West Chester, Ohio Real Estate News: Tax Credit Extensions?

July 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

 

Campaign To Extend and Expand Housing Tax Credit

A campaign to extend and expand the housing tax credit officially got underway on Capitol Hill last month.

Bills have now been introduced in both the Senate and the House to open up the credit, to all buyers, keep it on the books through next year, and get rid of the current income limitations.

On the House side, two Texas congressional representatives – one a Democrat, the other a Republican – have filed bills calling for a broadening of the first-time buyer credit to cover all home purchasers in the coming year, whether they already own houses or not.

Democratic Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas wants to extend the November 30 expiration date for the credit through the end of 2010. Her bill would also remove the income limits of the current program, which start phasing down the amount of the credit at $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for married couples.

Johnson’s Republican colleague from the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, Kenny Marchant, also introduced a bill that would open up the credit to all buyers, without income limits, but only through June of next year.

But Congressman Marchant’s bill adds a whole new element to the mix – a $3,000 tax credit for people who refinance their home loans. Why? Marchant says the idea is to encourage more people to “take advantage of (today’s) low mortgage rates,” or to use the money to build equity in their homes “if they’re a little underwater.”

In the Senate, Georgia Republican Johnny Isakson introduced a bill last week that would nearly double the maximum credit to $15,000, open to anyone who buys a house, regardless of income.

Read the entire article on recent efforts to extend or expand the tax credits here…

Wondering about the value of your home in today’s market?  Request a Free Market Analysis.
 
Moving to West Chester or Liberty Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area.

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West Chester & Liberty Township, OH Real Estate Market Update

May 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

1st Quarter 2009 home sales compared to 1st Quarter 2008 for West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio

In the 1st quarter of 2008 244 units were sold vs. 195 units in February 2009.  This represents a decrease of 20.08%.  This continues the trend of a large drop in closed sales when compared to the year ago period.  Unit sales continue to be soft, with the overall economy and job security issues having a big impact on potential buyers.  The 1st time homebuyers tax credit is influencing the activity in the under $225,000 market in a positive way.

 

2008 Units 2009 Units + or -
244 195 -20.08%
(Just as a point of reference for how far home sales have fallen: In March of 2006 alone we closed 170 units vs. 195 units for the first three months of this year.)

The average sale price for the first quarter of 2009 was down 8.32% compared to the same period in 2008.  As you can see in the table below, the average sale price in the first quarter of 2008 was $226,635 compared to $207,772in 2009.  As I have said before, for there to be a stabilization of home prices and then at some point a return of appreciation, we will need to see a smaller supply of homes available for sale and also a lessening of the pricing presuure that is currently being applied by distressed property sales, such as bank owned homes and short sales.  In many of the price ranges there remains a significant oversupply of homes for sale.

However, there are dramatic differences in what is going on in the different price ranges.  If you are thinking of selling your home you must understand the market within the market that your home is in.  Some of the price ranges have such an oversupply of homes for sale and others are much more in line with what might be normally expected.

2008 Avg Sale Price 2009 Avg Sale Price + or -
 $226,635 $207,772 -8.32%
Here is the article from the Cincinnati Enquirer detailing the Greater Cincinnati housing numbers:

Q1 home prices down 17 percent

By Lisa Bernard-Kuhn • lbernard@enquirer.com • May 12, 2009

Sale prices of single family homes in the region slid more than 17 percent in the first quarter – fueled by the sale of foreclosed properties and other discounted real estate, according to a national report released today.

In Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, the median sale price fell to $106,500, a 17.1 percent decline from the first quarter in 2008, according to data from the National Association of Realtors.

The median sale price is the point at which half the homes sell for more and half sell for less.

Nationally, the median sale price for a single family home slid to $169,000, down 13.8 percent from the first quarter of 2008.

Overall, sales dipped 3.2 percent from the year-ago period.

“I think we’re near a bottom, but we’re not there yet,” said David Resler, chief economist at Nomura Securities.

While prices could hit bottom as soon as this summer, he said, they are likely to remain stable and start edging higher slowly. But the nascent signs of recovery in the housing market could be short-lived if employers continue to lay off workers in bulk.

First-time buyers accounted for half of all purchases during the first quarter, and 134 out of 152 metropolitan statistical areas reported lower median existing single-family home prices compared to the first quarter of 2008.

