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Last Call for Energy Efficiency HomeOwner Tax Credits
Article courtesy of RISMedia.com
The Alliance to Save Energy urges American consumers to give themselves the gift of energy efficiency this holiday season—and reap the benefits when they file their 2011 federal tax returns—by taking advantage of tax credits for energy efficiency home improvements. The tax credits of up to $500 are set to expire on December 31, and Congress may not renew them for 2012.
“The outlook for renewal of federal energy efficiency tax incentives is uncertain at best,” stated Alliance President Kateri Callahan, “so we encourage homeowners to complete those upgrades before the ball drops in Times Square at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
“Making efficiency improvements this year will lower home energy bills and improve home comfort for years to come, while also reducing 2011 federal income tax bills,” Callahan added. “Energy efficiency is truly the gift that keeps on giving!”
The specific home improvements that qualify for tax credits fall into a number of categories:
• Exterior windows, skylights and storm windows.
• Insulation, exterior doors, roofs, storm doors and products to seal air leaks such as caulking, weather stripping and foam sealants.
• Highly-efficient heating and cooling equipment, including central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, boilers, water heaters and biomass (e.g. corn) stoves.
• Each product category also must meet specific energy efficiency requirements, which are spelled out on the Alliance’s tax credits web page.
• Percentage and/or dollar limits on particular energy-efficient upgrades include:
• 10% of the cost of insulation and sealing materials, exterior doors and roofs.
• 10% of the cost, up to $200, of exterior windows or skylights.
• Up to $300 for electric heat pump water heaters, electric heat pumps, central air conditioners, biomass stoves and natural gas, propane or oil water heaters.
• Up to $50 for advanced main air circulating fans.
• Up to $150 for natural gas, propane or oil furnace or hot water boilers.
And to see what energy efficiency can do in your home, check out the Alliance’s home energy tips videos produced with energyNOW!
For more information, visit http://www.ase.org/. [1]
Posted in Buying Commerical, Buying Foreclosures, Buying Real Estate, Buying Residential, Buying Short Sale, Congrats!, Financing, Pricing Your Home, Real Estate Investments, Selling Commercial, Selling Real Estate, Selling Residential, Short Sales, Staging, Uncategorized
Tagged energy efficiency, federal income tax, home improvements, homeowners, lower bills, money, Real Estate, saving money, tax credits
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Available Soon ~ Currently Under Renovations ~ NFC Area
Posted in Buying Foreclosures, Buying Real Estate, Buying Residential, Buying Short Sale, Financing, LEASE, Pricing Your Home, Real Estate Investments, Selling Real Estate, Selling Residential, Short Sales, Staging
Tagged available soon, des moines real estate, house for sale, houses for sale, investment, nfc, Real Estate, rehab, renovate
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$3500 Down Payment Assistance for First Time Buyers ~ Hurry Before it’s Gone!
The Iowa Finance Authority is offering up to $3,500 for down payment and closing costs for a limited time!
The FirstHome Plus program provides grant for down payments and closing costs. The amount of the FirstHome Plus grant has been increased from up to $2,500 to up to $3,500 and is available for loan applications completed before December 31 or until the funds are expended. The FirstHome Plus grant must be used in conjunction with the Iowa Finance Authority’s FirstHome program mortgage.
CLICK HERE for more information
Posted in Beaverdale, Buying Foreclosures, Buying Real Estate, Buying Residential, Buying Short Sale, Financing, Pricing Your Home, Selling Real Estate, Selling Residential, Short Sales
Tagged Des Moines, Down Payment Assistance, First Home, funds, grant money, IFA, iowa finance authority, loan application, Mortgage, Real Estate
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Real Estate Economy: Not As Bad As The Media Would Have You Believe?
Inflationary costs of products over a 30 year time span:
From 1981 to 2011:
- Consumer Prices have risen 160%
- Rents are up by 202%
- Food Prices are up 152%
- Gasoline up 197%
- Medical Care up 414%
- College Tuition up 693%
- Median Home Price up 150%
- YET Monthly Mortgage Payment on a median priced home bought in 1981 – 0% Increase. Your mortgage payment today at prevailing mortgage interest rates of 4% is the same as is was in 1981 when the prevailing mortgage interest rates were 14%.
