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Ashford Villas News
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Did you know that you are a "First-Time Homebuyer if you haven't owned a home in the last 3 years?!
Final score: $8,000 for homebuyers
First-time purchasers get a tax credit windfall if they buy before December 09.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- There's a nice windfall for some homebuyers in the economic stimulus bill awaiting President Obama's signature on Tuesday.
First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 - or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less - on their 2008 or 2009 taxes.
A big plus is that the credit is refundable, meaning tax filers see a refund of the full $8,000 even if their total tax bill - the amount of witholding they paid during the year plus anything extra they had to pony up when they filed their returns - was less than that amount. But there has been a lot of confusion over this provision.
Adam Billings of Knoxville, Tenn. wrote to CNNMoney.com asking:
"I will qualify as a first-time home buyer, and I am currently set to get a small tax refund for 2008. Does that mean if I purchased now that I would get an extra $8,000 added on top of my current refund?"
The short answer? Yes, Billings would get back the $8,000 plus what he'd overpaid. The long answer? It depends.
Here are three scenarios:
Scenario 1: Your final tax liability is normally $6,000. You've had taxes withheld from every paycheck and at the end of the year you've paid Uncle Sam $6,000. Since you've already paid him all you owe, you get the entire $8,000 tax credit as a refund check.
Scenario 2: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've overpaid by $1,000 through your payroll witholding. Normally you would get a $1,000 refund check. In this scenario, you get $9,000, the $8,000 credit plus the $1,000 you overpaid.
Scenario 3: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've underpaid through your payroll witholding by $1,000. Normally, you would have to write the IRS a $1,000 check. This time, the first $1,000 of the tax credit pays your bill, and you get the remaining $7,000 as a refund.
To qualify for the credit, the purchase must be made between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009. Buyers may not have owned a home for the past three years to qualify as "first time" buyer. They must also live in the house for at least three years, or they will be obligated to pay back the credit.
Additionally, there are income restrictions: To qualify, buyers must make less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples. (Higher-income buyers may receive a partial credit.)
Applying for the credit will be easy - or at least as easy as doing your income taxes. Just claim it on your return. No other forms or papers have to be filed. Taxpayers who have already completed their returns can file amended returns for 2008 to claim the credit.
Many may look at the tax credit as a discount on the home price, according to Yun. A $100,000 purchase effectively becomes a $92,000 one. That can reassure buyers apprehensive about purchasing and then watching prices continue falling, he added.
And it provides a nice nest egg for the often-difficult early years of homeownership, when unexpected repairs and expenses often crop up. Recipients could also use the money to buy new stuff for their home - a lawnmower, a rug, a sofa - and, in that way, help stimulate the economy.
Final score: $8,000 for homebuyers
First-time purchasers get a tax credit windfall if they buy before December 09.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- There's a nice windfall for some homebuyers in the economic stimulus bill awaiting President Obama's signature on Tuesday.
First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 - or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less - on their 2008 or 2009 taxes.
A big plus is that the credit is refundable, meaning tax filers see a refund of the full $8,000 even if their total tax bill - the amount of witholding they paid during the year plus anything extra they had to pony up when they filed their returns - was less than that amount. But there has been a lot of confusion over this provision.
Adam Billings of Knoxville, Tenn. wrote to CNNMoney.com asking:
"I will qualify as a first-time home buyer, and I am currently set to get a small tax refund for 2008. Does that mean if I purchased now that I would get an extra $8,000 added on top of my current refund?"
The short answer? Yes, Billings would get back the $8,000 plus what he'd overpaid. The long answer? It depends.
Here are three scenarios:
Scenario 1: Your final tax liability is normally $6,000. You've had taxes withheld from every paycheck and at the end of the year you've paid Uncle Sam $6,000. Since you've already paid him all you owe, you get the entire $8,000 tax credit as a refund check.
Scenario 2: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've overpaid by $1,000 through your payroll witholding. Normally you would get a $1,000 refund check. In this scenario, you get $9,000, the $8,000 credit plus the $1,000 you overpaid.
Scenario 3: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've underpaid through your payroll witholding by $1,000. Normally, you would have to write the IRS a $1,000 check. This time, the first $1,000 of the tax credit pays your bill, and you get the remaining $7,000 as a refund.
To qualify for the credit, the purchase must be made between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009. Buyers may not have owned a home for the past three years to qualify as "first time" buyer. They must also live in the house for at least three years, or they will be obligated to pay back the credit.
