How to help your friends and family? Who is eligible to claim the $7,500 tax credit?First-time home buyer (person who has not owned a home during the past 3 (three) years. What are the Income Limits?1. Home buyer who file as SINGLE or Head of Household and adjust gross income (AGI) is less than $75,000.2. … Continued
Effective Monday, August 04, 2008, the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) released $65 million as cash assistance for first-time home buyers. MHDC will provide the first-time homebuyer with a 5 year interest free forgivable loan equal to 3% of the purchase price of the house they are buying. This money can be utilized for the … Continued
I have come to realize that there is much confusion, when it comes to what CAN and CANNOT be used as an itemized deduction on the Annual Income Tax Return. I have included a list of just a few things to help get you started. It is always recommended that you consult your trusted tax … Continued
What First Time Homeowners need to know about the new Tax Credit Who is eligible to claim the $7,500 tax credit? First time home buyers purchasing any kind of home—new or resale—are eligible for the tax credit. To qualify for the tax credit, a home purchase must occur on or after April 9, 2008 and … Continued
• August Tuesday Evenings: O’Fallon Civic Park for Jammin’ Outdoor Concerts 5:30 – 8:30, FREE• August Thursday Evenings: St. Charles Frontier Park at 8:00, FREE• August Friday Evenings: St. Charles Frontier Park from 5:00 – 11:00, FREE• August 2: Concert for Flood Relief from 2:00 – 10:00, St. Charles Frontier Park, FREE• August 8: Weird … Continued
Dear Friends & Family, On the news and signs surrounding our neighborhoods, we are reminded thatmany of or friends, family, and neighbors are financially struggling. Amongthe daily headlines, I read about the economy, gas, and real estate –especially foreclosure and families in need of help. In my business, helping family matters. St. Charles is a … Continued
Educational Article by Richard Dillard Have you ever wondered what it would be like to own your bank? When you’re a member of a credit union, you do! Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives owned by the members they serve. Because members are actually owners, everything is done it their best interests. Revenues are returned … Continued
Today’s mortgage market it changing quickly, however, one constant factor is the need to have good credit scores! Here are some great strategies to improve or maintain your credit scores : Payment History Tips — accounts for 35% of your total score• Pay your bills on timeo Delinquent payments and collections can have a major … Continued
• July 3 — 4: Heritage & Freedom Fest at TR Hughes in O’Fallon. T 6:00-10:00 and W 12:00 — 9:00 — Free• July 3 — 5: Riverfest at Frontier Park in St. Charles — Free• July 4: Independence Celebration at Daniel Boone Home 9 am — 5 pm – Admission• Tuesdays: Free Concerts at … Continued
Do you remember when the iPhone first came out? About a week before it hit store shelves, an on-line sports book published odds claiming that 1 in 20 shoppers would be trampled to death while trying to get one. Coincidentally, those are also the odds in any given week that someone will be behind on … Continued
by Shawn Tihen, Bankers Home Lending, (314) 520-3649 By now, you have probably received your “Escrow Account Analysis†in the mail from your mortgage lender. Like most of us, you probably asked “What does this all mean?†Escrows are the monies you set aside each month with your lender to pay your taxes and homeowner’s … Continued
New home sales rose in April for the first time in six months. But in an article written by St. Louis Post-Dispatch author Jack Naudi this past weekend, the falling house prices could have been a good thing. When selling a home remember to remodel it first so its value increases, use the best contractors … Continued
June 1: Renaissance Faire at Rotary Park in Wentzville – Admission June 3: Free Concerts from 5:30 – 8:30 pm bring a blanket or chairs to the Civic Park in O’Fallon June 6: Fridays at Frontier in St. Charles live music from the ’80’s June 6: Party at the Park at Wapelhorst from 6:00 – … Continued
Submitted by Guest Blogger Debbie Schroeder RN, BSN Do you know that approximately 4,000 people die a day from cancer and heart disease? Of the people with heart disease, 70% of them are overweight and 42% of people diagnosed with breast or colon cancer are overweight. I bring up these statistics to emphasize the importance … Continued
Buyers and sellers in St. Charles County rely on the expertise of the Grant Hickman Team to answer questions about today’s market. Below are the Top 10 Short Sale Questions with answers. Number 10: I can’t make my house payments, but I do have an ability to pay back all or part of the negative … Continued
Please be aware that the days of conventional 100% financing are over, so if you are planning on buying a house you must have a down payment. Here are the three most common financing types and a few key points for each loan type. Conventional FHA VA Maximum Financing 95% 97.75% 100%Down Payment Required 5% … Continued
May 1 – 3: Augusta Plein Air Art Event May 3: Fiber Arts & Spring Planting Festival at Daniel Boone’s Home from 9 – 5. Admission. May 4: Main Street Bridal Showcase noon to 4:30 in St. Charles May 17: St. Charles in Bloom on Main Street 10 – 5 May 17 – 18: Lewis … Continued
It is that time of year again, when the weather warms and the ritual of spring-home cleaning begins. Across St. Charles, homeowners are packing items up for storage and beginning to take a look around their homes for other items that can be packed away, donated, disposed, or sold. If you need professional help contact … Continued
Rain, Rain, Go Away…. April Showers in Missouri have turned into April Floods. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide federal disaster assistance to counties in Missouri affected by the recent floods. Although St. Charles County does not qualify for FEMA or HUD assistance, neighboring counties are receiving guaranteed loans for housing … Continued
