Where Can You Get Down Payment Sources?

Where can FHA Buyers get their down payment for the purchase of a new home?

1. Tax Return Money
2. Gifts
3. Cash Value Life Insurance
4. Wedding Money
5. Cash Value Life Insurance
6. 401K/403b/IRA/Roth IRA, or tax-deferred accounts w/ cash out borrowing.
7. Down Payment Assistance Programs, OHFA or Local County Assistance Programs.
8. Employer Assistance Programs
9. Churches or other Non-Profit groups.
10. Home Equity Lines of Credit from Parents, Grandparents, etc.
11. Sale of personal property - cars, boats, collectibles, etc.

Thanks to Robert Underwood - robertunderwood@howardhanna.com for these tips. Give him a call for current programs, rates and tips and tell him the "Hisey Group" sent you!

Reminder: 3.8% Tax Is Not a Transfer Tax on Real Estate

I can't believe this is still floating around -

Tax time is nearing and once more rumors are circulating on the Internet and by e-mail that the health care reform law enacted two years ago includes a 3.8 percent transfer tax on real estate starting in 2013. That rumor is not true; NAR has material available to you to explain how that 3.8 percent tax works. It’s a tax on a very narrow band of investment income for high-wealth households (those who earn $250,000 in a joint return or $200,000 as an individual) that could come into play on the sale of a house if the sales gain is more than $500,000 for a married couple or $250,000 for an individual.

Even in the unlikely event the sales gain is more than that amount, the tax would only apply based on other considerations having to do with the household’s income and tax situation. The bottom line is that the tax, which was imposed to help shore up Medicare, will hit only some portion of investment income. Download a free brochure on how the tax works. Video and explanatory article.

Source: NAR

One More Reason to List with The Hisey Group and Howard Hanna! Zillow and Howard Hanna Join Forces!!

Press Releases

Zillow and Howard Hanna Announce Strategic Marketing Partnership

SEATTLE, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Zillow, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z), the leading real estate information marketplace, today announced a strategic marketing partnership with Howard Hanna® Real Estate Services, the fourth largest real estate company in the United States.

Starting today, Howard Hanna's listings will appear as featured listings on the Yahoo!-Zillow® Real Estate Network, the largest real estate network on the Web[1], and on Zillow Mobile. Featured listings appear at the top of the search results for the area in which the listings are located. In addition, the company's logo, the Howard Hanna listing agent's photo and telephone number, and a link to the property on the Howard Hanna website will appear prominently on each listing.

The partnership benefits agents, buyers and sellers by ensuring the listing information is accurate, showing high-quality photos and receiving maximum exposure.

"I've always believed in going to the highest mountaintop to expose listings to the most buyers. Our ultimate goal is to operate in our clients' best interests, which means showcasing listings across the website and mobile platform with the most eyeballs," said Hoby Hanna, president of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. "We talked to our agents, buyers and sellers and found what we were looking for with Zillow -- marketing choice and client value."

"We are honored to help Howard Hanna and its outstanding agents drive the future of the real estate industry, and give buyers and sellers choice in how they buy and sell homes," said Greg Schwartz, Zillow's chief revenue officer. "Zillow's leading technology and unique content captures tens of millions of monthly visitors, of which more than three-quarters are 'in the market', bringing Howard Hanna's listings increased exposure to the right audience."

Also today, Howard Hanna Mortgage Services will join the Zillow Mortgage Marketplace lender program, providing home shoppers and those looking to refinance with more choices when shopping for a loan. Zillow Mortgage Marketplace is a free, open and transparent lending marketplace, where borrowers anonymously connect with lenders to find loans and get the best mortgage rates.

About Howard Hanna
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services (www.howardhanna.com) is the no. 1 real estate company in Pennsylvania and Ohio and the fourth largest real estate company in the United States. The company specializes in residential and commercial brokerage service, mortgages, closing and title insurance, land development, appraisal services, insurance services and corporate relocation. With 134 offices across Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and West Virginia, Howard Hanna's more than 4,700 sales associates, management and staff are guided by a spirit of integrity in all aspects of the real estate process.

About Zillow, Inc.
Zillow (NASDAQ: Z) is the leading real estate information marketplace, providing vital information about homes, real estate listings and mortgages through its website and mobile applications, enabling homeowners, buyers, sellers and renters to connect with real estate and mortgage professionals best suited to meet their needs. More than 30 million unique users visited Zillow's websites and mobile applications in January 2012. Zillow, Inc. operates Zillow.com®, Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, Zillow Mobile, Postlets® and Diverse Solutions™. The company is headquartered in Seattle.

Zillow.com, Zillow and Postlets are registered trademarks of Zillow, Inc. Diverse Solutions is a trademark of Zillow, Inc.
Howard Hanna is a registered trademark of Hanna Holdings, Inc.

