<?xml version="1.0"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Atlanta Georgia Real Estate News &amp; Listings Presented By Dorsey Alston, Realtors</title><link>http://www.rillo.net</link><description></description><lastBuildDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:23:29 GMT</lastBuildDate><item><title>Chastain Park  at a Great Price!!</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.rillo.net/property/4685-Lake-Forrest-Drive-Atlanta-Georgia/images/index/372120/0/t" title="" alt="" style="float:left; padding:3px;" /><p>$200K Price Reduction! Amazing Price in Chastain without the city taxes. Walk to the park! Great schools! Spacious home with a large living room, large den w/fireplace, large second den/sunroom, renovated kitchen, large pantry, huge basement stubbed for a bathroom,&nbsp; two car carport, and more. Very private large backyard -- feels like you are in the mountains!&nbsp; Chastain is a sought-after neighborhood w/a horse park, tennis courts, pool, ball fields, playground, golf course, path and more!</p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/property/4685-Lake-Forrest-Drive-Atlanta-Georgia</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/property/4685-Lake-Forrest-Drive-Atlanta-Georgia</guid><pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:42:18 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Fantastic Deal in Quiet Buckhead Location!</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.rillo.net/property/3021-Margaret-Mitchell-Drive-5-Atlanta-Georgia/images/index/351992/0/t" title="" alt="" style="float:left; padding:3px;" /><p>A fantastic deal!!!&nbsp; Best space for the money in this quiet Buckhead location!&nbsp; Priced to sell fast!&nbsp; Large 3 finished levels hardcoat stucco townhome with renovated kitchen and baths, high ceilings, fine architectural detail, hardwood floors throughout the first floor.&nbsp; Finished terrace level, 2 car garage.&nbsp; Small complex of just ten units just off West Wesley and Margaret Mitchell in a quiet residential neighborhood.&nbsp; Near Westminster School.&nbsp; Low taxes and association fees. Fee simple.</p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/property/3021-Margaret-Mitchell-Drive-5-Atlanta-Georgia</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/property/3021-Margaret-Mitchell-Drive-5-Atlanta-Georgia</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:24:45 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Fabulous Deal in W.T. Jackson ES!!</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.rillo.net/property/114-Lakeland-Drive-Atlanta-Georgia/images/index/342970/0/t" title="" alt="" style="float:left; padding:3px;" /><p>Fabulous deal for this move-in ready home featuring a beautiful new master bedroom suite addition, a two car garage, separate den, separate breakfast area, separate living room, separate dining room, and a finished basement.&nbsp; Nice deck overlooking a private backyard.&nbsp; With a total of 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths, you won&rsquo;t find this much space for under $450K anywhere else in the heart of Buckhead! &nbsp;<br /><br />This sought-after Buckhead location is in the Warren T. Jackson elementary school district, an International Baccalaureate school, and the only elementary school in the city of Atlanta with platinum scores three years in a row!&nbsp; Just a short stroll to Chastain Park -- a one of a kind neighborhood with a horse park, pool with a championship swim team, tennis courts, NYO sports ball fields, a playground with &ldquo;Chastain Chill&rdquo; live outdoor music in the Spring, Summer and early Fall on most Tuesdays performed by Jay Memory,&nbsp; the PATH system paved trail around the park, Golf Course, Gym, Arts Center, and a highly active conservancy and civic association, annual neighborhood events including Easter egg hunts, 4th of July parades and more!&nbsp; This home is in a truly great, convenient location in the heart of Buckhead.</p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/property/114-Lakeland-Drive-Atlanta-Georgia</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/property/114-Lakeland-Drive-Atlanta-Georgia</guid><pubDate>Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:36:55 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Beautiful Garden Hills Traditional</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.rillo.net/property/2529-Brookwood-Drive-Atlanta-Georgia/images/index/319581/0/t" title="" alt="" style="float:left; padding:3px;" /><p>Amazing price in Garden Hills!&nbsp; Purchased $790K in 2003!&nbsp; Gorgeous move-in ready home has been renovated with attention to detail throughout while keeping many of the original 1920&rsquo;s features intact.&nbsp; This home wonderful and features a great renovated kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops, a breakfast room, a spacious family room off of the kitchen, a large open living room with a fireplace, an open spacious dining room, a separate sunroom/office, and a true master suite with a large walk-in closet and a huge beautiful master bathroom. The outdoor space is beautiful and private with a stone patio, mature landscaping, and a fully fenced backyard. &nbsp;<br /><br />This home has four bedrooms and three and a half baths, including a guest bedroom, a full bath and a half bath on the main level.