Home resales rose in September...
Home resales rose in September to the highest level in more than two years, beating expectations, as buyers scrambled to complete their purchases before a tax credit for first-time owners expires.
The seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.57 million in September, from a downwardly revised pace of 5.1 million in August. Sales had been expected to rise to an annual pace of 5.35 million, according to economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters.
The median sales price was $174,900, down 8.5 percent from a year earlier, and slightly lower than August's median of $177,300.
"There's a mini-boom going on in the housing market," said Thomas Popik, who conducts a monthly survey of real estate agents for Campbell Communications, a research firm.
The inventory of unsold homes on the market fell about 7 percent to 3.63 million. That's a 7.8 month supply at the current sales pace, and the lowest level since March 2007. Nationwide sales are up nearly 24 percent from their bottom in January, but are still down 23 percent from four years ago.
Sales rose around the country, especially in the West, where they grew 13 percent from a month earlier. Foreclosure sales are booming in cities like Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas. First-time homebuyers and investors are snapping up those homes and taking advantage of low mortgage rates. These buyers can also take advantage of a tax credit of 10 percent of the sales price, up to $8,000, if the sale is completed by the end of November.
The tax credit is so important to some buyers that they are adding a clause to their contracts, allowing them to back out if the sale doesn't close by Nov. 30.
While home sales and housing construction have risen steadily after hitting bottom earlier this year, most economists believe that the worst isn't over for home values.
Prices could see a double dip because rising unemployment is causing more foreclosures. The jobless rate, currently at 9.8 percent is expected to rise as high as 10.5 percent next year, causing more people to be unable to afford their monthly mortgage payment.
"There's more supply that's going to come into the marketplace," said Stan Humphries, chief economist at real estate Web site Zillow.com. "That additional supply will outpace demand."
With concerns about the housing market still prominent, Congress is considering several proposals to extend the tax credit for first-time buyers. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., want to extend it through June 30, and expand it to include all home buyers, at an estimated cost of $16.7 billion.
Realtors and homebuilders are pressing lawmakers to do so, arguing that the tax credit is crucial to get the housing market back on its feet. "We are not there in terms of removing the consumer fear factor," said Lawrence Yun, the Realtors' chief economist.
One potential roadblock, however, emerged this week. There are concerns that some of the 1.5 million applications for the tax credit are fraudulent. At a hearing on Thursday the Treasury Department's inspector general for taxes questioned the legitimacy of some 100,000 claims for the credit, potentially including some illegal immigrants and 580 people under 18. The youngest taxpayers to apply for the credit were 4 years old.

Can You Get a Loan Today...?
Changes in the housing and mortgage industries have prompted many people, including the media, to wonder: "Can you get a loan today?"
The answer is simple: Yes!
Despite the negative headlines over the past year, there's actually plenty of money available for loans. In fact, reports indicate that over $2.7 Trillion in loans were originated in 2009. That's over $1 Trillion more than 2008.
However, mortgages must make sense in today's terms – not the looser standards permitted by lenders a few years ago.
What does this mean to borrowers today?
Lenders have returned to a pre-2000 mindset – a kind of "common-sense lending" that seeks long-term success versus short-term profits.
That means lenders need documented evidence that a borrower is creditworthy and is likely to repay the loan. This creditworthiness is based on the four tenets of lending: the borrower's ability to pay, willingness to pay, equity in the transaction, and the property itself.
With interest rates at or near all-time lows, lower home prices, and the $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers, it's worth the time and effort to find out if you can benefit from common-sense lending in today's real estate market.

9/11...
Never forget!
Never again!

Missing an opportunity...
The $8,000 income tax credit for first time homebuyers (as defined by the US Government) expires as of November 30th, unless the Congress extends or modifies the program.
If you are are first time homebuyer, it is now time to get off the fence.
With less than 90 days left until the program expires (you must close the transaction by November 30th) time is short.
And with the new appraisal and truth in lending requirements for home mortgages, transactions are taking longer to close than earlier this year.
Home prices have not been this low since early this decade and mortgage money is still cheap.
Don't be kicking yourself on December 1st for missing this opportunity, it might never happen again.

