Southside Housing Alliance

“… Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership (INHP) is celebrating National Homeownership Month by hosting a series of homeownership fair Block Parties. All Block Parties include one-on-one credit assessments and INHP’s Money Management class—right on site—plus free family fun, including a kids’ area, live local entertainment, prizes and giveaways, snacks, and an exhibitor area where visitors can get to know area businesses and resources. The Southside Block Party is: June 26th at the University of Indianapolis Schwitzer Student Center on Hanna, 10am to 4pm …”

“… This amendment does not extend the deadline for home buyers to qualify for the tax credit; it extends the deadline for closing the transaction, from June 30 to Sept.30 for qualified home purchasers, who through no fault of their own, are not able to meet the closing deadline. Since these applications were already in the pipeline and figured into the program’s cost, the extension of the closing deadline should not incur any further government costs …”

“… Today’s report is very encouraging because it indicates that homeownership continues its more than year-long trend of remaining within reach of more households than it has for almost two decades. With interest rates still hovering at low levels, companies starting to hire new employees and the economy beginning to rebound, this should encourage more home buyers to enter the market and help further stabilize housing and the economy …”

“… Existing home sales in the Indianapolis area continued an upward trend, rising 25 percent in April. In the eight-county metro area, 2,140 homes were sold in April, compared with 1,711 in the same month last year. Median prices also saw an increase, up 13.7 percent, which marks the seventh consecutive month of median price increases …”

“… Here are the 5 metro areas where the average American family can easily afford to purchase a median-priced home – and the 5 where they can’t. Indianapolis ties for the first place spot on the list of Top 5 Most Affordable Cities and New York tops the list of Least Affordable …”

“… Pending sales for April were up 33.39 percent from last year, which is the highest number ever recorded for an April in the BLC® for Central Indiana. In April Single Family home sales in Central Indiana jumped more than 15 percent, compared to a year earlier thanks to the federal homebuyer tax credit which sparked the increase. Also in April, the average price of a single family home went up for the sixth straight month …”

“… The recent expiration of the 2010 Home Buyer Tax Credits is unlikely to put off Americans looking to purchase homes who believe now is a good time to buy and are confident that home prices will rise according to a new survey which shows that most consumers believe the market has hit bottom and are more optimistic about the future …”

“… Indianapolis is a place where people want to be, to plant their flag, seek their fortune, and build a better future for themselves and their families. In general, the Midwest is a place most people want to move away from, but not here, not this city …”

“…Pending home sales increased again in March, affirming that a surge of home sales is unfolding for the spring home buying season, according to the National Association of Realtors. Favorable affordability conditions have been working with the home buyer tax credit, which both factored into the 5.3% jump in pending home sales…”

“… Home Ownership by the numbers. A look at tax savings, home as an investment, and building wealth. For the majority of Americans, a home is their largest financial asset and a major component of their investment portfolio. And most importantly, it is a place to call home while you own it …”

“… Sales of higher-priced homes in central Indiana jumped by double digits in March. A total of 242 homes in the nine-county area sold for at least $250,000 last month, an increase of 23.5 percent from the same time last year, when 196 homes in the higher-priced segment sold …”

“… The average Indiana home is worth more than it was in March 2009 – higher than five years ago and significantly higher than in 1991. Unlike homes in California in Nevada which have lost nearly half their value on average, the average home price in Indiana has dropped a mere .04 percent since housing prices peaked in March 2008 …”

“… The pink “Homestead Verification Form” that will be enclosed with your property tax bill is very important and can save you thousands! This form has not been widely publicized and can easily be overlooked as bureaucratic paperwork so please pay extra attention when opening your property tax bills. It must be completed and returned by every homeowner who wishes to claim a homestead deduction on their property …”

“… If you rent the same home for ten years (assuming $1,000/month), the total amount you would pay for rent will equal $140,777! None of that $140,777 is returned to you, either through savings or as an investment. Homeownership, on the other hand, often has tax advantages over renting a home, and those advantages can help you save money. More than two thirds of American households own their home and enjoy the benefits of homeownership, from the accumulation of home equity, other financial benefits, and the pride of owning a place of their own …”

“… Indiana ranks 14th for tax credits earned by homebuyers under the federal government’s stimulus program for the housing industry. 39,311 Hoosiers have taken advantage of the homebuyer credit, according to the IRS. The credit provides an income tax write-off of up to $8,000 for first-time homebuyers and up to $6,500 for existing homeowners buying another home. The credit, which Congress extended once, likely will expire for good at the end of this month …”