Real Estate Information

New listing in Willow Creek

329 Wintergreen Court

Great Family Home.  Gorgeous cul-de-sac home has a fabulous view! Traditional 2 story has many extras! Interior features Kitchen with beautiful slate floors, built-in microwave & island, 2 living areas, 1 upstairs & 1 downstairs, ideal for guests or teens. Crown molding, custom paint, custom blinds. Ideal for outdoor fun with a spacious backyard deck overlooking the large backyard, mature trees and 700 acres of open range for a view. Breathtaking!  Call today for your private showing, 817-441-7707  See virtual tour at:  www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?sk=13&t=2127959&prt=80901

Frontview	2nd Master
Master	Master Vanity
Living Room	Upstairs Living Room

BUY OF THE WEEK

Recently Reduced and ready for new owners! 

This is a great home with lots of space for kids and horses.

Please view the virtural tour by clicking on the link below

http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?T=2038454

Call us today for your private showing, Pam 817-690-0976, Mark 817-690-0954, Office 817-441-7707.

Wow!  Winter Wonderland in Texas.  We have had 12.5" of snowfall in the last 2 days and a 30-year record.  Unlike the north and eastern parts of the country, time stands still in Texas when there is ice and snow on the roads.  It is a great opportunity to enjoy and play in the white wonder or get caught up on inside chores (like me).  Whatever you choose to do, most will be getting cabin fever by now and ready to get active as soon as the roads defrost.  Be ready for the buyer and seller activities in the real estate market by following a few simple steps listed below:

Buyers:

• Call a lender to get prequalified for a loan.  This gives you more negotiating power when you find the home of your dreams. 
• There is only 11 weeks left to take advantage of the Homebuyer Tax Credit that applies to all buyers, even if you currently own a home. (Please call for details).
• Schedule your FREE consultation with one of our Real Estate Professionals that will walk you thru the process of buying a home.
• Reserve the use of our moving truck; “BUY OR SELL A HOME WITH US…USE OUR MOVING TRUCK FOR FREE” 
• For a list of properties delivered directly to your email at the moment they hit the market, that fits your needs go to: www.texashomesbyemail.com

Sellers:

When selling your home in the winter, the art of staging the inside becomes more important.  Here are five simple tips that can help you sell your home shine even when the outside landscaping has faded:

• Keep your house warm.  In the winter people tend to turn the thermostat down to save money, however a warmer house is more welcoming to a potential buyer.
• Clear your walkways and driveways of any snow or ice.  Make it easy for buyers to get to your home.
• Clean the windows and blinds.  Letting in the natural light can brighten up a room and cheer up the home.  This also brings attention to the windows and blinds so make sure they are clean even during winter.  Dirty windows will make the home seem as those it's not well maintained.
• Background music played softly can completely change the atmosphere making the home seem cozy and keep potential buyers around longer.  Stick with classical music which can appeal to anyone.
• Leave the light on.  Before showing a home, make sure it's well lit.  A well lit home is more inviting.  If you're not home, consider setting up timers.

Following these simple tips can give your house that added boost in today's competitive market. For information on selling in our local market, please feel free to call and ask for a computer analysis of our recent market activity. We would be more than happy answer any questions you might have! Office 817-441-7707 or Pam's mobile 817-690-0976.

It is time to get off the fence!

FHA announced new changes this morning to address risk and strengthen finances.  Basically, the policy changes are in effort to boost FHA's capital reserve which currently sits at .53% and is below 2% for the first time in history.  Below are the changes:

* Up-front mortgage insurance premiums will be increased to 2.25% from the current 1.75%.  Meaning:  A client will lose .5% of their current down payment, which will now go to insurance coverage versus equity investment. 

* Seller concessions will drop to 3% total from the current 6%.  Meaning:  This is the big one.  Standard closing cost run 4.5% of the sales price, which means, 1.5% will be left over.  If you add that to the current 3.5% down payment requirement, you have a total investment of 5%. 

 * HUGE- FHA will pass legislative authority that would require all approved mortgage companies to assume liability for all of the loans they originate and underwrite.  Meaning- If you think clients were under the microscope before, imagine a life where lenders will be forced to buy back all loans in default no questions asked.  The gray area in FHA's underwriting has officially gone away. 

