First Time Home Buyers

Home inspector takes advantage of first time home buyer

Click to read full post May 20, 2011

At the closing this week for one of my listings the buyer’s agent was a bit embarrassed when he learned how the home inspector he recommended took advantage of his first time home buyer. Click to continue...

Better to buy than rent in Chicago according to Trulia.com

Click to see Trulia's Rent vs. Buy Map May 6, 2011

Trulia’s Rent vs. Buy Index for Q2 2011 shows that if you can buy, but are thinking of renting in Chicago, you might want to reconsider your decision. Click to continue...

Chicago real estate agents, listing agents & buyer agents

Click to learn what a buyer agent is February 25, 2011

I had a phone call from a gentleman this week asking if I was the listing agent for downtown condo. I replied that I wasn’t but that I could help him as a buyer agent to which he replied, “What’s that?” Here’s what a buyer agent is along with explanations of other common real estate titles. Click to continue...

1st Time Home Buyers Can Now Borrow the $8K Tax Credit Upfront!

May 29, 2009

Today the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development gave the go ahead to mortgage companies to develop bridge-loan products that enable first time buyers to use the benefits of the $8,000 federal tax credit upfront. Such loans let the buyers borrow against the tax credit giving them up to an additional $8,000 for a Click to continue...

IRS First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Information Center

May 3, 2009

The IRS has developed a page on their site with links to answers on a variety of questions related to the first time homebuyer tax credit. Visit “First-Time Homebuyer Credit: Answers“. Take advantage of the $8,000 first time homebuyer tax credit good for home purchases through November! Click to continue...

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Frequently Asked Questions

March 5, 2009

The National Association of Home Builders released a list of 21 frequently asked questions about the first time home buyer tax credit. Also check out my post about combining the tax credit with FHA financing. Click to continue...

Senate Advances up to $15,000 Tax Credit for Homebuyers!

February 5, 2009

The New York Times reported late yesterday that the Senate “voted to expand the economic stimulus package with a tax credit for homebuyers of up to $15,000″. If the legislation passes, the tax credit will be up to twice the current tax credit for first time home buyers I wrote about just a few days Click to continue...

$7,500 1st Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Podcast

January 26, 2009

First time home buyers have a great opportunity this year with the federal government’s $7,500 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. However, a lot of first time home buyers haven’t heard about it or don’t understand how it works. The Illinois Association of Realtors recently released a podcast (17 mins.) that gives a good explanation Click to continue...

Chicago Real Estate 101: How Realtors are Paid

November 10, 2008

On Saturday a woman wanted me to show her a house in Naperville. Even though the house was priced at $750K, I politely declined. The problem was the woman was already working with a Realtor. If I had shown her the house and she wanted it, she probably would have used her Realtor to write Click to continue...