Upon the President signing the new housing bill, the following changes will take place:
- The seller paid Down Payment Assistance programs (DPAs) Nehemiah, Ameridream, and others, will be eliminated. Any transactions in process must close by October 1st. This date is subject to change. Most of these programs used a non-profit organization as a go-between to gift funds from the seller to the buyer, often by raising the final sale price of the home by an equal amount. In the end, the amount gifted was simply added to the mortgage, which kinda defeats the purpose of a downpayment in the first place.
- FHA down payment has increased to 3.5% and the monthly mortgage insurance will be .55% up from .5%. This will raise the amount of downpayment buyers will need to purchase a home as well as the monthly payment amount.
- First-time home buyers would receive a $7,500 tax credit for the purchase of any home after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2009. Income limits will apply. Consult your Tax Professional or the IRS. This is great news for new homebuyers and those who are looking to sell their home.
- Additional tax-exempt bonds will be issued by states to fund first-time home buyer programs.
- One thing that won't change; the conventional conforming loan limit of $417,000 will remain the same in Minnesota.
The bill - H.R. 3221, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 - also includes reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, FHA modernization, and permanent increases in conforming and FHA loan limits.
Those who seek to purchase homes in the future will need to save more cash up front for a downpayment, but will be better off for it in the long run as the more risky loan programs are eliminated. In today's competitive marketplace, there are many opportunities to make up for these changes by negotiating price reductions or seller paid items like closing costs and repairs.
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For more information about my services, guarantees, or how I can help you
find your next home, sell your home, buy a business or investment property.
Just call Patti Ann Kasper today at 763-548-1418!
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Patti Ann Kasper, Your Minnesota and North Metro Twin Cities Real Estate Expert!
© Copyright Patti Ann Kasper 2008 All Right Reserved.
Associates of Science Degree in Geographic Information Systems and Cartography
from Anoka Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.
Licensed in Minnesota
Equal Housing Opportunity
For more information about my services, guarantees, or how I can help you
find your next home, sell your home, buy a business or investment property.
Just call Patti Ann Kasper today at 763-548-1418!
To view my interactive on-line real estate magazine with listings of homes for sale
in the Minneapolis Saint Paul Twin Cities Metro Area, select the banner below:![]()
Patti Ann Kasper, Your Minnesota, North Metro Minneapolis / Saint Paul Twin Cities, and Blaine MN Real Estate Expert! Associates of Science Degree in Geographic Information Systems and Cartography from Anoka Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.
© Copyright Patti Ann Kasper 2009 All Right Reserved


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