Guidelines for a Successful Summer Move - Be Prepared

By Mickey Matteson

RISMEDIA, June 18, 2009-The market is warming up, the kids are out of school, and more Americans are gearing up to move long distances. A recent survey by relocation.com shows staggering data when it comes to moving:

70% of consumers are moving more than 1,000 miles, up from 38% last year
60% listed financial reasons for their move
28% are moving for family reasons compared to 18% last year
52% of Americans have a high level of fear when moving

This summer’s moving season could be a hectic one , but there are ways to move and keep your sanity. Here are some things to keep in mind to make your summer move a success:

Start Early - Allow plenty of time to get estimates from movers. It takes time to get an estimate from different companies, compare, and make a decision. 45 days prior to a move is a good time to begin to ensure the best choices are available.

Be Prepared - If are doing your own packing, get supplies and start packing early. Not finishing on time and leaving work for the moving company can result in additional costs.

Be Careful - Choosing a mover can be confusing. Comparing estimates from different companies that might reflect different items, terms, and coverage can add considerable time to the process.

The Move Advocate is a great resource to set up a summer move for success. Their dedicated Moving Coach will work with you to choose the best movers in your area, get multiple estimates, advise you on preparation, and audit and compare movers for you. Best of all this is a free service with no obligation. Sign up today at http://www.moveadvocate.com/agent/starterkit.asp for an Agent Starter Kit and start receiving up to 60% off your move.

FHA Tax Credit Monetization Helps Home Buyers With Upfront Costs

RISMEDIA, June 11, 2009-First-time home buyers who would otherwise qualify for the $8,000 tax credit, but don’t have the money for a down payment or closing fees, may now be able to get a loan to help cover those upfront costs.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on May 29 that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will allow state housing finance agencies to provide second mortgages “monetizing” the tax credit so that borrowers can use the funds toward their down payments and closing costs for the purchase of homes with FHA-insured mortgage loans.

“This is great news for thousands of families who want to take advantage of today’s low interest rates, competitive prices, great selection and the federal tax credit that is only available until Nov. 30, but could not save enough money for a down payment and closing costs,” said National Association of Home Builders Chairman Joe Robson, a home builder from Tulsa, Okla.

HUD also announced that FHA-approved lenders may purchase the tax credit from the home buyer in advance, so that the home buyer can use the funds for closing costs or to make a down payment in addition to the 3.5% minimum. Home buyers who go directly to FHA-approved lenders will still need to come up with the 3.5% minimum down payment that is required for an FHA-insured loan.

Home buyers previously would be able to use the funds from the tax credit only after filing their federal tax returns and had to come up with the pre-purchase costs on their own.

NAHB estimates that 40,000 more homes will be purchased due to the new FHA monetization program, in addition to the 160,000 sales already expected as a result of the tax credit.

The National Council of State Housing Agencies has a list of states offering first time home buyer tax credit loan programs on their website, www.ncsha.org.

For information on the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit, go to www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com.

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