8 out of 10 Americans believe buying a home a Good Decision

Majority of Americans: Buying a Home Is a Good Decision

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Don't Make these Mistakes When Buying a Home!

Here are a few things, particularly as first time buyers, that you want to consider in order to make good decisions....

1. Get prequalified before starting your search. There is nothing worse than falling in love with a home or an area that you can't afford. Take into consideration your comfort level with your monthly payment and adjust from there. Remember to add in insurance, taxes, homeowners association dues.

2. Once you are under contract, be sure to get a home inspection. It's worth the money you will spend many times over and could keep you from buying a "lemon" of a home.

3. Use a Real Estate agent who will work for YOU. A Buyer's agent is your best bet. In Texas, for instance, all agents work for the seller unless you form a buyers relationship with them. If you call a listing agent for information about a property or to show you a property, they do not have your best interests at heart- they work for the seller!

4. Choosing a Real Estate agent who is not committed to forming a strong business

5. Be flexible in your home search options/location. You could miss out some great homes if you aren't a little flexible. Trust your Real Estate Agent to assist you in the process.

6. Think about long-term goals. Will you be staying in this house for a long time? Planning a family? Will you have a family member come and live with you at some point? Do you want this to be your last home? Consider a one story or a home where the master is on the first floor - it's much easier to stay in a home with no stairs.

8. Get a home protection plan. Most of time it can be added to the purchase contract and the Seller will pay for it. Ask for it! This will at least give you some peace of mind regarding potential repairs for the first year you own your home, all for a small service call charge per incident.

9. If Schools are important to you, do your homework. Your agent can help point you in the right direction.

10. Relax and enjoy the process. Trust your instincts and make use of your Real Estate agent's experience and knowledge.

Go to our website at www.ParagonPropertyGroup.com to search for homes and to get more are and real estate information for the Austin, Lake Travis and Highland Lakes area.

Home Buyer Tax Credit Timeline.....

Below is an article to assist you in the timing of the tax credit and buying your home in the Greater Austin or Highland Lakes areas - time is running out - you must be under contract by 4/30/10 and closed by 6/30/10....so don't hesitate!

Timeline for the Home Buyer Tax Credit
Feb18, 2010 (Bankrate.com)

Time is running short for people who want to take advantage of the homebuyer tax credits.

There are two homebuyer federal income tax credits: the first-time homebuyer tax credit of up to $8,000, and the move-up homebuyer tax credit of up to $6,500. Both come with deadlines.
To collect either tax credit, buyers have to have homes under contract by April 30. That means that both buyer and seller must have signed the purchase contract by that date. After that, there's another deadline: The transaction has to close by June 30.

If you want to collect the tax credit, don't wait until the last half of April to begin looking for a house. Yes, it's possible that you could do it all in a couple of weeks: find a house that you like, negotiate a price and secure mortgage financing. Possible, but not probable.

"Don't wait till the last minute, and be prepared to stay on top of things from the very outset," says Neil Garfinkel, a lawyer with the law firm of Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson LLP, on New York's Long Island.

Below is a timeline for homebuyers who want to complete the transaction on time to collect the federal income tax credit. The following dates aren't ironclad; the real estate agent, lender and title company will know if you need to deviate from this timeline because of your situation or location.

Use this timeline as a general guide and as motivation to take action quickly.

Contact Paragon Property Group at 866-693-7741 for more information about Buying a Home in the Greater Austin or Highland Lakes areas.