The Perkins Realty Team hopes your Independence Day weekend was a Blast! And in case you missed it during all those fireworks and hot dogs, Congress voted to extend the dates to benefit by the homebuyer tax credits.

 What does this mean? The deadline to complete the purchase of your new Clay County home and qualify for up to $8,000 has been pushed back to September 30, 2010. That’s good news for everyone who thought they weren’t going to make that June 30th deadline. This extension only applies to those who already have signed contracts, so while we still want to see you run out and start home shopping, don’t do it just for this benefit. The National Association of Realtors estimates that about 180,000 home buyers will benefit from this tax credit extension. If you’re still wondering if you qualify, talk to your agent, or give us a call!

 In addition to the extension, interest rates continue to be the lowest they’ve been for almost a generation. What does this mean for us in Fleming Island and our neighboring towns? If you are considering purchasing or refinancing a home the rates for your potential mortgage are very attractive. The criteria to qualify for a loan has been tightened in today’s climate making your first step in the home shopping process a visit to your lender to prequalify. Once you have this step taken care of it’s time to begin shopping for your next home. There are so many options here in Clay County for your real estate shopping pleasure, so be sure you are in the know regarding all the factors affecting your real estate activity whether you’re buying or selling a home. Stay tuned and thanks for visiting!