Category: Federal Tax Credit

HAR Releases March Housing Statistics

As predicted by a surge of mortgage applications nationwide last month, closed sales of single family homes in the Houston market climbed 11 percent in March versus a year ago.

The three HAR areas served by Keller Williams Realty Northeast saw sales gains as well. Nine percent more homes were sold in both Area 1 (Atascocita/Humble) and Area 32 (Kingwood) compared to last year. Area 40 (southeast Montgomery County) exceeded the market’s results with a hefty gain of 17.4 percent more homes sold this March.

February Home Sales Figures Released

On Tuesday (3/16), the Houston Association of Realtors released housing sales statistics for February 2010. While the number of homes on the market increased for the month, existing single family home sales were down in Houston and in two out of the three northeast Houston areas served by Keller Williams Realty Northeast.

Reflecting an abundance of pent up sellers, listings on resale homes were up versus a year ago across the area. Houston overall saw a two percent gain in single family homes on the market in February versus last year. Area 1 (Atascocita/Humble) saw 3.2 percent more homes listed; Area 32 (Kingwood) had a 7.9 percent increase; and Area 40 (Southeast Montgomery County) had 14.8 percent more houses listed for sale.

April Showers Bring Appliance Rebates

If you are thinking of buying a new appliance, you may want to wait until April. That’s when Texans will be eligible for $23 million in federal rebates on purchases of energy-efficient appliances.

The rebates are part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the same government stimulus program that instituted Cash for Clunkers, which offered rebates for trading in old cars.

Real Estate Experts Give Insight into the Federal Housing Tax Credit

If you are looking to buy a home for the first time, there is no better time to buy than right now. First time home buyers can qualify for an $8,000 Federal Housing Tax Credit if they purchase a home by 4/30/2010 and close the sale by 6/30/2010 . Move-up buyers, who purchase a new home and sell their previous home during that same time period, can receive a $6,500 tax credit with qualifying income levels and years of homeownership.

On top of the tax incentive, interest rates are at a near a record low making home purchases even more attractive. Rates currently hover around the high four percent range: conventional and Federal Housing Administration mortgage rates are at 4.875% with VA being slightly higher at 5%, according to Mike Proctor of Genesis Mortgage Company in Kingwood.