Additionally, there are income restrictions: To qualify, buyers must make less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples. (Higher-income buyers may receive a partial credit.)
Applying for the credit will be easy - or at least as easy as doing your income taxes. Just claim it on your return. No other forms or papers have to be filed. Taxpayers who have already completed their returns can file amended returns for 2008 to claim the credit.
Many may look at the tax credit as a discount on the home price, according to Yun. A $100,000 purchase effectively becomes a $92,000 one. That can reassure buyers apprehensive about purchasing and then watching prices continue falling, he added.
And it provides a nice nest egg for the often-difficult early years of homeownership, when unexpected repairs and expenses often crop up. Recipients could also use the money to buy new stuff for their home - a lawnmower, a rug, a sofa - and, in that way, help stimulate the economy.
Final score: $8,000 for homebuyers
First-time purchasers get a tax credit windfall if they buy before December 09.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- There's a nice windfall for some homebuyers in the economic stimulus bill awaiting President Obama's signature on Tuesday.
First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 - or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less - on their 2008 or 2009 taxes.
A big plus is that the credit is refundable, meaning tax filers see a refund of the full $8,000 even if their total tax bill - the amount of witholding they paid during the year plus anything extra they had to pony up when they filed their returns - was less than that amount. But there has been a lot of confusion over this provision.
Adam Billings of Knoxville, Tenn. wrote to CNNMoney.com asking:
"I will qualify as a first-time home buyer, and I am currently set to get a small tax refund for 2008. Does that mean if I purchased now that I would get an extra $8,000 added on top of my current refund?"
The short answer? Yes, Billings would get back the $8,000 plus what he'd overpaid. The long answer? It depends.
Here are three scenarios:
Scenario 1: Your final tax liability is normally $6,000. You've had taxes withheld from every paycheck and at the end of the year you've paid Uncle Sam $6,000. Since you've already paid him all you owe, you get the entire $8,000 tax credit as a refund check.
Scenario 2: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've overpaid by $1,000 through your payroll witholding. Normally you would get a $1,000 refund check. In this scenario, you get $9,000, the $8,000 credit plus the $1,000 you overpaid.
Scenario 3: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've underpaid through your payroll witholding by $1,000. Normally, you would have to write the IRS a $1,000 check. This time, the first $1,000 of the tax credit pays your bill, and you get the remaining $7,000 as a refund.
To qualify for the credit, the purchase must be made between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009. Buyers may not have owned a home for the past three years to qualify as "first time" buyer. They must also live in the house for at least three years, or they will be obligated to pay back the credit.
Additionally, there are income restrictions: To qualify, buyers must make less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples. (Higher-income buyers may receive a partial credit.)
Applying for the credit will be easy - or at least as easy as doing your income taxes. Just claim it on your return. No other forms or papers have to be filed. Taxpayers who have already completed their returns can file amended returns for 2008 to claim the credit.
Many may look at the tax credit as a discount on the home price, according to Yun. A $100,000 purchase effectively becomes a $92,000 one. That can reassure buyers apprehensive about purchasing and then watching prices continue falling, he added.
And it provides a nice nest egg for the often-difficult early years of homeownership, when unexpected repairs and expenses often crop up. Recipients could also use the money to buy new stuff for their home - a lawnmower, a rug, a sofa - and, in that way, help stimulate the economy.
Final score: $8,000 for homebuyers
First-time purchasers get a tax credit windfall if they buy before December 09.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- There's a nice windfall for some homebuyers in the economic stimulus bill awaiting President Obama's signature on Tuesday.
First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 - or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less - on their 2008 or 2009 taxes.
A big plus is that the credit is refundable, meaning tax filers see a refund of the full $8,000 even if their total tax bill - the amount of witholding they paid during the year plus anything extra they had to pony up when they filed their returns - was less than that amount. But there has been a lot of confusion over this provision.
Adam Billings of Knoxville, Tenn. wrote to CNNMoney.com asking:
"I will qualify as a first-time home buyer, and I am currently set to get a small tax refund for 2008. Does that mean if I purchased now that I would get an extra $8,000 added on top of my current refund?"
The short answer? Yes, Billings would get back the $8,000 plus what he'd overpaid. The long answer? It depends.
Here are three scenarios:
Scenario 1: Your final tax liability is normally $6,000. You've had taxes withheld from every paycheck and at the end of the year you've paid Uncle Sam $6,000. Since you've already paid him all you owe, you get the entire $8,000 tax credit as a refund check.
