$8,000 Credit Toward Down Payment and Closing Costs

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Shaun Donovan, announced today that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will allow homebuyers to apply the federal $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit toward the purchse costs of an FHA insured home loan.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 offers home buyers a tax credit of up to $8,000 for purchasing their first home. Buyers can access this credit after filing their tax returns with the IRS. Today's announcement details FHA's rules allowing state finance housing agencies to "monetize" up to the full amount of the tax credit so that the borrowers can immediately apply the funds toward their down payment. Home buyers using FHA-approved lenders can apply tax credit to their down payment in excess of 3.5% required of their own funds which can help reduce their interest rate or lower their borrowed amount. To read the FHA's new mortgagee letter please visit HUD's website.

Currently, borrowers applying for an FHA insured mortgage are required to make a minimum down payment of 3.5%. Current law does not permit approved lenders to monetize the tax credit to meet the required 3.5% minimum down payment; but under the terms of today's announcement lenders can now monetize the tax credit for use as additional down payment, or for other closing costs. In addition to the borrower's own cash investment, FHA allows parents, employers and other governmental entities to contribute towards the down payment. This program will allow home buyers to shop for the best price and services using their anticipated tax credit. These purchases may also free up existing home owners to purchase another home because a first time buyer purchased their home.

For a personalized discussion about how this may affect your own situation please call the Schrand Team at 513-347-1715.

Local Market Doing Better

Pending Sales Up More Locally than Nationally
Washington, May 4, 2009

Source: Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors

Pending home sales rose with many first-time buyers taking advantage of historically good housing affordability conditions, according to the National Association of Realtors®.The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in March, increased 3.2% to an “index” of 84.6 from a level of 82.0 in February, and is 1.1% higher than March 2008 when it was 83.7.

From CABR: Numbers for March were greater locally than nationally. March 2009 Cincy MLS pendings were up 22.7% from February, and up 3.5% from March one year ago.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said it should take a few months for the market to gain momentum. “This increase could be the leading edge of first-time buyers responding to very favorable affordability conditions and an $8,000 tax credit, which increases buying power even more in areas where special programs allow buyers to use it as a down payment,” he said. “We need several months of sustained growth to demonstrate a recovery in housing, which is necessary for the overall economy to turn around.”

NAR’s Housing Affordability Index (HAI) remained near record highs. The affordability index was 166.7 in March – down from an upwardly revised record of 174.4 in February due to higher home prices in March. The index remains 30.8% higher than a year ago. The HAI is a broad measure of housing affordability using consistent values and assumptions over time, which examines the relationship between home prices, mortgage interest rates and family income; tacking began in 1970.

The Pending Home Sales Index in the South rose 8.5% to 93.2 in March and is 7.7% above a year ago. In the West the index increased 3.9% to 93.1 and is 1.7% higher than in March 2008. The index in the Northeast fell 5.7% to 59.5 in March and is 24.1% below a year ago. In the Midwest the index slipped 1.0% to 82.3 but is 8.2% higher than in March 2008.

NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth, said the increase in buying power is quite remarkable. “Compared to a year ago, the typical family can pay much less in mortgage costs for the same home, or buy a better home without necessarily increasing their monthly payment,” he said. “For buyers who’ve been on the sidelines and have good jobs, the market has never looked more favorable. Homeownership has always offered immediate benefits and long-term value, but the advantages in today’s market are unique.”

A median-income family, earning $61,100, could afford a home costing $291,600 in March with a 20% down payment, assuming 25% of gross income is devoted to mortgage principal and interest. Affordability conditions for first-time buyers with the same income and small down payments are roughly 80% of that amount. The affordable price was notably higher than the median existing single-family home price in March, which was $174,900.The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.2 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.