The biggest drop, of more than 50 percent, was in Fort Myers, Fla. Prices fell 40 percent or more in Saginaw, Mich.; Akron, Ohio; San Francisco; San Jose, Calif.; Phoenix; Sarasota, Fla. and Riverside, Calif.

The biggest price gain, of more than 21 percent, was in Cumberland, Md. The only other metro area that saw a double-digit increase was in Davenport, Iowa, which saw the median price climb nearly 14 percent.

“We are very much in a bifurcated market with sharp differences between foreclosures and short sales on one hand, and traditional homes on the other,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the national Realtors, in a release. “In many cases, homes are selling below replacement construction costs, which speaks to the great values in the current market.”

In the first quarter, short sales and foreclosures accounted for nearly half of transactions, weighing down median home prices in most markets.

Short sales occur when a bank or lender agrees to accept less that what is owed on a home mortgage. The discounted properties along with foreclosures sell for about 15 to 20 percent less than market rate homes, Realtors say.

Yun said the $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers included in the economic stimulus package signed by President Barack Obama earlier this year should boost sales.

“We expect a measurable increase in home sales during the second half of the year, which would help stabilize prices in most areas,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed.

Wondering about the value of your home in today’s market?  Request a Free Market Analysis.

 
Moving to West Chester or Liberty Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area.

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posted by Eric Lowry
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West Chester Real Estate: January 2009 Home Sales

February 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

It’s time to take a look at how January 2009 home sales compared to January 2008.

With regard to sales, in January 2008 58 units were sold vs. 55 units in January 2009.  This represents a decrease of just 5.17%.  I say “just” because today the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors reported sales being down 19.29% (unit sales) for the Greater Cincinnati area. So being only down 5.17% for the West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio real estate market feels like a victory!!

 

2008 Units 2009 Units + or -
58 55 -5.17%

The average sale price for January 2008 was down 8.02% compared to the same period in 2009.  As you can see in the table below, the average sale price in January 2008 was $219,688 compared to $202,077 in 2009.  For there to be a stabilization of home prices and then at some point a return of appreciation, we will need to see a smaller supply of homes available for sale.  In many of the price ranges there remains a significant oversupply.  The average sale price was down 18.49% in January 2009 when compared to January 2008 for the Greater Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors.

2008 Avg Sale Price 2009 Avg Sale Price + or -
 $219,688 $202,077 -8.02%

 Moving to West Chester or Liberty Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area.

You can subscribe to my blog via RSS.  Click here to subscribe via a feed or receive a subscription via e-mail!  Either way click the orange RSS options at the top of the page.  Of course, I never rent or sell your e-mail address… I don’t even know what it is, I never see it.

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio

posted by Eric Lowry
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West Chester OH Real Estate: Stimulus Plan Contains Tax Credit For Housing

February 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

There has been plenty of coverage regarding the economic stimulus package and all of the pros and cons of it.  The most significant part of the plan as it currently stands and that matters here on RealEstate-Ink is the proposed tax credit for homebuyers.

The Senate has passed an expansion of the original tax credit proposal.   The proposal would be available to all purchasers (not just first-time homebuyers).  The key elements are:·   A tax credit in the amount of $15,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price (whichever is less), with the option to utilize the credit all in one year or spread it out over two years
·   The tax credit is available to all purchases of any home from date of enactment for one full year.
·   Able to claim the credit against the 2008 tax return
·   Buyers must occupy the homes for two years as their principal residences
·   Purchases of homes by investors are ineligible
·   Terminates the previous $7,500 Housing Tax credit on the date of enactment
 

 

Keep in mind that this has not been passed into law and is subject to change at any second…remember this is Washington, D.C. and Congress we are talking about.

Below is some further detail on the current proposal:

Senate Unanimously Approves Isakson Amendment to Stimulate Housing Market
Homebuyer Tax Credit Revived Market in 1975 and Would Work Today

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today unanimously approved an amendment by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., to stimulate the nation’s declining housing market by offering a $15,000 tax credit to individuals who purchase a home in the next year.

“It is time to fix America’s problem, not throw money at the symptoms. It is time to fix housing first. It is rare that we have a road map to success in times of difficulty, but this country has once before realized a housing crisis every bit as bad as the one we have today and economic troubles every bit as dangerous,” Isakson said. “We have a pervasive housing problem, and we have a historical precedent that works. I am proud this Senate has joined together, learned from history and repeated a method that worked by adopting this amendment.”