Scenario 2: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've overpaid by $1,000 through your payroll witholding. Normally you would get a $1,000 refund check. In this scenario, you get $9,000, the $8,000 credit plus the $1,000 you overpaid.
Scenario 3: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've underpaid through your payroll witholding by $1,000. Normally, you would have to write the IRS a $1,000 check. This time, the first $1,000 of the tax credit pays your bill, and you get the remaining $7,000 as a refund.
To qualify for the credit, the purchase must be made between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009. Buyers may not have owned a home for the past three years to qualify as "first time" buyer. They must also live in the house for at least three years, or they will be obligated to pay back the credit.
Additionally, there are income restrictions: To qualify, buyers must make less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples. (Higher-income buyers may receive a partial credit.)
Applying for the credit will be easy - or at least as easy as doing your income taxes. Just claim it on your return. No other forms or papers have to be filed. Taxpayers who have already completed their returns can file amended returns for 2008 to claim the credit.
Many may look at the tax credit as a discount on the home price, according to Yun. A $100,000 purchase effectively becomes a $92,000 one. That can reassure buyers apprehensive about purchasing and then watching prices continue falling, he added.
And it provides a nice nest egg for the often-difficult early years of homeownership, when unexpected repairs and expenses often crop up. Recipients could also use the money to buy new stuff for their home - a lawnmower, a rug, a sofa - and, in that way, help stimulate the economy.
Final score: $8,000 for homebuyers
First-time purchasers get a tax credit windfall if they buy before December 09.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- There's a nice windfall for some homebuyers in the economic stimulus bill awaiting President Obama's signature on Tuesday.
First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 - or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less - on their 2008 or 2009 taxes.
A big plus is that the credit is refundable, meaning tax filers see a refund of the full $8,000 even if their total tax bill - the amount of witholding they paid during the year plus anything extra they had to pony up when they filed their returns - was less than that amount. But there has been a lot of confusion over this provision.
Adam Billings of Knoxville, Tenn. wrote to CNNMoney.com asking:
"I will qualify as a first-time home buyer, and I am currently set to get a small tax refund for 2008. Does that mean if I purchased now that I would get an extra $8,000 added on top of my current refund?"
The short answer? Yes, Billings would get back the $8,000 plus what he'd overpaid. The long answer? It depends.
Here are three scenarios:
Scenario 1: Your final tax liability is normally $6,000. You've had taxes withheld from every paycheck and at the end of the year you've paid Uncle Sam $6,000. Since you've already paid him all you owe, you get the entire $8,000 tax credit as a refund check.
Scenario 2: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've overpaid by $1,000 through your payroll witholding. Normally you would get a $1,000 refund check. In this scenario, you get $9,000, the $8,000 credit plus the $1,000 you overpaid.
Scenario 3: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've underpaid through your payroll witholding by $1,000. Normally, you would have to write the IRS a $1,000 check. This time, the first $1,000 of the tax credit pays your bill, and you get the remaining $7,000 as a refund.
To qualify for the credit, the purchase must be made between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009. Buyers may not have owned a home for the past three years to qualify as "first time" buyer. They must also live in the house for at least three years, or they will be obligated to pay back the credit.
Additionally, there are income restrictions: To qualify, buyers must make less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples. (Higher-income buyers may receive a partial credit.)
Applying for the credit will be easy - or at least as easy as doing your income taxes. Just claim it on your return. No other forms or papers have to be filed. Taxpayers who have already completed their returns can file amended returns for 2008 to claim the credit.
Many may look at the tax credit as a discount on the home price, according to Yun. A $100,000 purchase effectively becomes a $92,000 one. That can reassure buyers apprehensive about purchasing and then watching prices continue falling, he added.
And it provides a nice nest egg for the often-difficult early years of homeownership, when unexpected repairs and expenses often crop up. Recipients could also use the money to buy new stuff for their home - a lawnmower, a rug, a sofa - and, in that way, help stimulate the economy.
Final score: $8,000 for homebuyers
First-time purchasers get a tax credit windfall if they buy before December 09.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- There's a nice windfall for some homebuyers in the economic stimulus bill awaiting President Obama's signature on Tuesday.
First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 - or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less - on their 2008 or 2009 taxes.
A big plus is that the credit is refundable, meaning tax filers see a refund of the full $8,000 even if their total tax bill - the amount of witholding they paid during the year plus anything extra they had to pony up when they filed their returns - was less than that amount. But there has been a lot of confusion over this provision.
