Real Estate Tips

Sacramento Home Buyers Glad Tax Man Cometh

April 1st, 2009 categories: Real Estate Tips

Sacramento Home Buyer Tax There are some happy Sacramento home buyers right now. No, this is not an April fools joke. These Sacramento home buyers are no fools…they are the smart ones. They bought a house or condo and now they are reaping the rewards…

The tax cometh but these new first time home buyers are eagerly itemizing and getting their home tax deductions. These home buyers are smiling!

If you bought a house this year, the Federal government is giving you an $8,000 tax credit as a First Time Home Buyer. Your income and the fact that the house must be your primary residence is key to qualifying for this $8,000 tax credit. You must have purchased the house or condo between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009 in order to qualify. And for those who bought a house in 2008 there is a home buyer credit of $7,500. Always check with your tax consultant for the details. For more details on this be sure to read Scoop on First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.

And BINGO, if you bought a new house from a builder whether or not you were a 1^st time home buyer or not, you get a State tax credit of $10,000.

It doesn’t get much better than that…$18,000 for some of those smilihileng new home buyers doing their taxes right now. I can see why you are smiling!! Never saw so many homeowners happy to get their taxes done.

With interest rates down and Sacramento home prices at an all time low, it’s time to click the Sacramento MLS link and find the house for sale that you would like to buy.

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice simply click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email.

Click Sacramento MLS where you can pick any community or city around Sacramento and see homes for sale or simply click on the search icon and pick the area you are interested in finding a home or condo for sale in .

If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to, be sure to check out and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email. Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate

Authored by Gena Riede | Discussion: Comments »

Tip When Writing Offer on Bank Owned Homes for Sale

March 30th, 2009 categories: Foreclosure, Real Estate Tips

Sacramento Real Estate Are you one of the many 1^st time home buyers looking to buy a house or condo?

Sacramento home buyers are buying homes and condos at some terrific prices as well as investors picking up some great deals in Sacramento.

When Real Estate starts heading back up there will be equity that these home buyers will definitely be making.

There are 1^st time home buyers who are jumping at the chance to buy a foreclosed home for sale and many of these same first time home buyers will qualify for the $8,000 tax credit which makes for a sweet deal! Add to that, interest rates that went down last week which puts the icing on the cake.

Sacramento homes for sale that are bank owned and in good condition are typically priced under real estate market value, meaning the price is too good to be true. This is a tactic sometimes used by listing agents to help bring in several offers on a property.

It’s a bit confusing for many first time homebuyers when this tactic is used. The best advice I can give is to make sure your Realtor provides you with a market analysis of the neighborhood so that you can see what homes sell for and determine for yourself if the home for sale is one of those priced to simply get lots of offers.

When writing an offer on a bank owned, foreclosed home for sale or on a Short Sale home for sale make sure that the offer you write is your best and final offer. Don’t expect that there will be a counter. The bank chooses the best offer submitted.

Many offers come in asking for repairs and banks paying for all sorts of fees for the home buyer. Bank owned homes for sale are being sold as-is. Banks do not do repairs. We are finding more and more banks unwilling to pay all of the home buyer’s closing fees. The banks feel that home buyers are getting a terrific deal already.

The bottom line for the banks is, money. They are only interested in the highest and best offer. So if you like the house for sale or condo for sale, make sure that your offer is the very best you can do. Otherwise, it’s back on the road again looking at more homes and condos for sale.

To see foreclosed bank owned homes for sale just click the links below:

All bank owned foreclosed homes for sale in Sacramento County

All bank owned foreclosed homes for sale in El Dorado County

All bank owned foreclosed homes for sale in Placer County

All bank owned foreclosed homes for sale in Yolo County

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice simply click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email.

Other Real Estate Tips:

Home Buyers Can Get Up to $18,000 Tax Credit

Scoop on First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

4 Simple Steps for Sacramento Home Buyers

Home Buyer Asks About Buying from New Home Builder

Sacramento Home Buyer Asks Real Estate Question

Authored by Gena Riede | Discussion: Comments »

Sacramento Real Estate Shares Money Saving Tips

March 3rd, 2009 categories: Real Estate Tips

Do you sometimes wonder about how to explain the current economic crisis that we find ourselves in to your children or perhaps you wonder yourself?

This video helps to explain how we got into the economic crisis we find ourselves in today. It’s a good visual.

The positive news is that you can do something about it. Each of us can learn to tighten our belts and find ways to save money. Here are a few ways to help save money in your household. I’m sure that one or two of these might not be so difficult and perhaps if you chose 1 or 2 per week it might help save money. Get your children involved to help save, this gives everyone a buy-in.