&nbsp; On the top level is the large master bedroom, large master bath, two additional spacious bedrooms, and a full bath. <br /><br />Garden Hills is a lovely neighborhood with many historical homes.&nbsp; From this home you can walk to the duck pond and several parks throughout the neighborhood. You can also walk to the neighborhood pool, clubhouse, a kid&rsquo;s playground, wilderness trails and more.&nbsp; Located in the heart of Buckhead, Garden Hills is close to many excellent restaurants, shops, galleries, and salons.&nbsp; This home is in a truly great, convenient location in Buckhead.</p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/property/2529-Brookwood-Drive-Atlanta-Georgia</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/property/2529-Brookwood-Drive-Atlanta-Georgia</guid><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:15:12 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Collier Hills</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.rillo.net/property/1828-Greystone-Road-Atlanta-Georgia/images/index/303437/0/t" title="" alt="" style="float:left; padding:3px;" /><p>Fantastic Price!&nbsp; A Gorgeous move-in ready true 3 bedroom, 2 bath home renovated throughout, a new kitchen with custom cabinets, granite counters, and stainless appliances, a large family room with built-ins, a spacious living room with a fireplace, a separate dining room, two new bathrooms, a bug master bedroom, a large deck overlooking a fully fenced private backyard.&nbsp; Located on a great street in Collier Hills.&nbsp; Walk to Tanyard Creek Park, playgrounds and the Beltline Trail.&nbsp; Minutes to Memorial Park, Ardmore Park, Bobby Jones, Bitsy Grant, restaurants, shops and much more!!</p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/property/1828-Greystone-Road-Atlanta-Georgia</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/property/1828-Greystone-Road-Atlanta-Georgia</guid><pubDate>Sun, 24 Apr 2011 00:29:55 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Chastain Park</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.rillo.net/property/4341-Lake-Forrest-Court-Atlanta-Georgia/images/index/303436/0/t" title="" alt="" style="float:left; padding:3px;" /><p>SOLD!&nbsp; UNDER CONTRACT PRIOR TO LISTING IT!&nbsp; Fabulous home in one of Chastain Park's favorite, most active neighborhoods, on a quiet cul-de-sac street off Lake Forrest Lane!&nbsp; Just steps to the trail around Chastain Park.&nbsp; Features include a true master suite with two walk-in closets, a huge master bathroom with separate tub and shower and double vanities. 3 additional bedrooms plus an unfinished basement for storage or a work room.&nbsp; Separate 2 car garage and an amazing backyard with a salt water pool. hot tub, outdoor kitchen, covered patio and a huge outdoor double sided fireplace. Huge grassy area with a children's play set.</p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/property/4341-Lake-Forrest-Court-Atlanta-Georgia</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/property/4341-Lake-Forrest-Court-Atlanta-Georgia</guid><pubDate>Sat, 23 Apr 2011 23:56:36 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Virginia Highlands</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.rillo.net/property/843-King-Court-Atlanta-Georgia/images/index/300467/0/t" title="" alt="" style="float:left; padding:3px;" /><p>SOLD!&nbsp; UNDER CONTRACT AFTER 4 DAYS ON THE MARKET!&nbsp; Fabulous, charming, move-in ready home in Virginia Highland on a quiet street!&nbsp; Beautiful rooms throughout with terrific living and entertaining space including a living room, sunroom, separate den, office space, dining room, and a huge deck!&nbsp; The kitchen has been newly renovated and features stainless steel appliances.</p>
<p>In addition to all the living space, there are three bedrooms and two full baths.&nbsp; Two bedrooms and one bath are on the main level, and one bedroom with a full bath is upstairs.&nbsp; There is also an unfinished basement, great for storage.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This highly sought-after location is in the great Morningside Elementary School district, and this home is within walking distance to a coffee shop, the post office, and several restaurants and shops.&nbsp; Virginia Highland is a true walking, pedestrian friendly neighborhood with unique shops, fabulous restaurants, and playgrounds.&nbsp; The neighborhood has annual festivals and events and is convenient to Piedmont Park, The Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Downtown and Midtown.</p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/property/843-King-Court-Atlanta-Georgia</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/property/843-King-Court-Atlanta-Georgia</guid><pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:14:01 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Chastain Park</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.rillo.net/property/3788-Powers-Ferry-road-Atlanta-Georgia/images/index/300463/0/t" title="" alt="" style="float:left; padding:3px;" /><p>UNDER CONTRACT!