There is no doubt that the first time home buyer tax credit is a great thing but there are a few things to know before you assume that you qualify for the full $8,000.  The tax credit breaks down as follows:
Who qualifies? First time home buyers and people (or spouses) who have not owned a home for the previous 3 years.  You must purchase your home between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009.

• What qualifies for the first time home buyer’s tax credit? Only a primary house qualifies.  It does not matter if it is a single family home, duplex, townhome, condo, apartment or co-op, if it is a primary residence it will apply.

• What is the amount of the first time home buyer’s tax credit? $8,000 is the maximum amount of the credit.  There are 2 factors at play when it comes to getting the credit: The cost of the home and the income of the person or married couple purchasing the home.  The credit can be 10% of the closing price up to $8,000 or a person making $75,000 or less or a married couple making $150,000 or less are eligible for the full $8,000.

• Do you qualify for the first time home buyer’s tax credit if your income is higher? Yes and no.  If you make more than the $75,000/$150,000 limit you get less of a credit.  The maximum income is $95,000 for singles or $170,000 for couples.  If you make more than the maximum income you are not eligible for the tax credit.

The tax credit is a real boon for first time home buyers and does not have to be repaid.  If you qualify for the tax credit and have been considering purchasing a new home there could not be a better time.  Low interest rates, low home values and the first time home buyer tax credit all add up to the right time to call an experienced local Realtor.

Resource and for more information: Realtor.org

If you decide to purchase a home by December 1, 2009, you will be entitled to an $8,000 tax credit. This amendment to the economic stimulus bill will be available to if you purchase your first home between 1/1/2009 and 12/1/2009. Home buyers will be entitled to claim a total tax credit of $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is less.  To avoid possible abuse of this credit, it is only allowed for your primary residence and will only have to be re-paid if said house is sold within two years of purchase. Keep in mind that you must close on or before December 1, 2009 to be eligible for the credit. Most closings take about sixty days, so with that in mind you must go under contract by October 2nd, 2009 – this gives you seventy-three days from today to find your first home. If you manage to meet these deadlines, all you have to do to claim your credit is fill out I.R.S. Form 5405.

For more information about this credit go to the IRS website.

If you are a first-time home buyer, before you even look at houses for sale, the most important thing you can do is figure out exactly how much you can afford on a mortgage payment per month. This will save you wasted time and the disappointment of looking at houses that you may later learn that you simply cannot afford. You first must figure out your debt-to-income ratio. Lenders prefer that you use 36% and under, but you might want to consider using 28% of your gross monthly income for housing expense. Following are the steps to figure out the math:

1. Figure out all of your debt. Multiply your gross monthly income by .36 to find your total allowable monthly debt.
2. Add up all of your fixed monthly expenses.
3. Subtract your fixed monthly expenses from your total allowable monthly debt.

This number is the amount that you have for your mortgage payment, your home owner’s insurance and your property taxes.

For more help figuring out your total allowable monthly debt see a home affordability calculator.

If you are a first-time home buyer, before you even look at houses for sale, the most important thing you can do is figure out exactly how much you can afford on a mortgage payment per month. This will save you wasted time and the disappointment of looking at houses that you may later learn that you simply cannot afford. You first must figure out your debt-to-income ratio. Lenders prefer that you use 36% and under, but you might want to consider using 28% of your gross monthly income for housing expense. Following are the steps to figure out the math:

1. Figure out all of your debt. Multiply your gross monthly income by .36 to find your total allowable monthly debt.
2. Add up all of your fixed monthly expenses.
3. Subtract your fixed monthly expenses from your total allowable monthly debt.

This number is the amount that you have for your mortgage payment, your home owner’s insurance and your property taxes.

For more help figuring out your total allowable monthly debt see a home affordability calculator.

Buying your first home can be a very exciting milestone in a person’s life. It is very easy to picture all of the good times you will have there in the future, but many people get lost in the excitement and forget to plan for a rainy day. To avoid losing that home to unforeseen circumstances down the line such as a job loss or an illness, keep these things in mind when considering purchasing your first home.

• Make sure that you have enough in savings to cover your mortgage while you find a new job, should you lose your job. Many experts recommend at the very least to have six months worth of savings to cover all expenses, including the mortgage.
• Understand before purchasing your home, all of the expenses that will be involved to maintain the home. If you are considering purchasing a fixer-upper, make a list of all of the inevitable things that will need to be replaced or repaired and their costs.
• Consider your other expenses, such as your car payment or transportation costs, taxes, etc. and whether or not this new home will be affordable for you.

For more information on the First-time home buyer tax credit go to Federal Housing.

If you are in the enviable position right now of looking to buy a home, enjoy the current market: the buyer’s market! Many folks that have to sell their homes right now are happy to start a dialogue with a potential buyer, so arm yourself with any and all information to get the best deal possible!

