Posts Tagged ‘Tax Credit’
Move-Down Buyers Eligible for Tax Credit Too
December 23rd, 2009
December 22, 2009 — Realty Times Feature Article by Bob Hunt
Move up, move down, move sideways; it just doesn’t matter. Whichever direction you move, financially, you may still qualify for the new tax credit available to current homeowners. It is unfortunate that the credit has too often been characterized as a credit for “move-up” homeowners. The phrase carries the implication that the new home must cost more than the sale price of the former one. Indeed, even the November 6 White House Press Release said that the credit would be available to qualified homeowners who “wish to step up to a new home.” Same implication.
So, it is worth emphasizing that the credit is equally available to homeowners who are moving down, cost-wise.
The move-down homebuyer is not an unusual phenomenon. For years retirees have been known to move from a larger home to one that is smaller and often less expensive. Moreover, it is reasonable to think that current economic conditions may lead to even more move-down buyers. Just as thousands of families have found it necessary or desirable to downsize with respect to their cars and their general lifestyle, so it may be when it comes to considering the costs of owning and maintaining a larger house than they really need.
The same requirements apply to both move-down and move-up buyers.
First of all, the previous home must have been occupied as the buyer’s principal residence for at least five consecutive years out of the past eight years. Two examples: (1) Suppose that during the past eight years you occupied the property for three years, then rented it out for two years (perhaps because of a job transfer or temporary assignment), and then occupied it again for three years up until now. Even though you had occupied the property as your principal residence for six of the past eight years, you would not be eligible because you had not occupied it for five consecutive years. (I’m not saying this makes sense; I’m just reporting on the requirements.) (2) Suppose you bought a home eight (or more) years ago, you occupied it as a principal residence until two years ago when you sold it. Would you qualify? Yes, because you had occupied it as a principal residence Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in The Rent vs. Buy Decision
June 24th, 2009
The decision to rent vs. buy is a very personal one. There are many sound reasons to purchase a home: equity build-up, an $8000 Tax Credit to First Time Home Buyers, capital gain when you sell, and the enjoyment of ownership. The purchase of a home requires a cash investment and taking on debt. Naturally you must have saved enough cash, be able to make future payments, and also have enough time and resources to maintain your home.
The cash investment is applied toward your down payment, closing costs, and prepaid items. Some of these items are not easily recouped if you should sell the home you buy in the short term. Buyers need to consider how long they will own the property before selling. If you intend to occupy the property for a short period of time, then the financial benefits of owning the property are diluted.
In financially analyzing the rent vs. buy decision, you should compare your current rent, future increases, and the renters insurance that you are now paying to the monthly house payment, future appreciation, maintenance and capital gain when you sell. The house payment normally includes your principal repayment of the mortgage, the interest owed on the mortgage, the property taxes, and property insurance. (This is called your PITI, which stands for principal, interest, taxes and insurance.) With time, your property should appreciate or increase in value.*
The rent you pay a landlord is never recouped and none of the rent is tax deductible. When you buy a home, the yearly property taxes, interest, and some of the closing costs are tax deductible.
To learn more about calculating the advantages of buying vs. renting, go to www.FinanCenter.com and click on Home Center.
*Property appreciation is dependent on many market factors. It cannot be accurately predicted because it is a future event. Your sales professional can give you past sales prices of properties in a given area but cannot promise you any specific increase in value.
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