Make Your Move
A special Boston Globe section to help you take advantage of the homebuyer tax credit
LIVE CHAT
Mar. 1 Transcript
Tax credit advice
Ask IRS media relations specialist Peggy Riley your burning homebuyer tax questions.
CREDIT COUNTDOWN
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FEATURES
5 first-time homebuyer tips
Ready to buy your first home? Lucky you. But read these rookie tips to make yourself even smarter. (By Andrew Caffrey, Boston Globe)
When credit is due
Home buyers have until the end of April to put a home purchase under contract and qualify for the federal government’s housewarming gift of a tax credit for as much as $8,000.
(By Ann Carrns, Boston Globe)
(By Ann Carrns, Boston Globe)
The sweet spots
Looking for value in the Massachusetts housing market? Bargain hunting for homes in the Bay State has never been easy, but here's our top places to start hunting. (By Jenifer B. McKim, Boston Globe)
Inspections 101
A home inspection is a vital part of the home-buying process. Here are 10 things you should know about getting a Mass. inspection.
(By Jesse Nunes, Boston.com)
(By Jesse Nunes, Boston.com)
MORE HOME BUYING TIPS AND NEWS
Yes, you can buy a home
Credit is still tight, but here are six ways to uncover a great mortgage and otherwise make a purchase possible. (By Elizabeth Gehrman, Boston Globe)
Foreclosure crisis spreads to affluent communities
DOVER - The foreclosure auction was still an hour away, but potential buyers were already circling the Baird home, snapping photos with their Blackberries. (By Erica Noonan, Globe Staff)
Tax credit boosts North Shore sales
The housing market north of Boston is on an upswing, real estate agents say, but it’s not time to strike up a chorus of “Happy Days Are Here Again’’ just yet. (By Joel Brown, Globe Correspondent)
Mass. home prices, sales surge in January
Massachusetts home prices and sales surged in January, providing added evidence that the state’s real estate market is on the rise. (By Jenifer B. McKim, Boston Globe)
Mortgage rates rise above 5 percent
Rates for 30-year home loans rose above the 5 percent threshold for the first time in three weeks, but remained near historically low levels. (Boston Globe)
Banks broke mortgage modification rules, 2 lawsuits say
Two lawsuits filed yesterday in US District Court in Boston claim Wells Fargo and Bank of America have not followed federal rules for mortgage loan modifications, leaving some homeowners stuck in foreclosure “limbo.’’ (By Megan Woolhouse, Boston Globe)
30-year mortgage rates decline again
Rates for 30-year home loans edged lower for the second straight week, but remained above last year’s record lows. (Boston Globe)
Tax Credit Basics
First-time homebuyers
Maximum purchase price: $800,000Income limits: Single, $125,000 Married, $225,000
Maximum credit: $8,000
Qualification: Not owned primary residence past three years
Previous owners
Maximum purchase price: $800,000Income limits: Single, $125,000 Married, $225,000
Maximum credit: $6,500
Qualification: Owned home at least five consecutive years in past eight
More bugs on Friday
When I was a child, we’d say “Good night, don’t let the bedbugs bite!” as if it was a joke. The Rolling Stones published “Shattered”...
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