[SIZE=3][COLOR=blue]Please cue Shelly's theme music......[/COLOR][/SIZE] [SIZE=4]Autumn is a [/SIZE][SIZE=4]Great Time to Buy in Florida[/SIZE] ORLANDO, Fla. ? Sept. 10, 2008 ? This fall could be a particularly great time for first-time buyers or those who have been out of the market for at least three years to jump in, say a variety of real estate professionals. Here are the reasons why: ? Property prices are probably as low as they are going to go as the market stabilizes, thanks to the government takeover of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. ? Interest rates are likely to decline as Freddie and Fannie get government help. ? The Federal Housing Administration recently boosted its loan limits to $729,750 in expensive areas. It?s going to take some of that back on Jan. 1, 2009, when the loan limit shrinks to $625,500. ? The FHA allows down payments of as little as 3 percent, but that will rise to 3.5 percent as of Oct. 1. People scraping dollars together for a down payment should try to set their closing for the end of this month. ? The federal tax credit recently approved will shave $7,500 off a first-time buyer?s federal tax bill due April 15. Buyers who don?t owe tax will get the money as a refund. The government?s definition of a first-time buyer is anyone who hasn?t owned a home in the last three years. Source: The Washington Post, Elizabeth Razzi (09/07/08) ? Copyright 2008 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688