Click Here to read the full story at realtor.org
Posted in Beaverdale, Buying Commerical, Buying Foreclosures, Buying Real Estate, Buying Residential, Buying Short Sale, Congrats!, Financing, LEASE, Pricing Your Home, Real Estate Investments, Selling Commercial, Selling Real Estate, Selling Residential, Short Sales
Tagged economy, interest rates, iowa real estate, Mortgage, mortgage payment, Real Estate, real estate media, realtor.org
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West Des Moines Townhome Available for Lease!
Posted in Buying Commerical, Buying Foreclosures, Buying Real Estate, Buying Residential, Buying Short Sale, Client Review, Congrats!, Financing, LEASE, Pricing Your Home, Real Estate Investments, Selling Commercial, Selling Real Estate, Selling Residential, Short Sales, Staging, Uncategorized
Tagged available now, lease, townhome, west des moines
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Freddie Mac Launches Winter REO Sale!
Information courtesy of REALTOR-Mag: DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2011
HomeSteps, a Freddie Mac real estate sales unit, kicked off a sales promotion this week to unload some of its inventory of foreclosed homes in several cities. Its Winter Sales Promotion for owner-occupant buyers includes: Paying up to 3 percent of the final sales price toward the buyer’s closing costs for initial offers received between Nov. 15 and Jan. 31, 2012. Escrow must be closed on or before March 15, 2012, to qualify. Also, a Two-year Home Protect limited home warranty, which covers such things as the heating, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, and other major systems and appliances. Home Protect also will offer a discount of up to 30 percent on the purchase of appliances. (For eligibility requirements, visit www.HomeSteps.com/smartbuy.)
Greater Des Moines Habitat ReStore is Relocating
The Des Moines Habitat for Humanity ReStore sells new and used home improvement materials to the public at discounted prices. ALL proceeds from ReStore benefit the mission of Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity.
Most of the materials in the store are donated from the contractors, manufacturers, retailers, and homeowners. Inventory includes such items as cabinets, lighting and plumbing fixtures, doors, lumber, flooring, paint, and windows (and much, much more!). Through the donation process, thousands of tons of materials are diverted from the landfill each year.
The ReStore also stocks large supplies of porcelain tile, laminate flooring, hardwood flooring, roll laminate and carpeting. They are a certified Mohawk dealer.
Volunteers help keep overhead low and enable the store to grow!
There are seven ReStores in Iowa and over 700 ReStores in the U.S. and Canada.
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions!
RELOCATION INFORMATION:
Saturday, November 12; 9am – 6pm will be the LAST day for customers to shop at the current location 2341 2nd Ave in Des Moines
December 1st will feature the GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION at their NEW LOCATION 2200 E Euclid Ave in Des Moines
To Learn More about what the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity has to offer, or to learn how YOU can Help CLICK HERE
Posted in Buying Foreclosures, Buying Real Estate, Buying Residential, Buying Short Sale, Financing, Pricing Your Home, Real Estate Investments, Selling Commercial, Selling Real Estate, Selling Residential, Short Sales, Staging
Tagged Des Moines Homes, des moines real estate, Des Moines rehab, Greater Des Moines, Habitat for Humanity, Restore
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Refinance Program for Under Water Borrowers
It’s official. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) unveiled a new, revamped government mortgage refinancing program Monday.
The initiative involves a series of rule changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) to allow more underwater homeowners to reduce their mortgage debt by taking advantage of today’s rock-bottom interest rates.
Mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and originally sold to the GSEs on or before May 31, 2009 are eligible for the program.
To qualify, borrowers must be current on their mortgage payments, but government officials believe by opening HARP up to more homeowners with higher thresholds of negative equity, it will help to prevent foreclosures by erasing the primary motivation behind strategic defaults.
For Complete Story Click Here
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