Specifically, Isakson’s amendment to the pending economic stimulus bill would provide a direct tax credit to any homebuyer who purchases any home. The amount of the tax credit would be $15,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price, whichever is less. Purchases must be made within one year of the legislation’s enactment, and the tax credit would not have to be repaid.

The amendment would allow taxpayers to claim the credit on their 2008 income tax return. It also seeks to prevent misuse by only allowing purchases of a principle residence and by recapturing the credit if the home is sold within two years of purchase. The amendment would sunset the current $7,500 housing tax credit on the date of enactment.

Isakson has pushed hard for a non-repayable tax credit for homebuyers because he knows that it will work. In the mid-1970s, America faced a similar housing crisis when a period of easy credit and loose underwriting flooded the market with new construction.  Interest rates rose, the economy slowed and America was left with a three-year supply of vacant homes. Congress responded by passing a $2,000 tax credit for anyone purchasing a new home for their principal residence. Isakson believes the results were clear and swift as home values stabilized, housing inventory dropped and the market recovered.

Last year, Isakson introduced legislation to specifically target those homes that were causing the unprecedented increase in housing inventory by offering tax credits to individuals purchasing a foreclosed home or a home where foreclosure is pending. In April 2008, the Senate passed legislation to stimulate the nation’s declining housing market that included Isakson’s proposal. However, the final version of the legislation that was signed into law included only a $7,500 tax credit for first-time homebuyers that must be repaid over a 15-year period. Isakson’s amendment that passed today would sunset that $7,500 tax credit.

Isakson spent more than three decades in the real estate business, beginning his business career in 1967 when he opened the first Cobb County, Ga., office of a small, family-owned real estate business, Northside Realty. Isakson later served as president of Northside for 20 years, presiding over the company’s growth into the largest independent residential real estate brokerage company in the Southeast and one of the largest in America.

Isakson has not made a decision regarding his vote on the overall economic stimulus legislation.

Wondering about the value of your home in today’s market?  Request a Free Market Analysis.

If you think now is the time to begin your search for a new home, start by checking out my Feature homes for sale and then search the MLS, all on my website:  www.LowryTeam.com

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio

posted by Eric Lowry
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West Chester OH Real Estate Outlook 2009

February 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

 

Real Estate Outlook: What’s in Store for 2009?

What will the new year bring for housing and real estate? It’s easy to look at all the negative economic news in the headlines and say – there’s no sign that 2009 is going to be any better than 2008.

But here’s a different perspective to consider from one of the country’s veteran financial analysts — Richard Bove of Ladenburg Thalmann, an investment banking company.

In a research report issued late in December, Bove said he sees a positive dynamic taking shape in the current cycle. The government has intervened aggressively in the markets to push interest rates down — most notably in the home mortgage sector.

Though it takes awhile for low-cost money to begin having its effect, Bove said he expects “housing prices to stabilize and/or rise (in 2009) after a likely boom in mortgage refinancings as rates fall and loan applications increase.”

Add in the expected massive economic stimulus package being put together on Capitol Hill with the incoming Obama administration — and there’s a good chance we’re going to see a gradual transformation of the downward cycle into a slow rebound over the coming several quarters.

Already there are positive signs of the turnaround Bove predicts…

Read the entire article in my monthly real estate newsletter for residents of West Chester, Liberty Township and Beckett Ridge.

Wondering about the value of your home in today’s market?  Request a Free Market Analysis.

If you think now is the time to begin your search for a new home, start by checking out my Feature homes for sale and then search the MLS, all on my website:  www.LowryTeam.com

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio

posted by Eric Lowry
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Filed Under: Financing, Liberty Twp Community Info, Real Estate Information, Real Estate Market Statistics, West Chester Community Info Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Liberty Township, OH Real Estate Update: January 2009

January 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

As I mentioned in my previous post on the West Chester real estate market, the last three months have been very turbulent.  There is a great deal of uncertainty regarding the availability of mortgages for buyers and in the financial markets in general.  I can say with absolute certainty however,  that if you are thinking about buying a home, whether it is new construction or an existing home, the opportunities are terrific with regard to the home prices and there is no question about the ability to get a mortgage, the money is out there!

Today we will take a look at how the Liberty Township, Oh real estate market fared in the last three months of 2008.  The West Chester and Liberty Township markets are very connected and to many folks would be considered one and the same.  They share the same school district (Lakota Schools) and are geographically adjacent.   However breaking them down a little gives us better detail of just what has been going on.

