Extended Homebuyer Credit

As the new year has come and gone, questions are still arising everyday with regards to the First Time Home Buyer Credit. This past year was a great year to be a first time homebuyer! Yet, it is gets even better if you are looking to move up. As most people are aware of the $6500 credit for current homeowners, here is a link to the IRS page that explains the credit and answers the common questions.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=206291,00.html

Sustainable Neighborhoods Project

In today's State of the State address, Governor David Paterson not only recognized Buffalo's struggle with abandoned housing, but he has put the City of Buffalo first in line, saying, "With more than 23,000 vacant housing units, Buffalo will serve as the starting point for the project which will expand to cities across New York State."
Governor Paterson proposes the Sustainable Neighborhoods Project as a national model for affordable housing and urban revitalization, starting here.
Resulting from decades of post-industrial economic decline that have exacerbated the vacant housing crisis, together with the foreclosure and sub-prime crises, Paterson understands the negative impact this has on future economic development, homeownership and in-migration. The abandoned houses and ravaged, once vital neighborhoods serve to perpetuate "the perception that the region's urban areas are in a downward spiral," according to Paterson.
"There is no other region of the country with the affordable housing stock, the close-by schools, the natural beauty and the untouched small towns that families would cherish. We need to return to promoting all that we have to offer," Governor Paterson said. "Part of that effort must include revitalizing prime housing stock that currently sits vacant and turning it into long-term affordable housing, starting in Buffalo..."
In Paterson's plan, local officials will designate blighted homes for rehabilitation and sale to first time homeowners; houses will be marketed as long-term affordable housing and homeowners would be selected through a lottery process. The City of Buffalo has not issued a statement about the governor's remarks as of yet.

In a more holistic approach, PUSH Buffalo's Eric Walker says, "We are eager to work with the Governor to build a national model for sustainable community development incorporating green jobs training, green rehab, weatherization and urban agriculture. We think Buffalo can lead the way in demonstrating that urban neighborhoods have tremendous assets, including arable land and residents who are eager to participate in the New Economy."
Other projects on the table for that neighborhood include a rehabilitated park and more green housing in 2010. "We look forward to working with the Governor to implement the new investment in the Neighborhood," said Aaron Bartley, PUSH Executive Director. "We are very excited to explore the avenues opened to us by this partnership with the Governor."
The proximity to newly renovated schools for many of these houses all over the city, but most especially on the East and West Sides, should help the schools to maintain the students they need, through bringing in families that are willing to be part of revitalized school communities with revitalized housing stock.

Thanks to http://www.buffalorising.com/2010/01/paterson-on-sustainable-neighborhoods-project.html#SlideFrame_5

