About Oneida County, NY

December buying advice: A new home for the holidays?

Even if the weather is bleak, your home buying prospects may not be.

Here are some of the reasons it might be a good time to buy.

A new home for the holidays?
The weather outside may be frightful, but that doesn't mean home shopping at this busy time has to be. True, fewer homes are on the market around the holidays as sellers take some time off to enjoy the season with their family. And fewer open houses are held during the often freezing, messy weather.

But shopping for a home at this overlooked time of year has a few perks, says Dorcas Helfant-Browning, a past president of the National Association of Realtors.

• Sellers who keep their homes on the market at this time are very motivated.
• You have less competition from other buyers than you would in the spring.
• Lenders, agents and others have more time to work with you.
• Interest rates are typically lower than in the spring.

And best of all, although moving during the dead of winter might not be so pleasant, relaxing on the patio of your completely unpacked home when the weather warms up is priceless.

"Get it over with when there's nothing else to do and then enjoy your spring and summer," Helfant-Browning says.

I have to say that I am shocked that any home buyer would be willing to pay for any amount of commission in their home purchase or better yet, pay more for a house than it's worth by writing in the commission for their Buyer Agent on-top of the purchase price because the Realtor they chose to represent them is not being compentated with any or a just and fair percentage for their services.

No wonder I cannot locate a local Buyer Agency Agreement.

I feel I have been trained by some of the best in the Industry and have always used Buyer Agreements as just as it's stated, an Agreement that we are committed to working together. Not to strong-arm anyone to work with me, because I can be fired (I don't like that word) at anytime. But to Protect everyone. Agent is obligated from a fiduciary stand-point to represent the best interest of their buyer client. Agent is protected with all the hours of hard work they put in. It's a win-win for everyone.

As a Realtor, Home Buyer, and Home Seller, consumer's choice to me is being able to be fully represented by your Realtor of choice to balance the transaction.

Real Estate Agents

A SONYMA loan is a great deal for first-time homebuyers! We provide competitive interest rate mortgages and down payment assistance for eligible applicants. Our loans increase purchasing power for your clients and will assist more of them to become first-time home owners. SONYMA loans are not much different than any other conventional loan. By educating your clients about the options available to them through SONYMA, you may be able to help them qualify for an affordable home that meets their needs. Your clients will benefit from:

• Rates typically one-half to one percentage point below the conventional market for 30- or 40-year fixed-rate mortgages;
  
  
• 97% financing with as little as 1% borrower contribution;
  
  
• Down payment assistance up to the higher of: $3,000 or 3% of the home sales price (not to exceed $10,000);
  
  
• SONYMA's acceptance of most credit underwriting decisions from Fannie Mae's Desktop Underwriter® and Freddie Mac's Loan Prospector®;
  
  
• Job loss protection for eligible borrowers and programs.

For every first-time homebuyer, consider SONYMA first! Our low interest rates and down payment assistance can make all the difference in qualifying for that important first home loan.

Please contact a SONYMA Participating Lender for further information or use the links to the left to learn about our programs and how we can help you get more clients into their first homes.

MAKE YOUR HOME MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT AND RECEIVE UP TO A $1,500 TAX CREDIT

A tax credit that can provide savings to homeowners who invest in energy efficient garage doors expires December 31st. The government is offering up to a $1500 credit for homeowners who buy and install qualifying doors.

To qualify for the credit, the garage door must be an insulated residential garage door installed on an insulated garage. It must have a U-factor and a Solar Heat Grain Coefficient equal to or less than 0.30, even if the door contains windows. The door perimeter must be able to control air infiltration.

The door must be expected to remain in service for at least five years, and the garage must be part of a taxpayer's principal U.S. residence.

For more information check out Energy Star's official website