conditions where you have an interest.  Ultimately, the unleashing of pent-up, demand (a number of housing experts are certain it exists) amid the lure of attractive prices and mortgage rates are the elixer that will cure our housing ills.  I look forward to finding you a home this Spring in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas!   © 2007, Real Estate Information Services, Capitol Assets, Choice Real Estate, Inc.

Montgomery county realtor, real estate agent; rockville, king farm

Glens at Wellington $2 piece jeopardizing safety

Saturday, February 14th, 2009

The below image is the actual 2 piece strike plate that the builder of the homes in this development used for the front door.  Ryan Homes built this community.

If installed properly, a screw would be placed in the lower right hole below.  THEN, the piece on the left is put over it, and 2 more screws are inserted.  Take a screwdriver and check your strike plates, I DID.  For both the bottom lock and the top security bolt lock, the below 2 set strike plates were used.  In BOTH cases no screw was inserted in the lower right hole.  How does the person who installed these knowingly skip this step (to save time i’m sure) sleep at night?

Why is this important?  A kid can kick the front door open.  That’s how I discovered the problem.  An intruder would have NO problem kicking the door in.  The lack of the screw allows the piece underneath to slide right out when your latch or security bolt push hard enough on it!!

First of all, why wouldn’t the builder use a ONE-PIECE strike plate to begin with?  This $2 piece could jeopardize any of it’s buyers  safety.  If you live in this community, do yourself a huge favor and check your strike plates.  If screw is missing, either; remove the top strike plate so you can insert a screw in the bottom one, OR go to Home Depot to buy new ONE PIECE strike plates for your top and bottom locks.  While you’re at it, replace the ones on your basement door… a place where an intruder is more likely to try.

2 piece strike plate used at Glens of Wellington in Laurel

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PHOTOS OF THE GLENS AT WELLINGTON

Status of expiring tax provisions

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

A number of tax provisions have been at the mercy of annual or biennial renewals for budgetary reasons and their on-again, off-again status is often confusing for taxpayers who might want to take advantage of them.  Here is where some of these stand at present.

Several perpetually expiring provisions winning two-year reprieves (for 2008 and 2009) last year, include:
(1) The deduction for state and local sales taxes, which permits taxpayers who itemize to elect deducting sales taxes instead of state income taxes.  If you reside in a state with no income tax, don’t pass up this option.

(2) An above-the-line (before calculating adjusted gross income) deduction for higher education costs. The provision permits a maximum deduction of $4,000 in each year for those whose AGI does not exceed $65,000 ($130,000 in the case of a joint return), or $2,000 for an individual whose AGI does not exceed $80,000 ($160,000 in the case of a joint return).

(3) The above-the-line deduction for up to $250 of expenses paid by an elementary or secondary school teacher for books or other educational items.

(4) A provision that allows people over the age of 70 1/2 to make tax-free charitable distributions (contributions) of up to $100,000 per year from their IRAs (pay direct to the charity).  The 10% credit for expenditures on energy efficient home improvements, such as insulation materials or systems, exterior windows, skylights and doors, which expired in 2007, has been reinstated for 2009.  The cumulative maximum is $500.  Once again, Congress will need to address the alternative minimum tax, which is in serious need of a general revamping.

The 2008 fix temporarily increases the AMT exemption for joint-filing married couples to $69,950 (up from $66,250 in 2007) and for single taxpayers to $46,200 (from $44,250).  Without another fix for 2009, the permanent exemptions of $45,000 (joint) and $33,500 (single) would apply.  © 2007, Real Estate Information Services, Capitol Assets, Choice Real Estate, Inc.

Ben White, real estate agent | Choice Real Estate®

Tips for filing your 2008 return continued…

Monday, February 9th, 2009

continued from this blog post
For donations of vehicles, if the claimed value is more than $500, you must have a written acknowledgment from the charity and you must attach it to your return.  The acknowledgment must include your taxpayer identification number, vehicle identification number and date of the contribution.

If the vehicle was sold, the charity also must include the price at which it was sold and certify that the sale was an arm’s-length transaction.  If the charity made significant use of or fixed up the vehicle, then a deduction can be taken for the fair market value, subject to additional certifications. 

