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Welcome to a new year in real estate! I hope you have a good year, but not it is time to put away last year and look forward to new and better things.

Veronica and I are working harder than ever, looking into new programs, connecting with new clients, and reconnecting with past clients.

I need to get it in gear and update the statistics on the website and am looking for more articles to post in my blog.  If you would like to see something please drop me a line by clicking on the "Contact" tab or click http://www.charlieramos.com/contact

Well, off to work! I think the biggest resolution I could do was to keep up with this blog!

Blessings to you all!

Yes, that is right.  The City of Tulare has money for first time homebuyers. Veronica and I just went to the class with our favorite lender Melissa Lozano. There was a ton of information and it looks like we will be able to close a few more homes using this great program. There are some income restrictions and other qualifying you have to do prior to making an offer. So please contact either Veronica Pena at 759-9485 (she does speak Spanish) or myself, Charlie Ramos at 300-0853. Schedule your private appointment today.

If you know someone that is thinking about buying or selling a home please send them to us. Remember, buying or selling a home is one of the most important decisions you will make. That's why it's in your best interest to choose an experienced real estate agent who listens to and understands your needs, and works in the area where you want to live. When you choose a CENTURY 21 Agent, you're dealing with an experienced professional who understands your concerns and will provide you with the personalized service that makes all the difference. What should you expect in your first meeting with a real estate agent? A CENTURY 21 agent typically will talk to you about the neighborhood where you want to live, home prices, schools, transportation, and the surrounding commercial and residential areas. Plus we are able to recognize your needs, and are always up to date with the latest loan programs and technology.

We Have News To Tell…. the Home Buyer Tax Credit Has Been Extended and Expanded…

From now until April 30, 2010, first-time home buyers and move-up buyers have another great reason to get on the path to purchasing a new home!  The benefit to first-time homebuyers is a tax credit up to $8,000 and for move-up buyers a tax credit up to $6,500.

At a Glance:

FIRST TIME BUYERS

Credit: Equal to 10 percent of the home's purchase price, up to $8,000

Who Qualifies?

Those who haven't owned property in the last three years

Those with income up to $225,000 for couples or $125,000 for individuals (credit phases out for people who make more than these amounts)

Must be at least 18 years of age to claim credit

Purchase price must be $800,000 or less

Deadlines:

Have until April 30, 2010, to enter into a contract for a home purchase

Have until June 30, 2010, to close on the purchase

CURRENT HOMEOWNERS

Credit: Equal to 10 percent of the home's purchase price, up to $6,500

Who Qualifies?

• Those who have owned and lived in their principal residence for at least five consecutive years during the past eight years
• Those with income up to $225,000 for couples or $125,000 for individuals (credit phases out for people who make more than these amounts)
• Must be at least 18 years of age to claim credit
• Purchase price must be $800,000 or less

Deadlines:

• Have until April 30, 2010, to enter into contract for a home purchase
• Have until June 30, 2010, to close on the purchase

In addition, buyers have another year to take advantage of the higher loan limit for mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac set at 125 percent of local median home sales prices, up to a maximum of $729,750 in high-cost housing markets. The limit in normal markets will remain $271,050 for FHA and $417,000 for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

PLEASE NOTE: The tax credit does not have to be repaid provided you live in the new home for a minimum of three years.  Military families are exempt from this stipulation.

Purchaser must attach documentation of purchase to tax return.

Please remember to advise consumers to consult with a tax professional for individual eligibility and implications of the Homebuyer Tax Credit.

Source: H.R. UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2009

With mortgage markets still tight, it’s more important than ever to have a good credit score. Having a good score not only increases the odds of being approved for a mortgage, but it can also affect your rate, as the best interest rates are generally reserved for applicants with top credit scores.

Many consumers aren’t knowledgeable about their credit scores—or what impacts them. More importantly, they may not be aware of the many things they can do to improve their scores. Here are some tips that could help boost your score.

Get a copy of your credit report. Review it carefully to ensure that it’s correct. If you find an error, contact the creditor to have it corrected. You can request a free copy of your report at www.annualcreditreport.com. Under federal law, you are entitled to a free report from each of the three national credit reporting agencies every 12 months.

