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	<title>Matt Steinmetz&#039;s Blog &#187; tax credit</title>
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		<title>The Importance of Credit</title>
		<link>http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/the-importance-of-credit/</link>
		<comments>http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/the-importance-of-credit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:54:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Matt Steinmetz</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[This video goes over the importance of establishing credit and having good credit and at least 3 tradelines (open credit sources). <a href="http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/the-importance-of-credit/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/the-importance-of-credit/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p>
<p>This video goes over the importance of establishing credit and having good credit and at least 3 tradelines (open credit sources).</p>
<p>If have questions about your scenario, let&#8217;s talk.</p>
<p>Please comment below and share this with the social media buttons.</p>
<p>Matt Steinmetz</p>
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		<title>Governor Schwarzenegger Signs $10,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit Legislation</title>
		<link>http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/governor-schwarzenegger-signs-10000-homebuyer-tax-credit-legislation/</link>
		<comments>http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/governor-schwarzenegger-signs-10000-homebuyer-tax-credit-legislation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Mar 2010 04:01:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Matt Steinmetz</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/?p=260</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Governor Schwarzenegger Signs $10,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit Legislation. Starting May 1st, the very day after the federal tax credit ends, California&#8217;s tax credit kicks in!!! This time it&#8217;s not just for new homes either.  First time buyers, purchasing new or &#8230; <a href="http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/governor-schwarzenegger-signs-10000-homebuyer-tax-credit-legislation/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/14712/">Governor Schwarzenegger Signs $10,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit Legislation</a>.</p>
<p>Starting May 1st, the very day after the federal tax credit ends, <em>California&#8217;s tax credit kicks in!!!</em></p>
<p>This time it&#8217;s not just for new homes either.  <span style="text-decoration: underline;">First time buyers, purchasing new or existing homes</span> can apply for the lesser of 5% of the sales price or $10,000.  This is good for accepted purchase contracts from May 1st through Dec 31, 2010. </p>
<p>Post a comment and let me know what you think about this.  Is it going to help?  Do you know anyone who needs to know this?  Please pass this along by using the share button, or copy the link in your browser.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m here to help, let me know what I can do for you, or someone you know.</p>
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		<title>Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended!</title>
		<link>http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/homebuyer-tax-credit-extended/</link>
		<comments>http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/homebuyer-tax-credit-extended/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:51:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Matt Steinmetz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/?p=197</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tax credit extended <a href="http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/homebuyer-tax-credit-extended/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The House and the Senate have <span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="background-color: #ff9900;">passed</span> the</span> extension of the Homebuyer tax credit and made some changes.  The President is expected to sign it into law tomorrow.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">For 1st time buyer&#8217;s</span> or those who have not owned a home in the last 3 years, the tax credit is $4,000 for singles and $8,000 for couples, with income restrictions maxing out at $125,000 for singles and $225,000 for couples.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Current homeowners</span>, who have owned a home for 5 of the previous 8 years, can now also get a credit of $3,250 for singles and $6,500 for couples with the same income restrictions. </p>
<p>Purchase agreements must be signed by 4/30/2010 and close by 6/30/2010</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Those in the armed forces</span>, stationed outside of the U.S. on official duty for 90 days during the period of 1/1/2009 &#8211; 5/1/2010 have an extended time frame for signed purchase agreements to 5/1/2011 and closing to 6/1/2011.<br />
 </p>
<p>Thank you,<br />
<a href="http://www.envoyconcord.com" target="_blank">Matt Steinmetz<br />
</a><em><a href="http://www.envoyconcord.com" target="_blank">Envoy Mortgage</a>- </em><span style="color: #008000;"><em>Voted Top 25 Tech Savvy Lenders by Mortgage Technology Magazine</em><br />
