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Welcome > For Buyers > First Time Homebuyers ...

Buying Your First Home? Real Estate Agents Are Your Professional Guides. Make Sure You Choose a Top Expert.

You might be a bit afraid or intimidated by the whole process of buying your first home. As a top La Quinta, Palm Springs and Palm Desert real estate expert, it's my job to guide you, from beginning to end.

I will take the time to go through each and every step of the buying process. There are no dumb questions!

Together, we will consider:

- How much can you really afford?

- How to qualify for a mortgage.

- How much cash you should put down.

- How to buy a home with little or nothing down.

- What it takes to get approved for financing. What banks and other financial institutions are looking for.

- How much your payments will be.

- The tax advantages of buying.

- Is renting or buying better for you?

Tell me a bit about your situation below. I'll get right back to you. There is absolutely no charge, and I offer this to you with no strings attached.

New to the home buying process? Tell me your concerns. Ask me questions. It's my job to help! There's no obligation, and I promise to get back to you quickly...

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Tax Considerations >Taxable Profits

If you are thinking of selling your home and your house has risen in value since you purchased it, or you have accumulated a lot of deferred profit from previous sales, the Taxpayer Relief Act passed in 1997 could be of tremendous value.

Prior to this law, when a homeowner moved to a smaller home, relocated to a less costly area, or made a decision to rent, they were left with unfavorable tax consequences. The old tax law allowed people who sold their homes to defer tax on any profit by buying a replacement home of at least equal value within two years. At age 55, they could permanently escape tax on up to $125,000 of profit, but any profit in excess of that amount was taxable unless a new home was bought.

The good news is that with homes sold after May 6, 1997, homeowners can make as much as $500,000 tax-free profits on the sale of a principal residence for joint filers or $250,000 for single filers. The $500,000 capital gains exclusion removed taxes as a consideration for most home sellers by giving them flexibility to trade up or down. It has also allowed homeowners to preserve the savings value of a home when they sell, provided they use the property as their principal residence for two of the prior five years prior to the sale.

Consult your tax advisor for your particular circumstance.

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Q	Where would you go to visit the largest ancient castle in the world?
A	You would travel to Prague, Czech Republic, to see the Prague Castle, built in the 9th century, with a total surface area of 18 acres.
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Sandi Phillips, REALTOR®, real estate agent and broker for La Quinta, Palm Springs and Palm Desert, California home listings, property and land for sale - NUMBER1EXPERT(tm)

Sandi Phillips
HK Lane Real Esate
72895 Fred Waring Drive
Palm Desert, CA 9260
Direct: 760-567-5506
Fax: 760-262-3053
Sandi@SandiPhillips.com
Whether you are new to the market, thinking of moving up, or you are an experienced investor, Sandi has the expertise, proven track record, and resources to help you buy or sell your next home Sandi Phillips's Profile

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