This bird sure chose a peculiar place to lay her eggs. – The planter is adjacent to our main door to the backyard and in a patio seating area.  We are outside frequently, so I do not know how this will work. Any suggestions?

My cat did not find out about this yet, hopefully, mama bird will be able to make her way back safely to guard her eggs.  I will quarantine Mr. Cat to the indoors, until they hatch and fly away.  Enjoy the pics:)

The Housing Market Snapshot for 85207, in Mesa Arizona, reveals that there are 494 active homes on the market.  The average sales price of homes that sold from March 1, 2009 to April 27, 2009 declined $187,805 to $244,110 compared to the same period last year.  This reflects a decline in the price per square foot of $158 in 2008 to $101 in 2009.  The number of home sales increased by 18 to 103 compared to the March ‘08 – April 27, 2008 snapshot.   The table below presents an overall snapshot for all single-family detached homes in the 85207 zip code area.

With the average pending home sale price increasing over the closed sales price, the month of May should see a slight increase in the overall sales price.  Also, with fewer Jumbo loans available and stringent qualification criteria in place, the average price of homes closed is skewed as compared with the previous year when jumbo loans were still available because more homes are selling under $400k than over the amount.  Stay tuned for the May snapshot update for the community of Las Sendas and the 85207 zip code.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides a Section 203(k) program for the rehabilitation and repair of single family properties. The FHA insures the loans which are offered through approved lenders.

This loan program is unique compared to other loan programs because it allows the borrower to finance both the acquisition of the property and the rehabilitation of the property under one loan. There are two options offered under the Program, one is FHA’s Streamline 203(k) Mortgage and the other is FHA’s 203(k) Mortgage.

Under the Streamline 203(k), buyers can finance a minimum of $5,000 up to a maximum of $35.000 into the loan to improve or upgrade their home before moving in. This allows the buyer to tap into money to pay for repairs and improvements, identified by a home inspector or FHA appraiser. The Streamline(k) document found in the HUD Mortgagee Letter will provide more detailed information on the types of repairs, improvements, costs, and other factors that are specific to the program.

FHA’s 203(k) Mortgage program is HUD’s primary program for the rehabilitation and repair of single family properties. The properties that are eligible can be up to four dwelling units and must have been constructed for at least one year. The advantage of the 203(k) program over other loan programs is that the FHA program allows a low down payment, around 3.5%, and it allows the purchaser to take out one loan to cover the purchase and costs of upgrades.

Below is a summary of the topics that are covered on HUD’s “Rehab a Home with HUD’s 203(k)” web site.

FHA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage Program (EEM), which can be linked to a 203(k) loan, allows a borrower to finance into the loan, 100% of the cost of eligible energy efficient improvements, up to 5% of the property’s value, not to exceed $8,000 or $4,000, whichever is greater. For more information on the Program, see FHA’s EEM website. The FHA offers other programs that can be found on their Resource Site. The site will also help you check to see if you qualify for one or more of their programs.

Details of FHA’s 203(k) Program are lengthy and contain many intricate details, but it is a great way for purchasers to revamp a distressed property and/or add energy savings features to a property. Click here and ask for your FREE list of properties available in the Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix, and Scottsdale area of Arizona.

Now is an opportune time to be a first-time homebuyer. The Federal government, along with many municipalities, is offering opportunities for homebuyers through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). One such program is the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. Through December 1, 2009, first-time homebuyers, defined as purchasers who have not owned a principal residence in the previous three years, are eligible for up to an $8,000 tax credit. The program is for a principal resident only. Below are the stipulations under the program as found in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

Below is a video that explains the details of the Federal Housing Tax Credit.

Sources:

IRS.gov: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html

Full Summary of IRS Information Related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: This site contains all of the links to IRS Tax Related Provisions associated with the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

The American Recover and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Full Summary of provision from the Senate Finance, House Ways & Means Committees: (PDF document of 19 pages).

National Association of Home Builders. This site presents details of frequently asked questions relating to the tax credit.

Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.  Check the recovery.gov website to confirm pertinent information.

Home sales increased a mere 6% in the year-over-year comparison for the time period from January 1st to April 16th this year as compared to last year, while the median sales price experienced a 28% decline. With a median sales price of $318,246, Las Sendas is an affordable alternative to similar picturesque places in the valley like North Scottsdale. Las Sendas market activity has seen a 98% increase in active listings from January 1 to April 16, 2009 as compared with the same period last year.

With an increase in active listings on the market, it presents an opportune time for buyers to purchase their dream home property, while taking advantage of low interest rates and possibly other government incentives.  The table below presents a summary of the year-over-year statistics for the January through April time period.

About Las Sendas.

The majestic community of Las Sendas, nestled amongst the Tonto National Forest is a jewel in the City of Mesa, Arizona. With similar geographical amenities as North Scottsdale, the gated master planned community of Las Sendas is elevated from the Valley’s floor, providing beautiful city lights and sunset views. The community offers housing ranging from townhomes to exclusive multi-million dollar custom homes.

Dream homes can be viewed throughout Las Sendas.  Custom homes within Las Sendas are unique architecturally and blend well into the desert. Recently, an18,000 square foot “solar” mansion, under construction in the Peaks of Las Sendas, was featured in the Arizona Republic (azcentral.com). This $4 million mansion is poised to be one of the largest solar powered homes, with a 20.16 kilowatt system, in the Salt River Project’s grid. Other homes around Las Sendas have solar and some pools are solar heated. The community itself presents a sustainable minded landscape, limiting the use of grass and promoting the use of native, low-water use plants.

For more information on properties in and around Las Sendas and Mesa, Arizona, visit Arizona Red Rock Properties.com.