</span>2151-P Salvio St.<br />
Concord, CA 94520<br />
Phone 925-671-9501 x119<br />
<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>Visit </strong><a title="http://www.mattsteinmetz.com/" href="http://www.mattsteinmetz.com/blog" target="_blank"><strong>my blog</strong></a><strong> for my most recent mortgage related update.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mattsteinmetz.com/Whentopaypoints.pdf">Learn When to Pay Points</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mattsteinmetz.com/8kcredit.pdf">Information about the $8,000 First Time Buyer Tax Credit</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mattsteinmetz.com/10kcredit.pdf">Information about the $10,000 New Home Tax Credit in CA</a><br />
<a href="http://matt.applywest.com/">Apply for a loan online</a></p>
<p>FHA* VA * CALPERS * CALVET * FHA 203K Rehabilitation Loans * Energy Efficient Mortgages</p>
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		<title>Unemployment up to 9.7%</title>
		<link>http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/unemployment-up-2/</link>
		<comments>http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/unemployment-up-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:25:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Matt Steinmetz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/?p=167</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The latest job report came out last week. It appears all of the positive news that has been all over the web and news channels, is premature. 9.7% unemployment is the highest in 26 years. Thank you, Matt Steinmetz Envoy &#8230; <a href="http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/unemployment-up-2/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The latest job report came out last week. It appears all of the positive news that has been all over the web and news channels, is premature. 9.7% unemployment is the highest in 26 years.</p>
<p>Thank you,<br />
Matt Steinmetz<br />
<span style="color: #008000;"><em>Envoy Mortgage- </em><em>Voted Top 25 Tech Savvy Lenders by Mortgage Technology Magazine</em></span><br />
2151-P Salvio St.<br />
Concord, CA 94520<br />
Phone 925-671-9501 x119</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mattsteinmetz.com/Whentopaypoints.pdf">Learn When to Pay Points</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mattsteinmetz.com/8kcredit.pdf">Information about the $8,000 First Time Buyer Tax Credit</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mattsteinmetz.com/10kcredit.pdf">Information about the $10,000 New Home Tax Credit in CA</a><br />
<a href="http://matt.applywest.com/">Apply for a loan online</a></p>
<p>FHA* VA * CALPERS * CALVET * FHA 203K Rehabilitation Loans * Energy Efficent Mortgages</p>
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		<title>Erase 30% of your Principle Balance</title>
		<link>http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/erase-30-of-your-principle-balance/</link>
		<comments>http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/erase-30-of-your-principle-balance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:24:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Matt Steinmetz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/?p=132</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As I excitedly read the guidelines for the new FHA program that allows you to erase 30% of your principle balance in order to lower your payments and hopefully not be underwater on your loan...  I quickly realized  <a href="http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/erase-30-of-your-principle-balance/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><span style="color: #ffff00;"><span style="background-color: #ff6600;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Don&#8217;t hold your breath</span>.</span></span></em>  As I excitedly read the guidelines for the new <a href="http://portal.hud.gov/pls/portal/url/ITEM/6FECFC25D8294E87E04400144F9D3D85" target="_blank">FHA program </a>that allows you to erase 30% of your principle balance in order to lower your payments and hopefully not be underwater on your loan&#8230;  I quickly realized this is yet another new program that the government spent a lot of time and money developing and that it will help very few. </p>
<p>The problem is that you have to already be in an <strong>FHA loan</strong>.  Most of us do not, unless you bought in the last year or so.  You have to be delinquent on your mortgage, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: terminal,monaco;"><span style="background-color: #888888;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="background-color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: arial black,avant garde;">AND</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> already tried to resolve the issues with <strong><span style="font-size: large;">3 </span></strong>other programs, before FHA will entertain your case. </p>
<p><span style="color: #008000;">Feel free to comment or share.</span></p>
<p>Thank you,</p>
<p>Matt Steinmetz<br />
<em><a href="http://www.envoyconcord.com" target="_blank">Envoy Mortgage</a></em><br />
2151-P Salvio St.<br />
Concord, CA 94520<br />
