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Realty Times™
A monthly Newsletter about important issues impacting your home.
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Monthly
Newsletter of Seminars, Inc.
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"Educate yourself before
Buying or Selling your home"
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Copyright © 2008
Realty Times
All Rights Reserved.
Real Estate Seminars |
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First Time Buyers'
Dos And Don'ts
If
you are a first time home buyer, you
have a lot to learn.
Working from a blank slate you
must build an understanding of the
housing market, determine what you
can afford, land a loan and hone in
on a home that's a good fit for your
lifestyle.
The transaction will likely
become your largest asset ever so
there's little room for error.
It is a daunting task, but you
can ease your concerns if you take
the process step-by-step, watching
your footing as you move along the
path toward the American Dream.
Below is a list of "Dos and
Don'ts" to
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help first timers turn that
stress into the
self-confidence you'll need
to move closer to your first
home.
The list focuses on
areas first-timers typically
stumble over in their
initial home buying attempt.
Knowing what you could
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Taking The Real Estate Investment Plunge
Just
like buying a home to live in, taking the
real estate investment plunge requires
taking stock of your financial goals,
planning and lifestyle before taking the
plunge.
Pretty much like buying any property.
If you've got the time, the money and
the lifestyle that lends itself to managing
a real estate investment, you are just about
half way there.
However, both halves are pretty big
halves.
The National Real Estate Investors
Association says you've still got a lot of
work to do.
Here's what.
Buy your own home first. Buying
a home will not only put a roof over your
head, but also teach you the true cost of
property ownership beyond the monthly
mortgage payment; give you a primer on
financing; school you on how location and
changing market conditions affect property
values; give you the angle on tax and other
home-owning benefits; help you learn about
property maintenance;
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Tax Rebate Uses For Buyers
What
should a smart home buyer do with that fat
federal tax rebate check?
Well, it's not that fat, but it could
come in handy for buyers before, during and
after the home buying transaction.
The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008
includes, among other provisions, tax
rebates, bureaucratically dubbed "economic
stimulus payments."
Starting in May, the U.S. Treasury
Department will begin sending rebates to
taxpayers, who had $3,000 of income and
filed a 2007 tax return and have a valid
Social Security number. Eligible taxpayers
will receive up to $600 ($1,200 for married
couples). Parents will receive an additional
$300 for each eligible child younger than
17.
If you are a retiree, disabled veteran
or low-wage worker who is otherwise exempt
from filing a tax return, you must file a
tax return this year in order to receive a
rebate.
The rebate -- both the basic component
and the additional funds for qualifying
children -- begins to phase out for
individuals with adjusted gross incomes (AGI)
over $75,000 and married couples who file a
joint return with AGI over $150,000. The
combined payment is reduced by 5 percent of
the income above the AGI thresholds.
You can estimate what your tax rebate
take might be with the Economic
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SAVE $$ - Cut your "Energy Bills" Today
As
we deal with a slow economy, we need to cut costs
wherever we can. You have all been told by the
financial 'guru's' out there to brown bag your lunch
or stop your daily visits to Starbucks...and both
are good ideas if you so choose. But how about
cutting costs in your home or apartment? This is
something we can all do!
Here are a few tips:
1. Pull the plug on your TV, stereo & other
electronics when not in use as their displays &
memory chips consume energy even when not being
used.
2. Slow down the shower - hot showers are great on
the body but they account for up to 40% of hot water
energy costs. By cooling your shower, taking shorter
showers & installing low-flow showerheads you can
reduce water useage by almost 50%.
3.Clean the coils on your refrigerator & window a/c
units. This will allow them to run more efficiently.
For more money saving tips, contact Kathleen
Ricketts @ Seminars, Inc. 847-364-4466
Daily News and Advice
Read about the events shaping
the Real Estate market today, find current
interest rates, or browse the extensive
library of advice and how-to articles
written by some of the top experts in Real
Estate. Updated each weekday.
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More Articles
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Seminars, Inc.
E-mail:
seminars@sprynet.com
Website:
www.real-estate-seminars.net
Office:(847) 364-4466
Toll Free:(888) 966-7650 (outside Illinois)
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Seminars, Inc.
Office:(847) 364-4466
Address:
330 East Algonquin Road Suite 3
Arlington Heights, IL 60005-4665
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Equal Housing Opportunity
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