Raleigh Relocation Information Center - Moving To the Triangle?

The National Association of Realtors (also known in the industry as NAR) has a great Frequent Asked Questions communique for the consumer.  Things are so different from the current version of the bill that consumers need to be aware of what this bill encompasses. 

YOUR CONTRACT NEEDS TO BE SIGNED BY APRIL 30th and Closing by June 30th.   

Question: Existing homeowner credit: Must the new house cost more than the old house?

Answer: No. Thus, for example, individuals who move from a high cost area to a lower cost area who meet all eligibility requirements will qualify for the $6500 credit.

Question: I am an existing homeowner. On October 25, 2009, I signed a contract to purchase a new home. I have lived in my current home for more than 5 consecutive years and am within the new income limits. I will go to settlement on November 20. If President Obama has signed the bill by the time I go to settlement, will I qualify for the new $6500 tax credit?

Answer: Yes. The existing homeowner credit goes into effect for purchases after the date of enactment (when the bill is signed). There is no reference to the date of contract for the new credit. The provision looks solely to the date of purchase, which is generally the date of settlement.

Question: I am a firsttime homebuyer but was not within the prior income limits at the time I entered into my contract to purchase on October 30, 2009. I will be covered, however, by the new income limits. If the new rules have been signed into law by the time I go to settlement, will I be eligible for a credit?

Answer: Yes. The new income limitations go into effect as soon as the President has signed the bill.  The income limit and other eligibility rules will look to your status as of the date of purchase, which is the settlement date. So if the new rules have been signed when you go to settlement, you should be eligible for the credit (or a portion of the credit if you're within the phaseout range).

Question: I am an eligible existing homeowner. I have a fair amount of equity in my home. I have found a home with a nonnegotiable price of $825,000. Will I be able to use any of the $6500 tax credit?

Answer: No. The $800,000 cap on the cost of the purchased home is firm at $800,000. Any amount above $800,000 makes the home ineligible for any portion of the credit. The $800,000 is an absolute ceiling.

Question: I owned my home for 10 years, but sold it two years ago year and have been renting since. If I purchase a home, will I be eligible for the $6500 tax credit if I meet all the other eligibility tests?

Answer: Yes. Because you lived in the home for more than 5 consecutive years of the previous 8, you will qualify for the $6500 credit. For example, Say John and his wife bought a home in 2000 and lived there until 2008 when he got a divorce. Whether John has been renting or bought in the interim, he WOULD INDEED be eligible for the credit because he owned a home and occupied it as his principal residence for 5 consecutive years out of the last 8 years. The keyword here is "consecutive." As long as he lived in that house for 5 years straight what he did since 3 years doesn't impact eligibility.

Question: I am an eligible firsttime homebuyer. I entered into a contract to purchase on November 1, 2009. Do I have to go to closing before December 1? How does the extension date affect me?

Answer: You do not have to close before December 1. Once the legislation has been signed, it will be as if the Nov 30 date had never existed. Therefore, so long as the contract settles before April 30 (or July 1, worst case), the purchaser will be eligible for the credit.

Larry Bettag - Regional Vice President, Midwest Region

Illinois FHA Specialist

630-417-7172

  

               

An Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee

 

Congress has extended and expanded the homebuyer tax credit. The modifications in the column labeled
"December 1 - April 30, 2010" become effective when President Obama signs the bill. All changes made
to the current credit become effective on that date, as well.


First Time Buyer - Amount of Credit - $8000 ($4000 married filing separate)

Current Homeowner - Amount of Credit - $6500 ($3250 married filing separate)

First Time Home Buyer Definition for Eligibility - May not have had an interest in a principal residence for 3 years prior to purchase

Current Homeowner - Definition for Eligibility - Must have used the home sold or being sold as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years Purchases after November 30, 2009. (Becomes April 30, 2010 on Date of Enactment.)

Binding Contract Rule - So long as a written binding contract to purchase is in effect on April 30, 2010, the purchaser will have until July 1, 2010 to close.

Income Limits (Note: Increased income limits are effective as of date of enactment of bill)-
First Time Home Buyers: $75,000 - single, $150,000 - married, Additional $20,000 phase out
Current Homeowners: $125,000 - single, $225,000 - married, Additional $20,000 phase out

Limitation on Cost of Purchased Home -
First Time Home Buyers: None
Current Home Owners: $800,000

For Property information that will assist you in obtaining this Tax Credit go to:

http://www.Kammie.BestSonomaHomeSearch.com

Check out this link!

 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33522046/ns/business-real_estate/

Looks like congress is on the way to extending the current $8k tax credit for first time home buyers until April 2010 and expanding it to existing home owners for a reduced credit of $6500 for folks who have been in their homes at least 5 years.  Let's hope it makes it through the House!

First time home buyers: Are you still at the computer, doing endless "research" on how to snag the $8000 TAX CREDIT for buying a house this year? 

Does the November 30th deadline seem like a million years away as you think about fireworks (not turkey leftovers)?

First time home buyers: Get your butts in gear. NOW.

This is the wrong time to claim you only get motivated when a deadline looms.

This is the wrong time to tell everyone you are a "last minute kinda person" who pulls an all nighter when you have a term paper, and shops for Christmas presents on December 24th.

Here's why: Buying a house takes longer than you think. There are 8000 reasons you DO NOT want to miss this deadline.

Let's back things up. Do you think OTHER first time home buyers might wait until the last minute? Lenders could very likely experience an overwhelming amount of applications this fall.

With applications already taking 45 days, it could easily take 60 days to close your loan. Or more. Lenders are already ridicuously understaffed.

This means you will need to be in contract no later than the end of September.

If you have not already done so, you will need to accomplish this during the months of July, August and September:

1. Find a Mortgage person
   
2. Find a Real Estate Agent
   
3. Find a House
4. Make an Offer, negotiate terms. Find another house if first offer is rejected. Get new offer accepted.
   
5. Get financing completed and loan closed.

 

Some likely time lines and what to expect:

1.  Apply for a mortgage.  Provide the required documents and ask for a pre-approval. This will uncover any glitches standing in the way of your approval. This will make certain you have the right amount of funds in your account, or lined up as a gift. This will let you know your price range before you begin shopping for a house. This will let the Realtor know you have done your homework and are serious. ESTIMATED TIME REQUIRED: 1-2 weeks

2.  Figure out where you want to live and find a Realtor.  Look for a Realtor that knows the neighborhood where you would like to buy. Communicate openly and be on the same page if you are buying with another person.  ESTIMATED  TIME REQUIRED: 2-3 weeks

3.  Shop for a house with your Realtor.  ESTIMATED TIME LINE: 3-4 weeks.

4.  Make an offer, negotiate terms, get in contract. Ask your Realtor about timing before making an offer on a short sale or a lender owned property.  ESTIMATED TIME LINE: 1-2 weeks or more...depending on how many offers it will take to get a house. Market could become highly competitive as the deadline looms.

5.  Secure financing with lender, and close the loan. Inspections and appraisal will occur during the time as well. ESTIMATED TIME LINE: 6 weeks to 8 weeks

Worst case estimated time line: 19 weeks.

Weeks until November 30th? 22 weeks, beginning next week.

Can you do this in less time? Yes you can.

Just like when you gave your Mom that lame ceramic unicorn for Christmas (purchased in a panic on Christmas Eve, thrown in an obviously used gift bag, then sneakily placed under the Christmas tree minutes before gift opening).

 

 

 

 

Written by Janet Guilbault, Mortgage Banker/Broker Based Out of the San Francisco Bay Area