This Month In Real Estate (US): December 2009
May 42010
Hello and welcome to This Month in Real Estate. Im Jay Papasan.
The First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit has been extended and expanded, and the details can be found in our most recent special edition.
For December, we take a look at the results the incentive had on stimulating home sales since 2008.
According to the IRS, about 1.4 million people have taken advantage of the first time homebuyer tax credit.
Not surprisingly, California ranks number one with the number of people filing a claim for the tax credit, while Alaska and Wyoming are among the states with the fewest number of claims.
But those numbers dont tell the whole story. For more, we go to Bryon Ellington. Bryon?
Bryon: Thanks, Jay.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, every state in the Union has participated in the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.
If we look at the results according to the total number of claims, heres how the rankings shake out:
California is number one with more than 160 thousand tax payers taking advantage of the first time home buyer tax credit.
Texas is number two with over 131 thousand.
And Florida is number three with over 105 thousand.
But when we look at the data in terms of per capita claims, or the percentage of folks in each state who took advantage of the tax credit, we get radically different results.
Heres a look at the top three in terms of per capita participation in the tax credit
Nevada is in the number one position with more than 20 thousand claims out of a population of 2.6 million.
Utah is in the number two position with over 17 thousand claims out of a population of 2.7 million.
And Arizona is in the third position with over 38 thousand claims out of a population of 6.5 million.
Whats more, we find Alaska moving from near the bottom of the rankings to number 26 above California! And Wyoming, the least populated state in the U.S., moves to number 16. Thats just a bit behind Texas in terms of per capita tax payer participation.
Back to you, Jay
Jay: Thanks, Bryon. Thats it for This Month in Real Estate. Thank you for joining us.
Duration : 0:3:6
http://www.tourfactory.com/s453497/r_www.youtube.com 
DO all homes really get the same exposure? Of course not! Even though 90% of home buyers start their search online, most Realtors don’t have a marketing plan that ensures your home is is seen by the thousands of potential buyers on the web.
Joy and Sheri discuss the concept of Home Staging, as well as its enormous benefits.
Joy and Sheri discuss the $8,000 tax credit that’s available to buyers who haven’t owned a home in the last 3 years… but it only lasts until December 1st!
You home’s first impression is important! And for the 96% of potential buyers that use the internet as their primary method to check out homes they want to see, your online curb appeal can make or break your home’s chances of being sold!
http://www.tourfactory.com/s515036/r_www.youtube.com 
http://www.tourfactory.com/s515036/r_www.youtube.com 
Joy and Sheri talk about why she’s sold the most properties in Harrisburg. one of the main reasons is home preparation. Sheri’s home staging talents combined with Joy’s vast reserve of marketing tactics lets Joy guarantee to buy buy your home if she can’t sell it for an agreed-upon price in an agreed-upon time!
http://www.tourfactory.com/s509863/r_www.youtube.com