TAX CREDIT – MILITARY EXTENSION

HAVE YOU SERVED  YOUR

COUNTRY LATELY

WELL if you have the $8,000.00 federal tax credit may be extended for you. Members of the military, foreign service and intelligence communities may have an additional year to buy a home and claim the homebuyer tax credit up to $8,000.00 that expires for most Americans on April 30th.

To qualify for the extended tax credit deadline, service members must have served on official extended duty outside of the United States for 90 days or more at any time between 1/1/2009 and 4/30/2010.  If so, they have until 4/30/11 to sign a sales contract and until 6/30/11 to close on the home. The rule includes both the $8,000.00 and $6,500.00 repeat homebuyer tax credit.

Under the law “qualified service members” includes those serving in the uniformed services of the US military, a member of the Foreign Service of the US or an employee of the intelligence community.

The rule that requires buyers to repay the credit if they move out of their home within three years has also been waived for qualified service members if they must sell their home after receiving government orders for extended duty service.

HOW TO SELL YOUR HOME – NOW!

Home sellers are turning to staging to sell their homes in a competitive market. But is it right for you?

Staging is the act of preparing and showcasing a home for sale. Preparing involves cleaning, decluttering, organizing, repairing and updating. Showcasing is the process of arranging furniture, accessories, art and light. The real estate agent, the homeowner and possibly a stager work together as a team and decide what needs to be done to present the home on the marketplace. Staging is all marketing, that’s all it is. It’s a tool that’s no different than what someone might use to sell a box of cereal.

Staging is not decorating. Decorating is an extension of the things we love, our colors, style, it’s a reflection of our personality. Whereas in staging we return the focus back to the property. We’re highlighting the features and architecture of the home. We want the potential buyer to come in and notice the beautiful windows or the fireplace, not necessarily whatever color or style of furniture or accessaries might be in the home.

Before you stage you must prepare and I can help you with both.   I start by going through the property, front to back with an owner and deciding the items that need to be addressed. If repairs are needed we have companies that specialize in home repairs and small remodeling projects.  Cleaning and decluttering are next. I help you decide what needs to go and help with storage options.

Staging in the final phase, think of it as editing your home. I help you decide if items need to be removed or rearranged to maximize the features of your entire property.  For more information please call or email me at,  813-956-6487 or homenet@gte.net.

Chinese Drywall in Meadow Pointe

This is the interior of a town home built by Lennar Homes in Meadow Pointe.  All of the drywall and electrical wires has been removed in the entire unit. Lennar Homes is going from building to building in Claridge Town Homes located on Meadow Pointe Blvd. in Meadow Pointe IV.

This complex was not completed, construction stopped in 2009 with about a third of the units completed.

Lennar also built with Chinese drywall in Nesselwood. Some owners have already come to an agreement with Lennar to move out and in to temporary rentals for up to 8 months. They are replacing all the electrical wiring and drywall in these homes but no applianes.

Several area builders did not buy any Chinese drywall during the housing boom but Lennar did. So if you live in Meadow Pointe in a Lennar home built after 2004 you may want to verify whether you have it or not.

This is gorgeous and ready to move in to

FLORIDA WORST IN NON-CURRENT MORTGAGES

YES IT’S TRUE, the percentage of mortgages that were either delinquent or in foreclosure in Florida was nearly double the national rate in February.

At 23.8 percent, Florida holds the title of worst in the nation in non-current mortgages, followed closely by Nevada, with 23.3 percent. Mississippi, at 17.5 percent was a distant third. The national rate was 13.5 percent. Florida also led the nation in foreclosure inventories, with 11.4 percent. Nevada’s second place 7.4 percent was well behind that mark. Florida, however could take solace in the fact that it took fourth place when comparing the number of current loans that became newly delinquent in February. At 3.2 percent, Florida tied with West Virginia and followed Nevada and Mississippi, at 3.8 percent.

NEW TAMPA HOMES SALES

March sales were steady but not robust. For details on any of these sales please call or email: HOMENET@GTE.NET or 813-956-6487

TAMPA PALMS had 8 sales which were the lowest of all new Tampa subdivisions when you compare the number of homes to the actual number of closed sales. Three were pre-foreclosure short sale, and five were regular sellers.

MEADOW POINTE had the most sales with 29. Of the 29 only 5 were regular sellers with the majority of sales pre-foreclosures and a few bank owned.

HUNTER’S GREEN had 4 sales, 1 of which was a pre-foreclosure, the balance were normal sales.

ARBOR GREENE had 8 sales, one bank owned, 7 regular sellers.

NOTE:  THERE WERE ONLY A FEW SALES IN NEW TAMPA ABOVE $500,000.00 WITH THE MAJORITY UNDER $300,000.00 WHICH CAN BE FINANCED WITH 3.5% DOWN PAYMENT.

SEVEN OAKS, 5 closed sales, 2 short sales, 1 builder and 2 regular sellers.

LIVE OAKS, 5 closed sales with only 1 a regular seller, highest selling price $235,000.00 for 2650 square feet.

PEBBLE CREEK hit just as hard as Live Oaks during this down turn. Three closed sales, 1 bank, 1 short sale and 1 regular seller.

GRAND HAMPTONS got the most improved award. In March they had 8 closed sales, 4 of which were pre-foreclosures. A few months ago they would have all been foreclosures. They have been hit the hardest by the number of new home builders still very active in the community.

WEST MEADOW, 5 sales, 1 bank, 1 short sale.

COUNTRY WALK had 3 closed sales, all short sales from Country Walk Sales the developer. The homes sold were Parkview.

HERITAGE ISLES, 4 sales, 1 was bank owned, 2 short sales and 1 regular seller. US Homes is almost done building within the community. They should be out by June of this year.

CORY LAKE, 1 sale bank owned, 3283 square feet, conservation, wood floors, very nice home. Someone got a great deal.

CROSS CREEK, 5 sales, 2 were bank owned, 1 short sale and 2 regular sellers. Pretty normal month for area.

There has been a marked increase in the number of  sellers willing to put their homes on the market in order to purchase a new home within New Tampa. This indicates growing consumer confidence and preference for the area.