About Anchorage County, AK

by Victoria Brink & Associates

This Month In Real Estate Special Edition

This Month In Real Estate (US) SPECIAL EDITION: The Updated 2009 Homebuyer Tax Credit Source: www.youtube.com This Month in Real Estate provides expert opinion and analysis on real estate trends across the nation. Anchorage Alaska Real Estate

http://www.akhomesold.com

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/5-reasons-to-buy-a-home-during-holidays-1.aspx?ic_id=nwsltr_mtgrlest_20091112

5 reasons to buy a home during holidays

By Tracey C. Velt • Bankrate.com

Add 'new home' to your shopping list 1 of 7

While you may think it's crazy to tackle the huge task of homebuying during the schedule-jammed holiday season, the holidays are actually a great time to find real estate deals in today's new economy.

"This year in particular may be different than other years," says Beth Tyler, a broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Annapolis, Md., who says the economy has boosted many sellers' motivation to sell.

"Interest rates are at an all-time low, prices are greatly depressed and inventory is plentiful," says Nick Burrafato, broker/owner of Florida HomeGallery Real Estate in Orlando, Fla.

"The holiday season is a particularly good time for first-time homebuyers to find a home," says Rich Hayden, senior loan officer for HomeFirst Mortgage Corp. in Alexandria, Va. "But get prequalified with a mortgage broker or lender early. The typical turnaround to close a home is 30 (to) 60 days, so it's best to get started right away."

"The housing market appears to have reached a floor through the June to September period," says Steve Murray, editor of REAL Trends, a real estate industry publication.

"December home sales usually make up about 8.1 percent of total annual home sales," he says. The peak months are May, June, July and August -- each nearly 11 percent of annual home sales. The only months lower than December are November, January and February.

Here are five reasons the 2009 holiday season promises to be filled with better-than-usual home bargains:

Anchorage Alaska Real Estate

http://www.akhomesold.com

Anchorage Alaska Real Estate News - Keller Williams Realty Alaska Group - Brink & Associates Anchora Source: www.akbrinkteam.com Anchorage Alaska Real Estate News from Keller Williams Realty Alaska Group - Brink & Associates Anchorage Real Estate.

http://www.akbrinkteam.com/Morning-Coffee

A public workshop discussing midtown Anchorage growth will be held in the conference room of the Loussac Public Library from 6-8:30pm on Thursday, November 19, 2009. A special presentation is scheduled for 7pm, with a discussion following. The Midtown District Plan has gone through several incarnations over the last couple of years. The Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) wants to hear any public comments, criticisms or ideas. They are happy to implement anything that makes the Midtown District Plan stronger. The deadline for all Anchorage residents to make public comment on the Public Review Draft are due by December 15, 2009. The final review will be submitted at that time. You can download a copy of the Public Review Draft here. All public comments can be made in person at the public workshop on Thursday, November 19th, via email to Tana Klunder at klundertg@ci.anchorage.ak.us or via snail mail to:

ATTN: Midtown District Plan
4700 Elmore Rd, 2nd Floor
Anchorage, AK 99507

All snail mail must be received well in advance of the December 15, 2009 to be considered to be included in the final review. Please make plans to come to the public workshop for Midtown Anchorage Growth on Thursday, November 19th to make sure to get your thoughts and opinions considered for this important project for the Anchorage economy.

Pauline Hofseth, your Anchorage real estate expert

Obama signed the Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension and Expansion on November 6, 2009. The original First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit that was introduced in February was a $8000 tax credit for any one who had not owned a home in the past three years. The $8000 was based on the sale amount of a property. The refund is 10% of the purchase price, up to $8000. Any first time home buyer qualified for this if they found, bought, and closed on a home by November 30, 2009.

Now that Obama has signed the new and revised version of the Home Buyer Tax Credit, consumers are given an additional five months to complete their home purchase. Home buyers now have until April 30, 2010 to close and record on a home to qualify for the tax credit.

In addition to the extension, congress has also moved to expand the tax credit so that move-up buyers or second home buyers would qualify for a tax credit up to $6500, as long as they owned their previous residence for at least 5 years.

For more information regarding the tax credit, refer to the IRS website

For more Anchorage Real Estate, call Vanna 907-720-4663