Time is truly running out for first-time homebuyers thinking about taking advantage of the $8,000 First-Time Buyer Tax Credit!

In order to be eligible to receive this credit, first-time buyers must SETTLE on a home by November 30, 2009.

That means that if you are thinking about cashing in on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, you must get pre-qualified for a loan and start the house hunting process today.

On September 9th, Jesse and I are holding a FREE First-Time Buyer Seminar at SunTrust Bank, Mays Chapel Branch.  From 7:00-8:00 p.m., we will educate you on the entire home purchase process, covering everything from pre-approval to writing an offer to moving day!

If you are considering purchasing a home, please join us.  We promise it will be worth your time.

Renting and wondering if you can afford to buy a home?  Let us run an analysis for you to see if it makes sense or would be comfortable for you to buy a home.

Looking for a bargain?  Check out our Best Buys!  Each week we scour the market and choose 3 properties that we think are really good deals.

Wishing you sunshine everyday and the home of your dreams,
Jeri

Chevelle and I were reminiscing about the things that some sellers ask us and it got us laughing so hard that I just had to share it with you.  In case you were wondering, the answers to each and every single one of these questions is, “YES!”

1. Should I replace the wooden (substitute any of these for wooden and the answer remains the same: pink, blue, worn) toilet seat?
2. Do you think buyers will be able to tell that I was a smoker?
3. I was thinking about replacing the moldy caulk around the bathtub, but do you think that it is necessary?
4. Do you think that buyers will notice the (again, substitute any of these) carpet stains, cracked tiles, water stains on the ceiling from an old leak?
5. When the house is on the market will I have to (choose any of these and the answer is still yes) make the bed everyday, pick up my dirty clothes everyday, remove bath towels from the floor everyday, put the dishes in the dishwasher everyday?

If you are wondering what you should do to get your home ready for sale, see our Preparing Your Home For Sale checklist or request our FREE Home Staging brochure.

Wishing you sunshine everyday and the home of your dreams,
Jeri

Buying a house is an exciting event and as soon as a buyer gets a ratified contract, he or she immediately gets swept up in the visions of decorating the house.  This is a natural thing, but before you go out buying furniture or that new car to pull into the driveway you need to make sure that you actually get the house.

It’s amazing how many people begin buying things for the new house before they’ve settled on it.  The house is not yours until the sellers have received their money and you have received the keys, and anything can happen in the meantime to delay or halt that transaction.

More importantly, a large purchase or a store running a credit check to issue you a credit card negatively impacts your credit score and can actually stop you from being able to buy the home.

You certainly don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you have beautiful new furniture and no home to put it in now or anytime in the near future.

When you are buying a home, be very careful about purchases and wait to make those large purchases until after you have settled on the home.

If you are thinking about buying a home and want to get the benefit of the First-Time Buyer $8,000 Tax Credit, be aware that you must settle on the home by December 1, 2009.

Looking for a great deal, check out our Best Buys.

Renting and thinking about buying?  You might actually save money buy owning a home.  Contact us and we’ll be happy to run the numbers for you or attend our FREE Home Buying Seminar and learn the process and how you can save money.

Wishing you sunshine everyday and the home of your dreams,
Jeri

The $8,000 First-Time Buyer Tax Credit is the opportunity of a lifetime for anyone thinking about buying a home.  Coupled with plenty of homes from which to choose, low interest rates, and affordable prices, NOW is definitely the time to buy.

If you are thinking about becoming a homeowner and taking advantage of this opportunity, time is running out!  In order to qualify for the credit, you must settle on a home by December 1, 2009.

It takes most people at least one month to find a home and 45 to 60 days to get a loan and settle on the property.  Considering that from the start of house hunting to settlement day it takes most people at least 3 months – if you are thinking about buying a home and taking advantage of the tax credit, you should begin your home search today and plan to have a contract on a home no later than September, so that the lender will have adequate time to process your loan in advance of the December 1^st deadline.

Learn the homebuying process by attending our FREE Homebuying Seminar and leave the seminar with a FREE pre-approval letter in hand.

Wishing you sunshine everyday and the home of your dreams,
Jeri