3 Magic Words To Forestall Foreclosure

ABC News has a story on a way to forestall forclosure. Check out the method below...what do you think of it? Would you use it if you were being foreclosed on?

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6945801

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=6897985

Approved Stimulus Package Tax Credit for 1st Time Home Buyers

The new stimulus package has been passed and the proposed tax credit incentives were reduced down to $8,000. The link below gives the complete details for qualification of the tax credit.

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/


Here is the information in a chart form:

http://email.c21.com/imgs/obboi/FirstTimeHomebuyer_Consumer_Guide.html

Want IRS details? See below:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=206291,00.html

Here is the link to see the new IRS form that will be used for claiming the tax credit

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5405.pdf

It appears to be quite straight forward- not too much extra paper work..can you believe that?

Do you think the tax credit will make a difference, both for potential home buyers, as well as for the US economy? If you were/are buying your first home, would this incentive be enough to nudge you into home ownership?

USDA Rural Development- Mortgage Rates Decrease

The following information came from the Elko Independent, Feb. 10th 2009 issue:

According to Kay Vernatter, the NV director for UDSA, interest rates have been reduced to 4.375% (down from 5.375) for their Direct Loan Program.

The Section 502 direct loan program is available to eligible very-low and low income households to purchase homes in the certain rural areas, of which Elko County is part of. Financing for this program can provide up to 100% loan to value and no down payment is required. Applicants must have an acceptable credit history and debt to income ratios with eligibility based on household size and income.

To view eligibility requirements and income limits, visit:

http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do

Tax Tips

This link gives some good information on items that can lower your tax liability, several of which involve buying a home. Put it on your "favorites" list on your computer to help you in your financial planning.


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-new-tax-laws-you-need-to-brn-14221646.html



I understand that the senate has approved an amendment for the proposed economic stimulus bill to increase the tax credit up to $15,000 for ALL home buyers. I will post more as info becomes available.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/the-home-front/2009/02/05/senate-adds-15000-home-buying-tax-credit-to-stimulus-bill.html



Here is the current tax credit info & benefits. The current credit is only for 1st time home buyers and the cap is for $7,500, so you can see that the one they are working on now will increase the benefits significantly and offer them to a greater number of home buyers.

http://taxes.about.com/od/deductionscredits/qt/homebuyercredit.htm

Here is the Elko Daily Free Press editorial response to the National Geographic and New York Times articles. Last week I had called the Free Press and asked if they had seen the article and might be printing a response.

One of my complaints about the NG article was that it felt the mine in Indonesia created job-envy there. I feel those who don't currently work at the mine itself will still find greater ecconomic opportunties. As those with the mine jobs start to have more money than time, others will begin to find ways to meet those needs- ie- to produce more food, etc. and the overall economy will begin to expand. "A high tide lifts all boats"! Perhaps National Geographic feels they should just continue in their same ecconomic state until we find a way to create equal paying jobs for all??

http://elkodaily.com/articles/2009/01/08/opinion/editorial/doc49650b8a5a555958671415.txt

National Geographic January 2009 Gold Article

This article below just came out regarding the impact gold mining on the environment and people/societies. The Elko area isn't mentioned in particular, but Newmont is (go to page 5 of the article to skip to it). Although no one in my family is employed in mining related work (thus I consider myself more-less impartial), I felt the article was very negatively slanted (which in my opinon many many articles in National Geographic are elitist).

Read it and let me know what you think the pro/cons are for the mining industry over all, as well as for Elko in particular.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/featurehub

The New York Times Article on Battle Mountain, NV

My brother, David (in Indiana) sent me this link regarding the town of Battle Mountain, about 60 miles from here. The link is below. I felt the NY Times did a pretty nice job on the article and explaining the boom/bust cycle for gold mining. At least it didn't denigrate the mining industry, as the January issue of National Geographic did.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/02/us/02nevada.html?no_interstitial

What do YOU think of both the article's tone and Battle Mountain?