Forms:
If you are filing the same forms this year as last, the IRS has probably already sent you the appropriate package.  However, if you moved, are itemizing for the first time (especially anyone who bought their first home in 2008), or started a business, for example, you will need additional forms.  You can download forms from the IRS at www.irs.gov.  Call 703-368-9694 (not a toll-free call) from your fax machine and follow the instructions. 

Here are some useful tips:
Valuing deductions for aluing contributions of items to charity. 
Estimating the value of household items such as old clothes, toys, appliances, etc. that you donated to charity is troublesome for most tax payers.  You can deduct the “fair market value” of these items, but how do you know what that is?

The Salvation Army (www.satruck.org/donation_value_guide) and Goodwill Industries (www.goodwill.org) both have guides that contain ranges of values for common clothing and household items. If you use TurboTax to prepare your return, it has software that values and manages your charitable donations.

Home mortgage interest and taxes.  If you bought a home in 2008, be sure to add any adjustments for state or local taxes attributable to your period of ownership that may have been paid by the seller in advance.  See lines 106 and 107 of your HUD-1 form for these.  You can add them to any taxes that your lender reports having paid.

Tax planning for 2009

Monday, February 9th, 2009

The estate tax will likely continue to exist.  Tax cut legislation enacted in 2001 provided for a slow phase out of the estate tax, with it being extinguished completely in 2010.  The problem is that, because the entire tax measure expires after ten years, the estate tax would come back at the old levels (55% on estates over $1 million) in 2011.  The new administration and Congress are probably not going to let that happen.  The estate tax will not be permitted to expire, but won’t go back as low a level as in the past.  The best guess is that it will be frozen at the 2009 level, with individual estates over $3.5 million subject to the tax.  For those who expect their estate would exceed that amount, a visit to your tax professional for an estate planning session is in order.  Some solace (a quantum?) can be found in 2009’s increase in the annual gift tax exemption (the amount that can be given each year to an individual without having it count toward the total estate) to $13,000, up from $12,000 in 2008.

Take advantage of retirement account opportunities.  With many people’s retirement accounts taking on water in 2008, maxing out retirement options will be a priority in 2009.  Maximum deferrals for 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans are $16,500 ($22,000 for those over 50) for 2009.  If you have a plan that is still matching at past levels, be grateful.  Some companies are reducing or suspending matches.  The 2009 contribution limit for both deductible IRAs and nondeductible Roth IRAs remains at $5,000 ($6,000 if over 50), but the income phaseout ranges for contributions rise to $105,000-$120,000 (of modified AGI) for single taxpayers and $166,000-$176,000 for couples.  For those required to take distributions from a retirement account, the minimum distribution rule is suspended for 2009 in most cases (there are some exceptions).

Conversion to a Roth IRA may be a good move.  The stock market plunge in 2008 and early 2009 may work for those who are willing to pay taxes now to convert a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA in order to enjoy the Roth’s benefits (distributions are tax-free and no minimum is required).

Period on forgiveness of mortgage debt has been extended.  When a home is sold or foreclosed on and the proceeds are not enough to cover the loan balance, the lender will usually discharge (forgive) the difference.  The problem is the tax law treats discharged amounts as taxable income.  Legislation passed last year has extended for an additional three years, through 2012, a law exempting discharges on housing debt from inclusion as taxable income.  The special rule applies to discharges of up to $2 million in indebtedness, so long as the debt was incurred to acquire, construct or substantially improve of a principal residence.  Discharges of debt on vacation or other second homes, on home equity debt, and on cash-out refinancings to the extent they exceed the old mortgage amount (if not for home improvement) do not qualify for the special treatment.

Generous mileage rates in effect for 2009.  While gasoline prices have plummeted since last July, the IRS has only dropped its mileage rates for the business use of a vehicle by a few cents. For the second half of 2008, the rate was 58.5 cents per mileFor 2009, the figure will be 55 cents.  The accompanying rate for medically related mileage or for moving costs will be 24 cents per mile in 2009.  © 2007, Real Estate Information Services, Capitol Assets, Choice Real Estate, Inc.

