Author Archives: Kerstin

“First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended” and “A New Tax Credit for Certain Existing Home Owners”


President Obama has signed a bill that extends the tax credit for first-time. The current program had been scheduled to expire on November 30, 2009. In order to qualify for the credit, all contracts need to be in effect no later than April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010. The extensionContinue reading ““First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended” and “A New Tax Credit for Certain Existing Home Owners””

Housing Recovery? Not so fast?


I received some feedback and questions about one of our July blog entries regarding signs of a recovery in the housing market. The entry was entitled: Housing Market is Showing Signs of Recovery. Some of my clients wanted to know if this meant they will stop “losing money” and that their property prices would goContinue reading “Housing Recovery? Not so fast?”

Why Buy a Business Opportunity?


Why Buy a Business Opportunity? So you can have your own small business, without having to start one from scratch. A lot of the risk in starting a business from scratch is encountered during the startup phase. No one knows your name, what you’re selling or where you are. So they are less likely toContinue reading “Why Buy a Business Opportunity?”

Get "moving" first time home buyers, time is running out!!!


Time is running out for first time home buyers to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit. We are in the month of August now, and time is slipping away to take advantage of the $8000 first time home buyer’s tax credit. There is a deadline looming for this opportunity. Your home purchase must beContinue reading “Get "moving" first time home buyers, time is running out!!!”

Housing Market is Showing Signs of Recovery


After months and months of discouraging news in the real estate market, for the last couple of months the news has been better. According to the National Association of Realtors, sales of previously occupied homes rose for the third month in a row in June. Home sales rose 3.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annualContinue reading “Housing Market is Showing Signs of Recovery”

Have we seen the bottom yet in Seattle?


Have we seen the bottom yet in Seattle? Maybe, maybe not. It depends what neighborhoods and price ranges you are talking about. The suburbs are still struggling and many properties that have sat on the market for a long time in these areas continue to sit. Condos are tough to sell, as well, largely becauseContinue reading “Have we seen the bottom yet in Seattle?”

What is the Homebuyer Tax Credit and who qualifies for it


The stimulus plan that President Obama has signed into law as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contains an important tax credit for first-time home buyers: a tax credit of 10% of the purchase price, up to $8,000 for first-time home buyers only. First-time buyers, for the purpose of this credit,Continue reading “What is the Homebuyer Tax Credit and who qualifies for it”

Is now really the best time to buy? Yes, no, maybe?


I have put off writing this article for several weeks because I am genuinely devoted to give the best advice I can to my clients. Every buyer I am working with now and almost every buyer who has come through one of my open houses the last several months has asked me if now isContinue reading “Is now really the best time to buy? Yes, no, maybe?”

Your buying opportunities are endless !


Buy now – don’t wait. A lot of buyers are saying they want to buy but they are waiting until prices hit rock bottom. First, it is really hard to tell when the market has hit bottom. It does not matter if we are talking about gold, stocks or homes here. Trying to time theContinue reading “Your buying opportunities are endless !”