The Incorvaia Team's Blog

This Month in Real Estate February 2010

theincorvaiateam — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:50:10 +0000

This Month in Real Estate December 2009

theincorvaiateam — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:07:55 +0000

First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended Into 2010!

theincorvaiateam — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:12:16 +0000

It’s official. President Obama has signed a bill that extends the tax credit for first-time homebuyers (FTHBs) into the first half of 2010. This program had been scheduled to expire on November 30, 2009. In addition to extending the tax credit of up to $8,000 through June 30, 2010, the extension measure also opens up opportunities for others who are not buying a home for the first time. So Who Gets What? The program that has existed for FTHBs remains intact with the one exception that more people are now eligible based on an increase in the amount of income someone may now earn. Additionally, the program now gives those who already own a residence some additional reasons to move to a new home. This incentive comes in the form of a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years. Deadlines In order to qualify for the credit, all contracts need to be in effect no later than April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010. Higher Income Caps in Effect The amount of income someone can earn and qualify for the full amount of the credit has been increased. Single tax filers who earn up to $125,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, single filers who earn $145,000 and above are ineligible. Joint filers who earn up to $225,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, joint filers who earn $245,000 and above are ineligible. Maximum Purchase Price Qualifying buyers may purchase a property with a maximum sales price of $800,000. First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit – Frequently Asked Questions Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about the tax credit. What is a tax credit? A tax credit is a direct reduction in tax liability owed by an individual to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In the event no taxes are owed, the IRS will issue a check for the amount of the tax credit an individual is owed. Unlike the tax credit that existed in 2008, this credit does not require repayment unless the home, at any time in the first 36 months of ownership, is no longer an individual’s primary residence. What is the tax credit for first-time homebuyers (FTHBs)? An eligible homebuyer may request from the IRS a tax credit of up to $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price for a home. If the amount of the home purchased is $75,000, the maximum amount the credit can be is $7,500. If the amount of the home purchased is $100,000, the amount of the credit may not exceed $8,000. Who is eligible for the FTHB tax credit? Anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the previous 36 months, prior to closing and the transfer of title, is eligible. This applies both to single taxpayers and married couples. In the case where there is a married couple, if either spouse has

This Month in Real Estate October 2009

theincorvaiateam — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:44:14 +0000

This Month in Real Estate September 2009

theincorvaiateam — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:33:05 +0000

This Month in Real Estate August 2009

theincorvaiateam — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:20:40 +0000

This Month in Real Estate July 2009

theincorvaiateam — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:18:49 +0000

Homebuyer Protection Alert!

theincorvaiateam — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:15:57 +0000

Recent Federal legislation can impact your closing date. When completing your Purchase Agreement, even if you are prepared to move forward and close quickly, a more conservative timeframe of at least 30-45 days from the time of the contract acceptance would be a more realistic expectation at this time.

Listed below is information on two pieces of legislation that stand to impact your closing date, and a few bullet points that explain the reasoning behind and effects of each measure.

HVCC: Home Valuation Code of Conduct
HVCC was designed to ensure that appraisals are conducted objectively and without pressure from parties with an interest in the transaction. Under HVCC:

The appraisal and selection of the appraiser will be ordered by someone not directly involved in the origination of the mortgage. This could be either someone else within the mortgage company or a third-party appraisal management company.
A copy of the appraisal must be provided to the homebuyer/borrower no less than three days before closing.
The minimum time expectations for receipt of the appraisal should be a few weeks and not days. (While receipt of the appraisal may be received in shorter timeframes, conservative expectations are warranted.)
Communication between the appraiser and the originating mortgage professional is prohibited. It is imperative that the agents involved in the transaction be prepared at the time of inspection to offer supporting value information if warranted.

HERA: Housing and Economic Recovery Act
HERA was designed to ensure that the borrower(s) involved in the transaction are given accurate disclosure information (Truth in Lending Statement pertaining to Annual Percentage Rate or APR) regarding the loan they are applying for and adequate time to re-evaluate their decision to proceed in the event of any changes that would impact their costs to finance. Under HERA:

No fees may be collected for the transaction other than those for running a credit report at the initial time of application. Additional fees may be collected only after four business days.
Should the APR change by more than .125% on a fixed rate loan or .250% on an adjustable rate loan, the lender must disclose the new APR and the borrower must have a minimum of three business days to review the information before the transaction may proceed.
Items that can trigger re-disclosure requirements include a change(s) in the loan amount, closing date, loan program, any fees that impact the APR or interest rate from the rate indicated on the original loan application.
In cases where documents are sent by mail to the borrower related to re-disclosure of APR and/or providing a copy of the appraisal, anticipate six business days (three to allow for mailing and three to allow adequate time to review them) before a closing can occur.

This Month in Real Estate June 2009

theincorvaiateam — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:35:17 +0000

This Month in Real Estate- May 2009

theincorvaiateam — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:12:18 +0000