Toni Bird

Wow! Here It Is - the Final Word on the Tax Credit.

The House and Senate voted and President Obma just signed into law a bill that extends the First Time Home Buyer's TAX CREDIT. This means if you have never owned a home before OR have not owned a home in the last 3 years, you can get a Tax Credit of 10% of the purchase price of the home you buy. There is a cap of $8000 for the 1^st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit so if your house costs more than $80,000, then 8K is all you get. But that is a nice little chunk of change. You MUST have a house picked out and Under Contract by April 30^st and you MUST be closed by June 30 to receive the tax credit.

This extension also adds a provision for NON-1^st Time Home Buyers who want to BUY A NEW HOME.. If you have owned a home for the last 5 years and buy a new home (your primary residence - not a vacation home), you can get a TAX CREDIT equal to 10% of the purchase price of your New home (with a cap of $6500). The income limit for the non-1^st time home buyer is 125,000 for a single person and 250,000 for a couple. You also MUST have a house picked out and Under Contract by April 1^st and you MUST be closed by June 30 to receive the tax credit.

If you were waiting for something great to happen THIS IS IT. Not only can 1^st time buyers get a credit, but also people who would like to move up to a bigger home, or downsize to something more manageable.

Interest rates are still low - the last time I looked, they were under 5% for most borrowers and in spite of what you may hear, the banks have plenty of money to lend for home purchases. Also, you get a CREDIT - Not a deduction, so you will pay up to $8000 or $6500 depending on which category you are in, in less tax. If your tax bill is less than the credit amount, you will get CASH BACK!

If you haven't already done so, now is the time to contact a lender and get pre-approved for a loan. There is nothing you have to apply for to get the credit, just request the credit when you file your 2009 tax return if you close in 2009, or your 2010 return if you close in 2010.

You can shop for houses on line at my website www.ToniBird.com, At the top left corner, click on Search the MLS. When you are ready, contact me and I'll help you find the home of your dreams.

Burr!! It is cold outside today. Looks like the temperature is somewhere in the 40's and it is cloudy and damp. The maple tree in my front yard has bright red leaves both on its branches and on the ground.

Inside my home it's definitely warmer. I have the thermostat set at 68 degrees, but with the cold weather upon us, I'll be seeing that power bill climb again. The Department of Energy estimates that 56% of the energy use in a typical home comes from heating and cooling. If your house is not very energy efficient, it can be much more than that.

How do you know if you have an efficient house? You can get an energy audit and then have your home "weatherized". Weatherization is a term used to describe various improvements made to homes to optimize energy efficiency. According to the Department of Energy, on average, weatherization which can include things such as sealing up leaks in ductwork, replacing windows, replacing the HVAC system and adding insulation (among others), can reduce your heating bills by as much as 32%. That is about $350 per year at current prices.

I have an article about Weatherizartion in my November On-line newsletter. To see this and other articles click here.

Don't have the money to do home improvement projects? There are government programs to help people with limited income get weatherization done to their homes. Check out this website to get info on government help. Also, Alabama Power has low interest loans that can be paid through your power bill. Info on what is covered on their weatherization program and who to call can be found here.

There are also ways to get tax credits for making energy efficient improvements to your home which means money in your pocket - so don't miss out. This is a great time to improve the energy efficiency of your home AND not only save on utility bills but also increase the value of your home.

Fall is here and the leaves are showing their red, gold and orange colors. I was showing houses for sale in Hoover Alabama the other day and everywhere the color was amazing.

When the leaves start to fall, it is time to rake - or in many places BLOW. It always amazes me that people will blow the leaves off their property. Then as soon as the wind starts to blow, the leaves are right back.... Not only do they blow the leaves but also all the DUST. Dust is EVERYWHERE. I don't know about YOU, but my allergies are going crazy right now.

We can't do much about what is happening outside, but if you have allergies, installing an indoor air purification system can be a big help. What is an air purification system? It is a machine that cleans the air and improves air quality.

There are three classes of air contaminants:

Particles - such as pollen, dust mites, dirt and pet dander

Bioaerosols - such as bacteria, viruses, mold spores and fingi

Odors/Chemical Vapors - such as pets odors, cooking smells, perfumes, paints and solvents.

These contaminants affect your health, the cleanliness of your home and your comfort. Several years ago, my husband bought me a free standing air purifier for Christmas. It really helped cut down on the dust in the house. When we moved into our new house last year (it had been empty for a year), we found that the A/C ducts had all kinds of dust and stuff in them. So we had the ducts cleaned.

The Mayo Clinic has found that air cleaners attached to whole-house systems are generally more effective than free standing cleaners. These air purifiers are installed on your HVAC system typically where the air filter will be placed.

I sold a house a few years ago and the seller told me her allergies were almost GONE after she installed the whole house air purifier. So, if you are suffering from allergies, take a look at installing an air purification system.

This house in the Jameswood subdivision, off Valleydale Rd. in Birmingham Alabama, has a Lennox Signature Collection PureAir Air Purification System already installed. That coupled with the fact that it has All hardwood floors on Both levels of the house makes it a great home for people with allergies. If you'd like to know more about THIS home click here.

Fall is a beautiful time of year. Improving the air quality in your home will help you enjoy it more.

Home sales in Hoover, Alabama dipped to 77 in October 2009. This was down from 93 in September, but still a lot higher than the 58 sales we saw in October of 2008. Prices on home sales closed in October ranged from $84,500 for a 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath condo at Four Seasons off Lorna Rd., to $800,000 for a new construction home in the Glascott section of Ross Bridge. One other property sold for under 100K - a 2 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath townhome in Windhover (off Old Rocky Ridge Road) sold for $85,900. This totally renovated, 4 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath in Eden View with a view of the lake sold for $310,000. Eight homes sold in Ross Bridge, 7 sold in Riverchase and 5 sold in Trace Crossings.

There is an incredible selection of homes currently available for sale in Hoover, Alabama. There are several new condo complexes with 133 units for sale and Townhomes are also a great choice for the 1^st time home buyer (there are 70 of those on the market as of today). You'll find prices from $51,900 up.

Hoover is a great community with a short commute time to downtown Birmingham.

If you would like to see what homes are for sale in Hoover, Alabama, take a look on my site. Under "location", scroll down to Hoover and you'll see everything Hoover has For Sale.

Home Sales in Pelham, Alabama remained consistent in October 2009, with 35 closed sales. There were 35 home sales in August 09 and 34 home sales in September 09 - all up from 27 sales a year ago. Prices ranged from $30,000 for a home is Deer Springs to $359,900 for a 4 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath in the Stoneykirk section of Ballantrae. Seven home sales were from Ballantrae, eleven sales were townhomes and 7 homes were new construction.

Currently there are 291 Homes for Sale in Pelham Alabama. The median price is $184,000. Fifty Three properties are townhomes ranging in price from $93,000-$140,000. Forty Five properties are new construction. Weatherly is a beautiful neighborhood with large lots (many over an acre) - some with fabulous views and mature trees where you'll find prices from $177,900 to $894,900. You will find 19 homes for sale in Weatherly and this one is a foreclosure on sale for $299,900.

If you would like to know more about Homes for Sale in Pelham, Alabama, you can search the web at www.ToniBird.com/search.asp?