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Armed Service Members Have Extra Year for Home Buyer Tax Credit

Story courtesy of the NAHB

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) wants members of the military, foreign service, and intelligence communities to know that they may have an additional year to buy a home and claim the home buyer tax credit, which expired for most Americans on April 30.

The law provides qualified service members who served on official extended duty outside of the United States for 90 days or more at any time between January 1, 2009, to April 30, 2010, another year to buy a home and claim the credit. They have until April 30, 2011, to sign a sales contract, and until June 30, 2011, to settle and close on the home. Both the $8,000 first-time and $6,500 repeat home buyer tax credits are included in the rule.

“Congress recognized that many service members may have missed out on the home buyer tax credit due to being posted overseas,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Jones, a builder and developer in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. “It is only fitting that they be given another year to take advantage of this opportunity in appreciation of the sacrifices they have made serving our country.”

“Qualified service members” are defined as a member of the uniformed services of the United States military, a member of the Foreign Service of the United States, or an employee of the intelligence community.

The rule that requires buyers to repay the credit if they move out of their home within three years has also been waived for qualified service members if they have to sell their home due to receiving government orders for extended duty service.

NAHB provides information on the home buyer tax credit, including eligibility requirements and links to home buying resources, on its consumer website www.FederalHousingTaxCredit.com.

For more information, please talk to a Hartland Homes agent today.  402-477-6668

Goodbye $8,000 Tax Credit! Now what?

So the $8,000 Tax Credit has expired and you didn’t find a home.  The good news is that now you can choose the perfect home for you with no time limitations! 

It is still a great time to buy a home!

1)  Low interest rates

2)  Low prices

3)  Save money annually on your income taxes  (itemize your tax return using property tax  and mortgage interest paid)

Additional Reasons to buy a brand new Hartland Home:

4)  You may qualify for an Impact Fee Rebate =that is a credit of up to $4,685 towards your down payment!!!

5)  We pay your closing costs = average savings of $2,500!

6)  Energy Efficient = saves you $$ every month on lower utility bills

7)  Lower house payment the first year because property taxes haven’t been fully assessed = saves you over $100 per month!

8)  10 year structural warranty, 20 year dry basement guarantee and the best warranty in town!

9)  It only takes 90 days to build a home built just for you.

10)  You haven’t found what you wanted in the existing market, why not build and get what you want?

www.hartlandhomes.com

402-477-6668

How Long Will it Last? From Roof to Paint, The Life Expectancy of Your Home’s Components

Just like the human body, your home is made of parts, all working in unison, many unseen and unthought-of during the course of your daily life. From the roof to the foundation, and from the front door to the back, a home consists of literally thousands of components.

Ideally, these components might all have an unlimited life expectancy. But given the realities of day-to-day use, how long can a home owner reasonably expect a home component such as a window or roof to last?

A study conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and sponsored by Bank of America Home Equity provides insight into the life expectancies of a number of products in the home. The study intentionally overlooked consumer preferences, acknowledging that if they were considered, kitchen counters would be replaced long before the end of their useful life, and rooms may be repainted only once in 50 years. Other factors that can have a significant effect on life expectancy include maintenance, proper installation, the level of use and the quality of the materials. And some components, while remaining functional, become obsolete due to changing technology or improvements.

Insulation

According to the study, all types of insulation can be expected to last a lifetime if they are properly installed and are not punctured, cut, burned or exposed to ultraviolet rays and are kept dry. Proper installation not only extends the lifetime of your insulation, it also ensures that it will perform properly, resulting in reduced energy use and expenses, as well as increased home comfort.

Windows

Windows, because they can be exposed to extreme weather conditions, have a much shorter life expectancy. The study, which polled experts in the various fields, found that aluminum windows can reasonably be expected to last 15 to 20 years and wooden windows can last upwards of 30 years. An important element of maintaining your windows is the window glazing — the putty that secures the glass to the sash. Over time, this glazing can crack, resulting in drafty and loose panes. Available at any hardware store, glazing can be replaced by simply chipping or scrapping off the old putty, cleaning the window thoroughly and installing new glazing with a putty knife or caulking gun. Some types of glazing require a coat of latex paint for weatherproofing.

Roofs

Like windows, the life expectancy of a roof depends on local weather conditions as well as appropriate maintenance and quality of the materials. Slate, copper and clay/concrete roofs can be expected to last more than 50 years. Roofs made of asphalt shingles should last for about 20 years; fiber cement shingles should last about 25 years; and wood shakes for about 30 years. In regards to roof maintenance, it’s important to be proactive to prevent emergency and expensive repairs. Look for include damaged or loose shingles; gaps in the flashing where the roofing and siding meet vents and flues; and damaged mortar around the chimney (especially at the joints, caps and washes). If you see any signs of damage, call a professional to repair it.