Get rid of the Satellite Dishes and just have cable (don’t need 105 channels)
Get rid of home phone line and use cell phone instead
Cut out buying lattes
Pack a lunch
Cook dinner at home and cut out eating out
Do your own lawn work
Turn the water heater down
Turn the heat down
Carpool
Use Free Grocery Coupons and Mommy Savers
Use Free Grocery Coupons and Mommy Savers
Unplug phone Chargers, coffee pots, toasters when not being used
Replace light bulbs with fluorescent lights
If you have more than one heat zone, turn down the temp in the zone(s) you are not currently occupying. Programmable thermostats can help
Likewise, with more than one cooling zone, turn up the temp in the zone(s) you are not using
Unplug laptops at night
Turn off your printer at night
Buy fruit that is pre-bundled into bags. Usually saves 20 cents/lb.
Use your library card instead of buying videos and video games
Change your air filter to help save money on your heat and A/C bill
Check out Deal Taker for coupons and money off.

Do YOU have any money saving tips for the readers?

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice simply click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email.

Authored by Gena Riede | Discussion: Comments »

Home Buyers Can Get Up to $18,000 Tax Credit

February 25th, 2009 categories: Real Estate News, Real Estate Tips

GREAT NEWS for California Homebuyers! Double Jeopardy…

WOW Home buyers who buy a house from a home builder will receive $10,000 tax credit.

This is a CA State tax credit which applies only to new construction.

Rules to Qualify for tax credit:

applies to homes closing by March 1, 2009 through March 1, 2010.
applies to anyone buying new construction as their primary residence
tax credit is applied over a 3 year period (1/3 per year)
homes $200,000 and over receive $10,000 credit
homes under $200,000 get 5% of the value as tax credit
must live in the home at least 2 years from close of escrow
there are no income limits

The KICK is that there is only $100 million allocated for this tax credit and when it has been used, it’s gone. So, the first 10,000 new home sales will receive the $10,000 CA State Tax Credit.

If you are one of the lucky ones and qualify for the Federal tax credit of $8,000 then you will receive up to $18,000 tax credit all together…such a deal!

On Friday, February 27^th, the Franchise Tax Board will have more information on their website.

I can tell you that you want to make sure you are represented by a Realtor before going to the new home builders. A Realtor is your best representative and can negotiate an excellent price and terms for you.

This year I have helped several homebuyers buying new homes and lofts in Sacramento and West Sacramento. It would be my pleasure to help you, too!

*Remember to always check with your tax consultant on any tax related issues.

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice simply click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email.

If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to, be sure to check out and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email. Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate Voice.

Other Home Buyer Tips:

Scoop on First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

Authored by Gena Riede | Discussion: 2 Comments »

How To Take Care of Your Home in the Winter

February 23rd, 2009 categories: Real Estate Tips

Happy Home Buyers Are you a First Time Home Buyer who bought a house this past year?

There are some things you need to know in order to take care of your new home and save money at the same time.

In this economy, whenever you can save a little money so much the better. Here are a few homeowner tips:

Change the furnace filters

A dirty filter will not only make your ceilings black but it also is hard on your furnace making the life of the furnace shorter and costs you more to in higher fuel costs.

Never shut off the vents in a room that you don’t use or block the vent

There needs to be proper air flow in all the rooms and not put strain on your heater.

Turn down the thermostat

By turning down the thermostat one degree this will save the homeowner 4% on heating bills.

Install a programmable thermostat

This way when you are away or at night the temperature can be programmed and save money on your bill.

Insulate water pipes when the weather report indicates we will have a freeze.

You don’t want to experience freezing of the pipes. Very costly and inconvenient.

Check weather stripping and replace when frayed

If you feel cold air coming in through a door it’s time to replace the weather stripping and save on your energy bill.

Set Water Heater Setting at low to medium (120 degrees is recommended)

Higher settings result in higher bills with little results in more hot water.

Many of the Heating and Air Conditioning companies have a program in place where you pay one fee for them to check and tune-up your heating in the Fall or Winter and check your A/C in the Spring or Summer. I highly recommend that you consider this, it will save you money in the long run.

Have your heater tuned-up and checked by a heating/Air company

Enjoy your new home and congratulations on being a responsible homeowner.

If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to, be sure to check out and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked and feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email. Perhaps, your question will be part of the next article featured on Sacramento REAL Estate Voice.