Gainesville, GA

If you’re considering purchasing your first home, now is the time. You can take advantage of an $8,000 tax credit and even amend your 2008 returns to get that money back this year. Now there is even talk that you can use the $8,000 as your down payment with an FHA loan with an approved FHA lender. Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said that the Federal Housing Administration is going to permit its lenders to allow homeowners to use the $8,000 tax credit as a down payment. I haven’t seen anywhere that this has already started, but it should come down soon. You have to close before Dec. 1, 2009 to be eligible for this program. A quick note, if you FHA loan, you only have to pay 3.5 percent down. If you buy a home for $150,000 you are only required to pay $5,250.00 down. Use part of your $8,000.00 for your down payment and that leaves you $2,750.00 for repairs, remodeling, furniture, or whatever you need it for. Call me today and let’s start looking! Kim Craft 770-654-6656

Guest blogger: Beau Henderson, with Fiduciary Capital:

When cash values are insecure, real estate is a smart place to put your money. If you don’t own a home, that’s the perfect place to start. Buy the best house you can afford—and the “afford” part is critical. Particularly when you are buying a home at least partially as an inflation hedge, it might be tempting to invest as much money as possible into your new home, i.e. buy the most expensive house you can manage. However, be sure to take into consideration your income, your debt, your savings and – most importantly – your spending habits. It’s only smart to invest in a house that that will hold or gain value, and foreclosure tends to have a negative effect on that. So, especially during times of layoffs, a good rule of thumb is to make sure you’ve got the financial reserves to keep you afloat in case of a sudden emergency or job loss.

One of the best parts of home ownership is the mortgage tax deduction, which, depending on your tax bracket, can reduce your effective mortgage expenditures by as much as 30 cents on the dollar. Also, if possible, get a fixed rate mortgage. That means that no matter how long you live in the house, if you don’t refinance, your housing expenses will remain the same. And the best part: while housing prices can rise and fall, as they’ve recently demonstrated, housing investments are overwhelmingly stable. Over time—and that’s key, the long term part— the value of houses almost always keeps up with inflation and generally exceeds it, and every mortgage payment you make is like putting money in your savings account.

Of course, buying the right house in the right place is important in making a sound investment. Before going after that house, find yourself a savvy real estate agent and broker who have the knowledge and skills to guide you toward the best possible investment.

Beau Henderson is a certified senior financial planner and a authorize 1031 Intermediary. His office is in Gainesville and he can be reached at 770-540-9142.

With eight years’ experience shaping the financial futures of more than 2,000 clients, Beau Henderson combines an expert knowledge of the industry with an exclusive understanding of the market. And that’s a winning combination for your investment strategy.

A Forsyth County native and graduate of the University of Georgia, Beau majored in finance and psychology. After spending two years as a Regions Bank loan officer, Beau felt drawn to financial planning, a career that would allow him to use his expertise to help his clients toward lifelong financial security and success. A Registered Financial Consultant, Beau is currently Vice President of Financial Planning and Senior Financial Advisor with Fiduciary Capital based in Gainesville, Ga.

Spring is coming and the housing market in Gainesville, GA is soon to bloom! Looking at the January numbers of residential home sales, pending home sales, and new listings in Hall county Georgia, the market is moving in the right direction. Hall county Georgia is down 20.4% in new listings, this means there are not as many homes coming on the market, so less competition for the current homes for sale in Hall county Georgia. Also for the month of January new foreclosures in Gainesville Georgia was down 2%. That is good because foreclosures for sale in Gainesville, Georgia directly effect the saleability of a the average resale due to the pricing, also helps in bringing up the average sales price. In January 2009, the number of homes for sale in Gainesville, Georgia fell 20%, this shows inventory falling, this will help lean up the over saturated market. If you are looking to sell a home in Gainesville, Georgia feel free to visit http://meganthoroman.comto set up a consultation for your home.

People ask me all the time are we at the bottom? The tough part about that questions is we won't know until we've hit the bottom and are on our way back up. Then we'll look back and say "Oh, the bottom was 6 months ago", which is too late to hit "the bottom".

At any rate, the longest recession since 1937 we have seen recessions has been 16 months. According to NAR, our recession started in December of 2007. Sixteen months would bring us to April of 2009. If we actually see a trend that is as long as 16 months the light at the end of the tunnel is just ahead. Yes, the nation is on the edge, companies are makeing HUGE cut backs, and change is happening today in the White House, but I'm looking forward to see what this clensing does for our economy. We, including myself, need to get back to basics. First God, then Family, then Work, then everyone else...should be our priorities.

Don't wait on legislatures to stimulate the economy! If you are on the fence to buy a house, now is the time. Prices are low, interest rates are at record lows, and the market will come back. Remember rules of buying stocks? Buy LOW, Sell HIGH. Well....we are having a SALE in Real Estate and LOW prices for homes and the stock market are now available.

Millionaires are made in this type of economy...is it going to be you?

All across North Georgia important Corp of engineer lake levels are rising. Lake Lanier , thanks to Faye rose 2 feet. Other lakes are doing the same.

This is important for the savvy real estate buyer for a couple of reasons. Property on Corp lakes is depressed due in part to low water levels. Every body finally I think , "gets it". Conservation and planning are very important. So I believe once these lakes return to full measures will be in place to conserve the water.

Now is the time to buy if you are looking for property on Corp lakes. Buy while the lakes are dry.

If you are selling you have to be heartened by recent rain events. You will have to hold on a little longer for top dollar. As the levels rise so do the prices.In the end it is that tension between buyers and sellers that make the market prices.

If you are looking for lake property we at All Mountain rRealty have a team of experts that understand Corp lakes, and other lake issues. Contact us at 706 579 1098 or visit us on line at www.allmtnrealty.com