Buyers
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If you have not picked a Buyers Agent to represent you, please consider the following.

Whether you are relocating from outside the Palm Springs area or are moving locally, my extensive knowledge of the Palm Springs area and my insight into the local real estate markets give you a strategic advantage. I will furnish you with all the information, guidance and advice that you need to make an intelligent, educated decision when purchasing your home. By using me as your Buyer's Agent, I will assist you with achieving the most for your investment.

Here are just a few of many reasons why you should use my Buyers Service:

IT DOES NOT COST YOU ANYTHING Sellers pay our fees and these fees are set at a standard rate. Because these rates are standard, the "salesman" aspect has been removed from the equation. All Realtors® cooperate with one another. I do not have any incentive to sell you one property more than the other. So instead of "selling you" on something, I provide you with all available information needed to make a wise decision.

I am actively working in the Palm Springs Area Market for 10 years approximately 10 hours a day, 6-7 days a week. Take advantage of the knowledge that I have obtained while working so many hours.

I can save you time. By understanding your needs, we can eliminate homes that do not meet your criteria by excluding them from our search results in the MLS.

I will schedule the appointments, preview all homes that meet your criteria with you, and help you determine the pros and cons of each home until you find the one that fits your needs.

I am a full-time career Realtor® and as such, have access to the multiple listing service (MLS), which provides me access to thousands of homes for sale. It would take you weeks of driving around to find what I will provide to you in minutes.

I can provide information and make appointments to see almost any property listed for sale. As I mentioned above, Realtors® all effectively cooperate with each other in order to better serve the consumer.

I will be representing your best interests. Many people believe they can save money by going directly to a listing Agent to negotiate their deals. This can be a costly mistake. The listing Agent is legally bound by contract to look out for the SELLERS best interest. The Seller has also signed a legal contract stating that he will pay a certain amount of commission at closing even if the Listing Agent sells the property directly (double sides the deal) to the Buyer. So the Listing Broker has a double pay day and you are left without any representation

Once you find the home you want to buy, I will guide you through the negotiations, inspections, and details of finalizing the purchase of your home. This is where you will find the true value in doing business with an experienced Real Estate Agent or Realtor®. If a transaction is going to fall apart, this is when it will happen. It pays to use someone that can guide you through this part of the transaction.
I am absolutely determined that my clients find the best homes and get the best deals. I want to make you a Client for life and as a result I consistently go the extra mile to make sure my Clients are more than satisfied with my service and knowledge. Insist on the best in buyer representation! Contact me today!                                                                
Mark D. Stilwell


Homebuyers Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010 Extended 
First-time buyers qualifying for the federal tax credit of up to $8,000 for the purchase of a primary residence now have through the end of September to close. This is due to a recently approved bill that extends the original closing date which was on June 30. However, home buyers still need to have signed a purchase contract by April 30.  This extension is welcome news for buyers who are having difficulties closing prior to the end of June.
‘First-Time Buyer’  and  ‘New Home Purchaser’ Tax Credits Offered by the State of California 
Here in California, the federal tax benefit was trumped by a state tax credit for first-time buyers of new or pre-existing homes and purchasers of new homes that close escrow between May 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. The State is accepting faxed ‘First-Time Buyer’ applications through midnight, August 15, 2010; because there is a cap of $100 million for this program, eligible home-purchasers should act fast.  These tax credits are limited to the “lesser of 5 percent of the purchase price or $10,000 for a qualified principal residence. Taxpayers must apply the total tax credit in equal amounts over 3 successive tax years (maximum of $3,333 per year) beginning with the tax year in which the home is purchased. The total amount of allocated tax credit for all taxpayers may not exceed $100 million for the New Home Credit and $100 million for the First-Time Buyer Credit.”
Reservations for these ‘2010 New Home/First-Time Buyer Credits’ can be requested and are allocated on the basis of availability by the state of California; a reservation will secure the buyer's place in line for two weeks following the close of escrow which is when the actual application is due.  Applications are required for the New Home Credit and for the First-Time Buyer Credit. Buyers who qualify for the New Home Credit should complete Reservation Request Form FTB 3549-RR.  Both buyer and seller must complete the form stating that they have entered into an enforceable contract.