Paint

Although some avid decorators may repaint every six months, homes usually need to be painted every five to 10 years depending on the content of the paint (its glossiness), its exposure to moisture and traffic. Quality paints are expected to last upwards of 20 years. Exterior paint conditions should be regularly monitored in order to catch problems early on. Assessing paint for dirt, mold, cracking, peeling, fading and rusting — and repairing immediately, usually through simple cleaning methods such as scrubbing or power washing — can end up saving home owners much more costly repainting jobs in the long term.

Remember, these numbers are averages, with usage, weather, maintenance and a number of other factors influencing life expectancy. Chances are, changing trends will dictate a shorter life span, as home owners update and remodel their homes. For more information on home maintenance, visit the National Association of Home Builders online at www.nahb.org/forconsumers.

New Homes Built to Fit New Priorities

Article courtesy of National Association of Home Builders

Can you imagine living in a 175,000 square foot home? That’s how large George Vanderbilt built his North Carolina home, the Biltmore, in 1895.

With 250 rooms and 43 bathrooms, the home had more space than his family, or quite possibly anyone’s family, could ever hope to use.

Even though the average home in the United States is far smaller than the Biltmore, it is a fact that Americans have tended to build larger and larger homes over the years. In 1973, the typical newly-built home was 1,660 square feet. Near the end of 2008, the average size had grown to more than 2,500 square feet.

But lately, that trend has changed. Builders are now seeing demand for smaller homes. By early 2009, according to federal government data on new housing starts, the average size of homes had decreased to 2,400 square feet.

Jerry Howard, president and CEO of the National Association of Home Builders, said, “Our latest surveys show nearly 60 percent of our members are building smaller homes and a similar number are putting more emphasis on lower-priced models.”

A number of factors are most likely the reason for this new trend.

First, Americans are becoming more focused on energy conservation. A smaller new home will cost less to heat and cool than a larger home with similar energy-efficient features, and will leave a smaller carbon footprint on the environment.

In addition, family size has been decreasing over the years. The average household in 1960 had 3.3 people, while in 2008 it is 2.5. Families don’t need to build homes with a lot of bedrooms if they aren’t planning to have as many kids as previous generations.

The economy is also impacting new home buyers’ decisions. Cost-conscious home buyers are choosing to include more and higher-quality features in their new homes rather than add square footage. For example, a family may prefer to have high-end appliances and granite countertops in their kitchen rather than larger rooms.

Finally, around a third of new homes are typically purchased by first-time buyers, who can often only afford smaller homes.  

The picture below is an example of our smallest home, the Bold Beginning.  With a price tag of under $115,000 including lot, it truly does make building new affordable!

So the “perfect” home for your family may be a showstopper such as the 2009 New American Home, a nearly 9,000 square foot contemporary home in Las Vegas that incorporates the latest in sustainable design, or it may be something very different.

Whatever your preference—size, features, price, or something else—new home builders today are providing homes that will appeal to a wide range of tastes and budgets, with more customization choices for your lifestyle than ever before.

Find your new home at www.hartlandhomes.com or call Hartland Homes today 402-477-6668.

The “Not-So-Obvious” Benefits of Buying New

Article courtesy of the National Association of Home Builders

Prospective home buyers have the choice of two types of houses on the market: resale or new.

Home buyers planning to buy a brand-new house or condominium often cite energy-efficiency, open layout, a warranty, and being able to select appliances, flooring, paint colors and other design elements as factors driving their choice.

But builders say that buyers can be drawn to a new house for reasons that aren’t so obvious. Below are a few more benefits of a brand-new home that you may not see in the sales brochure.

Building a Community Together

A brand-new community is one of the built-in benefits of many new homes. When families move in to a subdivision at the same time, often lasting bonds of friendship and neighborliness are formed right away. Nobody is the “new kid on the block,” and many home builders host community block parties in new developments to help owners meet and connect. Popular amenities like pools, walking trails and courts for tennis and basketball offer additional opportunities for interaction among neighbors of all ages. Often new communities are comprised of home owners in the same stage of life, such as young families or active retirees, so neighbors can get to know each other through carpools, PTA meetings, tennis matches or golf games.

Entertaining

Throwing a party in an older home can be a challenge because smaller, distinct rooms make it difficult to entertain guests in one large space. Builders are responding to today’s home buyer preferences with layouts featuring more open spaces and rooms that flow into each other more easily, like the popular great room. While you are in the kitchen preparing dinner, you can still interact with guests enjoying conversation in the family room without feeling closed off. The feeling of spaciousness in today’s new-home layouts often is enhanced the higher ceilings and additional windows that bringing in more light than you would find in an older home.

