HomesBuddy.com Your Maryland and Virginia Homes Resource... Your Community Information Cindy Hartman, REALTOR®, e-PRO ®, AHS™
Cell: (240) 346-9097
Office: (301) 863-6648
Jobin Office: (301) 373-6257x234
Cindy@HomesBuddy.com SEARCH FOR HOMES! 
Check here for real estate information, Maryland homes for sale, services and resources - serving you in Calvert County, Charles County, Prince Georges County and Saint Mary's County, Maryland. Are you relocating to NAS Patuxent River? Then search here for homes in Lexington Park, Maryland, California, Maryland and Leonardtown, Maryland, Solomons, Maryland, Lusby, Maryland, Prince Frederick, Maryland, Mechanicsville, Maryland and more. Email for your free relocation information. Ask me about Maryland foreclosures, bank owned properties, short sale information and financing. Whether you are ready to buy a home, sell a home, relocate, invest or just need real estate information, please feel free to browse this site . Community Events - What to do this Weekend... *********Don't Forget to Send for your 3 e-Books - "450 IDEAS to SELL YOUR HOME FASTER" "Moving With Your Pets" "Moving With Your Children" Let me know if I can be assistance in your move...and please give my name and contact information to your friends, coworkers and family members if they have need of real estate services or information... I'll take great care of them for you! My business is built on referrals from satisfied clients ... 
________________________________________ "Locking In" "Locking In" your rate or points at the time of application or during the processing of your loan will keep the rate and/or points from changing until settlement or closing of the escrow process. Ask your lender: Is there is a fee to lock-in the rate? Will the fee reduce the amount you have to pay for points? How long is the lock-in good? What happens if it expires ? Is the lock-in fee refundable if your application is rejected?  Before you shop for a home... develop a "needs" vs. "wants" list Everyone has a picture of an ideal home. This would include all the features you not only need, but have long desired. However, when it comes time to buying a home, the desires cost more. While it’s nice to think about having a beautifully landscaped backyard, or a solarium, perhaps even some built-in appliances, these are usually considered luxury items, which can add considerably to the price of your home. That’s why it’s a good idea to develop a needs and wants list. With this list, begin with items you really need ... adequate space, garage and number of bedrooms or baths. For most people, basic needs should be considered first. After that, you could consider additional desires, if you can manage these benefits financially. 
 450 Ideas to Sell Your Home Faster 
Serving clients throughout Calvert County, Charles County, Prince Georges County and St. Mary's County...California, Hollywood, Great Mills, Lexington Park, Wildewood, Forest Farm, Leonardtown, Breton Bay Waterfront, Patuxent River, NAS PAX River Base, Waldorf, La Plata, White Plains, Accokeek, Bryans Road, Marbury, Indian Head, Prince Frederick, Solomon's Island, Chesapeake Beach, Hughesville, Mechanicsville, Dunkirk, Lusby,Owings, Clements, Loveville, St. Leonard, Park Hall, Ridge, Great Mills, Bryantown, Benedict, North Beach, Piney Point, Callaway, Cobb Island, Newburg, Charlotte Hall, Port Republic, Point Lookout, Piney Point and Tall Timbers. Maryland foreclosures, Virginia foreclosures, bank owned properties in Maryland and Virginia and first time homebuyer programs. Everyone Wants a Lower Price... But What About the Impact of Interest Rates? When shopping for a home, the natural tendency of any buyer is to want to pay the lowest price possible. It's important to keep in mind, however, that the sales price is not the only factor that determines what the monthly payment will be. In fact, the impact of higher interest rates can easily nullify any benefit of waiting for a lower price.
Why Should I Rush to Buy?
While you may have heard discussions in the media about the decline of property values in many markets, the rate of decline appears to be stabilizing.
That being said, it would not be unreasonable for buyers to want to hold out for an additional decline of 10%, hoping to capture the best possible price. However, as property values have declined in many areas to 2003 levels or lower, waiting longer to pull the trigger could be a mistake. Many markets are reporting that lower property values have been bringing out investors and the result has been multiple offers on many properties. Properties priced correctly are not declining and, in fact, are creating a lot of interest.
Interest Rate Complacency
The problem is that many home buyers have been lulled into a sense of complacency because of extremely low interest rates. Since the Federal Reserve initiated its program of buying mortgage-backed securities, which control the rates people pay for their home loans, rates had been range bound, bouncing between 4.50% to 5.00% for a 30-year fixed-rate loan.
But buyers shouldn't be confused by this. These rates are artificially low! Historically, interest rates have been above 6.00%. And any rate obtained below this number is a great deal, especially on homes with price tags from 2003!
Markets are Unforgiving
The last two weeks of May showed just how unforgiving the markets can be for people who choose to procrastinate. In just five days, interest rates from many lenders increased anywhere from .50% to 1.00% as fixed-income investors demanded more for their money.
For anyone who was waiting for prices to drop even more, a 1.00% increase in interest rate would bring a higher monthly principal and interest payment on a home, even if the price of that same home had fallen an additional 10% in value.
If you are waiting for prices to fall even lower, be aware that while holding out for a lower price may help you win the battle, you could lose the war in terms of monthly payments and overall affordability. With the Federal Reserve scheduled to end its buying of mortgage-backed securities this year, rates only stand to go higher for those that wait. In fact, interest rates are already on the rise and could go higher from here.
Clock is Ticking on Free Money
If you are planning on purchasing your first home this year, you need to know that you need to take possession before 12/01/2009 to be eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000. In a survey conducted in March by Move.com, nearly 50% of home buyers are currently unaware that this free money exists in the marketplace.
Many thanks to Jeff Gay of 1st Mariner Mortgage for this update - you can contact him for more information at: Jeff Gay
Senior Loan Officer
1st Mariner Bank
Phone: (443) 624-0689
Fax: (443) 342-2345
jgay@1stmarinerbank.com
 Bringing the Dream of Homeownership Within Reach As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed legislation that grants a tax credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers. Here is more information about how the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream. Breaking news: HUD Secretary Donovan announces that the $8,000 tax credit may be used as a downpayment. Who Qualifies?First-time home buyers who purchase homes between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009. To qualify as a “first-time home buyer” the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase. Which Properties Are Eligible?The 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit may be applied to primary residences, including: single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops. How Much Will the Credit Be?The maximum allowable credit for home buyers is $8,000. Each home buyer’s tax credit is determined by two factors: The price of the home—the credit is equal to 10% of the purchase price of the home, up to $8,000. The buyer's income—single buyers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000—may receive the maximum tax credit. If the Buyer(s)’ Income Exceeds These Limits, Can He/She Still Get a Credit?Yes, some buyers may still be eligible for the credit.
The credit decreases for buyers who earn between $75,000 and $95,000 for single buyers and between $150,000 and $170,000 for home buyers filing jointly. The amount of the tax credit decreases as his/her income approaches the maximum limit. Home buyers earning more than the maximum qualifying income—over $95,000 for singles and over $170,000 for couples are not eligible for the credit. Will the Tax Credit Need to Be Repaid?No. The buyer does not need to repay the tax credit, if he/she occupies the home for three years or more. However, if the property is sold during the three-year period, the credit will be recouped on the sale. 
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