Net-zero energy homes are gaining in popularity, but before buying a green home or an add-on product designed to generate energy, make sure you do your homework.

The 2010 International Builders' Show (R) | January 19-22, 2010 in Las Vegas, NV

The weak credit availablity and low demand will make 2010 another rocky road for many home builders.  This article details the issues centering on the Home Builder Expo in Las Vegas this month: Home Builders 2010.

Another example proving not much thought was put into the current “Health Care” bill is the inclusion of:

A provision that penalizes small construction firms if they don’t offer insurance to their employees. Under the bill, businesses with more than 50 employees would have to pay a $750-per-worker penalty to the federal government if any of their employees purchases subsidized insurance on their own. The new version of the bill lowers that threshold to five employees for construction firms.

This is incredible but there will be more discussions before the final passage.  Hopefully someone can talk some sense into the Washington establishment.

Full Article

November new home sales suprised everyone on Wednesday. Most experts felt housing was on a rebound until today’s figures wipped out most all of the gains made through 2009.  For the full story November new home sales sink 11 percent.

Google.org has released PowerMeter, a real time application for consumers to participate in monitoring their energy consumption.  The application is free for consumers with “smart meters” already installed.

Google PowerMeter

Per google.org website:

Consumers should have access to data on their personal electricity use, control who gets to see this data and choose from a range of services to help them understand and benefit from this data.

Access
See your electricity use from any Google Powermeter enabled device.

Learn
Understand more about how you use electricity throughout the day.

Save
Reduce your electricity use and lower your monthly bills.

Forbes and Moody’s has published 25 of the best and worst housing markets in America.

Data was provided by Moody’s Economy.com. It looked at metro areas with populations over 500,000 to find those farthest from recovery. The firm prepared forecasts through 2011 and compared them to prices in the second quarter of 2008, the latest figures available, to calculate how far prices will likely fall before reaching bottom. The percent figures are for drop in prices between second quarter 2008 (latest figures available) and the projected bottom. Cities are listed by percent-change to bottom.

Top 5 Best Markets:

McAllen, Texas
Population: 784,900
Bottom expected: N/A
Forecast price change to bottom: 0%

Syracuse, N.Y.
Population: 647,200
Bottom expected: N/A
Forecast price change to bottom: 0%

Pittsburgh, Pa.
Population: 2,346,800
Bottom expected: end 2009
Forecast price change to bottom: -0.3%

Buffalo, N.Y.
Population: 1,118,100
Bottom expected: mid-2010
Forecast price change to bottom: -1.0%

El Paso, Texas
Population: 795,800
Bottom expected: mid-2010
Forecast price change to bottom: -1.0%

5 Worst Markets:

Las Vegas, Nev
Population: 2,053,700
When will the bottom be reached?: end of 2009
Forecast price change to bottom: -42.6%

Miami, Fla.
Population: 2,463,700
When will the bottom be reached?: late 2010
Forecast price change to bottom: -42.5%

Miami, Fla.
Population: 2,463,700
When will the bottom be reached?: late 2010
Forecast price change to bottom: -42.5%

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Population: 1,781,200
When will the bottom be reached?: mid-2010
Forecast price change to bottom: -36.6%

Provo, Utah
Population: 530,800
When will the bottom be reached?: mid-2011
Forecast price change to bottom: -33.9%

Top 25 Best Housing Markets

Top 25 Weakest Housing Markets

See the final results of the Stimulus Bill 2009 / American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as it pertains to the housing tax credit.

‘‘ IN GENERAL.—In the case of an individual who is a purchaser of a principal residence during the taxable year, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter an amount equal to 10 percent of the purchase price of the residence.”

Tax Credit Details

You have one year from the passage of the Stimulus Bill of 2009 to take advantage of this tax credit.  On your 2009-2010 tax returns you will be able to deduct $15,000 or 10% of the total purchase price for your home.

At the election of the taxpayer, the amount of the credit allowed under paragraph (1) (after application of paragraph (2)) may be equally divided among the 2 taxable years beginning with the taxable year in which the purchase of the principal residence is made.

See Sec. 1006 “CREDIT FOR CERTAIN HOME PURCHASES” pages 434 – 441 PDF 2009 Stimulus Bill
Who Qualifies:

Anyone

Pros

$15,000 tax incentive.

Cons

Must stay in the home for three years.  If you sell within three years of purchasing you must prorate the amount. Must be primary residence.

The  current FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER CREDIT has been replaced by the tax credit.

Talk to your CPA about how the details will work for your situation.

Isakson amendment

How falling home prices are helping to stabilize home prices.

Could we be near a bottom?  If pending home sales, homes that are under contract, is any indication we may be.  The most recent home sales data from December show an increase in pending sales of 6.3%.  This gain took economists by surprise as the consensus was a decrease of .5%.

Many attribute this increase to buyers snapping up foreclosures and distressed properties.  This data comes on the heals of an increase of existing home sales in December of 6.5%.

The fact is that home buyers are taking advantage of this downtrodden real estate market.  With home prices dropping and mortgage rates at historic lows the first, second or third time home buyer has opportunity abound.

Full WSJ article..

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