Wednesday, March 10, 2010

US NEW HOME SALES FALL IN DEC FOR 2ND MONTH IN A ROW

Sales of newly built US single-family homes fell unexpectedly in December, data showed on Wednesday, the latest indication that the government-led housing recovery might be losing some steam. The Commerce Department said sales fell 7.6% to a 342,000 unit annual rate from an upwardly revised 370,000 units in November. It was the second straight month that new home sales declined. US stock indexes fell on the data, while government bond prices held at higher levels. "This isn't good news. It should put some pressure on the market, especially coming after the disappointing outlooks we saw," said Dan Cook, senior market analyst at IG Markets in Chicago. New home sales for the whole of 2009 fell 22.9% to a record low 374,000 units, the department said.
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The data came as the Federal Reserve deliberated on monetary policy. The US central bank is expected to leave overnight lending rates near zero. At its meeting in December, the Fed announced it would end purchases of agency mortgage-backed securities in March.
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The program has depressed mortgage rates, contributing to the housing market's healing in recent months. But the housing market recovery is showing some signs of fatigue after a surge in sales as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of a popular tax credit, which had been scheduled to expire in November. It has since been expanded and extended until June this year and while analysts expect home sales to pick up as a result, they reckon the pace will not be as strong as witnessed with the initial tax credit. Courtesy:- ET dt:- 28-jan-2010 For more information regarding apartment in mumbai, bedroom apartments, buy property in india, commercial complex in india, commercial real estate, commercial space in mumbai, dealers, flats for sale, indian real estate investment, investment options in real estate, luxurious flats, malls, office space, office space in mumbai, online real estate, penthouses mumbai, plots, property consultants, property in mumbai, property india, property investment, real estate company, real estate developer, real estate mumbai, real estate in india, real estate investment strategies, real estate market, real estate news, real estate portals, realtors, realty, residence, residential real estate, sell property, shop, villas, Residential Apartment.
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Tips To Home Buyers on Your First Viewing Schedule

So, you're about to embark on what many Americans dream about, buying your first home! The first step in choosing that perfect home is your visual inspection, in other words, taking time to look at the intricacies of the home. dallas homes for sale

Trivia Fact: did you know 49% of homeowners experience a problem with the houses they've bought simply because they didn't spend enough time researching or checking out the property? You don't have to become a statistic if you follow a few simple rules:

Do a background search on the property, including the area surrounding it. This will save you time from viewing a property that will not meet your requirements for a neighborhood, or location.

Bring a camera and take photos of the homes, carefully taking a close-up shot of the home and other things that you may have liked or disliked about the home. Takes notes on the back of the San Antonio MLS sheet for that specific home in order to prevent confusion later.
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Don't be afraid to ask about the fixtures, attachments, HOA association dues, noise level, average utility bills, etc. If the homeowner is home, take advantage and ask questions, after all, they know the property very well.

Real Estate agents are only human - you can not expect to see all the houses you want in a short span of time. There are only so many hours in a day so you must prepare yourself to view a set number of homes, and keep your expectations realistic. Also, be open with your Real Estate agent if they offer free transportation, or would rather meet up somewhere in between. dallas homes for sale

Be on time. REALTORS® schedule appointments for the homes they will be showing, and it is important to stay on time as many homeowners have to make arrangements to leave the property.

Schedule second showings with your REALTOR® of your top pics and take your time getting to know the property before an offer is presented and perhaps drive by at different times to get a feel of the neighborhood. Take your own measurements for furniture placement and appliances as well, and if you have children, don't forget to check school boundaries and capping issues.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Home Buyers Plan - A Practical Relief for First Time Homebuyers

The Home Buyers Plan is a government sponsored program that gives opportunity for first time homebuyers to withdraw a maximum of $25,000 tax free to purchase their first home. The amount will be repaid for a period of 15 years. Since the tax refund have already been received when the funds were initially infused to the RRSP, no refund will be received once the amount is paid back. dallas homes for sale

You are entitled to draw from your RRSP up to a maximum amount of $20,000 under this Plan if you don't own the home that you are currently in for the past 5 years. Your spouse is also entitled to the same amount provided that she meets the same requirements. This means that you and your spouse are entitled to borrow a maximum amount of $40,000.

