Open Sunday - 09/14/2008

1-3 pm

Incredible Wistarwood Colonial! The ceramic tile foyer leads to a home with an open floor plan featuring a large living room with new w/w carpeting and chair rail,the dining room has new w/w carpeting and chair rail having just been painted in neutral colors,the powder room has ceramic tile flooring, the 22x20 family room has skylights, a vaulted ceiling with track lighting,built-in bookcases and french doiors that lead to the Spa room with a 6 person Cal. Spa (8x8). For the car lover this home has an oversized 2 car garage with entrances to the house and rear yard. The house also has a covered 20x7 front porch and the rear yard features 2 patios one with a Sun Setter awning. While relaxing on 1 of your 2 patios you will enjoy privacy and the tranquil fish pond. New carpeting installed thru-out in Aug. and interior painted.

For further info - please contact:

Leah Leighton

Century 21 Alliance

(267)505-5043

leahsells@century21.com

www.leahsells.com

Very good advice - BE CAREFUL!!!

For further information about short sales in Bucks County, NE Philadelphia, or Montgomery County, please contact:

Leah Leighton

Century 21 Alliance

2378 Trenton Road

Levittown, Pa 19056

(267)505-5043

www.leahsells.com

leahsells@century21.com

HOW TO SPOT A GOOD BUY

 By: Leah Leighton - Century 21

           Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, particularly when it comes to buying a home.  Features that attract one home-buyer may repel another.

          However, the one feature of interest to every home-buyer is price.  Getting the most home for your money is paramount.  The real problem is figuring out whether that fixer-upper on one street is a better buy than the home in next-to-new condition two blocks away.  That's why knowing what to look for before you buy can save you time, energy and money down the line.

          The first step is figuring out what kind of house you need.  A good buy is only a good buy if it meets your current and future living requirements.  Before shopping for a home, decide how much space you and your family require.  How many bedrooms, bathrooms?  Is a family room necessary?  Do you need a layout that will accommodate a lot of entertaining?  Do you prefer a spacious or compact work space in the kitchen?  If you have small children, can the house easily be childproofed?

          Evaluate the front and back yards.  Is there enough space to accommodate your children?  Do you want a park-like or garden setting?  Do you enjoy yard work and gardening, or do you want a low-maintenance yard?  Take into consideration the cost of extensive landscaping and upkeep.

          Next, determine how much work is required to make the house you are considering livable.  Make an honest assessment of your fix-it abilities.  How much work are you willing to do or pay someone else to do?  Do you have basic decorating, carpentry and plumbing skills?  If you plan to learn as you go, make sure you have accurately determined what you are getting into.  Ask an experienced friend, family member or your real estate agent for their opinion, and be sure to consider how much remodeling inconvenience the rest of the family can handle.

          Unless you are ready and able to tackle a major remodel, look for a house or condominium that needs only cosmetic improvements.  These include painting, wallpapering and replacing items like flooring, window treatments, bathroom and kitchen fixtures, light fixtures, cabinet and interior door hardware and appliances.  Remember that even these simple changes can be costly if you have to make many of them.

          Beware of improvements that seem easy enough at first glance buy may turn into major headaches and require a lot of money once you've moved in.  Remodeled kitchens and bathrooms, changes to the floor plan, room additions and redesigned landscaping are examples of seemingly minor changes that can easily eat away the money you thought you saved by selecting a so-called "bargain priced" home.  Of course, you may be perfectly willing to spend whatever money is needed to customize the house to match your tastes and needs.

Make sure major systems in the house are in good working condition.  The furnace, air-conditioning and plumbing should be up to date, since repairs can be costly.  Your agent can arrange to have a professional inspector determine whether the electrical wiring and any room additions are to code.  Local utilities often offer free or low-cost inspections to tell you if the house is energy-efficient.

          Look for a house with universally popular selling points.  If you're impressed, the next buyer down the line is bound to be, too.  For example, a roomy, modern east-to-clean kitchen is the best selling point a home can have.  A house with only one bathroom is less desirable than a house with two or more.  Many buyers expect at least three bedrooms, with a master bedroom that offers a feeling of privacy.  Lots of storage space and closets, especially walk-in closets, will be a real selling point.  Family rooms or "great rooms" also are desirable.  On closer examination, a house that looks like a bargain may lack some of these key features.

For further info. contact:

Leah Leighton

Century 21 Alliance - Levittown, Pa

(267)505-5043

e-mail - leahsells@century21.com

website - www.leahsells.com

As part of the "Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008" that was recently signed into law, Congress has created a new, temporary federal income tax credit to provide an incentive for first-time homebuyers. This is not only good news for first-time homebuyers, it is also a great opportunity for you as CENTURY 21 sales professionals to educate your clients and make them aware of how they can benefit from this tax credit.

The highlights of this federal tax credit are as follows:

• The amount of the federal tax credit is for 10% of the cost of the home, up to a maximum credit of $7,500. In essence, this is an interest-free loan that enables consumers to receive a tax credit on a dollar-for-dollar basis on their personal income tax return in the calendar year following the year of closing on their home. They begin paying the tax credit back the year after that and make equal installments during the next 15 years. If the homeowner sells the home at any point during the 15-year payback period, then the remaining amount is recaptured, unless they sell the home at a loss, at which point the balance is forgiven.
  • e.g., If a home costs $65,000, the allowable credit would be $6,500. If a home costs $120,000, then the allowable credit would be $7,500.
• Eligibility is for first-time homebuyers only. In this case, a first-time homebuyer is defined as an individual who has not owned a primary home at any time during the past three years, but who may have done so previously.  Although certain income limits do apply, the amount of the credit is the same for all taxpayers, married or single.
• Individuals whose Form 1040 filing status is single (or head of household) are eligible for the tax credit if their income is no more than $75,000. Individuals who file a joint return may have no more than $150,000 in income.
• Individuals with incomes between $75,001 and $94,999 (single) or $150,001 and $169,999 (joint returns) are eligible for a partial tax credit.
• Individuals with incomes greater than $95,000 (single) or $170,000 (joint return) are not eligible for this tax credit.
• The federal income credit can be claimed on one's individual or joint tax return for the purchase of any single-family home between April 9, 2008 through July 1, 2009. Individuals should consult a professional tax advisor for exact tax calculations.
  • e.g., If an individual's actual tax liability was $5,000, then after the tax credit is applied the purchaser would receive a total refund of $2,500. The refundable amount is the difference between the $7,500 tax credit and the amount of one's tax liability.
  • e.g., If an individual's actual tax refund was $2,000, then after the tax credit is applied the purchaser would receive a total refund of $9,500.
• This tax credit is required to be repaid without interest in equal installments of 6.67% of the total credit each year for 15 years beginning the year after the tax credit is claimed.
  • e.g., If a homebuyer claims the $7,500 credit in 2009 on their federal income tax return for a closing that occurred in 2008, then the credit is received in 2009, so repayment begins in 2010 with an annual repayment amount of approximately $500 a year.

For further info:

Leah Leighton - Realtor

Century 21 Alliance Real Estate

Levittown Pa

(267)505-5043

website - www.leahsells.com

e-mail - leahsells@century21.com