&nbsp; Gorgeous move-in ready home has been renovated with attention to detail throughout, including newly refinished hardwood floors, new light fixtures, plantation shutters, new paint, and a newly installed entertainment system.&nbsp; This home is a real gem and features a great renovated eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops, a spacious living room with a fireplace, a wonderful screened-in porch, a true master suite with a large walk-in closet and a huge beautiful master bathroom. The outdoor space is remarkable with a stone patio, outdoor kitchen with a gas-start fire pit, fully fenced, private backyard, and an in-ground misting system for mosquitos.&nbsp; This is the nicest home on the market in Chastain Park at this price.</p>
<p>This home has three bedrooms and two full baths, a laundry room on the main level, and a one car garage with great storage space in the partial basement.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This sought-after terrific Chastain Park location is in the Warren T. Jackson elementary school district, an International Baccalaureate school, and the only elementary school in the city of Atlanta with platinum scores three years in a row!&nbsp; Chastain Park is a one of a kind neighborhood with a horse park, pool with a championship swim team, tennis courts, NYO sports ball fields, a playground with &ldquo;Chastain Chill&rdquo; live outdoor music in the Spring, Summer and early Fall on most Tuesdays performed by Jay Memory,&nbsp; the PATH system paved trail around the park, Golf Course, Gym, Arts Center, and a highly active conservancy and civic association, annual neighborhood events including Easter egg hunts, 4th of July parades and more!&nbsp; A truly great, convenient location in Buckhead.</p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/property/3788-Powers-Ferry-road-Atlanta-Georgia</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/property/3788-Powers-Ferry-road-Atlanta-Georgia</guid><pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:55:28 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Peachtree Park</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.rillo.net/property/3077-Dale-Drive-NE-Atlanta-Georgia/images/index/296359/0/t" title="" alt="" style="float:left; padding:3px;" /><p>Gorgeous move-in ready newer home has a great layout for entertaining and features a large great room, an open kitchen with stainless appliances, a breakfast room, a separate formal dining room, and a finished basement.&nbsp; The home has a rear entry garage that will fit a 3rd car with tandem parking as well as a workshop or additional storage.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This home has large double level deck overlooking a deep, fenced, private backyard.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are four bedrooms, three full baths,&nbsp; and a half bath.&nbsp; The main level has a large master suite with a huge walk-in closet.&nbsp; The top floor has two large secondary bedrooms and a full bathroom.&nbsp; The terrace level has another living space, a bedroom, and a full bathroom.</p>
<p>This sought-after fantastic neighborhood is in the heart of Buckhead.&nbsp; Walk to excellent restaurants, shops, and a neighborhood playground.&nbsp; This very active neighborhood association has organized seasonal activities, kids events, and an active women&rsquo;s group.&nbsp; And, this is a fantastic place to watch the 4th of July Fireworks!</p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/property/3077-Dale-Drive-NE-Atlanta-Georgia</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/property/3077-Dale-Drive-NE-Atlanta-Georgia</guid><pubDate>Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:11:38 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Brookwood Place End Unit!!</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://www.rillo.net/property/1735-Peachtree-Road-Unit-621-Atlanta-Georgia/images/index/268791/0/t" title="Rare Opportunity for an End Unit in Brookwood Place" alt="" style="float:left; padding:3px;" /><p>SOLD!&nbsp; AMAZING PRICE &amp; Rare opportunity for an end unit town home in Brookwood Place!&nbsp; This home is unique because it has an additional room perfect for a nursery or office on the 3rd level, and an oversized closet has been built in the lower level bedroom.&nbsp; This pristine, move-in ready home is a real gem and features an amazing amount of living and entertaining space.&nbsp; The finishes are high quality with attention to detail throughout, and the exterior has brick on all sides.</p>
<p>As an end unit town home, this home is light and bright and features extra windows, including a bay window in the dining room.&nbsp;&nbsp; In addition to the private two car garage,&nbsp; the bottom level has an oversized bedroom with a private bath.&nbsp; The main level features the kitchen, dining room, living room, and a half bath.&nbsp; Just outside the living room is a private patio and yard space. The third level has a master suite, a secondary bedroom, a secondary bathroom, and a bonus room, currently used as a nursery, but also perfect for an office.&nbsp; The top level is a large multi-use space, currently used as a media room and play room.&nbsp; This space is stubbed for a full bathroom and can be used as an additional bedroom.</p>