Ben White, real estate agent | Choice Real Estate®

Tips for filing your 2008 return

Saturday, February 7th, 2009

Documents:  The essentials are W-2 forms from your employer(s) and 1099 forms from organizations from which you have reportable income. These must be mailed by February 1. If you are a subchapter S corporation shareholder, you will get a K-1, which must be mailed by March 1. You’ll also need the 1098 form from your mortgage lender reporting home mortgage interest and property taxes paid (if you do not pay them directly).  When mutual fund sales are reported to you, your average cost basis of the shares is usually included.  Sales of stocks and bonds will probably require you to delve back into your own records to determine the amount of gains or losses.  The purchase dates and cost basis for the investments sold will be needed to fill out your Schedule D (Capital Gains and Losses).

Did you add a dependent in 2008?  You need taxpayer identification numbers (for a new baby, that will be a Social Security number) for family members to claim them as a dependent.  If you claim tax benefits for a resident or nonresident alien who is not eligible for an SSN, you should file an IRS Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.  For cash charitable contributions, you need either a bank record (a cancelled check or a bank or credit card statement) or a written communication from the charity showing the amount and date of the contribution. Cash contributions of more than $250 require an acknowledgment from the charity.

Noncash contributions of less than $250, more than $250 but less than $500, and more than $500 each have specific record keeping requirements that must be met.  No deduction is allowed for contributions of used clothing or household items unless they are in at least “good” condition.  An exception to the general rules is made for property worth more than $500 for which you have an appraisal. 

Loan origination and discount fees (lines 801 and 802) are generally deductible for the purchaser/borrower, whether or not they are paid from the borrower’s funds or the seller’s funds at settlement, so long as they meet specific tests.   If these items are paid on a refinance, they usually must be amortized over the period of the loan (for example, 1/360 for each month of a 30-year loan). However, if you sold your home or refinanced again in 2008, you can deduct whatever amount remained from your earlier refi if you refinanced with a different lender.   If you refinanced with the same lender, the points must continue to be deducted over the life of the loan. 

Make a retirement contribution.  One thing that you can still do this year to reduce 2008’s tax liability is make a deductible contribution to a retirement account. Contributions to traditional IRAs and certain accounts for the self-employed can be made until the due date for your return (without extensions). The annual contribution limit for regular and spousal IRAs is $5,000 for 2008, $6,000 if you’ve turned 50.  You qualify for the full amount of the IRA if you are not covered by a retirement plan at work.  If you are covered, you can take a full deduction if your “modified” adjusted gross income is less than $53,000 for a single person, $85,000 for married joint filers.  A partial deduction is available for singles with MAGIs from $53,000 to $63,000 and for joint filers with MAGIs between $85,000 and $105,000.

Don’t forget loss carryovers.  If you have any capital losses that may have been carried over from prior years (those that exceeded the $3,000 limit on deductible losses), they can be used to offset last year’s gains.  Check your Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses, from 2007 for the carryover amount. Sadly, many will be adding carryovers this year, rather than using up old ones.

Get your refund faster via direct deposit.  Filing electronically and using direct deposit gets refunds faster, in as little as ten days if you do both, the IRS says.  You can split directly deposited funds among as many as three bank, brokerage or mutual fund accounts, using Form 8888.  You’ll need to provide routing numbers for each.

Need more time? Get a six-month extension.  Form 4868 provides for an automatic six-month extension to file, to October 15, 2009 for most taxpayers.  You are still required to estimate and pay any additional tax you might owe.  © 2007, Real Estate Information Services, Capitol Assets, Choice Real Estate, Inc.

Property tax deduction for non-itemizers

Friday, February 6th, 2009

..for 2009 and 2008 returns
Homeowners who don’t have enough deductions to make it worthwhile to file an itemized return can now take an additional standard deduction for the amount of property taxes they have paid, up to $500 for single filers or $1,000 for joint return filers. 

This tax rule will be in effect for 2008 and 2009 returns.

Housing watch list for 09

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

 

There are a few trends/issues to which we think you should pay particular attention this year. 

Builders require extra due diligence.  In November, homebuilders started the fewest number of new homes since 1959.  That’s tough for builders, but good for the housing market as a whole.  We need builders to stop building homes on spec, i.e., homes without a contracted buyer.  Mostly they have.  Its hard to shrink inventories if builders are adding unsold homes to the supply.  Builders are still having cancellations and these homes, with construction already underway, can be great opportunities. Builders are still offering a host of incentives.  How about funding your downpayment on layaway, through deposits to an escrow account?

