Open Your Doors and Close Your Drawers

Realtors that are holding open houses should be vigilant of a man in search of prescription pills according to Northern Virginia Association of Realtors.

Members are cautioned to advise their seller clients to remove all jewelry, valuables and prescription drugs from their homes and to double check cabinets and drawers for those items prior to Open Houses.

This past weekend, two local Realtors® hosted a Fairfax County Open House and observed suspicious behavior by a visitor. One of the agents remembered this house hunter from a past Open House where prescription drugs were stolen. He observed the person looking into the medicine cabinets after requesting to be alone in the bathroom “to make a call.”
The alleged suspect is a white male, about 5’11”, approximately 180 lbs., with light-colored hair, shoulder-length in back. His vehicle was a late model F150 royal blue pick-up truck, with “4 x 4” in white letters on the back end.

Should you come across this person, it is advised that you do not attempt a confrontation.  Please call police authorities immediately.

Claudia webb RE/MAX Allegiance
Northern Virginia Real Estate

Home Buyers Tax Credit

The Virginia Association of Realtor released the following information about the Homebuers Tax Credit.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 features an $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers who purchase a home on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1,2009.

• The temporary credit is only available for home Purchaser made from Jan. 1, 2009 to before Dec. 1, 2009 and is equal to 10% of the cost of the home, up to a maximum credit of $8,000.  (for Example, a home purchased for $80,000 or more would qualify for the full $8,000 credit, while a $70,000 home would qualify for only 10%, or $7,000.)
• Buyers claim the credit on their federal tax return to reduce their tax liability.  If the crdit is more than their toral tax liability that year, the buyer will receive a refund check for the balance.
• Only first-time homebuyers can take advantage of the tax credit as n individual who has not owned a home in the last three years.  For married joint filers, both much meet the first-time homebuyer test to take the credit on a joint return.
• Eligible properties include anything that will be used as a principle single-family residence–including condos and townhouses.
• There are income guidelines on the credit.  Individuals with an adjusted gross income up to $75,000 (or $150,000 if filing  jointly) are eligible for the full tax credit.  The credit is phased down for those earning more and is not available for those with an income above $95,000 (or 170,000 if filing jointly).
• The new tax credit  does not have to be repaid if the buyer stays in the home at least three years.  If the home is sold before that, the entire amount of the credit is recaptured on the sale.
• People who purchased home under the 2008 $7,500 tax credit program will still be required to repay that credit to the government over a 15 year period.

Source: Illinois Association of  REALTORS

Claudia webb RE/MAX Allegiance
Northern Virginia Real Estate