I posted 10 reasons.  That can be a start but with this market, many buyers are still on the sidelines.  I would love to give them 100 reasons to buy NOW.  Please add your thoughts and let's see if we can hit the magic number of 100.

Top Ten Reasons to

Invest in Real Estate NOW

1. Rent rates have increased in many markets.

2. Interest rates remain extremely attractive

compared to historic levels.

3. Demand for rental properties has increased

with the elimination of sub-prime

mortgages for buyers with weaker credit.

4. Larger selection of properties is now

available. According to the National Association

of Realtors, there are more

homes on the market now as compared

to a year ago.

5. Less competition to acquire nice homes.

Everyone is sitting on the sidelines. You

won't have to out-bid another buyer to

acquire a property.

6. As noted in last month's newsletter, the

population is projected to increase dramatically

over the next 40 years.

7. Lower home prices. In many areas, investors

can acquire homes at attractive

prices with excellent cash-flow.

8. Opportunity to negotiate repairs with sellers

before closing. In the past, some investors

had to assume certain repairs to

get the seller to accept their offer. Now,

sellers are having to take care of more

repairs in order for investors to buy their

properties.

9. Builders are struggling. Investors may

now be able to acquire new construction

homes below the builder's cost. New

construction homes are hassle-free investments.

10.The real estate market will rebound

within the next year or two. Real estate

cycles have a tendency to last two to

three years. We are probably halfway

 

New tax credit provision in stimulus pack

A proposed new provision in the planned economic stimulus package would offer a tax credit for home buyers. If enacted, it would help reduce the large amount of new housing inventory currently on the market, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

"It would be particularly helpful to first-time buyers," said Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors. "More first-time buyers are creating a chain reaction in the market, allowing more current homeowners to trade up into their next home. A tax credit for first-time buyers could give them a boost in confidence, counteracting their worries of home-price drops to come. "People will realize that the worst in housing is coming to an end if they see bold measures," Yun added.

NAHB pointed out that such a plan worked before. In 1975, when inventories were very high, a $6,000 home-buyer credit brought in a substantial number of buyers - enough for home builders to get back to business. "The biggest bang for the buck most likely would be provided by a temporary home buyer tax credit," said NAHB's David Seiders. "Tax credits for the purchase of a home are a means of eliminating excess inventory, relieving pressure on falling housing prices and ending the wait-on-the-sideline strategy some potential buyers have adopted."

FHA Mortgage Limits List - FHA Forward

Message:   MORTGAGE LIMITS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED


Mortgage maximums as of Wednesday March 05, 2008
(159 records were selected, records 1 through 50 displayed)