<p>The Condominium association maintains the exterior, all the grounds and landscaping, and provides satellite television with <span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="color: #000000;">HBO and High Speed Internet</span></span> as part of the mandatory monthly dues.&nbsp; Included also in this gated community are the fabulous amenities such as the courtyard pool, fitness center, gorgeous lobby with an on staff concierge, courtyard and putting green, conference room, business center, guest suite, media room, library and music room.</p>
<p>This sought-after Buckhead location borders Midtown and has great walkability -- you can live close to where you play, shop and work!&nbsp; Walk to restaurants, shops, a spa, grocery store and more.</p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/property/1735-Peachtree-Road-Unit-621-Atlanta-Georgia</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/property/1735-Peachtree-Road-Unit-621-Atlanta-Georgia</guid><pubDate>Mon, 15 Nov 2010 22:00:53 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>"Sale of the Week," Featured by Atlanta Homes &amp; Lifestyles</title><description><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">My new listing, just one week on the market, was featured today by <a href="http://blog.atlantahomesmag.com/real-estate/sale-of-the-week-morningside-renovation/">Atlanta Homes &amp; Lifestyles Magazine.</a><br /><br />In additional to the fabulous renovation, impeccable taste, and meticulous attention to detail, this very special home is located on a wonderful street in Morningside. <br /><br />Soon this home will be only be 12 houses from the new entrance to Piedmont Park, which is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2010. Another great feature to this street is Sidney Marcus Park, one of the best children&rsquo;s parks in Morningside. </span>&nbsp;<br /><img src="file:///Users/carrieanne/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.rillo.net.realproserver.com/agent_files/brightened%20front.jpg" alt="" width="110" height="110" /></p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/Blog/Sale-of-the-Week-Featured-by-Atlanta-Homes-Lifestyles</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/Blog/Sale-of-the-Week-Featured-by-Atlanta-Homes-Lifestyles</guid><pubDate>Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Should I Buy a Home Now?</title><description><![CDATA[<p>I'm often asked if this is a good time to buy a home.  Some clients are concerned that home prices may fall further than they have already.  They are assuming that the best course of action is to wait for the bottom in the market and then buy.  The problem with this approach is that you don't know where the bottom is until you see it in the rear view mirror, meaning until you've missed it!</p>
<p>Home prices are one factor in determining your cost of ownership, but so are interest rates and financing availability.  Even though interest rates have gone up in the last six months, they are still near historic lows.  Since your monthly mortgage payment is a combination of paying down your principal and paying the interest owed, if home prices come down a little further but interest rates   up, it could cost you even more to service a mortgage on an identical home!</p>
<p>While a home is a major investment, it is also the center of your personal life.  It's important to live in a home that reflects your taste and values, yet is within your financial "comfort zone."  To that end, it may be more important to lock in today's relatively low interest rates and low home prices, rather than to hope for a further break in prices in the future.</p>
<p>Please give me a call if I can be of any assistance in determining how much home you can afford in today's market.</p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/Blog/Should-I-Buy-A-Home-Now</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/Blog/Should-I-Buy-A-Home-Now</guid><pubDate>Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:07:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>The Price Isn't Always Right</title><description><![CDATA[<p>If you read my earlier article &ldquo;Right&rdquo; from the start, you will have seen the statistics for the 2nd quarter of 2009 with a strong case for pricing homes right at the beginning of the listing period rather than price reductions.&nbsp; In fact, the house I used as an example in that article was priced well from the start and went under contract after 39 days on the market with no price reduction required.<br /><br />The 3rd quarter of 2009 tells a similar story about the importance of pricing a home correctly at the beginning of the listing period, and here are the results:<br />According to our First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS), for every 100 single family homes listed, 59 failed to sell at all.&nbsp; Of the 41 that sold, 29 (70%) required price reductions in order to attract a buyer.&nbsp; This means that 88 out of every 100 listings were overpriced in the 3rd quarter of last year.