Luis Cano's Monterey County Real Estate Blog

MISTAKE NO. 9 … Not examining insurance issues.

HERE’S HOW TO AVOID IT… Purchase adequate insurance. Advise from an insurance agent can provide you with answers to any concerns you may have.

MISTAKE NO. 4   Limiting your search to open houses, ads or the internet.

HERE’S HOW TO AVOID IT… Many homes listed in magazines or on the Internet have already been sold. Your best course of action is to contact a real estate agent. They have up-to-date information that is unavailable to the general public, and they are the best resource to help you find the home you want.

There are several steps to take prior to listing your home that will make the transaction smoother and quicker. 

STEP ONE. Hire a real estate agent. It may be tempting to list your home on your own to avoid paying a sales commission, but selling your own home is a full time job itself, A real estate professional represents the best opportunity to earn the maximum amount from your home’s sale. An agent will recommend the best listing price, market your home effectively and show your home to buyers. An agent also recognizes what buyers are looking for in a new home.

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• Average Cost of a Real Estate Agent (brighthub.com)

The complexity of new home buyer tax credits leaves potential buyers with many questions. Here are answers to some of the most confusing:

How does a current home owner qualify for the $6,500 credit?
Buyers must have lived in their homes for at least five out of the last eight years. The home they buy must become their primary residence, but buyers don’t have to sell their previous home. They can use the previous home as a rental or a second home and still claim the credit.

Does the new home have to be more expensive than the one the buyer currently owns?
No. It is fine to use it to downsize. If the property sells for more than $800,000, the buyers don’t qualify.

Can buyers who are building a new home claim the credit?
Yes, although the contract must be in place by April 30 and the buyer must move in by July 1.

Can buyers claim the credit if they purchase a home from a relative?
No. The legislation prohibits taxpayers from claiming the credit if the sale is between “related parties,” including parent, grandparent, child, or grandchild.

Source: USA Today, Sandra Block (11/24/2009)