MSA Name	MSA Code	Division	County Name	County Code	State	One-Family	Two-Family	Three-Family	Four-Family	Last Revised
NON-METRO	99999		APPLING	001	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
DOUGLAS, GA (MICRO)	20060		ATKINSON	003	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
NON-METRO	99999		BACON	005	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
ALBANY, GA (MSA)	10500		BAKER	007	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
MILLEDGEVILLE, GA (MICRO)	33300		BALDWIN	009	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
NON-METRO	99999		BANKS	011	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-MARIETTA, GA (MSA)	12060		BARROW	013	GA	$346,250	$443,250	$535,800	$665,850	03/05/2008
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-MARIETTA, GA (MSA)	12060		BARTOW	015	GA	$346,250	$443,250	$535,800	$665,850	03/05/2008
FITZGERALD, GA (MICRO)	22340		BEN HILL	017	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
NON-METRO	99999		BERRIEN	019	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
MACON, GA (MSA)	31420		BIBB	021	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
NON-METRO	99999		BLECKLEY	023	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
BRUNSWICK, GA (MSA)	15260		BRANTLEY	025	GA	$276,250	$353,650	$427,450	$531,250	03/05/2008
VALDOSTA, GA (MSA)	46660		BROOKS	027	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
SAVANNAH, GA (MSA)	42340		BRYAN	029	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
STATESBORO, GA (MICRO)	44340		BULLOCH	031	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
AUGUSTA-RICHMOND COUNTY, GA-SC (MSA)	12260		BURKE	033	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-MARIETTA, GA (MSA)	12060		BUTTS	035	GA	$346,250	$443,250	$535,800	$665,850	03/05/2008
NON-METRO	99999		CALHOUN	037	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
ST. MARYS, GA (MICRO)	41220		CAMDEN	039	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
NON-METRO	99999		CANDLER	043	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-MARIETTA, GA (MSA)	12060		CARROLL	045	GA	$346,250	$443,250	$535,800	$665,850	03/05/2008
CHATTANOOGA, TN-GA (MSA)	16860		CATOOSA	047	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
NON-METRO	99999		CHARLTON	049	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
SAVANNAH, GA (MSA)	42340		CHATHAM	051	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
COLUMBUS, GA-AL (MSA)	17980		CHATTAHOOCHEE	053	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
SUMMERVILLE, GA (MICRO)	44900		CHATTOOGA	055	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-MARIETTA, GA (MSA)	12060		CHEROKEE	057	GA	$346,250	$443,250	$535,800	$665,850	03/05/2008
ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY, GA (MSA)	12020		CLARKE	059	GA	$298,750	$382,450	$462,300	$574,500	03/05/2008
NON-METRO	99999		CLAY	061	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-MARIETTA, GA (MSA)	12060		CLAYTON	063	GA	$346,250	$443,250	$535,800	$665,850	03/05/2008
NON-METRO	99999		CLINCH	065	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-MARIETTA, GA (MSA)	12060		COBB	067	GA	$346,250	$443,250	$535,800	$665,850	03/05/2008
DOUGLAS, GA (MICRO)	20060		COFFEE	069	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
MOULTRIE, GA (MICRO)	34220		COLQUITT	071	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
AUGUSTA-RICHMOND COUNTY, GA-SC (MSA)	12260		COLUMBIA	073	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
NON-METRO	99999		COOK	075	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-MARIETTA, GA (MSA)	12060		COWETA	077	GA	$346,250	$443,250	$535,800	$665,850	03/05/2008
MACON, GA (MSA)	31420		CRAWFORD	079	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
CORDELE, GA (MICRO)	18380		CRISP	081	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
CHATTANOOGA, TN-GA (MSA)	16860		DADE	083	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-MARIETTA, GA (MSA)	12060		DAWSON	085	GA	$346,250	$443,250	$535,800	$665,850	03/05/2008
BAINBRIDGE, GA (MICRO)	12460		DECATUR	087	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-MARIETTA, GA (MSA)	12060		DEKALB	089	GA	$346,250	$443,250	$535,800	$665,850	03/05/2008
NON-METRO	99999		DODGE	091	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
NON-METRO	99999		DOOLY	093	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
ALBANY, GA (MSA)	10500		DOUGHERTY	095	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-MARIETTA, GA (MSA)	12060		DOUGLAS	097	GA	$346,250	$443,250	$535,800	$665,850	03/05/2008
NON-METRO	99999		EARLY	099	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008
VALDOSTA, GA (MSA)	46660		ECHOLS	101	GA	$271,050	$347,000	$419,400	$521,250	03/05/2008

Selection criteria

Sorted by:	County
State:	GA
County:
County Code:
MSA Name:
MSA Code:
Limit Type:	FHA Forward
Last Revised:

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The current basic standard mortgage limits for FHA insured loans are:
			One-family		Two-family		Three-family		Four-family
	FHA Forward		$271,050.00		$347,000.00		$419,400.00		$521,250.00
	HECM		$200,160.00
	Fannie/Freddie		$417,000.00		$533,850.00		$645,300.00		$801,950.00

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High cost area limits are subject to a ceiling based on a percent of the Freddie Mac Loan limits The ceilings are currently:
			One-family		Two-family		Three-family		Four-family
	FHA Forward		$729,750.00		$934,200.00		$1,129,250.00		$1,403,400.00
	HECM		$362,790.00
	Fannie/Freddie		$729,750.00		$934,200.00		$1,129,250.00		$1,403,400.00

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Section 214 of the National Housing Act provides that mortgage limits for Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands may be adjusted up to 150 percent of the new ceilings. This results in new ceilings for these areas of:
			One-family		Two-family		Three-family		Four-family
	FHA Forward		$1,094,625.00		$1,401,300.00		$1,693,875.00		$2,105,100.00
	HECM		$544,185.00
	Fannie/Freddie		$1,094,625.00		$1,401,300.00		$1,693,875.00		$2,105,100.00

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This is a listing of the FHA single family mortgage limits. This listing was downloaded from the Department's Computerized Home Underwriting Management System. Since mortgage limits are updated constantly, please contact the Homeownership Center if you believe this information is in error.

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Is your typical real estate marketing not working?  Try something new!  Agents are still being taught the same sales information from 1972.  How about a new tool to use, AUCTIONS.  AUCTIONS get ACTION. We work with agents to make sure that when the sale is made, they still get their commission.  Give us a call for more informaton.

 

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