&nbsp; When a home finally did sell after a price reduction, on average it required a total of 257 days on the market and the seller got on average 77.7% of the list price.<br /><br />On the other hand, when a home sold without requiring a price reduction, the average list to sales price was 97.1% with an average of 25 days on the market.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.rillo.net.realproserver.com/agent_files/price%20summary%20chart.png" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />graphic created by Chartmaster Services, LLC.<br /><br />It isn&rsquo;t always easy for seller to hear the truth about what their house is worth.&nbsp; But keep in mind, good Realtors aren&rsquo;t pulling numbers out of thin air to price houses.&nbsp; A careful analysis of homes that have sold recently in the area and price range is the only way to know what buyers are purchasing with their dollars these days.&nbsp; In fact, if a real estate agent is a &ldquo;Realtor&rdquo; they are required to follow a certain code of ethics and standards of practice for the National Association of Realtors.&nbsp; Our standard of practice Article 1-3 states &ldquo;Realtors, in attempting to secure a listing, shall not deliberately mislead the owner as to market value.&rdquo; &nbsp;<br /><br />If you need to sell, have hired a Realtor you can trust, and are able to sell your house for what it is worth, you are in a position to take advantage of a great buyers market in 2010!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.rillo.net.realproserver.com/agent_files/price%20summary%20chart.png" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.rillo.net.realproserver.com/agent_files/price%20summary%20chart.png" alt="" width="159" height="159" /></p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/Blog/The-Price-Isnt-Always-Right</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/Blog/The-Price-Isnt-Always-Right</guid><pubDate>Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Is This a Good Time to Sell?</title><description><![CDATA[<p>Selling a home in the dead of winter might seem ill-advised, particularly considering the state of the economy, but some experts think that making the decision to wait until spring to list the property could be a mistake. Government incentives will likely have a big impact in 2010, with many buyers determined to sign a contract before the April 30 tax credit deadline. &ldquo;This year, we&rsquo;re anticipating sales will peak earlier,&rdquo; says Nicole Hall, editor in chief of Lendingtree.com, an online home loan comparison service. &ldquo;The best time to get your house on the market will be February or early March, and maybe even earlier if you want to avoid competition.&rdquo;&nbsp; Traffic on real estate Web sites begins to rise right after the New Year, says Ken Shuman, spokesman for real estate Web site Trulia.com. Source: Forbes.com<br /><br />The National Association of Realtors expects existing home sales will rise 9.9% in 2010 to 5.71 million units, after falling 12.8% last year. The trade group&rsquo;s updated forecast also calls for a surge in sales this spring as the newly extended and expanded homebuyer tax credit expires on April 30. Homebuyers that sign a sales contract before the end of April will have 60 days to close. NAR economists see sales surging to a seasonally adjusted rate of 6.03 million units in the second quarter before falling back to a 5.45 million rate in 3Q. Despite this optimistic outlook, a leading indicator of future home sales plunged 16% in November after rising nine consecutive months with the help of the first-time homebuyer tax credit which was due to expire Nov. 30 before it was extended. The uncertainty surrounding the tax credit legislation has been cited as a reason for first-time buyers staying on the sidelines. NAR reported that its &lsquo;Pending Home Sales&rsquo; index fell to 96 in November from 114.3 in October. The PHS index is based on newly executed sales contracts with the closing expected to be completed in the next month or two. Source: National Mortgage News</p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/Blog/Is-This-a-Good-Time-to-Sell</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/Blog/Is-This-a-Good-Time-to-Sell</guid><pubDate>Sun, 10 Jan 2010 03:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Tax Credit Questions and Answers</title><description><![CDATA[<p>As soon as Congress passed legislation to expand the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit, readers started sending in questions about whether they would qualify under the new rules.  The legislation, signed into law last week, gives people more time to purchase a house and allows even current homeowners to receive a credit of up to $6,500 if they buy a new principal residence to replace the old one. It raises the income limits so more buyers qualify.  The new law also addresses concerns about fraud after a recent report found that the Internal Revenue Service had paid out millions in homebuyer credits to thousands of ineligible people, including some 4-year-olds. You now must be a certain age to get the credit and prove you bought a house.  Here are some answers on the expanded credit:  Who is eligible for the $6,500 credit?  