Great news for Florida Homebuyers! Congress has passed a revised version of the First Time HomeBuyers tax Credit, and the President has said that he will sign it, as early as tomorrow!
The new bill will extend the credit until April 30, 2010, and if the buyer has an executed contract by that date, they can close as late as July 1, 2010 and still qualify.
Better still, now current homeowners who are selling or have sold their home in the last three years purchasing a new (or new to them) home can qualify for a tax credit of up to $6500.00, as long as they have used the home that they have sold (or are currently selling) as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years.
The income limits have been raised, too. A single person can earn as much as $125,000 per year and still qualify, and a married couple as much as $250,000.
If you live in Ocala, and like horses, today is a great day for you to check out something that only happens once a year at Ocala Breeder's Sales Company on 60th Avenue. Today is ChampionshipStakes Day, the only day of the year with live Thoroughbred racing here in Ocala. This is your chance to see a few big name trainers, famous jockeys, and of course, some great horses as well.
There are five races to be run over the OBS track, but no wagering will be allowed. You can wager on races at other tracks, via intertrack wagering and simulcasting, though.
The races at OBS are always a big hit here in Ocala, and have a family friendly, fun, county fair atmosphere, so if you love horses, and are lucky enough to have the day off, go check it out, and cheer your favorites on! And if you can't make it to OBS, you can always watch live on the web at www.obssales.com . Post time for the first race is at 1:30, but get there early for the best parking.
Everywhere I go I hear doom and gloom about the housing market. There is even a certain group of people who talk as though anyone who buys a home today is a fool, and anyone who sells them that home is a thief. I just don't get it!
Home prices are as low as they have been in years, and so are interest rates, and this has resulted in many first time home-buyers who would never have been able to afford their own home at this point in their lives being able to buy. As an example, I havea client in her mid-twenties who just closed on a nearly new 3 bedroom, 2 bath home for less than she had been paying in rent! To say that she was thrilled is a huge understatement. She had always watched her credit, and saved her money, but in the previous market it would have been years before she could have afforded to buy. Seeing her face at the closing was like watching a child open presents at Christmas.
I know that many people are still on the fence about buying because they feel that the market is falling, and they will wind up with negative equity. This actually is a possibility, at least short term. But the benefit of buying still outweighs the risks. Think about it, folks: Buying a home is NOT supposed to be first and foremost an investment. It is, and always should be, first about having a stable place OF YOUR OWN in which to live, and secondly as an investment. If you rent, you are subject to the vagaries of a landlord. Will he raise the rent this year? Will he cancel your lease, so you have to go to the trouble and expense of moving, only to find that you have to pay more for your next rental? And if you're worried about losing equity in a home that you buy now if the market drops further, how much equity will you get from that rental, even if the market goes up? ZERO. If you own your own home with a fixed rate mortgage, you know that your payments will remain about the same, you won't be forced to move if you don't want to, and you know that your home will eventually gain in value, and you will have that equity.
And I'm not even going into the first time homebuyer's tax credit available right now. That is the subject of a whole 'nother blog.
So think about the positives for a while, and you'll see that it is still a good time to buy!
I'm your Ocala/Marion County Homes and Horse Farms expert! If you are considering buying or selling in the Ocala/Marion County area, call me first!
Bringing buyers and sellers together.
Buying or selling a home represents one of the biggest financial moves that you'll ever make. It should be an exciting process, not a stressful one. That is where I come in. I'm here to help you through the buying or selling process with the least amount of stress. My goal is to meet and exceed your expectations.
I do that through a combination of proper pricing, great customer service, and superior marketing services. My motto is "True Customer Service", which means that we believe you should expect more from your Realtor, and I deliver! I go the extra mile because my customers deserve the very best.
With me as your Realtor, you'll get great service, and lots of personal attention.
I enjoy working with both buyers and sellers. If you're looking for your dream home or farm, I can find it for you. 
If you are looking to sell your home, I will get the job done for the optimum price in the shortest amount of time. When you are selling a home, time is money, and I can save you both!
I specialize in both residential properties and in horse farms, as well as short sales and REO properties. If you're looking for an investment property, or just want a bargain, I can help you find the perfect house to fit your needs and budget. I can guide you through the whole process, including obtaining financing, right through until the closing day and beyond. I won't disappear after the sale is over. My goal is to be your Realtor for Life, and it shows.
My winning attitude shows in my level of service. I believe in personal service, and plenty of attention to detail. If you're looking for that winning edge, call me first!
Comments from a few of my Satisfied Customers:
"I just want to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for the hard work and dedication of your agent Stephanie Frost, who recently completed the sale of my cottage on Lake Kerr. From the moment she introduced herself, Ms. Frost demonstrated a degree of professionalism that far exceeded my expectations. Throughout the few months that it took for the sale to be completed, she always made certain that I was aware of every ad and showing of the house. I knew that I could always count on her to return phone calls, emails and to do everything in her power to make the sale. Also, she did an exemplary job on the virtual tour.
Ms. Frost proved to be an outstanding seller's agent. She has earned my highest recommendation.
Sincerely,
Albert J. Springer"
I just wanted to write you and tell you how pleased both my husband and I were with Stephanie's help in locating and purchasing our new home. We had our property taken in an eminent domain case with the county and found ourselves in a very tight time-line to purchase a very specific property. Her diligent search for a property along with her unfailing positive attitude was a bright light in an other-wise very dark time for us. When we did find a property that we found suitable, Stephanie was invaluable in taking caring of the details that are inevitably associated with such an acquisition. We found it very easy to trust Stephanie to get the job done and get it done right. I have never had such service from a real estate professional and her statement that she was available 24/7 was very true. I never had to call her twice or wait an unsuitable length of time for an answer to my questions or a request to see a property. I was also impressed that she was available even after the close of our property and once again showed her excellent commitment to customer satisfaction by helping us with some further information that we needed after the sale. I cannot say enough about her exceptional performance as a realtor and I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking to purchase a home. She made a very difficult time in our lives more bearable and that positive can-do attitude was a wonderful relief and inspiration to both my husband and myself. What a wonderful example to the real estate profession!
Sincerely,
Sharon and Tom Fusco
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