Adam Billings of Knoxville, Tenn. wrote to CNNMoney.com asking:
"I will qualify as a first-time home buyer, and I am currently set to get a small tax refund for 2008. Does that mean if I purchased now that I would get an extra $8,000 added on top of my current refund?"
The short answer? Yes, Billings would get back the $8,000 plus what he'd overpaid. The long answer? It depends.
Here are three scenarios:
Scenario 1: Your final tax liability is normally $6,000. You've had taxes withheld from every paycheck and at the end of the year you've paid Uncle Sam $6,000. Since you've already paid him all you owe, you get the entire $8,000 tax credit as a refund check.
Scenario 2: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've overpaid by $1,000 through your payroll witholding. Normally you would get a $1,000 refund check. In this scenario, you get $9,000, the $8,000 credit plus the $1,000 you overpaid.
Scenario 3: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've underpaid through your payroll witholding by $1,000. Normally, you would have to write the IRS a $1,000 check. This time, the first $1,000 of the tax credit pays your bill, and you get the remaining $7,000 as a refund.
To qualify for the credit, the purchase must be made between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009. Buyers may not have owned a home for the past three years to qualify as "first time" buyer. They must also live in the house for at least three years, or they will be obligated to pay back the credit.
Additionally, there are income restrictions: To qualify, buyers must make less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples. (Higher-income buyers may receive a partial credit.)
Applying for the credit will be easy - or at least as easy as doing your income taxes. Just claim it on your return. No other forms or papers have to be filed. Taxpayers who have already completed their returns can file amended returns for 2008 to claim the credit.
Many may look at the tax credit as a discount on the home price, according to Yun. A $100,000 purchase effectively becomes a $92,000 one. That can reassure buyers apprehensive about purchasing and then watching prices continue falling, he added.
And it provides a nice nest egg for the often-difficult early years of homeownership, when unexpected repairs and expenses often crop up. Recipients could also use the money to buy new stuff for their home - a lawnmower, a rug, a sofa - and, in that way, help stimulate the economy.
Final score: $8,000 for homebuyers
First-time purchasers get a tax credit windfall if they buy before December 09.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- There's a nice windfall for some homebuyers in the economic stimulus bill awaiting President Obama's signature on Tuesday.
First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 - or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less - on their 2008 or 2009 taxes.
A big plus is that the credit is refundable, meaning tax filers see a refund of the full $8,000 even if their total tax bill - the amount of witholding they paid during the year plus anything extra they had to pony up when they filed their returns - was less than that amount. But there has been a lot of confusion over this provision.
Adam Billings of Knoxville, Tenn. wrote to CNNMoney.com asking:
"I will qualify as a first-time home buyer, and I am currently set to get a small tax refund for 2008. Does that mean if I purchased now that I would get an extra $8,000 added on top of my current refund?"
The short answer? Yes, Billings would get back the $8,000 plus what he'd overpaid. The long answer? It depends.
Here are three scenarios:
Scenario 1: Your final tax liability is normally $6,000. You've had taxes withheld from every paycheck and at the end of the year you've paid Uncle Sam $6,000. Since you've already paid him all you owe, you get the entire $8,000 tax credit as a refund check.
Scenario 2: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've overpaid by $1,000 through your payroll witholding. Normally you would get a $1,000 refund check. In this scenario, you get $9,000, the $8,000 credit plus the $1,000 you overpaid.
Scenario 3: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've underpaid through your payroll witholding by $1,000. Normally, you would have to write the IRS a $1,000 check. This time, the first $1,000 of the tax credit pays your bill, and you get the remaining $7,000 as a refund.
To qualify for the credit, the purchase must be made between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009. Buyers may not have owned a home for the past three years to qualify as "first time" buyer. They must also live in the house for at least three years, or they will be obligated to pay back the credit.
Additionally, there are income restrictions: To qualify, buyers must make less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples. (Higher-income buyers may receive a partial credit.)
Applying for the credit will be easy - or at least as easy as doing your income taxes. Just claim it on your return. No other forms or papers have to be filed. Taxpayers who have already completed their returns can file amended returns for 2008 to claim the credit.
Many may look at the tax credit as a discount on the home price, according to Yun. A $100,000 purchase effectively becomes a $92,000 one. That can reassure buyers apprehensive about purchasing and then watching prices continue falling, he added.
And it provides a nice nest egg for the often-difficult early years of homeownership, when unexpected repairs and expenses often crop up. Recipients could also use the money to buy new stuff for their home - a lawnmower, a rug, a sofa - and, in that way, help stimulate the economy.
