Back last summer, while I was on my “summer vacation”, I was calling any contact I had in an attempt to find work.  I found work at a local company, for which I was very thankful, but one of the calls I had made was to the company for which I had worked over 10 years.  They were interested in having me come back, but the timing was off.

I started my new job, and thought nothing of it.

Then in March they called wanting me to come in for an interview.  I did, and it was pretty much a formality.  The next few weeks were grueling as we waited for all the details to be worked out, but everything worked out and yesterday was my last day at the company where I live.

Which leaves me in the same situation where I was at the start of this journey away from home: living over an hour from where I work.  I’m not one that likes to commute, so we’re considering the different options as far as what to do about a house—the one we currently live in that we’ve only occupied for a year and where we’ll stay that’s close to the new job.

One thing that’s great to think about as you’re trying to sell a house now is the federal tax credit for first time home buyers and for those that upgrade.  Those people that would be buying f​irst hom​e​ can get $8,000 back where those that upgrade (have lived 5 of the past 8 years in the same home) can get $6,500.

But there’s a time delay—you need to have a written, binding contract before April 30, 2010, and close by June 30, 2010.

And here’s the real problem—I believe that you’ll find that once these incentives are gone, housing prices will fall again (as this amount is factored into what people believe they can buy/afford) so I’m caught in the weird position of still living in a house I know will probably go down in price in 15 days.

If you have property to buy or sell, make sure that you realize what these incentives mean, and take advantage of them while you can!