Virginia Beach Real Estate

South Hampton Roads Real Estate Area Market Report

Existing-home sales rose from the first quarter in 13 states, largely from buyers responding to discounted home prices, according to the latest quarterly survey by the National Association of Realtors®. Nearly one-quarter of metropolitan areas showed rising home prices in the second quarter from a year ago, with greatly mixed conditions continuing around the country.  

NAR President Richard Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif., said foreclosures are distorting the price data. "In many areas with large concentrations of foreclosure sales, homes are being purchased below replacement cost values," Gaylord said. "Many buyers with long-term expectations are getting exceptional value in the current market. Once the inventory is drawn down, price pressure will return because the costs of construction are rising - today's buyers are very well positioned to build wealth over time." National Association of Realtors®

Let's take a look at the South Hampton Roads real estate market activity, including Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk and Portsmouth, Smithfield and Isle of Wight for this July.

South Hampton Roads July 2008 Sales Statistics

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In the past, owning a home has always been perceived as a major component of the "American Dream."  Unfortunately, because of the recent real estate market activity, home-ownership is often seen now as more of a nightmare than a dream.  But that doesn't have to be the case!  Even in a slower economy, purchasing Virginia Beach real estate can still be a step toward achieving your own "American Dream!"

Inman News offers some reasons why home ownership still has benefits and advantages, including:

The opportunity to build equity and create wealth over time.

• Protection from rent increases or eviction at the whim of a landlord.
• The pleasures of a relatively larger home, suitable for a family, and with a backyard, garage or other auxiliary space.
• The freedom - design review boards notwithstanding - to improve, remodel or redecorate to suit one's own style and budget.
• A variety of lucrative income-tax breaks.
• Pride of ownership and a greater sense of security and stability.

So, if you are thinking of purchasing Virginia Beach real estate, now is the time!  Don't let the negative media attention on the market get you down - home ownership is still an attainable goal and a big part of the American Dream.

If you are ready to begin looking at Virginia Beach real estate, please call us at 866-222-0158 #550 or visit ButlerTeamHomes.com.    

Not so long ago helping the environment meant recycling plastic and newspapers, but today it has evolved into "green" thinking and extends to our homes and our living environments.

According to a recent NAR survey, nine out of 10 Realtors® said home buyers are interested in energy efficient features of green homes and the potential cost savings of such features. An overwhelming 90 percent agreed there will be even more interest in green building practices a year from now.

Results of a Harris Interactive poll by Move, Inc. show potential home buyers consider "green" building features more important than luxury amenities. Almost half of the adults surveyed (49 percent) said features such as solar panels or energy-saving appliances were "important," compared to just 31 percent who rated luxury amenities important.

Ninety-three percent of all home buyers are not willing to pay more for green or energy efficient features when building a home, according to a recent independent study commissioned by The New York Times Customer Insight Group.

However, a recent survey from Green Builder Media reports U.S. and Virginia Beach home buyers are willing to pay a premium for more environmentally friendly, green-built homes.

More than half of home builders surveyed (250 residential builders across the U.S.) said that buyers are willing to pay a premium of between 11-25 percent for green-built homes. The same builders report that the average green home buyer is between the ages of 35-50 with a college degree and fair understanding of green products.

Despite the conflicting statistics, the U.S. Green Building Council believes thinking "green" is an industry trend, rather than a passing fad; not only does it save on energy costs, it is better for our overall health and the environment as a whole.

Interested is buying a Virginia Beach home with environmentally-frienldy "green" features? Visit our website, ButlerTeamHomes.com or give us a call at 866-222-0158 #550.

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Virginia Beach Second-home Sellers Pay For Tax Credits

You have probably heard, last week President signed into law the Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act. This is the most comprehensive housing bill to be enacted in over a decade. The bill is designed to help more buyers of Virginia beach real estate realize their dreams, as well as, boast the struggling housing and mortgage markets.

One of the biggest benefits, and probably one of the most talked about provisions in this legislation, is the $7,500 tax credit to first time home buyers. Tax breaks are all well and good, but they have to be paid for somehow. While first time home buyers are getting a break, second home sellers will be paying for the $15.1 million dollars in tax cuts.

Up until the new legislation went into effect last week, homeowners could exclude up to $250,000 taxable profit on the sale of their home if they're single taxpayers and $500,000 if married filing joint returns. The catch being, they had to live the in house as their primary residence for two of the five years before it is sold.

Many second home owners took advantage of this by moving into a property that was once a rental or vacation home, live there for two years prior to selling and benefiting from the tax-free profit.

With the new legislation, owners selling on or after January 1, 2009 will have to factor out the period when the property was still a rental or vacation home and pay taxes on that portion of the profit.

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President Bush signed into law today The Housing and Economic Recovery Act. This is the most sweeping change to housing reform since the New Deal of 1934. You need to write your Congressmen to see if we can get legislation to revoke some of the changes. FHA effective October 1, 2008 will increase the minimum required down payment from 3% to 3.5% for Virginia Beach home buyers. The legislation also calls for the elimination of seller down-payment assistance programs such as AmeriDream and Nehemiah by October 1, 2008.

As of July 14, 2008 they already made upfront MIP premiums risk based on credit scores but also increased the annual premium across the board.. Instead of the original plan of making FHA loans more affordable for potential Virginia Beach home buyers; the new legislation makes it more expensive.

High-level Details of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act:

Here are some key provisions of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act that most affect Virginia Beach home buyers:

1) Higher permanent loan limits for conventional conforming and FHA will become effective Jan. 1, 2009; the Act calls for limits to increase to a maximum amount of $625,500, depending on the metropolitan area. Note: The temporary limits established in March will expire on Dec. 31, 2008.

2) FHA floor limits will remain the same at $271,050.

3) The VA guaranty will increase.

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