Final score: $8,000 for homebuyers
First-time purchasers get a tax credit windfall if they buy before December 09.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- There's a nice windfall for some homebuyers in the economic stimulus bill awaiting President Obama's signature on Tuesday.
First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 - or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less - on their 2008 or 2009 taxes.
A big plus is that the credit is refundable, meaning tax filers see a refund of the full $8,000 even if their total tax bill - the amount of witholding they paid during the year plus anything extra they had to pony up when they filed their returns - was less than that amount. But there has been a lot of confusion over this provision.
Adam Billings of Knoxville, Tenn. wrote to CNNMoney.com asking:
"I will qualify as a first-time home buyer, and I am currently set to get a small tax refund for 2008. Does that mean if I purchased now that I would get an extra $8,000 added on top of my current refund?"
The short answer? Yes, Billings would get back the $8,000 plus what he'd overpaid. The long answer? It depends.
Here are three scenarios:
Scenario 1: Your final tax liability is normally $6,000. You've had taxes withheld from every paycheck and at the end of the year you've paid Uncle Sam $6,000. Since you've already paid him all you owe, you get the entire $8,000 tax credit as a refund check.
Scenario 2: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've overpaid by $1,000 through your payroll witholding. Normally you would get a $1,000 refund check. In this scenario, you get $9,000, the $8,000 credit plus the $1,000 you overpaid.
Scenario 3: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've underpaid through your payroll witholding by $1,000. Normally, you would have to write the IRS a $1,000 check. This time, the first $1,000 of the tax credit pays your bill, and you get the remaining $7,000 as a refund.
To qualify for the credit, the purchase must be made between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009. Buyers may not have owned a home for the past three years to qualify as "first time" buyer. They must also live in the house for at least three years, or they will be obligated to pay back the credit.
Additionally, there are income restrictions: To qualify, buyers must make less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples. (Higher-income buyers may receive a partial credit.)
Applying for the credit will be easy - or at least as easy as doing your income taxes. Just claim it on your return. No other forms or papers have to be filed. Taxpayers who have already completed their returns can file amended returns for 2008 to claim the credit.
Many may look at the tax credit as a discount on the home price, according to Yun. A $100,000 purchase effectively becomes a $92,000 one. That can reassure buyers apprehensive about purchasing and then watching prices continue falling, he added.
And it provides a nice nest egg for the often-difficult early years of homeownership, when unexpected repairs and expenses often crop up. Recipients could also use the money to buy new stuff for their home - a lawnmower, a rug, a sofa - and, in that way, help stimulate the economy.
Final score: $8,000 for homebuyers
First-time purchasers get a tax credit windfall if they buy before December 09.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- There's a nice windfall for some homebuyers in the economic stimulus bill awaiting President Obama's signature on Tuesday.
First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 - or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less - on their 2008 or 2009 taxes.
A big plus is that the credit is refundable, meaning tax filers see a refund of the full $8,000 even if their total tax bill - the amount of witholding they paid during the year plus anything extra they had to pony up when they filed their returns - was less than that amount. But there has been a lot of confusion over this provision.
Adam Billings of Knoxville, Tenn. wrote to CNNMoney.com asking:
"I will qualify as a first-time home buyer, and I am currently set to get a small tax refund for 2008. Does that mean if I purchased now that I would get an extra $8,000 added on top of my current refund?"
The short answer? Yes, Billings would get back the $8,000 plus what he'd overpaid. The long answer? It depends.
Here are three scenarios:
Scenario 1: Your final tax liability is normally $6,000. You've had taxes withheld from every paycheck and at the end of the year you've paid Uncle Sam $6,000. Since you've already paid him all you owe, you get the entire $8,000 tax credit as a refund check.
Scenario 2: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've overpaid by $1,000 through your payroll witholding. Normally you would get a $1,000 refund check. In this scenario, you get $9,000, the $8,000 credit plus the $1,000 you overpaid.
Scenario 3: Your final tax liability is $6,000, but you've underpaid through your payroll witholding by $1,000. Normally, you would have to write the IRS a $1,000 check. This time, the first $1,000 of the tax credit pays your bill, and you get the remaining $7,000 as a refund.
To qualify for the credit, the purchase must be made between Jan. 1, 2009 and Nov. 30, 2009. Buyers may not have owned a home for the past three years to qualify as "first time" buyer. They must also live in the house for at least three years, or they will be obligated to pay back the credit.
Additionally, there are income restrictions: To qualify, buyers must make less than $75,000 for singles or $150,000 for couples. (Higher-income buyers may receive a partial credit.)