FHA is still leaving the door open and will announce "all" of the official changes at the end of this month.  FHA will post it to the register, there is a 60 day discussion period, and then FHA makes it final law.  WE HAVE UNTIL MAY or JUNE BEFORE THESE CHANGES WILL TAKE AFFECT.

The time to purchase a home is when the best opportunities are available.  There will never be better opportunities than the ones before us now. Call us today for your Free Consultation, 817-441-7707 office or 817-690-0976 Mobile 

This information provided may be verified at hud.gov

Christmas Tyme In Aledo is Saturday, December 5, from 5pm to 9pm. This is a great time with friends and family. Santa will be at Realty World Professionals, Aledo Town Center. Bearcat Images will be taking FREE photos of all the excited children that come out, while everyone is welcome to enjoy hot chocolate, apple cider and cookies with special acoustic guitar Christmas songs. There will be many events through out the night. Aledo Fire Dept will be grilling up hamburgers, Aledo National Bank will be serving Italian Ice, Subway will be serving soup samples and each business will have Door Prize Drawings for their patrons.
There will be a Black Light performance by Willow Park Baptist Church youth team ministry, a Christmas Pageant by Aledo Christian School between 6:30pm and 7pm. The Fire Exit Band will perform from 7-9pm. There are various Vendor Booths to get you in the shopping mood with unique gift opportunities. For more information, please contact Pam Snowden 817-690-0976 or go to www.christmastymeinaledo.com to view of map of all the festivities.  We hope to see you there. Have a Blessed Christmas!

Homebuyer Tax Credit Expansion Into Law

The $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit that was set to expire at the end of the month has been extended and expanded. The new legislation extends the deadline for the first-time homebuyer tax credit to include home purchases by April 30, 2010 and closed by June 30, 2010. The tax credit also includes an expansion of the credit for a $6,500  to owners of existing homes who are purchasing a new principal residence — if they have lived in their current residence for at least five consecutive years out of the past eight years.

Homebuyers taking advantage of the tax credits are subject to income eligibility limits of $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for married couples, old limits were $75,000 and $150,000 in the previous law. The home purchased must cost under $800,000 to qualify for the tax credit. Buyers are required to attach documentation of the home purchase to their tax return to help prevent fraud.

NAR economists estimate that the first tax credit contributed approximately $22 billion to the stimulate the economy and that approximately 2 million people will take advantage of the tax credit this year.

“The substantial rise in home sales we’ve seen over the past few months proves that the tax credit is working and is being used by buyers who were waiting for the right opportunity to get into the market,” says NAR President Charles McMillan. “This important incentive is helping to stabilize the housing market, stimulate the economy and create new jobs in communities all across our great nation. Extending and expanding the home buyer tax credit will enable even more families to take advantage of current low interest rates and affordable prices to invest in their future through homeownership.”

With this great expansion and historically low rates, now is the time to make your move.  If you have thought about moving up or down with your lifestyle, now is the time to do that.  Call us today for your FREE market analysis and counseling sessions to take advantage of this great opportunity, 817-441-7707.

Tax Credit Resources from NAR: Information gathered from various sources

Time for some extra sleep!

Fall Back Time Change

Saturday, 10/31/09 at Midnight

Feel Free to call us with your Real Estate questions anytime!

Mark 817-690-0954

Pam 817-690-0976

Alicia 817-680-7786

ACS Car Wash this Saturday, October 17, 2009, 10am to 3pm at Willow Park Baptist Church corner of Ranch House Road and Bankhead.  All proceeds benefit the ACS Football Team.  Would love to have you all come and support this team.

Thanks so much.

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit program expires November 30, 2009 — less than 60 days.  First-time buyers have 2 weeks at most to find a home, considering it can take up to 60 days to close.

The program criteria includes the following:

Buyer may not have owned a “main home” in the past 36 months
The home may not be purchased from a parent, spouse, or child
Adjusted gross income for the household must be below $95,000 for single tax filers and $170,000 for joint tax filers.

The credit is capped at $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is less.  The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit is a true tax credit. It’s not a deduction.

The clock is ticking (see count down calendar), so if you’re planning to use the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, the time to act is now!  Call Today 817-441-7707.