April 4 — 6: Missouri Tartan Days are Downtown St. Charles. Parade April 5 at noon on Main Street for more information visit www.motartanday.com. April 5: Wentzville Annual Spring City Wide Yard Sale – Location booklet for sale at Progress Park or City Hall starting at 7 am April 5-6: Civil War Living History Festival … Continued
MORTGAGE NEWSBy: Shawn TihenSenior Mortgage Banker In case you haven’t heard, it’s an election year and one of the biggest topics between the candidates is how to stimulate the economy and to reverse the troubled housing market, which has us headed towards a possible recession. The fear of recession and other factors has caused the … Continued
MORTGAGE NEWS What will 2008 bring in the mortgage industry?By: Shawn Tihen Senior Mortgage Banker The most common question I hear as a mortgage professional is “what do you think interest rates are going to do?†And my answer is always the same “I don’t have a crystal ball and no one can accurately predict … Continued
When is the “right time” to buy a house? Well, if you are waiting for a big neon sign to turn on and read “BUY NOW†forget it, it’s not going to happen. Market timing is a talent you have to be able to pick up on quickly. By knowing the tricks of the trade, … Continued
-Good Times are within Our Grasp– I believe 2008 will be a transition year just as I described 2006. However, I trust that 2008 will evolve into a brighter time for those involved in the real estate game as opposed to 2006, which transitioned into the somewhat sluggish 2007 market. Some experts believe that 2008 … Continued
Interest rates are affected by a number of factors. The Federal Reserve, which is charged with maintaining the stability of the nation’s financial system, raises or lowers short-term interest rates in an effort to maintain that stability. The Fed regularly takes these actions in response to economic ups and downs that the country goes through … Continued
What is the cutting edge house color? GREEN Did you know that the average U.S. home causes twice as much greenhouse emissions as a single car? It’s true. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that home building is poised to be the next big push in the environmental awakening. Homes or environmentally sensitive housing are already … Continued
Commonly referred to as DTI, your debt-to-income ratio tells lenders what % of your income you have available for a house payment after fulfilling your other recurring obligations each month.Recurring debt includes credit card payments, child support payments, car payments and other obligations that will not be paid off within 10 months (for conventional loans). … Continued
What is the charm factor of my house? When it comes time to sell, most homeowners’ concerns turn to “curb appeal.†A new welcome mat just isn’t enough anymore. Competition among sellers is fierce so the goal is to make your home so attractive from the roadway that all who pass will want to see … Continued
This is very beneficial information to have when deciding how much to spend on a new house or determining whether to refinance. This is also one of the many factors that lenders review when deciding whether or not to lend you money. Your housing ratio simply measures the amount of your income that you spend … Continued
Your home is your sanctuary and when it comes time to sell, you want someone else to think of it as their sanctuary too. So how do you make your home stand out among all the new construction homes available? It is all in the upgrades. To prepare your home for sale, the tricky part … Continued
Today, the American dream seems to consist of owning a new home, not just any home. According to industry sources more than 70 percent of home buyers want a new house. While new construction buyers are waiting for visions of spotless carpets from the Capital of Texas Chem-Dry the mission is helping people live healthy lives starting … Continued
Here are the 10 best real estate books of 2006: 1. “Trump-Style Negotiation,” by George Ross (John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, NJ), $24.95, 259 pages. This unique book offers insights into Donald J. Trump’s big-thinking negotiation style, which leaves the contract details to his trusted adviser, George Ross. Only serious real estate buyers, sellers, real … Continued
BUSINESS WEEK’S list of “The 25 Best Affordable Suburbs in the US”-2006 Baltimore (Columbia, MD) Washington D.C. (Herndon, VA) Alburquerque (Sandia Heights N.M) Atlanta (Roswell, GA) Boston (Sharon, MA) Charlotte (Matthews, NC) Chicago (Lake Zurich, Ill) Cincinnati (Evandale, Oh) Dallas (Flower Mound/Lweisville, TX) Denver (Castle Rock, Colo) Fort Lauderdale (Weston, Fl) Houston (Sugarland, TX) Indianapolis … Continued
Not sure HOW or IF the Highway 40 Construction will affect you. Here are some quick facts from the http://www.thenewi64.org/ website: Contract: What is being built for the contract?The project has a budget of $535 million and will include Interstate 64 from west of Spoede Road to east of Kingshighway. The project will rebuild all … Continued
REALTOR Magazine Annual Cost vs. Value Report For Saint Louis & St. Charles County REMODELING EFFORTS JOB COSTS VALUE AT SALE ROI Bathroom Remodel $13,924 $10,395 74.7% Minor Kitchen Remodel $18,819 $13,530 71.9% Siding Replacement $9,507 $7,662 80.6% Attic Bedroom Remodel $46,825 $32,749 69.9% Deck Addition $15,063 $9,729 64.6% Basement Remodel $63,580 $44,083 69.3% Window … Continued
The national news coverage of the 2006 real estate market could be kindly described as gloomy. Frankly, it sounded like the apocalypse. Headlines read: Real Estate Investing Slows, Great Upheavals in the Nation’s Real Estate Market, The Housing Slump, Real Estate Bubble is about to Burst, etc. The truth is I did not experience a … Continued