A Clean Slate

For some buyers, parking the car in a sparkling-clean garage or being the first to cook a dinner in a brand-new kitchen is part of the appeal of new construction. In addition, you won’t have to spend time stripping dated wallpaper or repainting to suit your own sense of style. You can create your own home décor from the get-go!

The advantages of being the first owner of a home extend to the outdoors. Instead of inheriting inconveniently or precariously placed trees, or having to tear up overgrown shrubs, you can design and plant the lawn and garden you want.

Outlets, Outlets Everywhere!

Homes built in the 1960’s and earlier were wired much differently than houses today. Builders had no way of anticipating the invention of high-definition televisions, DVRs and computers that we enjoy today—and the very different electrical requirements they would introduce. New homes can accommodate advanced technologies like structured wiring, security systems and sophisticated lighting plans, and can be tailored to meet the individual home owner’s needs.

Anyone who has ever lived in an older home can also attest to the fact that there are never enough outlets, inside or out! New-home builders plan for the increased number and type of electronics and appliances used by today’s families, so you can safely operate a wine cooler, Christmas lights or your computer.

For more information on the benefits of a new home, contact one of Hartland Homes’ new home specialists at 402-477-6668 or visit the National Association of Home Builders online at www.nahb.org/forconsumers.

The Tax Advantages of Homeownership

Article courtesy of National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)

Owning your own home can be a very rewarding experience — especially when tax time rolls around. Three tax items in particular — the mortgage interest deduction, the property tax deduction and the capital gains exclusion — can provide significant financial benefits to home owners when the time comes to settle up with Uncle Sam.

Mortgage Interest Deduction

The interest you pay as part of your mortgage payment is deductible on your federal tax return and may also be on your state income tax return depending on where you live.

This deduction applies to first and second mortgages, up $1 million of mortgage debt. Your lender should provide you with one or more IRS Form 1098s, which will provide the amount you may claim on your tax return. To benefit from this deduction you must itemize your deductions using a Schedule A Form.

You may also deduct the interest on money you borrow against your home to finance housing or non housing-related expenses. An example is a home equity loan, which many home owners use to remodel their home, pay off credit card bills, buy a car, finance a vacation or pay for educational expenses.

Property Tax Deduction

State and local taxes paid on the assessed value of the home are also deductible on your federal return. Like the mortgage interest deduction, itemizing is necessary if you wish to deduct property tax payments.

Notably, for many home owners the combined deductions for mortgage interest and property taxes exceed the standard deduction — currently between $5,700 and $11,400, depending on filing status. When this is the case, home owners are able to deduct or “write-off” many other items including charitable contributions, state income or sales taxes, medical and dental expenses, tax preparation fees and other miscellaneous allowable deductions, which collectively can reduce your federal and state income tax liabilities dramatically. Research by economists at the National Association of Home Builders indicates that for the typical home owner, these savings can exceed $5,000 in the first year of homeownership.

Capital Gains Exclusion

Perhaps the biggest advantage to owning a home is the ability to avoid paying capital gains when it is sold. Under current law, married home owners filing jointly may exclude up to $500,000 of capital gains and single tax filers may exclude $250,000 from taxation. This exclusion applies only if you have lived in your primary residence for two years or more. But the exemption may be used repeatedly as long as the residency rules are met.

The tax benefits conferred on home owners by the federal government are substantial. Annual benefits, such as the mortgage interest deduction and the property tax deduction, along with the less frequently used benefit of the capital gains exclusion, make homeownership more tax advantageous than almost any other investment. Take advantage of it!

Be sure to consult your tax advisor about the deductions you may be eligible to claim.

To see the many more reasons homeownership benefits you, visit www.nahb.org/forconsumers.

Positive Reasons to Buy a Home NOW

The economic recession has helped to create the best buyer’s market we have seen ever!  There are many factors that are contributing to make this not only a great time to buy, but one of the best in history.

 

1)  LOW interest rates.  The last recession was in the 80’s but the interest rates were between 14% and 21%!!!!  Can you imagine?  Today the rates are fluctuating between 4.5% and 6%.    This makes owning a home incredibly affordable.

Example:

$150,000 home, 3.5% down payment

Principal and Interest at 14% $1745.  Income to qualify for this loan would be approximately $81,000.

Principal and interest at 5.5%  $836.   Income to qualify for this loan would be approximately $46,000.

That is a difference of over $900 in monthly payment and $35,000 in annual income for the same price home!! 

All indications are that these LOW interest rates can not last.  You may never be able to purchase a home so cheaply in your lifetime.

