RISMEDIA, June 24, 2009-Sales of existing homes showed another gain in May, benefiting from favorable affordability conditions and a first-time buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors®. May’s increase was the first back-to-back monthly gain since September 2005.

Zero Down Home Loans Approved for Ohio!

Whether or not the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit can be used as part of the 3.5% Down Payment required in FHA loans has been a topic of much discussion and debate lately.  Now we have an answer!  And the answer is “YES” according to Charles McMillan, President of the National Association of Realtors.

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According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Ohio home buyers CAN use the $8000 First time home buyer tax credit as their down payment on FHA loans (3.5% Down Payment Requirement)

NAR President Charles McMillan reports on the topic, in his weekly podcast of June 2, 2009, titled “Monetizing the Tax Credit”.  Here he discusses the new HUD guidelines that allow consumers to use the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit for home down payments.

“Currently, 10 state housing finance agencies offer programs that would qualify for the monetized credit option. They are Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. In these states first-time homebuyers may monetize the tax credit and apply it to the 3.5 percent down payment requirement.”

OHIO appears to be “GO” for ZERO DOWN HOME LOANS AGAIN !

Links and Sources:

Transcript of NAR President Podcast: http://www.realtor.org/wps/wcm/connect/c4f42a804e5484e2beb5bfd4f1772a7a/CM_Presidents+Podcast_060209+v2.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=c4f42a804e5484e2beb5bfd4f1772a7a

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 Search Toledo Homes For Sale Now - at Toledo’s Best Online Home Search

Toledo Ohio: The Annual Old West End Festival and Historic Home Tour takes place this weekend.

The famous Old West End area of Toledo features fantastic historic homes and gardens, showcasing architecture and huge homes of a bygone era.  Styles includ Victorian and Arts and Crafts Style made famous by Frank Lloyd Wright.

From Wikipedia:

The Old West End is a historic neighborhood in Toledo, Ohio and is considered to be “the largest neighborhood of late Victorian, Edwardian , and Arts & Crafts homes east of the Mississippi.”^[1]

The South end of the neighborhood is bound by the Toledo Museum of Art, the eastern edge by churches of many denominations and the other directions provide architecture and homes from Edwardian to Arts & Crafts to Victorian and from 1200 to 10,000 square feet (930 m²).^[2]

Old West End Festivals and Tours

• Old West End Festival: “On the first weekend in June, residents of the Old West End hold their Spring Festival, which features food, entertainment, tours of historic homes, and spontaneous garage sales. Citizen involvement in the Old West End is high, and this is reflected by its many neighborhood organizations.” ^[4]
• Old West End Garden Tours: In September, the Old West End Garden Tours festival features a tour of Old West End gardens, concerts, and food.^[2]
• Tours de Noel: In December, Old West End residents open up their homes for tours while decorated for the holidays. ^[5]

Old West End Festival hours for June 2009 are Saturday June 6 and Sunday June 7.

Related Web Sites:   

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_West_End

http://www.toledooldwestend.com/ 

See KING WAMBA Video:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/video/video.php?v=1152217933959&ref=nf

 Announcing a FREE Toledo Home Buyer Real Estate Seminar: 

WHEN:  June 4, 2009 - 6-8 PM

WHERE: RE/MAX Masters - 810 W South Boundary, Perrysburg Ohio

DETAILS:  Seating is limited so please register now in order to save a seat! 

ABOUT THE LEADER: This seminar led by Award Winning Agent, Tammy Frye - Member RE/MAX Hall of Fame (highest lifetime achievement award for distinguished service by RE/MAX agents). 

Other professionals will also be available to answer your questions: 

• Lenders will be on site with MILLIONS OF DOLLARS to lend. 
• Home Warranty Company 
• Insurance Agent
• Home Inspector
• Title Company

Attendees can receive:

• free credit report analysis
• free pre-qualification letter
• free home value report
• free door prizes
• free professional advice
• more 

See www.HomeFinder100.com/seminar.html to register online by email.

Danberry Realtors Agent Kendall Gigax was Interviewed by WTOL NEWS regarding the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit and how it works to help people buy toledo homes.  

Finally - the media is carrying GOOD NEWS stories about Real Estate in Toledo! 

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?s=10323369#

Toledo Real Estate Sales are Blooming.  Warmer Weather, Lower Loan Rates, and $8000 Tax Credits are Stimulating Sales.  Sellers are cashing in!  To sell your home in Toledo Area, visit www.HomeFinder100.com and select a featured agent!

The Why Buy Toledo Web Site, www.WhyBuyToledo.com has been updated by Toledo Board of Realtors according to a recent newsletter:

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Whybuytoledo.com

The www.whybuytoledo.com website has been updated with new information about the first time homebuyer tax-credit available and why now is a great time to buy a house. It also has links to our affiliates’ websites who offer financing for first time buyers as well other people looking for financing.  We are asking our members to put a link to this website on your individual websites, flyers, postcards, etc…  This is a great way to get the word out about why now is a great time to buy a home.  If you have questions about adding the link to your website, please contact Michelle at 419-535-3222 or email michelle@toledorealtors.com.  We will still be making updates to the site, so keep visiting for more information.

Welles Bowen Real Estate Video

Toledo Real Estate Video Becoming Popular With Toledo Real Estate Agents, Toledo Real Estate Sellers

Toledo Real Estate Video - Feeling Puzzled

See www.HomeFinder100.com for more Toledo Real Estate Video
and information about Toledo’s Only 24-Hour Real Estate Channel