Pay your bills on time. This is probably one of the most important—and simple—things you can do to improve your credit score. Just pay your bills by their due date. Consider setting up automatic payments from your bank account to help you pay on time.

Pay down your credit cards. Paying off your credit cards or loans will help increase your score, but so will paying down your balances. Try to keep your balances below 30 percent of your credit limit.

Avoid closing unused credit cards. The older your credit history, the better. So keep your older cards, and use them periodically to keep the account active. Just be sure to pay your bill on time.

Check your credit limits. If your lender has reported a lower credit limit than you actually have, your score will be depressed. Once the information is corrected, your score should improve.

For more tips on improving your credit, or for a referral to a mortgage lender in your area, give me a call at 300-0853

If you are thinking about buying a home in this Buyer's Market make sure you take a look at these imprtant tips. 

• An important first step is selecting a good agent to help you find your dream home. He or she can represent the buyer's interest in a real estate transaction. A agent can guide you through every step of buying your next home.

• Find your self a good Lender. Ask your agent to recommend a few lender.  This is imprtant because you need to shop for a lenderyou can work with, and an trust.

•  When you're ready to visit houses, ask your agent to arrange showings, and be sure to keep track of the properties you've seen. Each time you view more properties, refer to your "what's right for you" notes to immediately eliminate any that clearly do not meet your standards.

• bring a digital camera to record what you see – you’ll be happy to have the record afterwards. After touring each home, write down what you liked and didn't like. Develop a rating system that will help narrow the field. For example, pick the house you like best on day one and compare all other houses to it. When you find a better one, use the new favorite as the standard.

If you have any questions, please make sure you write them down for your agent to look over them.

Buying a home can be a stressfull time..but with the right agent, you can be sure of a successful purchase!

Once you’ve found your dream house, it’s time to get started with the financial and contractual side of the purchase. As a CENTURY 21® professionals I can guide you through this process. Purchase contracts vary in length and terms from state to state, and within a state, from locality to locality. Because you and the seller have different goals, rely on my experience and expertise. I can bring order and calm to the process and will know what questions you may not know to ask to help you reach a favorable outcome. Multiple offers on the same home are not uncommon, so you may only get one chance to make an offer that the seller will consider. That's why it's important to think carefully about your strategy. In most cases it is best to allow me to negotiate the offer. Remember, If you have any personal interaction with the homeowner, don't give out any information about your move, your current housing status, financial status or your feelings about their property - positive or negative. This could hurt you in future negotiations.

Before deciding which house to buy, think about your lifestyle, your current and anticipated housing needs, and your budget. It’s a good idea to create a prioritized list of features you want in your next home – you'll soon discover finding the right house involves striking a balance between your "must-haves" and your "nice-to-haves." To start, consider your lifestyle. If you love to cook, you'll want a well-equipped kitchen. If you're into gardening, you'll want a yard. If you're planning your office at home, you may want a room for a separate library or work space. If you have several cars, you may require a larger garage. Use this list as your search guide. Next, think about what you might need in the future. As you consider your housing needs, it's important to consider how long you may live in your home. If you're newly married, you might not be concerned with a school district right now, but you could be in a few years. If you have aging parents, you may want to look at homes that offer living arrangements for them as well as you. It’s important to think about your new home’s location just as carefully as you do about a house’s features. Location is a huge part of any move. In addition to considering the distance to work, you need to evaluate the availability of shopping, police and fire protection, medical facilities, school and day-care, traffic and parking, trash and garbage collection, even recreational facilities. Perhaps the most important decision is deciding on the type of home you want. Do you want a condominium or a co-op? A town house or a detached single-family home? Do you want brick, stone, stucco, wood, vinyl siding, or something else? Do you prefer a new home or an older one? Through all of this, make sure to talk to your real estate professional about where you want to live. While more buyers now use the Internet to gain access to listings, or available properties for sale, it is still a good idea to use an agent. The agent brings value to the entire process: he or she is available to analyze data, answer questions, share their professional expertise, and handle all the paperwork and legwork that is involved in the real estate transaction. As a CENTURY 21 professional, I have the expertise to help you narrow down your choices by sharing market trends and local information.