Madison Wisconsin Real Estate News - April, 2010

Decoding the future of residential home sales

There is suspense surrounding the future of residential home sales. The driving forces include: the loss of tax credit for first time home buyers, interest rates increasing, and the new short sale guidelines known as H.A.M.P. (Home Affordable Modification Program).

The tax incentive may be ending but there are still many fantastic government programs available on a national, state, and municipal level. Fannie Mae foreclosures will guarantee 3.5% towards closing costs and appliances with a two year home warranty included.  FHA insured HUD homes can be purchased for $100 down in many cases.  There are tons of programs that are out there to help real estate recovery.  One just needs to go the right sources such as a Realtor or Loan Officer to see what they…

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Madison WI ranks 7th "bike-friendliest" city in the U.S.

Madison introduced its first bicycle transportation plan in 1975 and has been making bike-friendly improvements ever since. That's why it was music to our ears when Bicycling magazine recently ranked Madison the 7th top biking city in America. The magazine graded 50 cities with populations of 100,000 or more based on criteria such as whether or not they feature bike-friendly amenities, segregated bike lanes, municipal bike racks and bike boulevards. Selected cities also had to support “a vibrant and diverse bike culture" as well as possess "smart, savvy bike shops.”

Although Minneapolis, which features 120 miles of on- and off-street bicycle facilities and indoor bike parking, among other amenities, topped the list, few cities in the United States have the…

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Time Running Low on Tax Credit

Two days and counting until Tax Day! That means prospective homeowners better close the deal if they want to take advantage of the tax credit, which could return up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers and $6,500 to repeat buyers. Thankfully, qualified service members from the Armed Forces, intelligence community or The Foreign Service have an extra year to put this tax credit to use.

Homebuyers that meet one of those criteria and are on official extended duty, deadlines for the tax credit are extended. They have until April 30, 2011 to sign a binding sales contract that is closed by July 30, 2011.

Those considering home buying should seriously consider Wisconsin. Thanks to its mix of rural and urban areas, the state of Wisconsin has an attractive…

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HAFA: the new short sale panacea?

Today is the deadline for participating banks and mortgage servicing companies to implement the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program, otherwise known as HAFA. Starting today, the HAFA program may make a short sale (or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure) a much more viable option than ever before for homeowners who are "upside-down" on their homes. Will HAFA merely shine a ray of hope on the glut of short sale inventory or will it be a panacea for most short sales?

A short sale is a transaction in which the lender (or lenders) agree to accept less than the mortgage amount owed by the homeowner, thus potentially enabling a homeowner to avoid foreclosure. The HAFA Program, which takes effect today, April 5 2010, and sunsets on December 31st 2012,…

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Last Minute Easter Activities in Madison

Even though Easter is right around the corner, there are still many fun activities to be had in the Madison area! Start the Easter festivities a day early with the 8th Annual Easter Hat Parade on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010. Children can design their own hat and walk in the parade starting at the State Capital Building to Carroll Street. Registration and hat design begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Great Dane Pub and Brewing Company, along with activities including face painting and balloon sculptures beginning at 11:30. Prior to, an Easter egg hunt on the square will begin at 10:15. Baskets, bags, and containers should be brought to the hunt for collecting eggs. For more information, visit the Capital Kids website.

Eager children waiting to meet the Easter…

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There's No Better Time Than April to Buy a Home

For those who have been considering buying a house, the month of April is shaping up to be the best time to do it. In fact, those who purchase a home in April are poised to save thousands or possibly tens of thousands of dollars when compared to those who wait until May. Therefore, for anyone who has been thinking about purchasing a home, April is the month to make it happen.
 
There are many reasons to seriously consider purchasing a home in April, but perhaps the biggest is the Home Buyer Credit. For those who qualify, the program can provide up to $8,000 worth of tax credits. Although the program has been extended through the month of June, homebuyers need to sign a purchase contract by the end of April in order to receive the credit. Since most buyers…

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