It's fine for stock. I've been shooting most of my stuff with a 24-105 since I moved to full frame.

This lens is great, wide enough for most stuff 105mm lets you do some close ups.
I use it all the time when travelling.

Not the finest canon lens but lives on my camera 80% of the time.

Its an L series lens, so more than adequate for microstock.

People talk about the 24-70mm being much better image quality but costs a lot more, no 105mm.

If your 99% sure just go and buy it, more fun shooting than worrying about 0.1% sharpness improvement at F4 etc.

The 24-70 f/4L IS USM is a much better lens optically. I can tell, I've owned both. However, for your APS-C body, the 24-105 will do just fine. I only started noting shortcomings when I switched to FF. (It's still a decent lens on FF, mind you!)

Two additional pieces of advice:

• If you catch a good deal the 24-70 isn't much more expensive than the 24-105.
  
• For the 24-105 I would watch for "as new" used sales, as many people get it in a kit with an FF body and immediately flip it.

@MarcvsTvllivs
To be honest with you, I am going for a new lens (bought in store with warranty). Here in Bosnia, $1000 is not a small amount of money (2 average salaries). This is the biggest reason why I refuse to buy even new that was previously owned by someone. It might be stupid for some, but for this money I want to have at least limited warranty (with my luck, I wouldn't be surprised if it had some manufacturing problem). Other than this, I would agree completely with you.

@Rick D
I am almost set on it, however, me waiting until August is probably out of the question. First, I am leaving for a vacation end of July / beginning of august and would love to have lens by then. Second, and more important, is again, where I live. The same lens would no be here for at least couple more months (at best) and the old lens would not drop that much in price.

Like I said in the first post, I am almost set on buying this one. I guess this is just the last "approval" from people that have actually used the lens.
Thank you both

I was referring to the 24-70 f2.8 which is about double the price. I didn't even know there was a 24-70 f4 I had a quick look and it's cheaper in some instances than the 24-105. You learn something every day. Too many choices,  5d mk4 hmmm

Its a great lens in my experience, just remember that on your 500D your crop factor is 1.6 meaning that your 24-105mm lens will effectively be a 38-168mm lens in practice. For very wide landscape shots 38mm is the widest you can go.

The 24-70mm f2.8 is awesome but expensive and also doesn't have image stabilization.
The 24-70mm f4 is a little less sharp than the f2.8 (barely noticable for the price in my opinion) but has image stabilization as well as a macro mode x0.7 which is cool.
The 24-105mm f4 is about as sharp as the 24-70mm f4 just without the macro mode, however at that magnification you could still pull off a "macro" shot by zooming all the way in and standing back from your subject (works for flowers and bugs etc...).

Of course you could compare stats and opinions all you want and I understand your careful approach, I do the same all the time.
Go for it, the 24-105mm f4 is a great lens which happens to be the "go to" lens for quite a few photographers that I have met over the years.

FYI..

It seems that version II of this lens might be just around the corner...

http://www.canonrumors.com/patent-canon-ef-24-105mm-f4l-is-ii/

don't forget to bear in mind when you upgrade your T1 rebel- you want to make sure the lenses you purchase will work correctly on your next camera body. I had a T3i and when upgraded to a higher canon a few of my favorite lenses wouldn't work.