Don't let opportunity slip past unnoticed

Are you thinking about buying your first home?

Now may be a great time to make your move. For a limited time, qualified first-time homebuyers may receive a tax credit up to $8,000 as part of the extended First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit and Advance Loan Program.

If you plan to live in the home as your primary residence and have not owned a home during the past three years, you may qualify for the tax credit. As long as the home remains your primary residence for at least three years, you will not have to repay this tax credit.

Get started now!

A bit more about the tax credit
~ Available to first-time homebuyers
~ Credit amount up to $8,000
~ For any home purchase where a sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010 and closes by June 30, 2010
~ Available on single-family detached homes, townhomes, and condominiums — newly constructed or pre-existing
~ The tax credit does not need to be repaid unless the home is sold within the first three years after purchase

First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended

Good news! It appears that Senate Democrats have recognized the tremendous value of the First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit and that it will be renewed soon. At this time, it is believed that the credit will allow anyone purchasing (even if the property is not closed) a home by April 30, 2010 to participate and receive the full credit available. The credit will be continued (but reduced by 2% each 90 days) through the end of 2010! The credit will be slightly lessened, but it will be renewed and this extension should allow the market to continue to recover into and through next summer’s selling season. Of course, there’s always the possibility that it could be renewed at that time, as well.

Here’s the text of the story as reported in Bloomberg News today:

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) says Senate Democrats have agreed to extend the first-time home buyer tax credit. The latest version extends the program to home sales signed — not closed — by April 30. Purchasers would have another 60 days to close the sale. The credit will also be expanded to include so-called step-up buyers who have lived in their current home for at least five years.

The credit would be cut slightly to a $7,290 cap. Income eligibility for first-time home buyers would stay the same, but it would rise for step-up buyers to $125,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples.
Source: Bloomberg News, Dawn Kopecki and Ryan Donmoyer (10/27/2009)

Pelosi says homebuyer credit may be extended

The first time homebuyer tax credit may be extended, and even expanded, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The $8,000 credit is set to expire Dec. 1.

“Yes, there is under consideration whether we extend the first time homeowners credit,” Pelosi said at a news conference Thursday. “And the question is, would that be just first time homeowners or would you open it up to other purchasers of homes.”

The tax credit has been among incentives fueling a rise in housing sales this year. The National Association of Realtors, which last month called on Congress to extend the credit, says it has brought 1.2 million new buyers into the market.

The NAR estimates 350,000 of those buyers would not have purchased a home without the credit.

Several lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Md., have called for a six month extension of the credit.

An estimated 40 percent of all homebuyers in 2009 are eligible for the credit.

Washington Business Journal - by Jeff Clabaugh Staff Reporter

You've Got 15 More Days To Use The First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

The government’s First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit program expires November 30, 2009 — a scant 60 days from today.

Considering it can take up to 60 days to close on a home, first-time buyers have 2 weeks at most to find a home.

Buyers not under contract by October 15 have little chance of meeting the November 30 deadline and, therefore, little chance of claiming the tax credit.

This is especially true for purchases involving short sales and foreclosures.

Congress passed the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit program as part of the 2009 economic stimulus plan. IRS Form 5405 outlines the program criteria which include the following stipulations:

• Buyer may not have owned a “main home” in the past 36 months
• The home may not be purchased from a parent, spouse, or child
• Adjusted gross income for the household must be below $95,000 for single tax filers and $170,000 for joint tax filers

The credit is capped at $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is less. And don’t forget — the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit is a true tax credit. It’s not a deduction.

This means that a tax filer who claims the full $8,000 and whose “normal” tax liability is $5,000 would receive $3,000 cash from the US Treasury when their tax return is processed by the IRS.

If you can’t close by November 30, 2009, though, you can’t claim the credit.

The clock is ticking. If you’re planning to use the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, the time to act is now.

Posted: Thursday, October 1, 2009
www.brokeragentsocial.com