This is for certain homeowners buying a new primary residence. Retirees downsizing are likely beneficiaries, says Mark Luscombe, principal tax analyst with CCH, a provider of tax information. You must have lived in your house for at least five years in a row any time during the eight years before the purchase of the new house.  The credit is worth 10 percent of the purchase price, not to exceed $6,500. Spouses filing separate tax returns can claim up to $3,250 each.  What's the new deadline?  To get the $8,000 or $6,500 credit, you must contract to buy the house by April 30, 2010, and the sale must close by June 30, 2010.  What are the new income limits?   You will be eligible for the full credit if you're buying a house after Nov. 6 and your income is up to $125,000 for singles and $225,000 for married joint filers. The credit starts phasing out thereafter and disappears once income exceeds $145,000 for singles and $245,000 for joint filers.  Are there other restrictions?  You cannot claim the $8,000 or $6,500 credit if you buy a house for more than $800,000. You must be 18 years old, or at least your spouse must be 18 or older. You can't get the credit if you are claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer, says Mark Steber, chief tax officer of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service.  What documentation must I submit?  The IRS was criticized for handing out more than $139 million to filers who claimed the credit but hadn't bought a house yet. Now, you must attach a copy of the settlement statement with your tax return as proof of purchase.  How can I claim the credit?  If you buy a house this year, you can amend your 2008 tax return to claim the money early. Similarly, if you buy a house in 2010, you can claim the credit on your 2009 tax return, Luscombe says.  It now takes 12 weeks to 16 weeks to receive the money by amending a return. Steber suggests taxpayers might as well wait to claim the credit on their 2009 return than file an amended return.  What changes were made for members of the military?  Homebuyers must repay the credit if they sell the house within three years. But service members who sell their house because of a job transfer won't have to repay the money because of changes last week, says Jo Willetts, Jackson Hewitt's senior manager of tax resources.  Also, service members who are serving outside the United States will get an extra year to buy a house and claim the credit, Luscombe said.  If I was ineligible for a full or partial credit because of my income before, could I now claim the credit because of the higher limits?  The new income limits apply only to purchases after Nov. 6. Earlier purchases fall under the old rules, where the credit starts to phase out once income reaches $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for married joint filers.  I purchased a house in early 2005 that my wife and I are now selling. Can I obtain the new $6,500 credit? I'm close to the five-year mark but will be a couple of months off.   Steber says "The code is clear about the five-year timing. Unless you can put off the closing for another four months, you will not currently qualify for the credit."<br />Copyright &copy; 2009, The Baltimore Sun<br /><br /></p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/Blog/Tax-Credit-Questions-and-Answers</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/Blog/Tax-Credit-Questions-and-Answers</guid><pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Right from the Start</title><description><![CDATA[<p>During the second quarter in 2009, 59 listings out of 100 failed to sell in Atlanta&rsquo;s intown market. Of the 41 listings that sold, 29 (70%) required a price reduction in order to attract an offer from a buyer.&nbsp; That means, only 12 listings out of 100 were priced correctly to begin with. <br /><br />But here is what is REALLY interesting...&nbsp; The listings that were priced correctly to begin with sold with an average of only 22 days on the market and an average of 96.3% of the list price!&nbsp; The listings requiring a price reduction sold with an average of 257 days on the market and the sellers only got 72% of the list price on average.&nbsp; In fact, the sellers that required price reductions ended up getting less than if they had priced it right from the start. &nbsp;<br /><br />Simply put, pricing correctly with the current market means more money in your pocket, less hassle, and lower carrying costs.&nbsp; Wouldn&rsquo;t that be nice.&nbsp; Having a listing agent who is aware of this and able to analyze the data specific to your house to help you price it right from the beginning is in your best interest. &nbsp;<br /><br />A great example of a house that is price right is my new listing at 66 Peachtree Hills Ave.&nbsp; Check it out! <br /><br />SOURCE: FMLS.&nbsp; Single Family Detached Residences, Areas 21, 22, 23, 24, 31, 51, 52, 71, 132. 2nd quarter, 2009.</p>]]></description><link>http://www.rillo.net/Blog/Right-from-the-Start</link><guid>http://www.rillo.net/Blog/Right-from-the-Start</guid><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:00:00 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