2)  Do you really need more reasons??  If so, this one will soon be gone so act fast.  $8,000 new homebuyer tax credit or the $6,500 repeat buyer tax credit.  You must enter into a contract to purchase this home by April 30th, 2010 and close by June 30th, 2010.  (If you want to build, you must purchase your home  from Hartland Homes by March 15th!  Other builders are not able to build and close by June 30th!  )

All sources indicate this will NOT be extended. 

3)  The last few years the housing market has been going through a market correction.  What this means to you is that home prices are the lowest they have been in years.  Once demand picks up, these prices will rise quickly.  Once again, you may never be able to purchase a home at these prices in your lifetime.

Lincoln Ne has 2nd lowest unemployment rate!

Recession sometimes takes uneven toll - USATODAY.com

Is NOW Really the Best Time to Buy a Home?

There are many positive reasons (low interest rates and prices) to buy a home right now and one huge one ($8,000 tax credit) that will go away soon!  However, as with any purchase, these positive factors and incentives only matter if it is the right time for you to buy.  So let’s take a look at what makes it the right time for you. 

First, I’d like to point out that  marital status and gender are NOT indicators of the right time to buy a home.  Did you know that the largest growing demographic for home ownership is single women?  A home is a sound investment whether you are single, married, female, male, childless or have a big family!  The question of homeownership being right for you should instead be based on the following:  financial ability, staying in town, and  improvement of your life.

Probably the biggest indicator for home ownership is financial ability.  Financial ability actually encompasses many different subjects.

1)  Job.  Do you have a stable job?  Is it full time?  Have you been in the field for 2 years or did you go to school to learn the trade? 

2)  Credit.  Do you have good credit?  Have you paid all your bills on time?  Do you have any collections or judgments?  Do you have a bankruptcy, foreclosure or repossession?  Do you have any credit at all? 

3)  Savings.  Banks like to see that you have some “reserves”.   Savings accounts, 401Ks, mutual funds, retirement funds all count towards savings.  Savings provides you with a source of down payment and a “back up” for when times are tough. 

      What if I don’t have any savings? Fear not, there may still be a way.  If you have good credit and job stability, the bank will overlook savings.  NIFA has a program where y0u can borrow against your future $8,000 tax credit. All you need is $1000.00 of your own money!  Also, Hartland Homes pays your points and closing costs saving you approximately $2,400!!

Do you plan on moving in the next 2 years?  If you do, home ownership may not be right for you.  To take full advantage of home ownership, you really need to live in your home at least 3 years.  This allows for appreciation (prices in the market increase, thereby increasing what your home is worth).  When you sell your home, you can take that extra equity to move up or cash out!  If you move within a couple of years of purchasing, the home may not have appreciated enough to pay a real estate agent to sell your home and the other closing fees associated with selling your home.

Are you ready to improve your life?  Homeownership can improve your life in so many ways.  Here are just a few:

1)  Owning a home is a great investment.  It is a great way to improve your wealth and save money using the concept of leverage.  For example:  If you put $5,000 in any kind of savings, mutual fund or bond the $5,000 grows at x%.  When you invest $5,000 into a $120,000 home, it appreciates at x% based on the $120,000, so your money grows quicker!

2)  Freedom to live how you want!  You can have a backyard, a garage and a basement, decorate and hang pictures,  plant a garden, have a pet, install a play set…. whatever your heart desires. 

3) Lower Utility Bills!  Hartland Homes are built so energy efficient that they meet the Energy Star guidelines.  What that means to you is savings every month on your utility bills.

 

4)  Tax Break.  No one likes to pay Uncle Sam their hard earned money.  When you own a home you can deduct the interest paid on your mortgage and the property taxes paid, lowering the amount you owe the IRS!  Check with an accountant to see just how much you would save! 

For those of you who think that if you rent you don’t pay property taxes… think again.  When you pay rent you are paying the mortgage payment and taxes for the landlord.  Wouldn’t it be nice to get that deduction for yourself?

5)  Your wants, needs, dreams can come true!  Everybody needs something different:  more bedrooms, larger living space, a garage, a basement, an office, a play room, better schools, better neighborhood, closer to work….. I could go on forever, but you get the idea.  In the end, this is really why you buy a home.  Envision how your life would improve!  When you build a new home, you can select those items which you need or desire the most instead of settling for what is available!

 

If you think it may be the right time to own a home, give Hartland Homes a call.  Our new home specialists can walk you through every step of the process.  Not sure if your credit is good enough?  No problem, our specialists can help you with that too!

Want to know more about the positive reasons to buy a home now?  I will be posting another story on it soon.  Or just ask our new home specialists. 402-477-6668