You must fill out Form T1036 and submit the accomplished form to your financing company. It is essential that you use this form when withdrawing the fund under the Home Buyers Plan; otherwise the withdrawn amount will be subject to tax. You are given a year from the date of receipt of the funds to complete the home purchase and another year thereafter for you to move into your new home and make it as your main residence. dallas homes for sale

The withdrawn amount is a no-interest loan and you will be required to return within 15 years by paying annually 1/14 of the withdrawn amount starting on the second year from the date of release. If you are not able to make the purchase or make the home your primary residence within the prescribed period or fail to repay the amount you withdrew from your RRSP, then the amount will be considered as your increased income which is subject to tax.

Coupled with sufficient preparation, first time homebuyers will be able to use this fund to finance their home purchase. For most of these homebuyers, the Plan provides great opportunity to raise the needed funds to make the purchase of their first home while reducing the amount of debt that they have to pay. An ideal option to get the maximum benefit from this program is to infuse current savings into the RRSP and the use the tax refund to pay off existing credit.

For instance, with a $14,000 savings which you can infuse into your RRSP, you are entitled to a $4,500 tax refund. You can use the tax rebate to pay off existing debt and use the same amount as down payment once you decide to purchase your first home. You will then have to pay $934 annually for 15 years. You may also opt to pay more than the required amount each year and this will in turn reduce the amount that is available for tax rebates by an even amount of $1,000. This can then be credited to your annual repayments. On the other hand, if both your TFSA and RRSP contributions are maxed out but still have some savings left, then you can add to your current annual repayments of $1,000. dallas homes for sale

Viability of the Home Buyers Plan

This special privilege given to first time homebuyers to utilize their RRSP tax free to make the purchase of their dream home is probably the best option when you really want to buy your their dream home but don't have enough equity. The only downside of this option is you are missing out on the earning opportunity that RRSP provides if your money remains intact. However, the appreciation in the value of your home over time is usually more than enough to offset the missed earning opportunity.

Western Area Rugs | Top Reviews and Best Price

Western Area Rugs have the unique ability to add a little bit of the Wild West flavor to your home. It will accent your fireplace or cabin. The rugs are available in a wide-range of sizes, colors, textures, and designs to add that special flavor to the areas you choose. dallas homes for sale

You can generally find features such as a cowboy, horse, or a variety of other western themes to place in your home. These rugs are usually manufactured with a thick pile. This allows for the blending of beautiful colors. Western Area Rugs are available in a variety of sizes. If you need a doormat, a rug runner, or a large area rug you will be able to find the colors and style that will bring out the look you want in your home. dallas homes for sale

You will be able to select from traditional Spanish and Native American themes. These generally spotlight the themes of mountains, or the sun and rivers. They truly open the life to history while honoring the American West. You have the choice of selecting from soft tones. These usually come in the color of desert sand as well as the beautiful blue sky. Many of the Southwestern rugs are Navajo-inspired. These beautiful rugs are not only affordable they also add a richness to your home.

When you begin shopping for your Western Area Rugs you will want to keep some things in mind. First, what kind of material will be best in your home in the area where you plan to place it. Second, what style will fit best in the areas you plan to place your rugs. Third, you need to know how to care for and clean your new rug. When you begin shopping you will find the sales associates are knowledgeable about the products they sale. Be prepared to ask them the questions you want answered. For example, will you choose a natural or synthetic material? If you choose natural you will have a variety of choices. These include wool, cotton, jute, and sisal. Synthetic material include nylon and polypropylene. You will want to choose with care.

Choosing Western Area Rugs to place in your home will give you years of pleasure. They will also bring out the look you want in your home. When you begin shopping for your rugs you will find just the right rug to put down in your home. It will really add to your decor. dallas homes for sale