Are you aware The HomeBuyer's Tax Credit was extended one year for members of the military and veterans? Any military who served outside the US for at least 90 days during the period of January 1, 2009- April 30, 2010 can use this credit on FHA, Conventional or VA mortgages.
Or, if you purchase your home or enter into a contract to purchase on or before April 30, 2011, you can claim the tax credit when you file your taxes for 2010. My advise would be to enlist a tax professional, as you may be required to file with the paper version instead of the more popular e-file version.
(Qualifying Income Levels for the full tax credit on VA, FHA or Conventionl Loans: a single person earning not to exceed $125,000. Married couples not to exceed a combined income of $225,000. Even if you exceed these levels, you may still be eligible for a partial tax credit!)
Carol West, Principal Broker
RE/MAX Equity Group
Direct: 503-730-4113
The improvements in our economy are encouraging if slight. However, I'll take whatever good news I can and share it with others as 'perception' is an important part of our emotional/economic pie. While sales statistics are more relevant in a local context, here is a recap for Portland, Oregon's up through November:
Total Active Residential Listings 13,105
Total Market Time (Nov., 2010) 140 days-increased
Compared to last year (Nov., 2009) 131 days
Average Sales Price (Nov., 2010) $271,900-decreased
Average Sales Price (Oct., 2010) $276,800
Closed Sales Year to Date (Jan-Nov., 10) 17,385-increased
Closed Sales Year to Date (Jan-Nov., 09) 17,340
Inventory in Months (Nov., 2010) 10.2-increased
Inventory in Months (Nov., 2009) 7.1
Closed sales decreased by 1% Oct 2010 to Nov 2010.
Transform a home very quickly with new flooring and especially, new carpeting. The renovation is not complete without a fresh new carpet and pad.
New 100% Nylon carpets are the best investments, resist stains and absorption of cooking odors and generate less indoor pollution than others available today. They are also very reasonable and give you so much for so little spent.
I recommend that you:
-Buy new padding. Old padding holds more odors than the carpeting.
-Spend the money for an 8 lb. pad to provide the luxurious feel of top carpeting.
-Shop around and find the best buy locally. You will shipping costs or delays on your projects.
-Match color tones to blend with your furnishings and wall colors staying on the lighter side to create the feeling of more space.
-Find carpets on special for close to $.99 per foot.
-Avoid dark shades of Beige and Browns which date the home and create dreary feeling.
Note the difference in the home I was updating. The old Brown carpeting against the new laminated flooring and the new vanilla cream color replacement.
When you are looking into making changes in your Hillsboro home, whether it is a large renovation project, an addition or, adding new flooring and paint - a good contractor with experience and practicing good craftsmanship can actually save you money. They will provide good insight into what the finished project will look like and how well it would add to the existing structure. They bring their training and experience to the job and are responsible to ensure a successful improvement. Most times, a Hillsboro homeowner will not follow the permit process and find themselves building out of established codes.
Unless you do remodeling professionally, it can be difficult and expensive to purchase the needed tools to do the job right and, most importantly, provide the end result that will appeal to future Buyers as well. Good contractors can also suggest several different approaches for adding more value to the project.
Your local Hillsboro OR Realtor will be able to provide a few contractors to choose from that have been tested and worth recommending to someone needing their help.
Carol West, Hillsboro OR Real Estate
ReMax Equity Group, Inc.
Hillsboro, OR 97123
www.CarolWestRealEstate.com
Mobile: 503-730-4113
Our housing market is slowly changing but, you may not have noticed:
-Interest rates are up and down lately and may impact the opportunity for many people to buy. If we begin a slow upward trend in interest rates, many will find their mortgage payments too high to qualify.
-While home prices are stabilizing, in some states, they are actually starting to rise up again. If possible for you to buy before the market climbs much higher, you might be on your way to a new financial future. Remember: paging rent is not building wealth but helping to pay someone else’s mortgage. Sometimes, for only a few hundred dollars more a month, you may be able to buy your own
It may behoove you to sell your home to move up. The neighborhood you couldn't qualify for in 2007/8 may be more affordable now, allowing you to relocate where you really wish to live and be closer to work.
I can assist you with your home search and provide excellent lenders to help determine your ideal price range for your new home.
Carol West, Hillsboro-Beaverton-Forest Grove-OR Homes,
Real Estate Principal Broker
ReMax Equity Group
1300 NE 48th Ave, Suite 500
Hillsboro, OR 97124
Direct: 503-730-4113
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Hillsboro Principal Realtor serving Hillsboro, Beaverton, Portland & surrounding communities with results driven service.
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