How Being Smarter Than A Caveman Can Save You Money NOW!

Just like the popular ad tagline refers to, saving EASY money is a no brainer, right?

Well, let me tell you a little bit about how being smarter than a caveman can save you big money now and in the immediate future!

You see, we've just had a time change and that would have been a HUGE deal to cavemen back in the day if they had time changes. Why? Because if you didn't notice, it was completely dark by about 6pm last night.

As a caveman, you would have spent your whole summer gathering and foraging and storing up food because as the days got shorter, it became time to become a more sedentary being. In the interest of self preservation (not just saving money!) you would start to stay inside more and go outside a lot less.

Don't follow the caveman's example! They did, afterall, go extinct, right?

Nope, it's time to get out there and find and close on your home! Why?

It's purely a SAVE MONEY opportunity that even a Caveman wouldn't miss (if they were still around ya know!)

Here's why:

First of all there is the most obvious thing. The recent tax credit that is being voted on and likely to be passed will not only give the first time home buyers an opportunity to save some money on their taxes (don't look for a lot of that in the near future!) but it is supposed to expand to anyone who has lived in their house for 5 of the last 8 years. In other words, if you have owned your home for 5 years, you can now do that MOVE UP and get your tax credit!

Secondly, your buying power is pretty good this time of year! Why?
Because, let's face it, selling a home is a pain in the rear! Anyone who is selling their home right now, during the last two months of 2009, means business. The holidays are creeping up on us and if your home is on the market right now, it means that you NEED to sell your home. It's not the home seller that says, "let's put it out there and if I get the price I want, I'll move".

Nope, the sellers that are active now are looking to sell and while they certainly aren't giving their home away, you know they are serious and they want to work out a reasonable deal for you!

Thirdly, and this is the one that is so often overlooked, Texas is a Homestead state. We have a homestead tax exemption but you have to be in the home on JANUARY 1st. That means, close by December 31st! If you do not close on your home by the end of 2009, you will cost yourself a nice chunk of change in taxes next year. Especially if it's your plan to move just after the first of the year!

For example, if you purchase your typical Katy or Cypress home, average price near $200,000 (the median price in the area is about $185,000 but let's make the math simple!). If your tax rate is 3.5%, then you taxes will be right about $7,000. With the homestead, it will save you about $1500, your first year in the property!

Now, C'mon, that's a no brainer...certainly YOU can use that $1500 next year a lot more effectively than the government can, right?

Lastly, get into your new home and there is nothing like breaking in the new home with Christmas decorations! (ok, maybe that's not a real reason to be smarter than the slug caveman is this time of year, but it sure is a nice BONUS!)

So doesn't that make a lot of CENTS? Well, more likely DOLLARS?