To read part one of this real estate market update click here

With regard to sales, in 2007 135 units were sold vs. 88 units in 2008 in Liberty Township.  This represents a decrease of 34.81%.  This is quite obviously a huge decrease in sales.  A little further look into these numbers finds that in 2007, new construction accounted for 44 of the 135 sales (32.59%).  In 2008 just 15 of the 88 sales (17.05%) were new construction.  New construction sales were way down and this is definitely an indication of the scaling back that homebuilders have done.  The amount of market (spec) homes that are available for sale is very small and has been for some time now.

 

2007 Units 2008 Units + or -
135 88 -34.81%

The average sale price for the last three months of 2008 was down 12.72% compared to the same period in 2007.  As you can see in the table below, the average sale price in the last three months of 2008 was $232,831 compared to $266,751 in 2007.  With the new construction sales taken out of the numbers the average sale price would be down 5.25% in the last three months of 2008 when compared to 2007.  The impact new construction has on these numbers is significant due to the fact that typically the average sale price of new construcion homes is much higher which can skew the overall numbers, especially in a market like Liberty Township, OH which has a large presence of new construction.

For there to be a stabilization of home prices and then at some point a return of appreciation, we will need to see a smaller supply of homes available for sale.  In many of the price ranges there remains a significant oversupply.  We will take a look at the supply of homes for sale next.  Be sure to check back!

 

2007 Avg Sale Price 2008 Avg Sale Price + or -
 $266,751 $232,831 -12.72%

 

Moving to West Chester or Liberty Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area.

You can subscribe to my blog via RSS.  Click here to subscribe via a feed or receive a subscription via e-mail!  Either way click the orange RSS options at the top of the page.  Of course, I never rent or sell your e-mail address… I don’t even know what it is, I never see it.

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio

posted by Eric Lowry
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Filed Under: Liberty Twp Community Info, Real Estate Information, Real Estate Market Statistics Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

West Chester, OH Real Estate Update: January 2009

January 7, 2009 By

The last three months have been very turbulent for most everyone whether you are talking about the stock  market, the auto industry or real estate (or for that matter any number of areas).  Let’s take a look at how things have gone the last three months in West Chester, Ohio in real estate.

With regard to sales, in 2007 160 units were sold vs. 142 units in 2008.  This represents a decrease of 11.25%.  Looking forward to the first three months of 2009 a reasonable projection may be that we will continue to see declines in units sold when compared to last year, possibly resulting in levels of 55-75 units in each of the first three months of the year.

2007 Units 2008 Units + or -
160 142 -11.25%

The average sale price for the last three months of 2008 was down 3.40% compared to the same period in 2007.  As you can see in the table below, the average sale price in the last three months of 2008 was $204,783 compared to $211,999 in 2007.  For there to be a stabilization of home prices and then at some point a return of appreciation, we will need to see a smaller supply of homes available for sale.  In many of the price ranges there remains a significant oversupply.  We will take a look at the supply of homes for sale next.  Be sure to check back!

2007 Avg Sale Price 2008 Avg Sale Price + or -
 $211,999 $204,783 -3.40%

Moving to West Chester or Liberty Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area.

You can subscribe to my blog via RSS.  Click here to subscribe via a feed or receive a subscription via e-mail!  Either way click the orange RSS options at the top of the page.  Of course, I never rent or sell your e-mail address… I don’t even know what it is, I never see it.

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio

posted by Eric Lowry
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www.LowryTeam.com | P: (513) 874-1830

Filed Under: Real Estate Information, Real Estate Market Statistics, West Chester Community Info Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

West Chester & Liberty Township, Oh Real Estate: Housing Stimulus Possibilities

January 4, 2009 By

 

Fix Housing First Coalition Seeks To Revive Economy

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is spearheading Fix Housing First, one of the largest coalitions of housing advocates ever assembled in the United States, to push for a housing recovery plan that will revive the economy.

  “If we are going to successfully pull our nation out of recession, we must address housing first,” said NAHB President and CEO Jerry Howard.  

Fix Housing First, which consists of more than 600 organizations, home building companies and manufacturers continues to add new members on a daily basis, is pressing for a major stimulus package to stem the decline in home values, stabilize financial markets and reignite consumer demand. To get the economy moving again, the coalition is urging Congress to support enhancements to the home buyer tax credit and provide below-market 30-year fixed-rate mortgages for home purchases… To read this article in its entirety in my Real Estate newsletter click here

Moving to West Chester or Liberty Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area.