Phone 925-671-9501 x119</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mattsteinmetz.com/Whentopaypoints.pdf">Learn When to Pay Points</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mattsteinmetz.com/8kcredit.pdf">Information about the $8,000 First Time Buyer Tax Credit</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mattsteinmetz.com/10kcredit.pdf">Information about the $10,000 New Home Tax Credit in CA</a><br />
<a href="http://matt.applywest.com/">Apply for a loan online</a></p>
<p><span style="color: #ffffff;">Matt Steinmetz, Concord, Ca, Contra Costa County, Envoy</span></p>
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		<title>First Time Buyer Tax Credit</title>
		<link>http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/first-time-buyer-tax-credit/</link>
		<comments>http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/first-time-buyer-tax-credit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:02:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Matt Steinmetz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[california]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Concord ca]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/?p=42</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here is a link to the flyer New $8,000 Tax Credit for First-time Home Buyers- is set to end soon! Great news for first-time home buyers in 2009! The stimulus plan that President Obama signed into law contains a new &#8230; <a href="http://mattsteinmetz.com/blog/first-time-buyer-tax-credit/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.mattsteinmetz.com/8kcredit.pdf" target="_blank">Here is a link to the flyer</a></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>New $8,000 Tax Credit for First-time Home Buyers-</strong> <em>is set to end soon!</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Great news for first-time home buyers in 2009! The stimulus plan that President Obama signed into law contains a new<br />
$8,000 tax credit for qualified first-time home buyers. And, unlike the $7,500 tax credit from last year, </span></span><span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">this credit does NOT<br />
have to be repaid to the government</span>, as long as you stay in the home for at least 36 months after the purchase date.<br />
Remember, a tax credit is much more valuable than a tax deduction. A tax credit reduces dollar for dollar the amount of tax<br />
you owe. A deduction merely reduces the amount of your income that is taxable. This means the home buyer credit can be<br />
claimed even if the taxpayer has little or no federal income tax liability to offset.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>Who?<br />
</strong>First-time buyers or <span style="font-size: x-small;">anyone who hasn&#8217;t owned </span>a home in the 3 years prior to a purchase of a primary residence may qualify<br />
for a tax credit of up to 10% of the purchase price or $8,000, whichever is less. To qualify for the full credit, the buyer&#8217;s<br />
modified adjusted gross income must be less than $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married taxpayers filing a<br />
joint return. Partial credit is proportionally reduced for incomes under $95,000 (single) or $170,000 (married). For married<br />
taxpayers, the homeownership history of both the home buyer and his/her spouse are taken into account. This means if you<br />
or your spouse has owned a principal residence in the last 3 years, neither you nor your spouse qualifies for the credit.<br />
<strong>What?</strong><br />
According to the IRS, a primary residence is the one you live in most of the time. It can be a house, houseboat, housetrailer,<br />
cooperative apartment, condominium, or other type of residence. If you constructed your main home, you are treated as<br />
having purchased it on the date you first occupied it.<br />
<strong>When?</strong><br />
The $8,000 tax credit is available for qualifying home purchases made from Jan. 1, 2009, until Dec. 1, 2009. This is not a<br />
typo. <em><strong>To receive the credit you must purchase a qualified home before December 1st, 2009</strong> </em>– not the end of the year.<br />
<strong>How?</strong><br />
Unfortunately, you can NOT use the credit as a down payment. To receive the credit, you must purchase a qualified home<br />
first and then claim it on either your 2008 or 2009 taxes. If you make a qualified purchase after April 15, or after having<br />
already filed your 2008 taxes, you and your tax professional can submit an amendment to your return. To claim the credit, use<br />
form 5405.<br />
<strong>Why?</strong><br />
The current combination of lower home prices and lower interest rates makes for an amazing opportunity to buy real estate.<br />
Add to that this $8,000 gift from the government, and renting a home just doesn&#8217;t make much sense.<br />
If you or someone you know is ready to stop paying the landlord&#8217;s mortgage and start building equity in your own home, give<br />
us a call. We&#8217;ll run the numbers and see what makes sense for your individual financial needs.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mattsteinmetz.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Matt Steinmetz</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.envoyconcord.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Envoy Mortgage</span></a></p>
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