Troy Corp

If you're a first time homebuyer and you've been waiting for "just the right time" to jump in and buy that home you've been dreaming of - NOW IS THE TIME. Here's why:

1. Obama's stimulus plan has been adopted into law and there are goodies in there for real estate and ESPECIALLY YOU, the first-time homebuyer. Specific to note is the $8000 tax credit for first time homebuyers. For an informative explanation of the new law, see this article by the illustrious Luke Mullins in his "The Home Front" column at US News and World Report: http://www.usnews.com/blogs/the-home-front/2009/02/17/first-time-home-buyer-tax-credit-6-things-to-know.html

2. Prices are LOW LOW LOW and AFFORDABLE. In general, prices of homes have retracted to pre-2000 levels---as much as 40-50% in the Livingston/Washtenaw/Oakland county areas including my service area which includes, Brighton, Howell, Pinckney, SouthLyon, WhitmoreLake, Ann Arbor, Hartland, Highland, Milford, Dexter, Chelsea, New Hudson and more. Housing is more affordable than ever. Check out this NY-Times Blog article about the affordability index published monthly by the National Association of Realtors: http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/housing-affordability-at-record-high/

3. In my humble opinion, since the United States Federal Government is going into unprecedented amounts of debt, a word you haven't heard in awhile (or maybe never if you're under 30).... INFLATION is highly likely to kick in within the next few years. Real Estate has consistently risen in value over time, especially in an inflationary economy. Here's that facts from the US CENSUS: http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/housing/census/historic/values.html

Distressed property sales now represent over 50% of closed transactions in this current market. Bank-owned REO's, short sales, and Government owned HUD/VA foreclosures are still flooding the market. The current stimulus plan by the Obama administration does have a mortgage relief plan and when that initiative helps stem the tide of foreclosure activity, price stabilization on housing will occure. An upward trend will eventually begin again for home values.

Get into the market now and you will not be disappointed.

Today the Livingston County Daily Press and Argus reported that the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority will now serve as the designated agency for the proposed Washtenaw and Livingston Line or "WALLY". The long-proposed commuter rail-line would serve area residents with passenger train service stretching from the City of Howell located in the heart of Livingston County, into the City of Ann Arbor, home to The University of Michigan. This development makes is possible for the project to receive State and Federal funding and the AATA Chairman is committed to obtaining governement earmarks for the project. WALLY is veiwed as a way to help reduce trafic congestion on the US23 corridor that many commuters use to travel back and forth between Livingston and Washtenaw counties.