New York State Federal Income Tax Credit

GOVERNOR PATERSON ANNOUNCES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CREDIT FOR FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS Tax Credit Could Save the Average Homebuyer Approximately $1,500 Each Year Credit Will Help Stimulate Home Sales in New York StateGovernor David A. Paterson today announced that New York will offer a federal income tax credit to first-time homebuyers to encourage home sales in the State. The New York State Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) will enable first-time homebuyers to claim a tax credit equal to 20% of their annual mortgage interest costs, potentially saving the average homebuyer about $1,500 each year. The program will effectively extend, and in some cases improve upon the federal government’s $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Credit enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which expires on November 30th.“The best way to jump-start the housing market is to encourage home purchases by first-time homebuyers,” Governor Paterson said. “The New York State Mortgage Credit Certificate will make it easier for first-time homebuyers to buy their first home and will help stimulate the State’s economy. It also means some form of federal tax credit will be available for homebuyers even after the federal government’s tax credit program expires in November.”The New York State Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) can be used to reduce a homebuyer’s tax burden for every year the mortgage loan remains outstanding. With an MCC, 20% of the amount paid in mortgage interest becomes a tax credit that can be deducted, dollar for dollar, from a homeowner’s federal income tax liability. The remaining 80% of the mortgage interest continues to qualify as an itemized tax deduction, as long as there is sufficient federal tax liability. The MCC will be administered by the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA), a State agency that offers a variety of fixed-rate mortgages tailored to the needs of first-time homebuyers.Priscilla Almodovar, SONYMA President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “Offering a federal tax credit is a powerful incentive to bring first-time homebuyers into the market and it helps with a family’s cash flow needs. This program will help stabilize housing prices and at the same time further Governor Paterson’s goal of promoting sustainable homeownership for working families.”Prospective homebuyers should apply for the Mortgage Credit Certificate when they apply for a fixed-interest rate mortgage from a participating lending institution. MCC applicants will be required to meet SONYMA’s income and purchase price limits, which can be found at http://www.nyhomes.org. However, homebuyers who obtain a SONYMA mortgage will not be eligible to apply for the Mortgage Credit Certificate tax credit.MCC applications are expected to be available at participating lenders by early September. In addition, homebuyers who have already obtained a mortgage commitment can apply at their bank for an MCC if they have not yet closed on their new home. SONYMA anticipates that MCCs will be used by as many as 700 borrowers in 2009.Borrowers who are approved for an MCC will be able to take advantage of the credit when they file their annual federal tax return. If a homebuyer’s tax liability is less than the Mortgage Credit Certificate credit in any one year, the amount of unused tax credit can be carried forward for up to three years. In the first year of ownership, a homeowner with a $150,000 loan at a 5.5% interest rate will likely pay $8,200 in interest on his or her mortgage. With an MCC, the homeowner can claim 20% of the interest, or $1,640, as a direct tax credit resulting in a savings of $137 per month. As long as he or she continues to occupy the property, the average homeowner can save approximately $1,520 per year over the first 10 years.Mortgage Credit Certificates are financed through the use of New York State’s private activity bonding authority. The IRS allows states to convert $4 in bonding authority, or volume cap, for every $1 approved in MCC tax credits. NYS plans to use $80 million in volume cap to finance $20 million in MCC tax credits. In addition to the MCC, borrowers can also claim up to $8,000 with the Federal First-Time Homebuyer Credit enacted as part of the U.S. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Federal First-Time Homebuyer Credit is available to first-time homebuyers who purchase a home between January 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009. For more information on the Federal First-Time Homebuyer Credit, please visit http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/tg39.htm.Philip LaRocque, Executive Vice President of the New York State Builders, said: “We welcome the New York State Mortgage Credit Certificate offering as an important step in bringing more new and existing homebuyers to this very challenging housing market. A housing industry recovery always leads us out of recession and this MCC should help stimulate new and existing home sales in New York State therefore helping move the industry in a positive direction.”Daniel J. Hartnett, President of the New York State Association of REALTORS(r), said: “We applaud Governor Paterson for his vision in creating the Mortgage Credit Certificate program and for recognizing the importance of housing as a primary driver of the Empire State's economy. The past four months of increasing home sales across the State have proven the value of buyer incentives. We expect, when coupled with the federal first-time buyer credit of $8,000, the MCC will bring additional buyers back to the market and further boost the recovery of both the State's housing market and economy.”Deborah Boatright, Northeast District Director, NeighborWorks® America said: “The Mortgage Credit Certificate is an innovative and powerful incentive that will make homeownership more affordable and sustainable for low- and moderate- income families. Research shows that responsible, sustainable homeownership enables families to build assets, move up the economic ladder and provide greater stability for their children while helping to stabilize communities. NeighborWorks® America applauds Governor Paterson and SONYMA for creating this important new mechanism to spur homeownership.” The State of New York Mortgage Agency was created in 1970 with the mission of helping low- and moderate-income families become homeowners. It offers a variety of low down payment mortgages that provide competitive fixed interest rates, as well as assistance with down payments through a network of participating lenders across the State. For details on MCC income limits, purchase price limits and participating lenders, please visit http://www.nyhomes.org/.

First Time Homebuyer Guide

The amount of information available for first time home buyer's is overwhelming. The life-changing process of acquiring a new home is very time consuming.

The New York Home Buyer Education Program does a great job explaining the process. The offer seminars across the state and seminars to help educate home buyers.

The link below is an amazing guide on the home buyer process. It is 52 pages long and covers all the aspects of home buying. Categories covered in the .pdf link are home searching, loan pre-approvals, financing, closing procedures and the overall process. It is such great resource, we send this to every client we have to help explain the home-buying process.