• Right now you have more time to look, so you will be better armed with the knowledge of which houses have been sitting on the market for a while. These homeowners might be more likely to negotiate.
• Consider looking at new construction. Builders sometimes offer incentives and sometimes have very attractive financing programs.
• In certain areas that have been hit a bit harder by the market downturn, you certainly do have the upper hand whilst negotiating – and can always ask for an upgrade or a major repair before finalizing the deal.
• Some buyers are asking for a written warranty on appliances and certain structural repairs. Down the road this could be a big money-saver for you.
• Motivated sellers are more likely to work with your timeline. Don’t be afraid to ask if the closing can be pushed out.
• Even some lenders are willing to negotiate. You might ask for free private mortgage insurance, a better interest rate or even lower closing costs.

For more information on the current real estate market go to Housing Predictor.

If you are planning to become a first-time home buyer, the following information about what occurs during a closing will keep you in-the-know.

• When you are ready to make an offer on a home, it is good to make an offer that is 10% less than the asking price. This will give you plenty of room to negotiate with the seller.
• When you make a formal offer, you must pay 1% of the sale price as “earnest money”. This lets the seller know that you are serious about your offer. 
• You will have contingencies, such as getting proof of proper financing and a good house inspection.
•  You will hire a home inspector that will give the home a complete inspection, to catch any possible problems the home may have.
• When your offer is accepted by the seller, a legal and binding contract is drawn which states sell price, details of buyer’s or seller’s obligations, and date of possession.
• The required “settlement sheet” provides a list of all monies paid at closing, including commissions and escrow amounts.
• There will be a mandatory title search, and title insurance and an application for homeowners insurance is required.
• Various closing costs will be paid such as the appraisal fee, the credit report fee, your taxes and the document preparation fee, to name a few.
• Utility service and mortgage payment transfers will be arranged.

For more information on the closing process visit Survival Guide To A Real Estate Closing

Choosing the right community is so important, as how you can you really love where you live unless you love the neighborhood? In the frenzy of finding a home and scheduling moving day, many people forget that researching the neighborhood is one of the most important ways to insure happiness at your new destination. Before making your final decision on a home, don’t forget to:

• “Profile” the neighborhood. Ask yourself these questions: Is the quality of the school system important? Is the commute do-able for you? Do you like to be within walking distance to shops and restaurants? Do you like quiet?
• Once you zero in on a neighborhood you like you must research all school information, crime statistics, parks and recreation, neighborhood association fees and tourist attractions. Armed with this information it will be easy to make a wise decision for you.
• Take the time to visit. Don’t downplay your first impression. Take note of the community’s rush hour patterns, it’s social ability factor, it’s streetlights at night. Drive by the schools. Shop in the local grocery store. Try to meet some of your potential neighbors. All of these visual clues can be very revealing.

For more interesting ways to figure out if a neighborhood is right for you click here.

More and more people are considering purchasing houses that are being sold due to foreclosure or at auction. Many of these homes may have had lapses in maintenance or other issues that home buyers must be wary of. Never purchase a home without hiring an inspector to look it over first. Here are some of the problems that you can be on the look out for during the viewing stage, which can cause a buyer significant and costly problems:

• Too many homes for sale on the street. Are any boarded up? Always keep an eye on the other houses near the one that you may purchase. They will tell you a lot about your possible future investment.
• Outdoor maintenance is often very telling of what is going on “underneath”. If the home you are looking at has straggly foundation plants or broken gutters, what else could be wrong?
• Foundation damage is always a major consideration. Check for proper grading and cracks bigger than 1/3 of an inch. Many times this can mean major structural issues.
• Strong odors outside and inside almost always indicate something “bad”. Investigate further.
• Be on the lookout for flickering lights and always check face plates for heat. This could mean faulty wiring.
• Windows with fog or water in between double-paned windows can signify trouble lurking.
• Stains and/or saggy walls usually indicate water damage, mildew or mold. An inspector must check for leaks and mold.
• Keep your eyes peeled during your tour for pests and rodents. Seeing evidence at this early stage is never a positive sign.

If you haven’t heard of the Housing and Recovery Act of 2008, listen up! It’s old news! There’s been a $7500 tax credit in place for all first time home buyers since the bill passed last year in April. It will expire in 2009. If you want some assistance getting moved in your new home, and you’re a first time buyer or haven’t bought a home in a while, then this is a great way to get help with moving expenses, etc.

But the NEWS is about this bill that just passed the senate…

• Provide a direct tax credit to any homebuyer who purchases any home

• Amount of the tax credit would be $15,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price, whichever is less

• Purchases must be made within one year of the legislation’s enactment

• The tax credit would not have to be repaid

• The amendment would allow taxpayers to claim the credit on their 2008 income tax return

• Only purchases of a principal residence

• Recapturing the credit if the home is sold within two years of purchase

• Would sunset the current $7,500 housing tax credit on the date of enactment.

This has passed the Senate, but the entire bill does need to go back to the House, and be signed by the President. There could be many changes before this happens, or not pass at all. But is it a bright piece for us in the Real Estate industry and would help the housing crisis immensely as you can imagine.

Christian Russell writes a blog on the economy, real estate and success in business called My One Hundred Things.