Many people are hoping they'll qualify for the expanded home buyer credit. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Last week, President Barack Obama signed the “Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009,” which extends the $8,000 tax credit available to “first-time” home buyers and adds a tax credit of up to $6,500 for repeat or move-up buyers. The tax credits are available to those who purchase a primary home, and aren’t available to buyers of investment or vacation homes …Full Story

The IRS is dubious of more than 90,000 first-time homebuyer tax-credit claims. (Photo: iStockphoto)

How far would you go to claim the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit? The tax credit is available to "first-time" homebuyers who purchase a home by the end of next month.

Many of our blog's readers have written in saying they would do almost anything to qualify for the credit, and would even purchase a home they're not totally thrilled about to get the credit …Full Story

With my new home's house keys, I opened the door to years of high property taxes. (Photo: iStockphoto)

This week, my husband and I received notice from our town on what our upcoming property taxes are going to be -- boy, was that a disappointment.

Our town had a reassessment this spring, and we were happy to learn that our new estimated property taxes would be just under $9,000 yearly (imagine being happy with that!) -- our property taxes had risen from just over $8,000 a year to more than $12,000 a year in the seven years we've lived in our home …Full Story

Residents in New Jersey -- and several other Northeastern states -- pay high property taxes. (Photo: iStockphoto)

New Jersey gets a bad rap for many things. There are those "What Exit?" jokes (referring to the fact that many New Jerseyans can note where they live by referring to the NJ Turnpike exit they take to get to their town) and that smell along the northern reaches of the Turnpike. I often get upset about the jokes because there is plenty of stuff about our state that is nice -- like our beaches, our farmland (there are at least four farms I can visit within about five miles of my house) and our state forests …Full Story

Consumers really don't have much time to make the deadline for the first-time homebuyer credit. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Looking to buy a home before the federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers deadline? If you are, that means that because the closing process on a home can take up to two months, you only have about a month to find a home and sign a contract, says Coldwell Banker Real Estate. (To qualify for the up to $8,000 credit, home buyers have to complete a purchase on a home before Dec. 1.) …Full Story

Blog readers hope the $8,000 first-time homebuyers' tax credit will be extended. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Do you want Congress to extend the deadline for the first-time homebuyer credit? If so, make your voice heard at the Cyberhomes.com blog and let everyone know why the credit should be extended. Many Cyberhomes' readers already have, in response to post, "Extension of homebuyer tax credit?" by my fellow blogger, Pat Curry …Full Story

There's a push for Congress to extend the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers and to make it available to all buyers. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Like everyone else, I’ve been reading the cautiously optimistic news about the state of the housing industry in the last few weeks, including the increase in sales of existing homes and housing starts . It occurred to me this week that the gains might be short-lived because one of the things driving that progress -- the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit -- expires on Dec. 1. That’s less than four months away …Full Story

This summer, I plan to have a paver patio (made of EP Henry Old Towne Cobble pavers in pewter) installed in my backyard. I've vetted a few contractors, and have chosen one, mostly based on the quality of similar jobs that he has performed for nearby homes.

While searching for contractors, I was told by some that I wouldn't need a permit. But I checked it out with my town's construction/zoning office, and discovered that I would indeed need one. I visited the construction office on Friday, and was told that my permit should be approved either today or tomorrow …Full Story

In April, the National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index rose for the third straight month and saw its biggest increase since October 2001, rising 6.7 percent. The report is another sign that the U.S. housing market is stabilizing, say some experts.

The Pending Sales Index is an indicator of future sales, with the latest report measuring home contracts signed in April. This month's Pending Sales Index comes on the heels of a recent NAR report that showed that sales of existing single-family homes also rose in April, rising 2.9 percent from April 2008 …Full Story

A new initiative announced Friday will make buying a new home more attractive -- and perhaps easier -- for first-time homebuyers.

Announced by the Federal Housing Administration, the new plan will allow borrowers who are purchasing a home for the very first time to use an $8,000 federal tax credit toward closing costs and part of their down payment -- which is a boon for new homebuyers, since closing costs can amount to thousands of dollars.

Available to borrowers of FHA loans only, borrowers can now tap the $8,000 tax credit -- which was previously only available upon filing one's taxes -- before they complete their taxes. Borrowers, however, will be responsible for a 3.5 percent down payment of their own …Full Story