Posts Tagged ‘8000 credit’

« Older Entries

Is It Still Worth it to Buy a Home without the Tax Credit?

November 5th, 2010

Over the last couple of months some people have expressed disappointment about the $8,000 tax credit expiring in June. Now while it’s always nice to get money back, all is not lost.  The interest rates are now much better than they were a year ago.

Let’s look at a $200K 30 year mortgage at a current rate of 4.25% vs. the rates from a year ago, around 5.25.  At 4.25% the principle and interest payment would be $983.  At 5.25% the same mortgage would have a payment of $1104.  That is a difference of over $120/month.  A $120/month over the life of the loan is $43,200.  So even if you subtract out $8000 tax credit.  You are still better off buying now at the better interest rates by over $35K.

So what does this mean?  If you have been thinking about buying a home, go out and do it now!  Don’t wait for the market to take a big swing up because by then, you will pay more for the same home, and the interest rates will be higher.  Give The Kunselman Team a call today and make owning your dream home a reality!

1 comment »

Posted in Mortgage Industry, News, Real Estate Industry, Uncommon Useful Knowledge, Understanding Your Mortgage

Tags:

Looking Back at 2009

January 21st, 2010
  1. The $8000 first time home buyer tax credit that didn’t have to be paid back is introduced.
  2. Foreclosures declined but short sales were on the rise.
  3. Stated income loans went away, making it difficult for self-employed income borrowers to get a new mortgage.
  4. New mortgage guidelines tightened up.
  5. Large investors (unless they are cash buyers) got bumped out of the market.
  6. Resurgence of the small/first-time investor.
  7. Resurgence of the USDA 100% financing mortgage for rural areas.
  8. The Government injected lots of capital into the mortgage backed securities keeping interest rates low.
  9. The Government injects billions into the banks in the form of the TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) with the intent to modify existing mortgages.  The banks modify only a very small percentage of these mortgages.
  10. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac introduce the DU Refinance + and the Home Access Programs designed for home owners to refinance who initially had 20% equity when they first got their mortgage and have seen their home values decline.  Program is a moderate success.
  11. Rates went up and rates went down.
  12. The Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) is introduced in May.  Appraisals must now be ordered through Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs). Many reports indicate this system is very flawed and has lead to higher costs to the borrower in obtaining a new mortgage.
  13. The Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act (MDIA) is introduced in August.  It gives borrowers more information upfront before any money can be collected, but adds costly time to the mortgage process.
  14. The Government extended the $8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit to June ’10 and added a $6500 repeat home buyer tax credit.  Experts say there will not be any more extensions.

No comments »

Posted in Know Your Mortgage, Mortgage Industry, News, Real Estate Industry, Understanding Your Mortgage

Tags:

Looking Forward to 2010

January 21st, 2010
  1. Good Faith Estimate (GFE) 2010 is introduced January 1, 2010.  Six items now required before the loan originator can provide you with a GFE: Name, Property address, Estimated Property Value, Loan Amount, Income, and Social Security Number (Credit Report). Fees locked for 10 business days from issuance of GFE.  Designed to protect the consumer from an increase in fees and encourage comparing options.  Most likely, will lead to less comparing since a GFE can’t be issued until the loan originator can pull credit.
  2. Legislation on the table to repeal HVCC.
  3. Federal Reserve Board debating over Yield Spread Premium (YSP).  In the past, YSP was a credit that had been paid to the loan originator by the lender.  GFE 2010 changes YSP from a loan originator credit to a borrower credit.
  4. HUD to suspend the 90 day anti-flipping rule for one year starting February 1, 2010.  Existing rule prevents a home owner from selling a home that they have owned for less than 90 days.  Lenders still have to approve this new rule.

No comments »

Posted in Know Your Mortgage, Mortgage Industry, News, Real Estate Industry, Understanding Your Mortgage

Tags:

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Has Been Extended

November 24th, 2009

Here are the Details of the extension of the 1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

Definition First-Time Home Buyer:

Someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.

1.  Buyers will have to have a binding sales contract signed by April 30th, 2010 and close by June 30th, 2010.
2.  The Tax Credit Does Not Have to Be Repaid!
3.  Up to $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price (which ever is less)
4.  Max Home Purchase Price $800,000
5.  Income Limits (For Full Tax Credit)
a.   Single Taxpayer = $125,000/year
b.   Married Taxpayers =  $225,000

6.  Income Limits (For Partial Tax Credit)
a.  Single Taxpayer = $144,999
b.  Married Taxpayer = $244,999

7.  Tax Credit vs. Tax Deduction
a.  A Tax  Credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of what the taxpayer owes.
b.  A Tax Deduction is subtracted from the amount of income that is taxed. (i.e. You get a reduction based on your tax bracket)

No comments »

Posted in Mortgage Industry, News, Real Estate Industry

Tags:

How to Claim Your First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit

November 24th, 2009

2009 was a very good year for the 1st Time Home Buyer.  Many of you out there purchased a home and now qualify for the 1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit worth up to $8000, but how do you get it.  My first suggestion is to have you taxes done by a professional but for those of you who still enjoy filing your taxes yourself here is the process you will need to complete:

  1. First begin Form 1040.
  2. Be sure to take note of your adjusted gross income, which you enter on lines 37 of the form. Form 5405 actually requires you to note your modified adjusted gross income, but that affects few people, so most will just use their adjusted gross income.
  3. When you come to Line 69 you’ll be asked to enter your tax credit amount. To do that, you’ll need to first complete Form 5405.
  4. Once you complete Form 5405, enter the amount on Line 69, then complete your return.
  5. Attach Form 5405 to your return.

IRS Form 5405 can be found by CLICKING HERE!

*Please note that this form can only be used for homes that were purchased before November 7th, 2009.  The new form for purchases between November 7th, 2009 and June 30th, 2010 will not be available until December 2009.  The Kunselman Team will post the form here when it becomes available.

2 comments »

Posted in Know Your Mortgage, Mortgage Industry, News, Real Estate Industry, Uncommon Useful Knowledge, Understanding Your Mortgage

Tags: