Real Estate Prices

DQNews - DataQuick Real Estate Headlines and Statistics -- December 29, 2005 DQNews Home | DataQuick | Forums | -- Release | Custom Reports Search -- i Updated: December 27, 2005 -- -- -- Real Estate News -- . -- DQNEWS HOME -- RECENT RELEASES Monthly for SoCal Monthly for Bay Area New! -- CA Monthly City Chart ZIP CODE CHARTS Updated Monthly: LA Times Zip Chart SD Union Tribune Chart OC Register Chart SF Chronicle Chart Sacramento Bee Chart Annual Charts: CA 2004 City Chart LA Times 2004 Chart OC Register 2004 Chart SD Tribune 2004 Chart SF Chronicle 2004 Chart Sac Bee 2004 Chart Updated Weekly: SJ Mercury News Chart California SoCal Area Bay Area -- REGIONAL CHARTS Phoenix 3Q05 Honolulu 3Q05 Las Vegas 3Q05 Portland 3Q05 Seattle 3Q05 Nashville 3Q05 Miami/Palm Bch 3Q05 Jacksonville, FL 3Q05 Denver 3Q05 Chicago 3Q05 CURRENT HEADLINES Home Sale Trends Mortgage Trends -- Foreclosures Million Dollar Homes Building Activity Other Feature Articles NATIONAL NEWS -- WEB SITE EXTRAS ARCHIVED ARTICLES -- Customized News Services -- -- Custom Reports Archived Zip Code Charts Archived Articles -- Enter your email address to receive DQNews Headlines by email: -- Who We Are -- -- -- Find Out More About DQNews -- -- California November Home Sales Report A total of 51,250 new and resale houses and condos were sold statewide last month. That's down 4.6 percent from 53,700 for October and down 3.8 percent from 53,250 for November 2004. A decline from October to November is normal for the season. full story Slower Bay Area home sales, steady price increase -- Bay Area home sales continued to slow on a year-over-year basis while prices continued to climb. . . full story -- -- Southland home sales strong, prices hit new peak -- Southern California home sales remained at near-record levels last month as prices continued their climb to new heights, the result of continued demand and the expectation that mortgage interest rates will continue to increase... full story California Foreclosures Edge Up Foreclosure activity in California showed a year-over-year increase during the last quarter for the first time in more than three years, the result of lower appreciation rates and riskier loans. . . full story Million-Dollar Home Sales Rise in Golden State -- More million-dollar homes were sold in California last year than in the two previous years combined . . . full story California's home buyers increasingly choose ARMs A rising portion of California's home buyers are financing with adjustable-rate mortgages as rising prices and rate increases earlier this year make it harder to buy. . . full story -- California Home Buyer Surnames for 2002 TOP TEN Most Common Last Names of California Home Buyers Name Rank Median Price Garcia 1 $197,000 Smith 2 $250,000 Nguyen 3 $300,000 Lopez 4 $195,000 Lee 5 $325,000 Hernandez 6 $189,000 Rodriguez 7 $189,000 Martinez 8 $197,000 Gonzalez 9 $192,000 Johnson 10 $242,000 **2002** Metropolitan Area Home Sale Charts Look up the median home price in your zip code Record sales to Hispanic home buyers Hispanic home buyers accounted for a record portion of California's home purchase activity during the third quarter, the result of socio-demographic gains and available mortgage financing. . . full story Homebuyers CA YTD2001 Rank Last Names 1 Garcia 2 Smith 3 Lee 4 Martinez 5 Hernandez -- DQNews Quick Data: $280 billion was added to the value of California's housing stock in annual appreciation last year. The median homeowner is 'making' $2,384 monthly just by owning a home. -- CALIFORNIA'S TOP HOMEBUYER LAST NAMES 2000 Rank Last Name Median price paid 2000 1990 Rank 1 Garcia $145,500 (4) 2 Smith $189,000 (2) 3 Lee $262,000 (1) 4 Johnson $182,000 (3) 5 Lopez $144,500 (7) 6 Martinez $146,000 (8) 7 Hernandez $141,750 (14) 8 Rodriguez $145,000 (6) 9 Nguyen $246,000 (13) 10 Gonzalez $140,750 (10) 11 Williams $175,000 (12) 12 Brown $183,000 (9) 13 Sanchez $145,000 (18) 14 Miller $205,750 (11) 15 Jones $179,750 (15) 16 Ramirez $138,000 (22) 17 Kim $265,000 (5) 18 Perez $148,500 (20) 19 Davis $178,000 (19) 20 Anderson $197,500 (17) 21 Martin $176,000 (23) 22 Flores $146,000 (30) 23 Gomez $147,000 (31) 24 Wilson $190,500 (25) 25 Tran $252,000 (43) CC Coming Up: Coming Up: Equity lending in Florida Washington state's $million home market Crunch for entry-level buyers - or not? Fannie, Freddie and the conforming limit (yawn...) Most boring neighborhoods: the list Texas home buyer names -- Foreclosure Sales: The number of home foreclosure sales in California was a low 709 in the third quarter of 2005. Last year there were 1,007 home foreclosure sales in the same time period. Top Lender Update: Wells Fargo Bank was California`s most active home mortgage lender in the third quarter of 2005, followed by Washington Mutual and Countrywide Home Loans - (ranked by residential loan $). Least Expensive Communities: In the 3rd quarter of 2005, the three CA cities with the lowest median price (and over 50 sales) were: Taft at $120,000, Twentynine Palms at $140,000 and Barstow at $142,000. Most Expensive Communities: In the 3rd quarter of 2005, the three CA cities with the highest median price (and over 50 sales) were: Rancho Santa Fe at $2,372,500, Newport Coast at $1,914,750, and Belevedere Tiburon at $1,765,000. Million Dollar Home Sales: 30 communities in CA had a median home price of over $1 million in the 3rd quarter of 2005 (with 50+ sales). There were eighteen cities in that category in 3Q04. Refi Trend: California residential refinancing activity in the third quarter of 2005 was up 9.8% from the third quarter of 2004 and up 8.0% from the second quarter of 2005. " -- . DATAQUICK IN THE NEWS -- Sacramento Bee Homes sales fall 21 percent Orange County Register O.C. housing prices back near peak The median sales price was $616,000 last month, $1,000 shy of August's record, and more gains will come next month, according to market tracker DataQuick. Los Angeles Times Southland Housing Sustains Solid Gains San Francisco Chronicle Bay Area boom easing Home sales slow a bit but price growth is still strong San Jose Mercury News Home price spiral eases MEDIAN PRICE IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY JUMPS ONLY $750 FROM MONTH AGO AS SALES DROP 5.8% San Diego Union Tribune Home sales have seen better days Prices up, but seasonal activity down for 17th straight month San Francisco Chronicle Foreclosures in Bay Area down 13% to a 14-year low Rapid increase in prices has helped reduce rate of default Los Angeles Times Loan Default Notices Rise for First Time in 3 Years New York Times Do Try This at Home: Assess Your Area's Real Estate Bubble Forbes Real Estate Strong Despite Higher Interest Money Magazine Cuckoo for Condos! USA Today Got $75M? Here's the house for you USA Today 'New urbanism' embraces Latinos Can't Find Sunday's Newspaper? Find your zip code here! LA Times 2001 Chart LA Times Zip Chart SD Tribune Chart OC Register Chart SF Chronicle 2001 Chart SF Chronicle Chart Sac Bee 2001 Chart Sacramento Bee Chart Updated Weekly: SJ Mercury News Chart -- DQNews Forums -- enter here -- -- View the DQNews News editorial policy. -- Contact us at info@DQNews.com | DQNews Home | DataQuick Homepage

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Find Real Estate, Rentals, New Houses, Real Estate Agents and Mortgages on Yahoo! Real Estate Find Real Estate, Rentals, New Houses, Real Estate Agents and Mortgages Choose Location Home Homes for Sale Apartments for Rent Home Loans Moving & Insurance Tools My Real Estate Hurricane Katrina Resources Features Classifieds • Sell Your Home • Rent Your Apartment Home Loans • Mortgage Rates • Online Rate Quotes • Refinance Loans & Rates • Home Equity Loans & Rates • Free Credit Reports Resources • Find & Compare REALTORS • Find a Mover Insurance • Homeowner's Insurance • Renter's Insurance Tools • What's My Home Worth? • Research Neighborhoods • Free School Reports • Foreclosure Center • Home Service Center Commercial Real Estate • List Commercial Property National Mortgage Rates Thu Dec 29 Mtg Loan Rate APR 30-yr Fixed: 5.70% 5.88% 15-yr Fixed: 5.27% 5.57% 1-yr ARM: 4.53% 6.89% See Local Mortgage Rates Provided by Bankrate.com Neighborhood Profile Research neighborhoods nationwide! City, State, or Zip: Real Estate Listings Browse by City New! Home Loans Center - Find, Compare, & Graph Rates Find a Home Find a Rental City & State, or Zip: Price Range: $0 $30,000 $50,000 $80,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $650,000 $750,000 $850,000 $1 million $1.25 million $1.5 million $1.75 million $2 million $2.25 million $2.75 million $3 million $3.5 million $4 million $4.5 million $5 million $6 million $8 million $10 million to No limit $30,000 $50,000 $80,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $650,000 $750,000 $850,000 $1 million $1.25 million $1.5 million $1.75 million $2 million $2.25 million $2.75 million $3 million $3.5 million $4 million $4.5 million $5 million $6 million $8 million $10 million Beds: Any 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ Baths: Any 1+ 1 1/2+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ Search For: Existing Homes Yahoo! Classifieds New Homes Foreclosures Advanced Search Search Commercial Real Estate Mortgage Payments Calculate your biweekly & monthly payment for different loan amounts, interest rates and amortization terms. Loan Amount: $ Term (years): Interest Rate: % Show table?: Yes No See More Loan Calculators Sponsored Links HomeSmart - Property Selling Reports Buy a HomeSmart report now for just $24.95. Welcome to HomeSmart. Our instant home price estimates and area trend profiles will help you find the right value when buying or selling a home. www.homesmartreports.com FastCash4Homes.com - Sell Property Sell your home to FastCash4Homes.com. We buy homes in any condition, location or price range. Get fast cash for your home with an offer in minutes from our online analysis. www.fastcash4homes.com We Buy Houses Nationwide We buy houses in all 50 states. Fast close, cash buyers, no commissions. Simple one minute online offer form. www.nationwidehomebuyers.com (Become a Sponsor) Partner Spotlight Featured Sponsor Find a Local REALTOR by HomeGain • Find & Compare REALTORS • Get Home Prices Featured Videos Dream Home Videos by Inman Stories Real Estate News Financing your first real estate investment Dec 29, 2005, Inman News Top Mistakes of Home Buyers and Sellers in 2005 Dec 29, 2005, Realty Times Housing Affordability Hits 14-Year Low Dec 22, 2005, RealEstateJournal.com Home loan applications fall to over 3-1/2-yr low Dec 28, 2005, Yahoo! Finance Weekly Home Mortgage Rates (AP) Dec 28, 2005, Yahoo! News Despite Decline, Housing Still Strong Dec 28, 2005, Quicken Loans more real estate news Homes For Sale - Apartments For Rent - Current Mortgage Rates - Real Estate Agents - Local - Yellow Pages

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Getting real about real estate investing - Nov. 17, 2004 Web CNN/Money Buying & Selling Investment Property Home Improvement Million $ Life Financing Best Places Getting real about real estate investing Being a landlord can be profitable -- or a big headache. Take some advice from these investors. November 17, 2004: 4:03 PM EST By Jon Birger , MONEY Magazine. Additional reporting by Joan Caplin and Amy Feldman. NEW YORK (MONEY Magazine) - Successful real estate investors sometimes make what they do sound almost too easy. "Rentals freed me from ever having to get a job again," says Orlando Rodriguez, a 38-year-old San Antonio landlord who makes about $100,000 a year off the 90 apartments he owns. "I'm a high school dropout -- seventh-grade dropout, actually -- so my story should tell people this isn't rocket science." Yes, landlording isn't science (which is not to say it isn't often a lot of hard work), but if you're willing to put in the time and effort, buying and operating rental properties can pay off big. Try this math on for size: You purchase a $100,000 condominium with $30,000 down and a $70,000 mortgage. If the condo rents for $1,200 a month, your net profits -- after costs such as mortgage, maintenance and property taxes -- should be in the $2,000-a-year range. Conservatively invested, that sum should earn enough to pay off the entire mortgage within 14 years. You'd have turned $30,000 in equity into $100,000, even if rents didn't go up and property values didn't appreciate. Factor in 4 percent annual rent increases and price appreciation, and the property's net value to the owner would be closer to $200,000. A stock fund would need to return 15 percent a year for 14 years to beat that performance -- and funds don't give you any of the tax breaks that can come with being a property owner. The key thing to remember, though, is that buying rental properties is not for point-and-click investors. Even landlords who hire out the plumbing, painting and rent collection to contractors and management companies typically make a big time commitment. Rick Lionhardt of Dallas, a 55-year-old retired telecom worker, owns 33 properties with wife Helen, 49, a secretary. Even when he was working full time, Lionhardt says, he spent 70 to 80 hours a week on real estate. "I'd make calls during lunch and drive around at night looking for more things to buy." For the first-time landlord, there is plenty to learn -- about taxes, financing, dealing with difficult tenants -- and usually there are many mistakes to be made. The payoff can be terrific though, even for investors who own just one or two properties. Doing it right will get you extra income now and a valuable addition to your retirement nest egg down the road. What does "doing it right" mean? Read on for some key tips and secrets -- as well as pitfalls to avoid -- from successful investors who had to learn the hard way. Know how to take your market's temperature. When considering a rental property, your top concern should be whether you can make money renting it out now, not how much its price might appreciate in the future (although that's important too). All you're doing is speculating on real estate prices if you're shelling out more than you're taking in -- and that can be dangerous, especially if you're doing it with borrowed money. "You never want to buy a property where every month you have to feed it," says Neil Binder, co-founder of New York City's Bellmarc Realty. So before you buy, add up your projected property taxes, mortgage payments and maintenance costs, and make sure the total is less than your expected rental income. Experienced real estate investors say they generally look to pay anywhere from 45 to 85 times monthly rent for a property. That means annual rental revenue should be about 15 to 25 percent of the property's value. Finding places with those kinds of yields can be difficult. Take California, probably the most bubblicious market in the country. A condominium renting for $1,200 a month in Southern California sells for $350,000 today, according to veteran California real estate investor Bruce Norris. A $1,200-a-month condo in the Dallas/Fort Worth area can be had for $95,000. To a landlord, that's the difference between an annual return on investment of 4 percent vs. 15 percent. Mortgages and home equity loans Search for rates from hundreds of lenders. No points only Select Loan: Select a Mortgage 15 Yr Fixed Jumbo - $385K 15 Yr Fixed Conforming - $165K 30 Yr Fixed Conforming - $165K 30 Yr Fixed Jumbo - $385K 1 Yr ARM Conforming - $165K 1 Yr ARM Jumbo - $385K 3/1 Yr ARM Conforming - $165K 3/1 ARM Jumbo - $385K 5/1 Yr ARM Conforming - $165K 5/1 ARM Jumbo - $385K 7/1 Yr ARM Conforming - $165K ARM Jumbo - $385K State: Select State Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Washington DC Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming "The only reason you'd be a California landlord at today's prices is because you're expecting price appreciation," says Norris, who thinks prices in the state are due for a fall. "Monthly cash flow would be almost impossible to achieve without an enormous down payment." Another tool experienced investors use to measure the profitability of a market is price-to-rent -- that is, the ratio of median home price to annual rent for three-bedroom homes. The bigger the number, the less likely you are to make money as a landlord. California has a price-to-rent ratio of 25 these days, the highest in the country. Hawaii (23) is second from the top, and Massachusetts (19) is third. Far more inviting to investors are states like Delaware, Missouri, Texas and Vermont, where the price-to-rent ratios are 11 or 12. For more information on median home prices and market rents in your area, visit realtor.org and huduser.org . Find smart ways to cut your financing costs. Borrowing to buy real estate as an investment is more expensive than borrowing to buy a home. Lenders generally think they are taking more of a risk on buildings that the owner doesn't live in. Consequently, the interest rates they charge tend to be 0.5 percentage points or more above those for traditional home mortgages. Not only that, but borrowers need excellent credit scores to qualify for the lowest rates. In addition, the minimum down payment is usually 20 or 25 percent, instead of the 10 percent for standard home mortgages. There are a couple of ways around the higher rates and steeper down payments. To qualify for a traditional mortgage, you are required by most lenders to live in the property for a minimum of one year. But there's nothing stopping you from buying a home or a condo with a traditional mortgage, living in it for a year and then renting it out afterward. YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Mortgages Personal Debt Real Estate Loan Markets or Create your own Manage alerts | What is this? If the down payment rather than the rate is the stumbling block, ask the seller whether he's willing to self-finance the mortgage. With owner financing, the buyer signs a promissory note in which he agrees to make his mortgage payments directly to the seller. In exchange for forgoing a down payment, the seller typically gets a premium rate -- 8 to 10 percent, perhaps. Why would a seller take the additional risk implicit in skipping the down payment? "It's a lot faster to sell a house owner-financed than conventionally," says San Antonio landlord Rodriguez. (There are also brokers who buy owner-financed notes from sellers who want their money up front.) Click here to learn about interest-only mortgages and some of their advantages. Learn to take advantage of the many tax breaks. For tax purposes, what you make in rent is generally taxable as regular income. Real estate taxes and mortgage interest on an investment property are fully tax deductible though. Operating expenses such as utilities, insurance, repairs and condominium common charges are also deductible. So are rental fees paid to brokers, although they must be spread out over the life of the lease. Even better, the federal tax code entitles rental-property owners to a depreciation deduction even though housing prices usually go up, not down, over time. (There are, however, numerous conditions and catches, which is why it is essential to consult a tax adviser before you invest a cent.) Anticipate problems (they will be numerous). Reliable, prompt-paying tenants do up and leave suddenly. Minor leaks have a way of becoming expensive repair jobs. That's why it's smart to line up inspectors and contractors before you buy. And why it's important to establish rainy-day funds. Two or three months' rent is usually -- but not always -- sufficient. Just ask Marla Renee, a 55-year-old semiretired hairdresser who owns six rental properties in the Detroit area. Five years ago Renee bought a run-down duplex for $28,000. She figured the house needed $10,000 worth of work, but three months later the tally was nearly three times that. "The last tenant had turned on the water on purpose and flooded the whole place," she says. "The floor, ceiling and walls were all messed up." Finally, don't skimp on fees should you decide to hire a management company to tend to your rental property. The typical fee is 5 to 10 percent of rental income. Experienced landlords say it's not worth it to be cheap: Property managers often work harder to fill vacancies and to maximize rent when they are better compensated. Put potential tenants under the microscope. Picking tenants may ultimately be the most important real estate decision you make. This is where listening to the voices of experience really pays off -- although you should be discreet about how you apply their lessons. Elderly people are better tenants than college kids, as everyone knows, but in many states, landlords acting on that type of common sense judgment would be running afoul of fair-housing laws. Michelle Bizik, 35, of Lake Ariel, Pa. owns two small apartment buildings with her husband Goran, 30. For the most part, they've had lots of success finding good tenants. They require potential renters to provide Social Security numbers, ostensibly for criminal and credit background checks (which are a good idea), but Bizik says it's more about renters proving to her that they have nothing to hide. She also checks references with employers and prior landlords. If prospects pass those tests, she and her husband always meet them in person. "I need to get a vibe off of them," she explains. These are all good ideas for screening tenants. Here are a couple more. When checking references, don't stop with the most recent landlord. Contact the second or third most recent as well. "The current landlord may just want him out of the property," says Ellis San Jose, a 39-year-old real estate investor from Los Angeles. Also, consider making an unannounced visit to the prospect's current residence. Marcia Glantz, a Coldwell Banker broker for 27 years in Yorktown, N.Y., says, "Explain that your house is important to you, and that you want to get a sense for how they live." Saying no can be tough when a vacancy is burning a hole in your wallet. Stay strong. The one time Michelle Bizik caved proved to be a big mistake. "We were both against him," she recalls, "but the apartment was empty and he was a friend of another tenant." Soon after the guy moved in, his pregnant girlfriend, five cats and two friends did too. And he was late with the rent. "All the tenants were complaining," Bizik says. "The hall smelled like cat urine. The music was so loud, tenants were calling me at 11 o'clock at night." The Biziks offered to pay him to leave. He declined, so they had to go through the aggravation and expense of having him evicted. Think about investing in REITs instead. If you want to buy into real estate but don't want to deal with all the headaches that can come with managing it, you may want to consider a real estate investment trust (REIT). These are publicly traded building-management companies that pass the bulk of their earnings on to shareholders in the form of hefty dividends. That makes them a great choice for retirees and other income-hungry investors. One catch is that REIT dividends are taxed at higher rates than regular corporate dividends. REITs offer several advantages over buying properties on your own. First, there are economies of scale: On a per-square-foot basis, REIT maintenance costs are much lower than those of most individual landlords. The management expenses of a typical REIT are only 0.5 percent of total assets under management, says Russell Platt, manager of the Dividend Capital Realty Income fund. Another plus is diversification, since REITs typically invest in many markets and sometimes different types of property -- residential, commercial and retail. And finally, there's liquidity: You can sell a REIT whenever you want, and your brokerage commission will be a drop in the bucket compared with the 6 percent charged by most real estate brokers. A conservative REIT bet would be Equity Residential Properties ( Research ), run by Chicago mogul Sam Zell. Equity Residential is the nation's largest landlord, which makes it something like an index fund for apartment buildings. Earnings have taken a hit lately owing to, among other things, the Florida hurricanes. But occupancy rates have been ticking up, and Equity Residential still offers a juicy 5.1 percent dividend yield. A more aggressive play is Archstone-Smith Trust ( Research ), an apartment building owner with a big presence in suburban Washington, D.C. and other East Coast markets. Archstone-Smith also has a dividend yield of 5.1 percent. The company has profits from condo conversions, and high occupancy rates, which put it in a good position to raise rents. And that's a very nice position for any landlord to be in. --* Disclaimer Try an issue of MONEY magazine - FREE! More on REAL ESTATE • How to buy and build on rural land • Most overvalued housing markets • When booms go bust... TODAY'S TOP STORIES • Most overvalued housing markets • Risks to the economy in 2006 • Which was the worst ad of all in 2005? CNN Money contact us | subscribe to Money magazine advertising -- | site map | glossary | RSS | press room OTHER NEWS: CNN | SI | Fortune | Business 2.0 | Time © 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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WHAT TO DO ABOUT TAX WHEN YOU BUY A HOUSE FAQ's Select a FAQs Category Capital Acquisitions Tax Capital Gains Tax Employer Information Corporation Tax Customs & Excise Revenue Audit Value Added Tax (VAT) Vehicle Registration Tax What to do about Tax when you buy a house Do I need to tell the tax office if I buy a house? Can I claim tax relief on my mortgage? What is a sole or main residence? To help with the mortgage repayments, I intend letting part of my house. What tax relief can I claim against my personal income tax and against the rental income? Does residence only mean a house? Can I claim tax relief on a loan for home improvements? What can the loan be used for? How much tax relief will I get? How can I claim the relief? If I sell my house will I have to pay Capital Gains Tax? What happens if I had let part of the house or used part of the house for business purposes? What happens if my property has "development value"? 1. Do I need to tell the tax office if I buy a house? Yes - you should inform the tax office as soon as possible so that all correspondence can be sent to your new address. » Back to Top 2. Can I claim tax relief on my mortgage? Yes - if the house is situated in the State, Northern Ireland or Great Britain and is used as your sole or main residence. » Back to Top 3. What is a sole or main residence? A sole or main residence is the residence which is your home for the greater part of the time. It does not have to be owned by you e.g. your parents residence may also be your sole or main residence, if you normally live there. » Back to Top 4. To help with the mortgage repayments, I intend letting part of my house. What tax relief can I claim against my personal income tax and against the rental income? In this situation, part of the mortgage interest may be claimed as a normal interest credit against your personal income tax. However, the balance of the interest may not be claimed as a rental deduction. The mortgage interest applicable to the let part of the house will be determined on a just and reasonable basis. For example, the apportionment of the interest may be by reference to the number of rooms let. » Back to Top 5. Does residence only mean a house? No. It also includes: A flat Any garden or grounds of an ornamental nature which are used along with the house or flat A Mobile Home/Caravan - provided it: Is on a permanent site Is of a reasonable size to fulfill the requirements of use as a permanent residence Has electricity and other services supplied to it Is immobilised (i.e. wheels removed and mounted on blocks). 6. Can I claim tax relief on a loan for home improvements? Yes. You can claim tax relief on a loan used by you to purchase, repair, develop or improve your sole or main residence or to pay off another loan (or loans) used for that purpose. » Back to Top 7. What can the loan be used for? The loan can be used for most work done on your sole or main residence except for money spent on furniture or removable fittings (e.g. light fittings, curtains, carpets etc.). Examples of what the loan may be used for are: Extensions, purchase/construction of garage, garden shed, greenhouse etc. Construction of driveway, path etc. Conversions, painting and decorating Installing central heating Rewiring or replumbing (including bathroom suites) Replacing or installing windows Purchase and/or installation of burglar/fire alarms Purchase and installation of bedroom and kitchen units which are affixed to and become part of the building Treatment for damp, dry rot, woodworm etc. Landscaping gardens (including garden walls) Contributions to group water and sewerage schemes. » Back to Top 8. How much tax relief will I get? Tax relief is granted on the amount of the interest paid, at the standard rate subject to the overall limits as set out in Leaflet IT60 (Home Loan Interest Relief - 2000/2001 onwards) . Special provisions apply for "First Time Buyers". The period for which relief is available is 7 years (this does not apply to mortgages taken out before 6 April 1998). » Back to Top 9. How can I claim the relief? From 1 January 2002, tax relief for home mortgage interest is no longer given through the tax system but is instead granted at source. This means that your mortgage lender gives you the benefit of the tax relief element on the mortgage interest on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners. Your mortgage repayment is reduced by the amount of the tax relief. Your lender in turn claims this amount from Revenue. Any future adjustments in the tax relief (for example, arising from changes in interest rates) will be made automatically by the lender on behalf of Revenue. It is not be necessary to claim mortgage interest relief in the annual tax return, and it no longer appears on your Notice of Tax Credits. Borrowers who are taking out new mortgages must complete a TRS1 form. Your lender will supply you with a TRS1 form. Forms can also be obtained from the TRS Section, Collector-Generals, Sarsfield House, Francis Street, Limerick. Further details are available on the Leaflet TRS (Mortgage Interest Tax Relief at Source) . » Back to Top 10. If I sell my house will I have to pay Capital Gains Tax? No. If the house (including grounds of up to one acre) has been occupied as your sole or main residence throughout your period of ownership you will be exempt from capital gains tax on the sale. » Back to Top 11. What happens if I had let part of the house or used part of the house for business purposes? Full exemption may not be due if only part of the house has been used as your residence. In this case an apportionment will be made to arrive at the exempt portion of the total gain and you will have to pay capital gains tax on the balance. » Back to Top 12. What happens if my property has "development value"? Where your property has development value i.e. if it is sold for a price higher than its normal current use value then the relief from capital gains tax as outlined above is confined to what it would be if the property did not have development value. » Back to Top

Real Estate Loan

Mortgage News Daily - Mortgage And Real Estate News Thursday December 29, 2005 ... Home Latest Headlines Contact Us Bookmark Us Sitemap Comments/Feedback 30 Yr Fix 6.22% 0.04% 15 Yr Fix 5.76% 0.03% 1 Yr ARM 5.15% 0.07% 30 Yr Tres 4.53% 0.00% Fed Prime 7.25% 0.25% MND Features - Mortgage License Information - Real Estate License Information - Mortgage Content Syndication - Mortgage Fraud - Wiki - New! Mortgage News Monthly Archive September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 Get Real Time News Updates via your Favorite News Reader! MORTGAGE NEWS DAILY HEADLINES Mortgage Rates and Activity? Holidays Hold Center Stage Wed, 28 Dec 2005 16:00:31 EST Weekly Mortgage Survey - Week Ending December 22, 2005 Mortgage Rates, Fees and Points Ease Marginally From Previous Week Wed, 21 Dec 2005 16:13:30 EST Weekly Mortgage Survey - Week Ending December 15, 2005 NAR Report Sees Banks as Non-Competitive Wed, 21 Dec 2005 11:02:30 EST Per NAR, real estate is a nearly perfect competitive market. Banking, uh,.not so much. NAR Strikes Back At Anti-Competitive Charges Fri, 16 Dec 2005 15:56:11 EST NAR counters claims of non-competitiveness with major review of real estate and banking industry structures. Mortgage Rates Continue To Exhibit Split Personality Wed, 14 Dec 2005 15:32:46 EST Weekly Mortgage Survey - Week Ending December 8, 2005 Major Economic Forecasts Paint Varied Future For Housing Mon, 12 Dec 2005 12:57:23 EST Economists generally agree that housing is slowing but differ greatly on the pace and the effect. Surveys Indicating Mortgage Rates Turning Around Again Thu, 8 Dec 2005 10:43:10 EST Weekly Mortgage Survey - Week Ending November 30, 2005 A Bad Inspection Should Not Be The End Of The World (Cont) Wed, 7 Dec 2005 11:19:55 EST Do not give up on your dream house just because the inspection report is less than dreamy. Money can fix most problems and your seller may be willing to pay his share. Conventional Loan Limits Increased For Freddie and Fannie Fri, 2 Dec 2005 12:57:16 EST Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae loan limits will increase to meet rising house prices. Mortgage Rates Return To October Levels Wed, 30 Nov 2005 12:04:00 EST Weekly Mortgage Survey - Week Ending November 23, 2005 Housing Bubble - Maybe, Maybe Not. Wed, 30 Nov 2005 11:48:21 EST NAR and HUD-Census Bureau release October sales figures. Existing home sales slow a bit but new homes continue to sell at a record pace. Home Inspection Reports Should Not Be All Bad News Tue, 29 Nov 2005 11:59:27 EST A good housing inspection should give a buyer a solid assessment of the new house and provide lots of information to keep it running well. Mortgage Rates Drop According To Most Recent Surveys Wed, 23 Nov 2005 15:54:21 EST Weekly Mortgage Survey - Week Ending November 17, 2005 What Constitutes A Good Home Inspection? Tue, 29 Nov 2005 11:38:57 EST What should you expect from a home inspection? The American Society of Home Inspectors has Standards of Practice, but a good inspector will go an extra mile or more. No Matter What, Budget For A Home Inspection Thu, 17 Nov 2005 12:21:16 EST Home inspections are a nearly universal part of a home purchase these days. Why you should never forego one and what you should expect to pay, how you will benefit, and how states are moving to regulate the process. Mortgage Rates Increase Moderately After Last Weeks Big Jump Wed, 16 Nov 2005 15:20:49 EST Weekly Mortgage Survey - Week Ending November 10, 2005 Fannie Mae Misses Report Again and Finds More Accounting Problems Tue, 15 Nov 2005 11:02:29 EST Any bets on when Fannie Mae will finally figure out what it earned or didnt during the first years of the new century? It sure does not seem to be getting any closer to restating its earlier reports. Freddie Mac Sees Continued Bright Future For Housing Market Fri, 11 Nov 2005 11:59:32 EST Beyond short term impacts of the hurricanes and in spite of rising interest rates Freddie Mac still paints a picture of a solid housing market. Mortgage Rates Take Biggest Jump of Year Wed, 9 Nov 2005 13:32:38 EST Weekly Mortgage Survey - Week Ending November 4, 2005 Home Building and Remodeling For Accessability - Part II Tue, 8 Nov 2005 16:29:30 EST Making a home work for the elderly or disabled can provide comfort and safety for the whole family. President Bush Tax Panel Recommendations Go To Executive Branch Mon, 7 Nov 2005 13:31:51 EST The Presidential tax panel issued its recommendations this week. There were enough small changes to warrant a second and more comprehensive look. Weekly Mortgage Rates Hit New Yearly Highs Again Wed, 2 Nov 2005 16:22:05 EST Weekly Mortgage Survey - Week Ending October 27, 2005 Building Or Remodeling Your Home In Light Of The Inevitable or Accidental Tue, 1 Nov 2005 17:16:01 EST A disability, even a very temporary one, can raise havoc with the enjoyment of your home. Take any opportunity when building or remodeling to prepare for accessibility. Lopsided House Vote Seeks To Regulate Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Fri, 28 Oct 2005 11:41:39 EST The House of Representatives has approved new oversight for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Senate approval appears a long way off. The 