However, builders need to be approached with great caution.  So far, the big national builders have all avoided bankruptcy.  So far.  The smaller ones are another matter.  Be sure to check out the financial health of any builder, especially small and regional builders, before relinquishing a big deposit check.  Some publicly traded builders have substantial cash reserves on their balance sheets and should be worthy of your trust. Others with shakier financials need to be vetted like a cabinet nominee before making a commitment.

It’s a great time to “go green.”  Energy prices have fallen off a cliff, so it’s the perfect time to go green.  That’s because contractors for solar energy systems will see demand temporarily slacken as the economy weakens and energy prices sag.  It is actually a great time for any remodeling or rehab project.  With an expanded tax credit of 30% of the cost (and there is no longer a credit cap), demand for solar systems should soar if/once energy costs do, so acting now should get faster action and maybe a discount.  Some states and electric utilities are offering their own incentives, as well.

If you don’t want or can’t afford to make a big money commitment, small scale energy tunes, such as efficient appliances, windows, etc. will contribute to lower carbon emissions and pay off big time when energy costs rise again.  Even historic homes can benefit from a number of low-tech tweaks.  Most of these items can be purchased “on sale” these days and will start saving money immediately. 

No fibbing about your income.  In the past, mortgage lenders asked for the right to get copies of your tax returns, requiring that you fill out an IRS Form 4506-T at closing. But they checked them only rarely, on a spot basis.  No rolling the dice with that, anymore, though.  Most lenders are processing the return request as a matter of course, so fibbers will be found out, and face the consequences.

Approach condos with caution.  Condos were in the midst of a renaissance just a few years ago. They have been popular choices for many first time home buyers, empty nesters and those generally seeking amenities and convenience without maintenance responsibilities.  That popularity was their downfall.  Developers rushed to build new condos or convert apartments to condo ownership.  Just in time for the housing market nose-dive.  It doesn’t take very many mega-projects to create a glut and that is what we have in many areas.  While a glut should mean low prices and opportunities for buyers, and that is the case, it has also caused strains on condo association finances.

Unsold units in new projects and foreclosures or delinquent association fees can cripple association budgets.  That is why a close examination of a condominium association’s finances are a must for condo buyers before making a final commitment to purchase.  Many states require disclosures before contracts become final.  Don’t take that opportunity lightly.  Oh, in a double whammy for condominiums, lenders and mortgage insurers have significantly toughened their requirements for condo purchases.

Be nice to your real estate professionals.  Its been a run of difficult years in the real estate market, weeding out many marginal participants.  So most of the professionals who remain, both Realtors and mortgage specialists, are the serious, committed survivors.  Real estate agents these days often go beyond the call of duty to help out their homesellers.  That has sometimes embolded sellers to exploit their agent’s good nature by asking them to perform tasks waaay outside the bounds of a normal professional relationship.

Similarly, mortgage specialists who help potential borrowers clean their credit, restructure their balance sheets and develop a mortgage plan have too often have found themselves “shopped” to another lender (who may or may not deliver what they promise) for a few dollars in savings.  All we ask is that you extend to your professionals the same degree of respect, faithfulness and commitment that you would expect from them and that their code of conduct demands.
© 2007, Real Estate Information Services, Capitol Assets, Choice Real Estate, Inc.

Ben White, real estate agent | Choice Real Estate®

2009 Housing market preview | Maryland, Virginia, D.C.

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

2009 Housing Market
Will 2009 be the year that we finally see an end to the slide in home prices and the start of a rebound? Some market watchers think so.  Of course, recent spells of optimism about the housing market have proven premature and that could be the case again.  Still, there will be an upturn in housing eventually and there is an argument being made that this will be that year.  While the housing market may be suffering a sales slump, it is enjoying an affordability boom.  Some markets that have seen big price declines have been bouncing back in terms of sales volume.  Many of the purchasers are savvy investors and first time buyers seizing what some have called a “once-in-a lifetime” opportunity, as low mortgage rates and even lower prices converge.   As a result, in many markets, the previously unaffordable is now within reach.

