Andre L. Allen, REALTOR®, e-PRO

If you have been on the fence about purchasing a home, the Georgia House has passed legislation to get you on the side of "buy."

House members voted 162-4 to allow home purchasers to receive an income-tax credit of up to $3,600, which would be credited up to $1,200 for three years. The next step is that it has to pass the Senate and on to the Governor. Once the Governor signs the bill, homeowners will be given a window of time to purchase a home in order to qualify for the credit. From my understanding, this timeframe may be in the length of 3-6 months.

The goal of the tax credit is to reduce the amount of housing inventory in Georgia. Representatives understand that our housing market will not change until the amount of available homes on the market decreases.

This credit would apply to new and previously occupied homes or condominiums, this includes foreclosures. A possible added bonus for those looking to purchase or invest in a second residence, you would be able to take advantage of the tax credit also.

What about the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit?

The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit is a federal income-tax credit that has its own set of criteria and stipulations that must be met to qualify. Go to my site to see if you qualify for The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.

Let's assume that all of your moons and stars are aligned and you are able to qualify for both federal and state credits. (Before we make this assumption, we must first assume that the state credit runs concurrent with the federal credit which is after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.) You may be eligible for up to an $8,000 credit from the government and up to a $1,200 credit from the state of Georgia. I think this would be pretty good incentives to move toward home ownership. (Please consult your accountant or tax preparer for confirmation to my assumption.)

Do you think the state is taking the right steps to change Georgia's real estate market?

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact Andre Allen, REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty - Atlanta Partners serving the real estate needs of Metro Atlanta, GA. Contact me at (678) 252-2959 or AndreAllen@kw.com.

As I stood in line, going down a narrow hallway with voters on both sides, waiting for the opportunity to cast our ballot, I approached a portion of the hall with restrooms and water fountains. As I watched a woman take a drink from one of the fountains it symbolized the road we have traveled as a nation and I began to reflect.

It wasn't that long ago where this picture told a story of where we were as a country. As I spoke to the Jamaican man in front of me; listened to a Cuban woman talk about how long it's been since her last trip to Cuba; and get bits and pieces of a conversation about eating at a Chinese restaurant between a woman originally from Louisiana, who loved her Cajun roots, and a Black man, it solidified how much I appreciate this great state of Georgia and the United States of America. Now by no means am I naive enough to believe that we all live in peace and harmony, but for those two hours I was in the middle of something that I felt was special. No matter who we planned to cast our votes for on a national, state or local level it didn't separate us as Americans. We all appeared to be in high spirits waiting on our moment to perform our civic duty.

I mention all of this to say, when you are out at the polls, maybe standing in a long line, take a moment to speak to the people around you and realize that their votes may not be in line with yours, but we have the privilege to choose.