Applying for the credit will be easy - or at least as easy as doing your income taxes. Just claim it on your return. No other forms or papers have to be filed. Taxpayers who have already completed their returns can file amended returns for 2008 to claim the credit.
Many may look at the tax credit as a discount on the home price, according to Yun. A $100,000 purchase effectively becomes a $92,000 one. That can reassure buyers apprehensive about purchasing and then watching prices continue falling, he added.
And it provides a nice nest egg for the often-difficult early years of homeownership, when unexpected repairs and expenses often crop up. Recipients could also use the money to buy new stuff for their home - a lawnmower, a rug, a sofa - and, in that way, help stimulate the economy.
ABC World News Features Kansas City Housing Market
Kansas City’s housing market was featured ABC’s World News with Charles Gibson Thursday night in a look at the housing market. Kansas City was focused as a Midwestern city where the new-home market has bucked national trends and began to show positive signs and the early markings of a recovery.
“Locally, permits have been up over the last three months,” local home builder Kevin Enyeart of Gale Homes said in an interview with ABC News. “We just wrapped up the local Parade of Homes where we open up all the homes from all the builders metrowide. In our sales office we saw triple the traffic – over 150 car loads of families coming through sales office compared to 40 or 50 during a typical Parade of Homes.”
Enyeart explained that builders have significantly reduced their inventory of new of new homes and that homebuyers were realizing that opportunities to take advantage of competitive prices and low mortgage rates are dwindling.
“They are wanting to jump in and take that last opportunity on a purchase before things start to hit that uptick on the bell curve,” he told ABC News.
“The general consumer confidence seems positive right now,” Enyeart said. “They are watching the headlines; they are watching the credit tightening. I’ve seen folks coming in worried about where the credit tightening is going to and looking to either take advantage of it before things changes too dramatically or get locked in on rates as they are a little bit lower since there is some uncertainty over where rates are going to go.”
While national new-home sales plunged 11.5 percent in August, Midwest sales activity rose more than 7 percent, according to the Census Bureau.
“I say to my clients, ‘It’s a buyer’s market – why aren’t you buying?’ ” Chicago Realtor Jeanine Wheeler told ABC News.
Despite tougher credit and lending standards, mortgage broker Ken Perlmutter explained that credit remained available for buyers in the new-home market.
“There is a misconception out there that we aren’t lending money,” Perlmutter said. We are. We’re certainly eager to lend it to people who want to buy homes.
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HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY
600 E. 103rd Street · Kansas City, Missouri 64131-4300
OFFICE (816) 942-8800 · FAX (816) 942-8367
© 2008 Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City
Sept. 3rd, 2008
2008 Parade of Homes
September 7-21
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YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THE CHANGE IN SEASONS BUT HOW ABOUT A CHANGE IN SCENERY TOO? NOW THAT THE SUMMER HEAT WAVE IS COOLING OFF, IT'S THE PERFECT TIME OF YEAR TO GET OUT OF YOUR HOUSE AND CHECK OUT ALL THE POSSIBILITIES FOR YOUR NEW HOME ON THE 61ST ANNUAL PARADE OF HOMES!
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May 28th, 2008
Rosie & Thesa are the PROUD community representatives of several new homes going up in our MP community. Our builders are going to town building 11 homes now, 2 of the homes are ready for immediate occupancy, several more will be ready in 30 to 60 days, and we have a few in the very early stages of the building process just waiting for your personal touch. 1/3 of the homes sites already have homes on them in a few short months!
Ashford Villas have tile roofs, low E vinyl windows, granite Kitchens & Baths, our builders are also offering WALK OUT, DAYLIGHT, AND LEVEL HOMESITES. We feature 2, 2.5 & 3 car garages. We really do have something for everyone.
This is a fantastic location 144th Place & Quivira offering 5 Popular floor Plans from 4 Award Winning Quality Builders, Dakota Villas, KC Builders & Design, Lambie-Geer Homes, & Pinecrest Development.
We are also sporting around in our NEW Ashford Villas Shuttle Cart. No need for lots of walking to see our Wonderful community, come over and we will be happy to shuttle you from home to home.
April 3, 2008
WE ARE OPEN!!!!
The Monticello @ 11805 W. 144th Pl is the home of our brand new furnished model home. We have several homes under construction right now in various stages. We encourage you to stop by and see all the action.
March 6, 2008
Here is the Latest Update from Ashford Villas.
