In an attempt to rejeuvinate the housing economy, the government created a few tax incentives to first time home-buyers, people who wouldn't have lost much during the crisis. Now that the incentive has finished, there are still plenty of options for first time home buyers, you just have to know what they are.
The Home Buyer Tax Credit,
part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, is essentially over, its extension having expired for most buyers on April 30, 2010. However, this should not be a source of doubt for new or first time home buyers, for whom the credit was primarily fashioned. Despite news articles asserting that housing prices stopped falling because of the tax credit and implied that, once over, the housing collapse would resume, this appears to be an unfounded fear.
University of Chicago economist, Casey B. Mulligan, cites recent reports and concludes that the tax credit's expiration does not indicate the housing market will react by continuing the collapse that had sent prices tumbling. Naturally, thoughts of resumed collapse, in a market that was stable over the past year, would not inspire confidence in new or first time buyers considering such a significant investment. Therefore, it is encouraging that the most current data, from July 27, 2010, indicates they should not worry. That report, Standard and Poor's Case-Shiller Index, shows that housing prices haven't fallen significantly, if at all, from a year ago. This, despite that fact that the IRS reports that very little of the tax credit money has been claimed and that most home sales transactions involved no tax credit! Thus, the credit’s expiration should not prove all that influential for the housing market. Accordingly, it should not deter one from buying an exceptionally priced Rocklin California home.
Rocklin real estate is still a wonderful investment for new home buyers, and there are many reasons that make it ideal. Since the median home price is about $270,000, considerable value continues to be obtained for homes that sold much higher a few years ago. With an abundance of short sales and foreclosures, perusing Rocklin homes for sale is akin to being a kid in a candy shop. It is not just that a great home can be reasonably acquired, but it is also the fact that a Rocklin CA lifestyle offers so much.
What makes Rocklin real estate so favorable? It's one thing that the local residents rave about the schools, recreational facilities and parks, and sports teams and programs for all ages, but quite another when this city of 55,000 has received national acclaim from not one, but two, prestigious magazines. A half hour from the state capital, Sacramento, on 20 acres of rolling hills at the base of the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountain range, Money and Family Circle magazines both recently cited Rocklin as a great American city.
Family Circle named it one of the 10 top places for raising a family, while Money ranked it 65th of 100 best cities with populations between 50,000 and 300,000. Their criteria were quite exacting, Rocklin being one of only four California cities to make the list. The overall criteria used to compare the cities included school performance, street safety and crime rates, recreational and cultural opportunities, charm, and economic strength. The latter was partly based on the fiscal strength of local government.
The business climate in Rocklin is excellent, with an Amtrak station and rail service facilitating travel to and from the capital city and also San Francisco, a mere 108 miles away. Moreover, obvious charm abounds, carried over from one hundred fifty years ago when Rocklin California was first developed as a 30,000 acre ranch. Indeed, the granite bridges that once crossed over Spring Valley Ranch's creeks are very evident today, with 12 of the city's 30 parks designed around them. Two planned communities, Stanford Ranch and Whitney Oaks, also occupy much original ranch property and showcase family housing in neighborhoods that are tree lined, safe, and conducive to many shared activities.
Living in Rocklin assures families of seemingly endless things to do. Possessing the friendly accessibility usually characterizing small towns, it is strategically located close enough to Sacramento to share in big city amenities. However, Rocklin offers it own share of culture. There's the Rocklin History Museum, also Finn Hall for events in a renovated early 20th century structure. An environmental science museum and exotic wildlife refuge facility ensure children’s acquiring a healthy respect for nature and the resources of the area.
Rocklin homes for sale should be tops on one's list if considering buying a house in Placer County. The end of the tax credit should not be a deterrent for new home buyers seeking an address in a city that many would feel fortunate to call home. If a mid-sized city could be considered to have it all, Rocklin qualifies. While its history was built on rich natural resources, including prosperous granite quarries, there is no doubt that its future will thrive as a terrific residential and business community with small town charm and big city advantages. That makes Rocklin real estate well worth the gamble!
