Cidalia Mendonca Matukas ~ Realtor Greater Brockton Southeastern Mass R.E.

Just Sold! Are you thinking of selling? Want results? Call today!

Are you a slave to rent? Continue to rent and all you have is receipts. With rates as low as they are you are likely to have monthly payments that are less than what you are giving your landlord. You can own this 2 bedroom condo on a delightful, tree lined side street in Brockton. A commuters dream close the "T", minutes from the highway and a stone's throw to the local stores. Call and it could be your freedom.

Cidalia Mendonca Matukas

Cidalia@kw.com

Cell 781-389-7252

Fax 508-355-0323

www.HomesbyCidalia.com

In a Buyer's Market there seems to be a lot of advice, opinions and information out there. This can be very confusing. As your economic and real estate expert, I can help give you a Real Life Perspective.

In life it is better to say, "I'm glad I did" versus "I wish I had". Make a list of your financial goals and let's sit down to go over how owning a piece of investment real estate might get you to your financial goals faster.

Call me today to sit down and go over the numbers and for a FREE list of my "Best Buys for Investors" today before it is no longer a Buyer's Market!

Cidalia Mendonca Matukas

Cidalia@kw.com

781-389-7252

www.HomesbyCidalia.com

Recently I read an article about taking control of your prospect relationships. I found it informative and very interesting and thought I would share of few tips with you. All of them just remind us to get back to basics and always ask yourself "When I meet with this new business contact what am I looking to learn about them and what do I want them to learn about me?".

When you meet with a new businessprospect always remember to stay focused. Often we find ourselves discussing thins unrelated to the real reason for you to do business together.Always remember that the prospect you are meeting with has a strategy. You need to discover if they are just kicking tires or if they intend to use your service or product.

In order to stay in control and keep focused you should:

Set an agenda.

Make sure you both understand the purpose of the meeting.

Don;'t shy away from asking questions about their needs so that you can better understand if they are a fit. Make sure they understand that they can tell you if they think it is not a fit. This will generate rapport with the prospect.

If things get off track simply remind them of the agenda.

Always, always rememebr to qualify and close the deal :-).

Cidalia Mendonca Matukas

www.HomesbyCidalia.com

Keller Williams Realty

Cidalia@kw.com

781-389-7252 Cell

508-355-0323 Fax

Do I qualify for the new First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit?
What is the Housing Rescue Bill just passed into law?

With the Congress recently passing the new Housing Relief Act of 2008 I have been asked many questions by both home buyers and homeowners as to how this effects them.

These are the most frequenty asked questions:

1. How do I qualify for the first time buyer credit?
2. How can the Housing Rescue bill help me?

I have read and re-read the bill and this is my brief summary of it.

The "let's get this economy moving and help prevent many more foreclosures" stimulus act - or as titled "The Housing and Economy Recovery Act" kicks off on October 1, 2008 and is designed to:

1. help troubled homeowners avoid foreclosure, and
2. help the economy to generate home buyer demand through a $7500 tax credit

1. Help troubled homeowners avoid foreclosure
If you feel you are in need of some rescuing from your current mortgage payment, you may be in luck with some help from our federal government.

• If you live in your home, can prove you cannot afford to continue paying your existing loan, and are paying at least 31% of your gross monthly income on mortgage debt, you are eligible for help; assuming your mortgage was issued between January 2005 and June 2007

• If your current lender chooses to participate, the program requires your lender to write down the value of your loan to 90% of your home's current (appraised) value. Assuming your lender agrees to write down the value of your loan, a new FHA lender buys the old loan and takes over the reworked mortgage.

• All new loans will be underwritten by FHA on a case-by-case basis. This means you will be required to obtain a new appraisal on your property and will have to provide verification of your income by providing income statements, bank account information, job histories, and credit scores. Sorry ... no stated income loans available this time.

• The purpose of obtaining a new Fixed-Rate FHA loan through the program is to reduce the amount of your mortgage payment and/or save you from those rising ARM rates so that you can afford to stay in your home and therefore avoid foreclosure.
• So, what's the catch?
  • You will have to pay FHA a 1.5% insurance premium AND agree to share any profits with FHA from future home appreciation. You will be required to pay a 3% "exit fee" of the mortgage principal to FHA when you resell or refinance. Additionally, you will have to agree to pay FHA 100% of any profits you realize if you sell or refinance within a year; 90% after two years, and so on. For example, if you sell within a year with an original loan principal of $175,000 and a sales price of $225,000, you will owe FHA $50,000, minus costs, upon sale.

• Is it worth it?
  • This is a personal question you have to ask yourself. What is it worth to save you from foreclosure?

2. Help the economy to generate home buyer demand through a $7500 tax credit
If you are a "first-time homebuyer" and have been ‘waiting' to buy, wait no longer. Take advantage of an interest-free loan from our government! Do you qualify?

• You must be a "First-Time Homebuyer" .... Now, "first time" homebuyer to the government means something different than what "first time" means to you and me. You are a First Timer according to Uncle Sam if you have not purchased or owned a home in the past three years.
• As a "first-timer" you can receive up to a $7500 tax credit by purchasing a home between April 2008 and June 2009.
• What is a tax-credit?
  • This is called a ‘credit' but it isn't really. You will have to pay the amount back over 15 years. In other words, the tax credit is more of an ‘interest-FREE' loan. If you take the $7500 tax credit, your income tax bill will increase by $500 a year for 15 years.
• So, what's the catch?
  • If you sell the house before the 15 years of paying back the ‘loan' you will have to pay the remaining balance after you sell.

For more detailed explanations of the new bill, visit the following links:

National Association of Realtors® Summary of Key Provisions - the Housing Stimulus Bill (realtor.org)

How Housing Rescue Bill Can Help You (cnnmoney.com)

Start your home search at www.HomesbyCidalia.com

6 Karol Drive Norton Mass Sold fopr $251,000 by Cidalia Mendonca Matukas of Keller Williams Realty.

This raised ranch home offered many opportunbities to the visionary buyer. Loacted in a beautiful tree lined side street the home offered 3/4 bedrooms, 2 full baths and a finished basement. The private large yard was a dream for the person who enjoyed privacy.

You can view other homes that I have available at www.HomesbyCidalia.com

Thinking of selling your home in Norton or other Southeastern Massachusetts town? Call or email me...I would welcome the opportunity to show you how my online marketing can get your home SOLD!

Cidalia Mendonca Matukas

Cidalia@kw.com

www.HomesbyCidalia.com

781-389-7252