February 24, 2009 www.Forbes.com has ranked Dallas, Tx has the 8th best Housing market in the country.

I believe this is no shock to the hard working Realtors in the area. I myself have been working with a ton of buyer's that were waiting on the sidelines all through last year. With areas of the DFW metroplex either staying flat in home values or appreciating then this is the time to buy a home!

Mortgages are still in the 5% range for qualified buyers and we are still seeing seller's that are willing to pay for the entire buyer's closing costs! As long as the buyer has there 3.5% down payment (FHA loans will allow gifts for the down payment from immediate family members!) and a job, then you are ready to start looking for a home!

Also, first-time home buyers, or someone who has not owned a home in the last 3 years, can get a tax credit up to $8,000 when they purchase home between now and December 1, 2009!

The majority of home buyer's now use the internet to start their home search. If you would like to search and view homes just like the Realtors do then please click here.

© Shutterstock

Source: S&P/Case-Shiller home-price index, released Feb. 24, 2009. Methodology: Rate of home price increase or decrease was calculated by examining data covering the time period between November 2008 and December 2008 for month-to-month results, and December 2007 to December 2008 for year-over-year results.

Best, No. 8: Dallas, Texas

Index score: 115.63

Prices were last this low: May 2004

Month-to-month drop: -2.33%

Year-over-year drop: -4.27%

Deceleration rank: No. 16

I've been bombarded with calls from friends and from apartment renters who have had questions about the new $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers.

The tax credit is only for homes that are purchased by first-time home buyers between January 1 to December 1, 2009 (11 Months Total).

Who Is Considered a First-Time Home Buyer?

First-time home buyers is anyone who has not owned a home in the last 3 years. Something to remember to couples that are getting married is if your future spouse has owned a home in the last 3 years, but you have NOT, then you DO NOT qualify for the $8,000 tax credit.

Also, if you own a vacation home or rental property within the last 3 years and it is NOT your primary residence, then you can be eligible for the $8,000 tax credit as long as you can prove it!

Is The Credit Consider a Loan?

If you purchased a home between April 9 and December 31, 2008 of last year, then they called it a "tax credit" because it really was an "interest-free" loan which is paid back ($500 every year) for the next 15 years, or upon the sale of the home (within 3 years of purchase).

The new rules applies on homes purchased between January 1 to December 31, 2009. You can get a tax credit up to $8,000 and it does NOT have to be repaid...UNLESS you sell the home within 3 years of the purchase date (the entire credit has to be paid back).

Income Limitations

The best advice I can give you is to speak with a certified tax accountant who can go over this with you.

Nick Good of the number 1 Keller Williams Office in Dallas/Ft. Worth specializes in helping first-time home buyers get into a home. Nick was a first-time home buyer in late 2007 and he has helped several first-time home buyers find that perfect home, so he knows all the feelings that first-time home buyers are feeling.

You contact Nick Good by clicking here or you can search for homes just like the Realtors do by clicking here

Just announced today 2/25/2009 that after being in the home building business for 21 years and building over 39,000 homes that it will be closing its doors.

President Daniel Couture said that the company will refund all deposits to contracted buyers who elect not to proceed with the purchases of their homes. According to the 2007 Builder's list Choice Homes ranked number 40 in the south and that there ranking had been falling ever since 2003.

I wanted to share this all the potential home buyer's who might be considering purchasing a new home here in the Dallas Metroplex. More than ever you need to have an experienced Realtor represent you to make sure that you are working with a home builder that builds good quality homes and a builder that will still be in business for years to come.

Nick Good of Keller Williams Realty can help you with your next home purchase. You can contact Nick by calling him on his direct line at 469-951-4193 or by email NickGood@kw.com

To search for homes like the Realtors do please click here

A lot of my clients ask me what it costs to golf at Heritage Ranch Golf & Country Club. Posted below are their rates:

FEES AND RESERVATION INFORMATION Green fees for Heritage Ranch Golf & Country Club are for 18 holes and include a golf cart.

Standard Rates April through November Mon. - Thurs. $56 Fri. - Sun. & Holidays $75 December through March Mon. - Thurs. $46 Fri. - Sun. & Holidays $56 Twilight Rates April through November Mon. - Thurs. $37 Fri. - Sun. & Holidays $46 December through March Mon. - Thurs. $30 Fri. - Sun. & Holidays $36 Fairview Resident & Senior Rates: April through November Mon. - Thurs. $50 Fri. - Sun. & Holidays $67 December through March Mon. - Thurs. $41 Fri. - Sun. & Holidays $50 Heritage Ranch Resident Rates: April through November Mon. - Thurs. $45 Fri. - Sun. & Holidays $57 December through March Mon. - Thurs. $37 Fri. - Sun. & Holidays $45 Situated 20 miles northeast of Dallas. From Dallas, take I-75 north to the Stacy Road exit, go right and follow until the end (road jogs), go left and take your first right, continuing on Stacy Road. Entrance to Heritage Ranch is approximately 2 miles ahead on your left. HERITAGE RANCH 465 Scenic Ranch Circle - Fairview, TX 75069 Phone: 972-549-0276 Individuals may book tee times up to seven (7) days in advance. Groups of 17 to 36 players may book reservations up to 6 months in advance; groups of 37 or more players may book reservations a year out. Please contact our Golf Shop for group rates. To book an individual tee time now, access our online tee time system. You can also call 972-549-0276 to book a tee time. To Search For Homes in the Heritage Ranch Active Adult Community Please Click Here Or Call Nick Good of Keller Williams Realty Directly at 469-951-4193

If you were like me this week with your 75 cents ready to get the Dallas Morning News at your local newsstand noticed that it was raised to a dollar.

On February 9, 2009 The Dallas Morning News raised the price of their papers to $1 from the normal 75 cents. The Sunday edition will remain $2.

I throughly enjoy reading the Dallas Morning News, I have never been a big fan of getting my news online or watching the news on TV, and I would be catergorized as their younger generation reader (the one who would prefer it online). To me there is just something about reading it on paper, like it has more credibility compared to the same article online.

Hopefully with this small increase the paper can offset some of its losses and continue operating.

To search for homes in the Richardson Tx area just like the Realtors do please click here