Lot 2, Siena by Pinecrest Development, completed 30 days or less! $396,950
Lot 4, Monticello by Dakota Villas, We are ready to go in 10 days to 2 weeks, YEAH!! $389,950
Lot 9, The Raphael by Lambie-Geer Homes, staked and ready to dig in the next 7 days. $429,500
Lot 20, The Chalet by KC Builders & Design, SOLD $445,000
Lot 21, The Granada by Dakota Villas, w/o 3 car garage cul de sac Ready to Frame.
Lot 22, The Siena by Pinecrest Development, w/o 3 car garage cul de sac Framed $429,950
Lot 27, The Granada by Dakota Villas, 2 car garage w/o homesite. Will be completed in 45 to 60 days.
Lot 28, The Raphael by Lambie Geer Homes, new floor plan exclusively built for Ashford Villas!!
Lot 29 The Monticello by Dakota Villas, foundation going in now for 2 car garage.
Lot 32 SOLD
Feb. 13, 2008
The Monticello, by Dakota Villas Lot 4 for $389,950 is a 4 bedroom Reverse 1.5 Story on a level lot with 2 car garage. It backs to the South with a huge easement between its backyard and the neighbors backyard. The trim & cabinets are up and we will be working on spraying the ceiling and then start painting! It will be ready in 60 days.
The Siena by Pinecrest Development Lot 2 is sheetrocked and ready to be trimmed with cabinets coming this week. The Siena is an open floor plan reverse 1.5 story. Wonderful Kitchen that overlooks the Great Room and Eating Area. The lower level has a family room, wet bar and a Wine Cellar! The Garage is a 2.5 car garage, plenty of room for 2 cars and storage! This home also backs up to the huge easement area to the South. It is ready for color selections and will be completed in 60 to 90 days.
The Chalet by KC Builders and Design Lot 20 is getting sheetrock very soon. The open floor plan is new and very exciting. We have had great response to it thus far. The rooms are very spacious including a dining room & breakfast area and the covered patio has a fireplace for extra outdoor living. The lower level has plenty of room for company with the Rec Room and Wet bar along with 2 more bedrooms all on a walkout lot. This home has a 3 car garage and should be completed in 60 to 90 days.
The Granada by Dakota Villas, Inc. Lot 27 is framed and getting electrical & plumbing work now. It will be completed between 90 & 120 days. The Reverse 1.5 Story home is situated on a Walk-Out lot and is approx 3000 sq ft. with a 2 car garage. It features Dining Room & Breakfast Room with a more secluded kitchen area. Lower level finish includes a Rec Room, full bath and 3rd Bedroom with optional Wet Bar & 4th Bedroom.
The Siena by Pinecrest Development Lot 22 All the same fantastic features of the Siena on Lot 2 but with a bigger 3 car garage and a walkout homesite. Pinecrest stays "Green" on his homes by using Tile Roofs, Low E Windows, I Joists Beams, R-38 Attic Insulation. Right now it is being framed in and will be completed in 120 days. Plenty of time to make your selections.
The Granada by Dakota Villas Lot 21 All the same wonderful features of The Granada on Lot 27 but with a bigger 3 car garage! Dakota Villas is known for their Elaborate Millwork and Trim Package, quality of construction and great customer service before and after the home is yours! We are digging the foundation now and we are about 150 days from completion.
The Raphael by Lambie-Geer Homes Lot 9 & Lot 28 We are staked and ready to start the foundation process on Lot 9. We are all very excited to see The Raphael Plan, it is new to the wonderful Lambie-Geer Line up of popular floor plans.
We are onsite every weekend and encourage you to drive by and see our progress, for more info please call us Thesa 913-636-8118 or Rosie 913-707-7496.
2008 started off with a bang. We Sold the existing home that we were using as our Welcome Center! We would like to welcome the new family to Ashford Villas, we think they are going to love it here.
We are on track to have several floor plans completed by spring. Right now there are 4 homes being framed, The Chalet, The Monticello, 2 Car Garage Siena, 3 Car Garage Siena & The Granada. We have 2 Lots staked for a second Monticello and Granada. The Raphael Plan from Lambie Geer Lot 9 should be staked soon. If you are in the area please drive by to see all the action.
As of now, we will only be on site on the weekends but we our officing out of GWA corporate office right down the street at 151st & Antioch, Mon-Fri. Thesa and I are only a phone call away from being there in minutes. Thesa 913-636-8118 and Rosie 913-707-7496 or Call us for an appointment, We would love to show off the newest maintenance provided community.
