Today on the Ilyce Glink show, we discussed:

1. Stock market had its best week since 2000, with the Dow Jones rising around 350 points to end the week at 9,093.24. All of the indices did well. Warren Buffet said that stocks at 9,000 are still a good buy for the long haul, even if there is short-term volatility.

2.Cash for Clunkers Scams. Some con artists have set up fake websites that supposedly help you “qualify” for a cash for clunkers certificate. The dealers will do most of the heavy lifting. You’re eligible if you’ve owned a clunker for at least a year, and it is less than 25 years and gets 18 miles per gallon or less. If you qualify, you’ll get up to $4,500 from the federal government, as along as the cash lasts.

DeKalb County Tax Credit?

Lynn called in and asked if there had been a DeKalb County tax credit for home buyers. She thought she had heard something about it. I did a search online and didn’t find anything. Then, Clint (our board engineer) went into the newsroom during a break and we asked the WSB news team if they had heard anything about it. No one had heard anything, including one of our reporters who actually lives in DeKalb County. So, I’m going to suggest that perhaps Lynn heard this incorrectly.

Meanwhile, if you want to know about the $8,000 tax credit or state tax credits, read these stories:

Repaying the $8,000 Tax Credit

$8,000 Tax Credit Has Income Restrictions

Use $8,000 Tax Credit Toward Costs With FHA loan

State Tax Credits For Home Buyers

Here are the rules for Georgia:

The Georgia Credit for Homebuyers says taxpayers who purchase a single-family residence (including a condo unit or townhome for use by a single family) in Georgia are eligible for a homebuyer credit of up to $1,800 over three years. The home must be purchased within a six-month time period, on or after June 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. The amount of the credit is the lesser of 1.2 percent of the purchase cost of the home or $1,800. Thus, to receive the maximum credit, the taxpayer must purchase a home that costs at least $150,000.

Minimum Wage Increased on Friday to $7.25 – Is Your Job Paying the Right Amount?

The minimum wage increased Friday to $7.25. Millions of workers will see their paychecks increase $120 per week.

Every employer of workers subject to the FLSA’s minimum wage provisions must post, and keep posted in each of its establishments, a notice explaining this act. The notice must be posted in conspicuous places to permit employees to readily read them. Posters and other compliance assistance materials concerning the minimum wage increase are available free of charge from the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division and may also be obtained from the agency’s Web site at http://www.wagehour.dol.gov.

Employers and employees seeking more compliance information on the increased minimum wage may call the Wage and Hour Division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243).

Maybe Lynn Was Asking About DeKalb’s Down Payment Assistance Program for First-Time Buyers

Judy, a real estate agent, just wrote in to say that maybe Lynn was talking about the DeKalb down payment assistance program for first-time buyers. DeKalb, like many counties, offers $5,000 in down payment cash (on top of any tax credit you might get) for qualifying first-time buyers. There are usually income and location restrictions associated with these kind of down payment assistance programs.

Sometimes they’re free money, and sometimes you get an interest free loan (where the loan doesn’t have to be repair until you sell – or a portion of the loan is forgiven after a few years). Anyway, go to DeKalb Down Payment Assistance Program to get the information.

HOW TO SEARCH FOR OTHER DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS: Go to Google or any search engine and type in your town/county and then type “down payment assistance program” and if there is anything, it should pop up. You can also contact your city or county Housing Agency for details.

Thanks, Judy!!!

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