[1] Source: comScore Media Metrix Real Estate Category Ranking by Unique Visitors, December 2011, US Data.

SOURCE Zillow, Inc.

Cleveland, Ohio 88 Acre Lakefront Nature Preserve Opened

PRESS RELEASE

www.portofcleveland.com

Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority Opens Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve

Connecting People and Nature on the Waterfront is integral to Port’s Strategic Action Plan

FEBRUARY 6, 2012 – The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority officially opened the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve today, providing public access to a unique 88-acre urban wildlife habitat.

The Preserve is a man-made peninsula on the Lake Erie shoreline and a haven for a variety of migratory birds, butterflies and animals. Located at the northern end of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on Cleveland’s East Side, it is open during daylight hours and provides one-of-a-kind recreational and educational opportunities for children and adults. Admission is free.

“The Nature Preserve is an extraordinary asset complementing our ongoing efforts to realize the full potential of the Lakefront,” said City of Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson.

“The development of this unique nature preserve located in the heart of our capital city - Cleveland - is a perfect example of how we can redevelop our lakefront property and create an oasis in the middle of an urban metropolis,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald. “After years of use as a dumping ground, this site will now be used to enhance the health and wellness of all of Cuyahoga County’s residents living in the area known as the ‘Western Reserve.’”

Speaking at the formal opening of the Preserve were: Cleveland Councilman Jeffrey Johnson, Port Authority Vice Chair Marc Krantz, Cleveland Metroparks Executive Director Brian Zimmerman, County Executive FitzGerald’s Chief of Staff Matt Carroll, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Director of Wildlife Resources Harvey B. Webster, and Port Authority CEO Will Friedman.

The Nature Preserve is a land mass that was created over time as sediment dredged from the Cuyahoga River and Cleveland Harbor was placed within dike walls along the lakeshore. From 1979 to 1999 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed the site – then known as Dike 14 – as a sediment disposal facility.

After the site was closed to dredge material in 1999, nature took hold, resulting in diverse habitats that

include grasslands, a forest area, meadows, mudflats, shrub lands and wetlands. The environment drew birds and animals – and people who wanted to see the site opened to the public on a regular basis, particularly for bird-watching and hiking.

“I am delighted that the residents of the Ward 8 community will now be able to experience and enjoy the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve,” said Councilman Johnson. “It is a unique opportunity for us.”

Last May the Port Authority Board voted to officially rename Dike 14 and open it as the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve. Managing the Preserve to connect people and nature is also one of seven key policies in the Port’s new Strategic Action Plan.

The "Biggest Week 2012" Birding Event May 4th - 13th attracts bird watchers from everywhere!!

I have always known that the Lake Erie Islands and shores were a birding "hot spot" with visitors coming from all over the world - but I had no idea how "hot" bird watching really is! Birders come to our region all year, but particularly during the migration seasons. The "Biggest Week 2012" is a fantastic opportunity for birders to enjoy what those of us that are local know - we live in an area rich with birds!

I love watching birds, and am at this moment watching a bevy of birds at the five feeders outside my office window, but that is as far as it goes for me. Apparently birding is quickly becoming a booming interest for the Boomers generation.

From their website:

The “Biggest Week 2012” is a 10 day “week” of some of the best birding North America has to offer. If you are anywhere else in the world in mid-May, you are in the wrong place. Think about it: A 10 day birding event featuring workshops, guided birding activities, half-day birding bus tours, keynote speakers, and more. Among the myriad of events offered during the festival are workshops, Woodcock Extravaganzas to observe the extraordinary displays of these woodland shorebirds, daily walks at the world famous Magee Marsh boardwalk and other area birding hot spots, evening keynote presentations, birding by ear workshops, and presentations on world birding. On top of all of that, birding guru Kenn Kaufman will be teaching several bird identification classes!

It all takes place in Northwest Ohio "The Warbler Capital of the World." The festival headquarters is moving to Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center this year, with additional vendors and activities at Black Swamp Bird Observatory.

The Biggest Week is organized by Black Swamp Bird Observatory, with support from our co-hosts at Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center, Lake Erie Shores and Islands (Ottawa County and Erie County Visitors' Bureau) , and Destination Toledo (Lucas County Visitors' Bureau).

The Biggest Week is hosted by Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center, Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO), and Destination Toledo.

Visit : http://biggestweekinamericanbirding.com/default.htm for more information! Registration begins in mid-February. The event will be held from May 4th through the 13th. Sign-up for their updates.

Live near what you love - contact the Hisey Group today for real estate services in Ohio's "Vacation Land". 1-800-974-5184 or realestate@hiseygroup.com!