Homebuyer Protection Alert!...
Recent Federal legislation can impact your closing date.
When completing your Purchase Agreement, even if you are prepared to move forward and close quickly, a more conservative time frame of at least 30 days from the time of the contract acceptance would be a more realistic expectation at this time.
Listed below is information on two pieces of legislation that stand to impact your closing date, and a few bullet points that explain the reasoning behind and effects of each measure.
HVCC: Home Valuation Code of Conduct:
HVCC was designed to ensure that appraisals are conducted objectively and without pressure from parties with an interest in the transaction. Under HVCC, the appraisal and selection of the appraiser will be ordered by someone not directly involved in the origination of the mortgage. This could be either someone else within the mortgage company or a third-party appraisal management company.
A copy of the appraisal must be provided to the homebuyer/borrower no less than three days before closing. The minimum time expectations for receipt of the appraisal should be a few weeks and not days. (While receipt of the appraisal may be received in shorter time frames, conservative expectations are warranted.) Communication between the appraiser and the originating mortgage professional is prohibited. It is imperative that the agents involved in the transaction be prepared at the time of inspection to offer supporting value information if warranted.
HERA: Housing and Economic Recovery Act:
HERA was designed to ensure that the borrower(s) involved in the transaction are given accurate disclosure information (Truth in Lending Statement pertaining to Annual Percentage Rate or APR) regarding the loan they are applying for and adequate time to re-evaluate their decision to proceed in the event of any changes that would impact their costs to finance.
Under HERA, no fees may be collected for the transaction other than those for running a credit report at the initial time of application. Additional fees may be collected only after four business days. Should the APR change by more than .125% on a fixed rate loan or .250% on an adjustable rate loan, the lender must disclose the new APR and the borrower must have a minimum of three business days to review the information before the transaction may proceed.
Items that can trigger re-disclosure requirements include a change(s) in the loan amount, closing date, loan program, any fees that impact the APR or interest rate from the rate indicated on the original loan application.
In cases where documents are sent by mail to the borrower related to re-disclosure of APR and/or providing a copy of the appraisal, anticipate six business days (three to allow for mailing and three to allow adequate time to review them) before a closing can occur.

Beau...
As I wrote earlier this year, we lost our Yorkshire Terrier, Morgan in February.
We still have our female Yorkie, Bridgett and the two Rag Doll cats, R.C. and Raggs and they bring us much joy.
Dale had been told of a puppy that one of our fellow agents had acquired, a Shorkie, a Yorkshire Terrier/Shih Tzu mix.
I contacted a breeder in Stockbridge, Georgia, Jennifer Williams, and she graciously agreed to meet me so I could see her last male puppy from her then current litter.
I brought Beau home as a surprise on July 1 and I think he has won our hearts, at least Dale's and mine.
Bridgett, Raggs and R.C. are still not sure.

Georgia Governor Signs Housing Tax Credit Bill...
On Monday, May 11, Governor Sonny Perdue signed legislation into law that creates a new state income tax credit for home purchases in Georgia. The tax credit will apply to purchases of eligible properties between June 1 and November 30, 2009, and is expected to spur activity in the housing market.
Passage of this bill was the top legislative priority for the Georgia Association of REALTORS® in 2009. House Bill 261 provides an income tax credit for the purchase of a single-family residence during the six months between June 1 and November 30, 2009.
The credit amount is the lesser of $1,800 or 1.2 percent of the purchase price. The tax credit is applied over three years, with one-third of the credit available each year. If a the amount of the credit exceeds the taxpayer's tax liability, the unused credit may carry forward to the next tax year. The credit created by HB 261 may be claimed one time per taxpayer.
The final version of the bill contains the GAR amendment to clarify condominiums and residences occupied at the time of sale are eligible for the credit.
In addition, eligible single family residences include:
New single-family residences; Previously occupied residences that were for sale prior to May 11, 2009. and are still for sale after May 11, 2009;
Owner-occupied residences in which the owner’s acquisition debt is in default on or before March 1, 2009; and
Residences where a foreclosure has taken place and are owned by the mortgagor or the mortgagor’s agent.
This tax credit is in addition to the federal first-time home buyer tax credit, which is available to only those buyers who have not owned a home during the last three years. "I'm proud of Governor Perdue for signing this legislation, and I'm proud to have brought it before the state legislature," said bill sponsor Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah). "This bill will put people back to work, reduce the inventory of unsold homes, and kick-start Georgia's economy."