Combined with the $8000 tax credit for Indiana’s first time home buyers and exceptionally and, not to mention, historically low Indiana FHA rates have driven home sales in Northwest Indiana higher than the previous month by a whopping 13.4%.
Most of the questions that I am getting are about the Indiana First-time homebuyers tax credit Several of my buyers have taken the time at the closing table to fill out an amended federal tax form and mailed it on the way to their new home to get the money all that much sooner.
Pricing has also picked up in Northwest Indiana in May as many buyers, who had been priced out of the market are able to come back and in bid on homes that were previously out of their price range. A recent example is a home that sold for $132,000 but was appraised at $150,000 and the home around the corner was under contract for $188,000 and was 400 square feet smaller. Granted, this was a foreclosed home and had been vacant for over a year, but a good deal is a good deal.
Home sales, nationally, did increase in May, but at a slower pace than Northwest Indiana.
May was the 3rd straight month that home sales have increased telling me that this may be more than just a seasonal increase. There is still a glut of bank owned properties and “short sale” properties that act as a drag on the region, but with rates still great and the tax credit,
Now, is the time to buy – Now, More than ever. The tax credit ends towards the end of 2009, and there are plenty of great deals to be had.
Home sales pick up some steam
Lake County existing single-family home sales
May 2009: 363
April 2009: 320
Porter County existing single-family home sales
May 2009: 111
April 2009: 86