As we move into 2009, we expect to see economic policymakers launching a reinvigorated attack to stabilize home prices and stimulate sales.  Most of the focus until now has been on shoring up financial institutions and reworking troubled mortgages for beleagured borrowers.  The former effort has arguably been successful to this point, the latter less so. Neither have kept sales from slumping and prices falling further, though.  While these were efforts to treat the symptoms of a sick market for houses, we think there will be new efforts to address at least one aspect of the disease itself: swollen inventories of homes and large numbers of distress sales that have undercut home values in many communities.  Another component of the disease, tighter standards for getting a mortgage will be harder to treat. 

Really, really low mortgage rates, historically low rates in fact, could be the irresistible force needed to get more potential buyers off their sofas and out viewing the homes they have been waiting for and the confidence and motivation to buy, thus lifting sales.  The lure of low mortgage rates started to be dangled in November when the Federal Reserve announced that it would be buying mortgage securities from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and others. Mortgage rates almost immediately dropped below 6% for the first time since May and were headed in the direction of 5% by mid-December, their lows for the year.  Even better, Treasury has reportedly been mulling a plan to make mortgages available for as little as 4 1/2% (for purchases only), which would be 50-year plus lows.  Some expect mortgage rates to go lower, even if Treasury doesn’t act.  Bond guru Bill Gross of Pimco, among others, has predicted that mortgage rates could drop to 4 1/2% this year.

Low mortgage rates not withstanding, though, it will be hard for potential home buyers to justify thinking about purchasing a home if the economy looks a if it is in a protracted downturn.  Everyone agrees the economy is headed down, extending a recession that was said to have started in December 2007, but how far down and for how long are the unknowns.  The performance of the stock market is widely recognized as an important “tell” of the nation’s economic hand, usually turning higher months before the end of an economic downturn.  So the rally in late November through mid- December sparked hope among the optimists that it foretold a late 2009 upswing.  Of course, another financial or economic shoe (it sometimes seems that we are dealing with a milleped!) could drop causing the rally to still fizzle (January is frequently a problem), but there will be relief if it doesn’t resume the seemingly relentless plunge of much of 2008.  But the economy as a whole doesn’t have to be in full recovery mode for the housing market to improve.  The dive in home sales and prices led the economy down.

The confidence boost from stable prices and improved sales can help lead the economy back up.  That is why economic policymakers are going to try to ramp up home sales and staunch further price declines.  What more might they do?

First, policymakers likely will act anew to stem the tide of foreclosures.  The attack on foreclosures so far has been piecemeal. A more coordinated, sweeping approach is expected from the new administration.

Second, they will probably take more aggressive steps to stimulate home sales.  stimulate homesales.  The National Associations of Realtors and Home Builders have urged increasing the $7,500 tax credit, making it apply to all buyers, not just first-time buyers, and/or doing away with the payback.  Such proposals will get a close look.  The plunge in mortgage rates can be a big, big help. Some economists have said that home prices may need to fall another 10-20% to bring them to a level where they will be affordable and appealing widely to potential buyers.  But it is affordability, not necessarily price alone, that is the key here.

What would be the impact of 4 1/2% mortgages on affordability? Mortgages at that level would constitute a 19% increase in affordability compared with the 6.46% rate that was the norm as recently as late October.  This would bring about a major boost in affordability without prices having to fall any further.

Ben White, real estate agent | Choice Real Estate®

Reston VA bank owned condo $399,900 | 11776 Stratford House

Tuesday, December 30th, 2008

$399,900
11776 Stratford House Place
Reston, Virginia  20190

MRIS# Fx6947961

Previous owner paid close to $600,000 in 2004.
Sparkling hardwood thru-out, granite countertops in the kitchen and stainless steel appliances, separate balcony from the master bedroom, and spacious bedrooms!
Located directly across the street from Reston Town Center.
2 GARAGE SPOTS

11776 Stratford House Pl, Reston VA condo for sale

Jay Bauer, real estate agent
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
301.785.1100

Call Listing Agent Jay Bauer or complete a contact form and Jay will get right back with you.
Available Reston condos under $500,000Add your listing