You can subscribe to my blog via RSS.  Click here to subscribe via a feed or receive a subscription via e-mail!  Either way click the orange RSS options at the top of the page.  Of course, I never rent or sell your e-mail address… I don’t even know what it is, I never see it.

Check Out My Feature Homes For Sale In West Chester and Liberty Township, Ohio

posted by Eric Lowry
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New Listing In West Chester, Ohio 45069

April 21, 2008 By

My Newest Listing…

 8116 Lesourdsville West Chester Road, West Chester, Ohio 45069

8116 Lesourdsville West Chester Road

West Chester, Ohio 45069

Lakota Schools

$199,900  - Four Bedrooms – Two Full Baths, One Half Bath

This is a beautifully decorated, move in ready home in West Chester:

  • Bright, Open Floor Plan
  • Warm,Inviting Family Room w/ Fireplace
  • Formal Living and Dining Rooms
  • Island Kitchen Features Maple Cabinets, Breakfast Bay & Large Pantry 
  • Luxury Master Suite w/ Adjoining Garden Bath & Walk-In Closet
  • Terrific Covered Rear Porch Overlooks Large, Fenced Rear Yard 
  • Walkout Basement
  • Close To Schools, Shopping, Dining & Expressways!

To see more information on this home including many more photos click here

Moving to West Chester or Liberty Township, Ohio?  Request our Relocation Packet  It’s full of information about our area!

posted by Eric Lowry
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www.LowryTeam.com | P: (513) 874-1830

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Real Estate Market Update For West Chester & Liberty Township, Ohio – February 2008

March 11, 2008 By

February 2008 Home Sales For West Chester & Liberty Township, Ohio

 

 

February 2007

February 2008

+ / -

Closed Units

82

79

-3.66%

Average Sale Price

$235,031

$228,849

-2.63%

Average Days On Market

82

84

+2.44%

Average List to Sale Price %

96.88%

95.19%

-1.69%

 

When is a decrease in home sales good news??

When the decrease in the number of closed units is the lowest percentage decrease in quite some time.

Home sales in West Chester and Liberty Township fell by 3.66% in February 2008 when compared to February 2007.  This is remarkable when you consider that the last couple of months decreases were 29.27% In January and 21.00% in December.  We are seeing sporadic increases of showing activity by buyers, however these showings are not resulting in an increase in sales as of yet, however this is clearly an improvement over the steep declines that we were seeing. 

The average sale price in West Chester and Liberty Township was $228,849 in February.   This is a lower average sale price than what was seen in February of 2007.  It is 2.63% lower than 2007.  This is certainly not surprising and continues to re-inforce the need to price your home aggressively to get it sold. 

Wondering what your home is worth??

Click here to find the current market value of your home

The average days on market rose to an average of 84 days on the market,  which is a 14 day increase over homes that closed in January and it is just a 2 day increase over February 2007.  Keep in mind, the "days on market" statistic is based on homes that have sold and closed, and is not impacted by homes that are still for sale.  So that home that you drive by everyday, that you know has been for sale for months and months, is not factored into this statistic.

The list price to sale price ratio was considerably lower again in February 2008 as compared to February 2007.  It fell 1.69 basis points from the prior year and was .09 basis points higher than January 2008.  This list to sale price ratio of 95.19% is one of the strongest indicators of jus how much of a buyer’s market this really is.

Mortgage rates have climbed considerably.   Mortgage rates which were hovering around 5.49% for a thirty year fixed rate mortgage just weeks ago, are now  at 6.05% for the same thirty year fixed rate mortgage.  I had many people tell me that they were waiting for rates to go even lower when they were at 5.49%.  These people waited to buy or refinance and missed out on a great rate.  Will the rates return to these lower levels??  Only time will tell.  My guess is they may not get below 5.50%  again for quite some time.  If they do, I sure wouldn’t wait again!

As always I will continue to monitor these market numbers  for West Chester and Liberty Township Ohio and will share them as they become available.  Should you have particular questions about these numbers please let me know!

If you would like to learn the current market value of your home I would be happy to provide you with it.

Moving to West Chester, Liberty Township, Mason Or Cincinnati, Ohio?  Click here to receive our Relocation Packet, full of information and completely free, with no obligation!

I would love to hear your thoughts and comments!

posted by Eric Lowry
Email Me | Search For Homes
www.LowryTeam.com | P: (513) 874-1830

Filed Under: Financing, Real Estate Information, Real Estate Market Statistics Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
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