Just to reiterate:

I've been saying this for months- but it never hurts to reinforce the message: Now is a fantastic time to buy! I saw this article today- 4 Great Real Estate Deals that Won't Last- on Yahoo Real Estate, and thought I would pass it along, as it really drives home my point! If you have been on the fence about potentially purchasing a home...don't wait around any longer! There are only 26 days left to get under contract in order to be eligible for the current tax credit, interest rates remain incredibly low, and there is a fantastic inventory of homes out there (one of which could be waiting for you)!

If you would like to start your home search today, please feel free to call or e-mail me at (802)846-9530 or Jamie@BurlingtonVermontHomes.com

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR

photo credit: BHG.com

The time to list your home is NOW!

Have you been considering putting your home on the market for a while now? A lot of home owners are waiting until the weather warms up and school lets out to list their homes BUT they could be missing out on precious buyers who are ready to take advantage of the home buyer tax credit before its expiration! (Such buyers must be under contract on or before April 30th.)

I found this article on Yahoo Real Estate that points out some great ways to potentially increase the sale price of your home- with minimal investment! Remember: if you have lived in your home 5 of the last 8 years, you too could be eligible for the tax credit (of up to $6,500)!

Given the amazing interest rates right now, and the tax credit CURRENTLY in place, NOW is really the time to be putting your home on the market, in order best position your home for a sale by this spring! In fact, the author of this article points out that this spring could be the "most pleasant experience for a home seller in the last four or five years"!

If you would like to discuss putting your home on the market, please call or e-mail me today.
-Jamie Wright, REALTOR
JWright@HickokandBoardman.com

Feeling Optimistic about 2010

I just had the pleasure of listening to Dr. Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors speak at a luncheon right here in Burlington. After listening to Dr. Yun's analysis of the national housing market, I left the luncheon feeling incredibly...optimistic!!! (Mind you, Dr. Yun was recently named one of the top ten economic forecasters in the nation by USA Today!)

Basically, Dr. Yun stressed that 2010 is likely to experience a healthy boost in home sales, which will lead to modest increases in home values (good news for homeowners)! Helping to nudge the number of home sales upward are two crucial factors: historically low interest rates and the homebuyer tax credit that is currently in place. All good things must come to an end though, and this holds true to both the current interest rates and the homebuyer tax credit.

REMEMBER- if you are looking to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credit, you MUST be under contract by no later than April 30, 2010 (READ: you have 110 days left!!!)! Dr. Yun also pointed out that interest rates will likely rise to close to 6% (or higher) by the end of the year, if not sooner....so time is really of the essence!

Finally, I thought that one of the most notable points that Dr. Yun made today had to do with the ability of current renters to purchase a home. I thought this was particularly interesting because I often hear from aspiring homeowners that they do not think they would qualify for a mortgage. However, Dr. Yun said that in 2000 (when the Real Estate market was quite "normal") 11 million renters had the incomes necessary to qualify for a mid-priced home. In 2009, roughly 16 million renters had the necessary income to qualify for a mid-priced home! If you are one of the 16 million renters that think you could not qualify for a mortgage, you could be sorely mistaken! I can put you in touch with a wonderful local lender who can help you determine whether or not homeownership is an option for you!

To read more about Dr. Yun, check out his impressive bio: http://www.realtor.org/research/chief_economist_bio

Of course, feel free to call or e-mail me if you would like to start your home search today! JWright@HickokandBoardman.com or (802)846-9530. As always, you can search our entire inventory of homes 24 hours a day at http://www.hickokandboardman.com/

Happy House Hunting!

-Jamie Wright, REALTOR

Only 118 days left!!

2010 has arrived...and so the countdown to the expiration of the first-time homebuyer tax credit has begun! Many homebuyers tend to put their home searches on hold during the winter months and go into "hibernation mode"...but with the looming deadline for the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit or the $6,500 repeat homebuyer tax credit, homebuyers can not afford to wait until the spring to renew their home searches!! In order to be eligible for the extended and expanded tax credit, a homebuyer must be under contract for their new home NO LATER THAN APRIL 30, 2010! Factor in a couple of months to find the home, and the time for homebuyers to start their search is....now!!!

This article from MSN Real Estate highlights the importance to start your search sooner, rather than later: http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=22815497 (It also provides some great tips for homebuyers looking to take advantage of the tax credit.)

If you would like more information on the homebuyer tax credit, please visit: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=215791,00.html?portlet=7

Of course, if you are thinking of purchasing a home in the upcoming year, I would be more than happy to help you through the process! Please feel to call or e-mail me today with any of your Real Estate questions!


-Jamie Wright, REALTOR
JWright@HickokandBoardman.com
(802)846-9530