Check out the Home Buyer Education Program Workbook on the link below:
http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/topics/buying_a_home

Home Affordability Peaks in Buffalo, NY

Home Affordability has not been this good in decades. Actually, make that two (2) decades. Homes are extremely affordable at this time in the market.

What is great is that Buffalo Area Region ranks among the Top 10 for Most Affordable Housing!

Yes, the Buffalo region (out of the 100 largest regions in the United States) ranked in the Top 10 for affordable housing. That is great news for first time home buyers or current renters. Literally, there has not been a better time in 20 years to buy a home. With all the tax incentives, financing options, and new regulations it seems now is the time to act with regards to real estate.

So what do you think? Is our area affordable? What would an average house in our area be worth in another state? See how our area ranks with other affordable areas, along with the least affordable areas to live. Let us know what you think!

Check out CNN Money magazine link at http://money.cnn.com/2009/05/18/real_estate/most_affordable_cities/index.htm?postversion=2009051907

Town of Amherst Reassessment Project Information

Get Ready Amherst - The Town of Amherst Reassessment Project is now entering its final stages. New Market Value Assessments have been mailed in the Assessment Disclosure Notices to all of the property owners in the Town. This Notice states the current Property Assessment, our Preliminary Assessment and the estimated effect this change would have had on the Tax Liability to each parcel if all of the Assessments had been in place to calculate the September 2008 School and the January 2009 Town and County tax bills.

Use the link below to access all the information you need to research the Town of Amherst Reassessment Project. The link will also give you sales data for the past several years for the town and necessary forms to complete with the town for various situations.

http://www.amherst.ny.us/govt/it/cpi/cpi_reassess.asp

Extend the First Time Home Buyer Credit

Do you want to see the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit extended? If YES, you might just get your wish. Recent legislation has been introduced to create that extension.

Worried that rising mortgage rates could damp the prospects for a housing recovery, a business group is making a new push for Congress to boost and extend a home-buyer tax credit.
In February, Congress approved a 10% tax credit for first-time home purchases, up to a maximum of $8,000. The credit, which expires Dec. 1, phases out for buyers with incomes above $170,000 for married couples and $95,000 for individuals.

The National Association of Home Builders and other industry groups have long argued that the credit isn't large enough to help reinvigorate the housing sector. Now the groups are being joined in their efforts by the Business Roundtable, an association of chief executives.
The Business Roundtable is calling on Congress to increase the credit to $15,000 and extend it to all home buyers. "What is being billed as a recovery is not showing up in the cash register yet," says Richard A. Smith, chief executive of Realogy Corp. and a member of the Business Roundtable.

The Business Roundtable is also urging policy makers to sustain efforts to keep mortgages at or below 5% for one year. Mortgage rates climbed to 5.74% on Tuesday a six-month high and up from 5.03% two weeks ago, according to HSH Associates, a financial publisher. Rates have fallen since the Federal Reserve stepped up debt purchases earlier this year in an effort to drive down rates.

A buyer typically needs income of $92,000, assuming a 10% down payment, to qualify for a $400,000 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. With rates at 4.5%, the borrower only needs income of around $84,000, according to an estimate by real-estate firm Long & Foster Cos.
The real-estate industry made a similar push for a $22,000 tax credit for all buyers and interest-rate subsidies earlier this year as Congress considered a range of measures to stimulate the economy. Congress instead opted to increase to $8,000 an existing tax credit for first-time buyers.

Business leaders say that while the first-time-buyer credit has succeeded in jump-starting the bottom end of the housing market, more needs to be done to lure "trade-up" buyers back to the market. Realtors and builders argue that boosting sales among existing owners as opposed to first-time buyers will spur more sales because each transaction involves two home sales. "That 'move-up' buyer has got to have somewhere to go," says Mr. Smith, who warns that without more incentives for existing homeowners, the housing market's "stalemate will be nasty and protracted."

The business group's campaign also pushes for Congress to make permanent recently expanded limits for loans eligible for government backing or purchase.
Congress in February boosted those limits to as high as $729,750 in the nation's most expensive housing markets, from $417,000, and the February stimulus bill renewed the higher limits through the end of the year. Those limits are set to expire at the end of the year and are tied to median home prices, which have fallen