Posts Tagged ‘seattel real estate agent’

Hey kids.  Just a quick reminder.  The $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit is set to expire this November.  Keep in mind that it isn’t enough to have a home under contract by the end of November:

The home needs to have closed by November 30th.

If you have a contract on a home that is set to close in December, you will be out of luck.

Also keep in mind that for FHA financing, which is currently the most common loan type, closing is frequently taking longer then the traditional 30 days.  So considering it is now the second week of September, if you are hoping to take advantage of the first time home buyer tax credit, you should be aiming to be under contract on your first home in the next few weeks. 

Give me a call today if you want to get started on the process.

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Rob Graham, Home Buying Specialist

Windermere Real Estate

206-321-6349

Popularity: 32% [?]

With the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit set to expire November 31st, and congress on recess,  I took it upon myself yesterday, to send an e-mail out to both of my senators, my representative and yes Barack Obama himself. 

Here is my e-mail.

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Dear xx,

My name is Rob Graham. I am a Realtor in Seattle WA. I wanted to take a moment to write you a note about the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.

We all agree that our country’s current economic crisis was instigated and continues to be partially fueled by our housing crisis. I thought you might appreciate hearing directly from the horses mouth the dramatic impact the first time home buyer credit has had. Since the credit was announced, I have seen a great increase in first time home buyers. Many were waiting on the sidelines and the credit was the impetus they needed to feel confident jumping into the market. As a result, first time home buyers make up a significantly larger portion of housing buyers this year then they have traditionally.

With the tax credit set to expire November 31^st, I wanted to make a plea that it be extended and expanded. I know that when the credit was first discussed in both the house and senate, there was momentum to make it a $15,000 credit for all home buyers. In committee, it was reduced to a $8,000 first time home buyer credit. Imagine the impact the credit could have if it was available to all home buyers and not just first time home buyers who only make up 25-30% of the housing market.

I am also aware that there were several proposals being debated on the floor of both houses in recent months to either extend, or expand the tax credit. I was disappointed to see that with focus shifting to healthcare no such bill gained traction before the recess.

As we move into fall I can only strongly urge you to do all you can to expand and extend the tax credit. It is my fear that the small glimmers of hope we are seeing in the current market will only dwindle to stagnation in the months to come if we are unable to do so.

Thank you for you consideration,

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I have to say it feels really powerful to be able to reach out and send a message to the most powerful people in our state and country. 

I highly encourage you to do the same on any topic you feel strongly about. 

Here are the links for you:

President Obama:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/CONTACT/

Senator Cantwell:

http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Senator Murray:

http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm

To write to your representative, go here:

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Seriously, so few people actually write to elected officials that you are much more powerful when you do.  Use the resource wisely, but by all means don’t sit on your hands.  You elected these people after all.  Let them know what you think.

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Rob Graham, Accredited Buyers Representative

Windermere Real Estate

robgraham@windermere.com

206-321-6349

Popularity: 4% [?]