30 Fixed Mortgage Rates Now Firmly Over 6 Percent Tue, 8 Nov 2005 15:40:15 EST Weekly Mortgage Survey - Week Ending October 20, 2005 NAR Sees Soft Landing as Housing Bubble Transitions To Expansion Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:43:30 EST NAR report sees an ultimate soft landing as bubble begins to soften and fallout from Katrina benefits portions of the sales market. Home Mortgage Deduction Under Attack By Presidential Panel Mon, 7 Nov 2005 15:02:02 EST Homeowners may lose a cherished tax deduction if a presidential panel gets its way. But history says it is unlikely to happen. Modular Homes and Prefab Housing Can Save Time and Money Fri, 21 Oct 2005 12:55:34 EST Modular and panelized construction using a variety of methods and materials offer time and cost saving alternatives for homeowners. Even IKEA is getting into the act. Are Real Estate Commissions at the Root of NAR Problems? Fri, 21 Oct 2005 11:59:10 EST Are commissions the reason for the recent attacks on the National Association of Realtors and on agents. Hmmmm - there does seem to be a pattern. Mortgage Rates Top 6 Percent Tue, 8 Nov 2005 15:38:18 EST Weekly Mortgage Survey - Week Ending October 13, 2005 Rita Joins Katrina As Topic of Freddie Mac Monthly Reports Mon, 17 Oct 2005 14:17:54 EST Although acknowledging hurricanes impact, Freddie Mac still sees a rosy housing picture. Freddie Mac Anticipates Huge Hurricane Related Losses Wed, 12 Oct 2005 15:31:24 EST Freddie Mac has tallied up its losses to Rita and Katrina and they will be substantial. Fixed Mortgage Rates Nudge 6 Percent For First Time Since Spring Wed, 12 Oct 2005 14:40:39 EST Weekly Mortgage Survey - Week Ending October 6, 2005 Congress Is Also On The Case - NARs Troubles, Continued Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:31:48 EST A Government Accountability Office Report suggests reputation and service may be more relevant to creating competition in the real estate than commissions. Manufactured Housing And Homes-In-A-Box are Viable Routes To Home Ownership Mon, 10 Oct 2005 13:05:07 EST While traditional one-stud-at-a-time construction remains the norm, a potential build-it-myselfer would do well to check out options to make those dreams come true. Realtors Under Fire From DOJ, GAO, And That is Just the Beginning Mon, 10 Oct 2005 13:20:04 EST Seems like a lot of people are targeting the National Association of Realtors. The Department of Justice heads the list. ARMs Narrow Yield Curve in Latest Mortgage Rates Survey Wed, 12 Oct 2005 14:38:44 EST Weekly Mortgage Survey - Week Ending September 28, 2005 So You Want To Build A House Tue, 4 Oct 2005 17:26:44 EST Building a home is an adventure but, with enough information and some innovative new housing options, perhaps one with a happy ending. Mortgage Rates and Home Sales Both Up In Recent Reports Wed, 28 Sep 2005 22:09:07 EST Mortgage rates rose, home sales and prices were also higher. But are mortgage applications the canary in the coal mine? Read Those Homeowner and Flood Insurance Policies Before It Is Too Late Tue, 27 Sep 2005 14:10:50 EST Actual cash value versus replacement costs; deductibles, and valued policies are only a few of the things you need to know as an informed consumer of homeowner and flood insurance. HUD and Commerce Say Housing Starts Drop Slightly Thu, 22 Sep 2005 16:54:33 EST Housing starts are reported off in the last month, but the single family market still shows that builders continue to be optimistic. Mortgage Rates Up Across the Board Wed, 21 Sep 2005 18:19:46 EST Weekly Mortgage Summary Report. So Should You Pay PMI or Take Out a Piggyback Mortgage? Mon, 19 Sep 2005 15:18:14 EST Piggy backs make more financial sense at present than private mortgage insurance, but that can change with interest rates and/or pending legislation. Freddie Mac and MBA Mortgage Rates Survey Directionless Thu, 15 Sep 2005 11:27:16 EST Weekly mortgage rates report. Freddie Mac September Outlook - Its All About Katrina Thu, 15 Sep 2005 11:19:51 EST Freddie Mac sheds some light on the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the housing market and economy. Time To Review Your Homeowners and Flood Insurance Coverage Fri, 16 Sep 2005 10:51:26 EST Katrina, not to mention Charley, Ivan, western brush fires, and California mud slides should be prompting you to check your insurance coverage. Another Report on Spiraling Housing Prices Tue, 25 Oct 2005 10:11:54 EST Freddie Mac quarterly report on housing prices show continued growth propelled by dropping interest rates in the second quarter. Private Mortgage Insurance - Facts From The Source Thu, 8 Sep 2005 13:36:38 EST After a bit of a paper chase we finally get some officials answers about how PMI works. Free Credit Reports For All - But Watch Your Step Thu, 8 Sep 2005 10:03:50 EST Now everyone can get a free credit report - just watch your typing fingers. Mortgage Rates Fall For Third Week In A Row Wed, 7 Sep 2005 15:37:26 EST Weekly mortgage rates report. Greenspan Warns Than Housing Prices Will Simmer Down Thu, 1 Sep 2005 11:36:49 EST Chairman Greenspan warns again that housing prices will cool and take parts of the economy along. ©2005 MortgageNewsDaily.com All rights reserved. - Disclaimer