Happy New Year!
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Information provided by Graham Welch & Associates
GWA is the Fastest-growing real estate company in Kansas City specializing in new-home development!
When Tory Graham and Kent Welch started Graham Welch & Associates in March 2004, they had a vision: to grow a real estate company that meets the needs unique to new-home developments.
With that mission and one development in western Wyandotte County, the pair set out to carve a niche in Kansas City’s real estate industry.
Since the company’s inception, Graham Welch & Associates now markets 22 new-home developments throughout the greater Kansas City area, and maintains a staff of nearly 40 on-site real estate agents. Graham attributes the growth to an understanding of the market.
“Our attention to detail has been a great asset in helping the company grows,” he said. “We also understand the selling process for a new home, which is uniquely different than the process for a resale property.”
Communities marketed by Graham Welch & Associates include Eagle Creek Estates in Lenexa, Bristol Ridge in Lenexa, The Timbers at Clear Creek in Lenexa, Brighton Farm in Lenexa, The Manor of Quail Park in Olathe, Ashford Villas in Olathe, Lakeshore Estates in Overland Park, Chapel Hill in Overland Park, The Colony at Canaan Lake in Kansas City Kansas, Northridge at Piper Estates in Kansas City Kansas, The Highlands at Piper in Kansas City Kansas, Delaware Ridge in Kansas City Kansas, Delaware Highlands in Kansas City Kansas, Hillcrest Manor in Shawnee, Cedar Springs in Bonner Springs, Cedar Ridge in Bonner Springs, Cedar Lake Estates in Basehor, Timber Ridge Villas in Merriam, South Trails in Louisburg, Parkway Oaks in Kansas City North, , Fairfield Gardens in Kansas City North and Hills of Shannon in Smithville. Additional communities are expected to be announced within 30 days.
“We believe in the branding of a development and using that branding to make people more aware of it,” Graham said. “We want prospective homeowners to remember the community, not just the real estate company.”
Graham said a carefully designed assortment of marketing materials helps achieve brand recognition for each community, and includes television, print and radio advertisements, as well as colorful, prominent signage located in and around the developments. Each community also features a Web site with interactive plat maps, photos, builder information, floor plans and more.
“Our aim is to simplify the buying process,” Graham said. “Our Web sites provide homebuyers the information they need to reach an informed decision when selecting their new home.”
Several Graham Welch & Associates marketing campaigns were recognized as MAME award-winners during the Spring Homes 2006 Tour. Materials for three communities were entered, and each development won at least two categories, Graham said.
As Graham Welch & Associates continues to grow, opportunities are available for builders, developers and agents to partner with what Graham calls “the fastest-growing real estate company that specializes in new-home development.”
“If you’re a real estate agent looking for new opportunities, a builder looking for new communities in which to build or a developer looking for a new marketing company, Graham Welch & Associates can be all of these things,” Welch said.
Builders have the opportunity to build homes priced from the $100,000s to more than $2 million in both Kansas and Missouri. And because multiple housing types are offered in several of the communities, builders can enjoy creating a diverse and flexible array of floor plans designed to appeal to a variety of homeowners.
A well-trained staff of on-site agents works at each of the communities daily, assisting prospective homeowners with the buying process and providing information about available inventory and home sites.
“We’re looking for agents who are interested in being involved with the new-homes business,” Graham said. “Opportunities in several counties are available, and as we add additional communities, the demand for on-site staff will continue to increase.”
As the company continues to evolve to meet the needs of today’s buyers, builders and developers, Graham Welch & Associates also remains grounded by a simple principle.
“It’s our constant desire to improve our processes in every facet of what we do,” Graham said. “That’s one of our principle beliefs, and it’s evident in all of the work that we do.”
With that in mind, Graham-Welch and Associates has recently partnered with Bigshot Interactive. “We choose to work with Bigshot because we were impressed by their knowledge of web site design and their ability to produce high quality graphic art,” Graham said.
“It was important that we streamline our processes and have art design work hand in hand with web site design.” “This will allow us to physically handle the slightly overwhelming amount of production of ad and story copy to numerous advertising outlets.” Graham continues.
The new gwahomes.com is scheduled to be released March 15 2007. “Everyone at Graham Welch & Associates is excited about our new and improved web sites.” “It will be the talk of the industry”, Welch proudly says.
“2007 will prove to be an exciting year in the Kansas City real estate market and Graham-Welch & Associates is in position to thrive by producing real estate services unmatched by its competition,” Welch exclaims.
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