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Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit 2009/2010

by Bob in Conifer

in Denver Real Estate Market News, First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit

Well, it’s done!  The extension and expansion of the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit has been signed:

  • Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.
  • Expands the credit to grant a $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 6, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

Any talk about how we’ll pay for it is beside the point. Ideally this will continue to stimulate the Denver real estate economy and improve the health of the Denver real estate market.

The expansion opens a lot of doors for Denver home buyers who have lived in their primary residence for 5 of the last 8 years and are ready to take advantage of the large drop in real estate prices.

Download this Helpful Guide–>Download This Helpful Guide

Here is more information about how the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective Denver home buyers become part of the American dream. And how repeat buyers can participate in the stimulus to get a home Denver Sellers have been discounting so well!

Who Qualifies for the Extended Credit?

  • First-time home buyers who purchase homes between November 6, 2009 and April 30, 2010.
  • Current home owners purchasing a home between November 6, 2009 and April 30, 2010, who have used the home being sold or vacated as a principal residence for five consecutive years within the last eight.

To qualify as a “first-time home buyer” the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.

If you or your client purchased a home between January 1, 2009 and the date the bill is signed by President Obama, please see our previous posted tagged First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

Which Properties Are Eligible?

The Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit may be applied to primary residences, including: single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops.

How Much Is Available?

The maximum allowable credit for first-time home buyers is $8,000.

The maximum allowable credit for current homeowners is $6,500.

How is a Buyer’s Credit Amount Determined?

Each home buyer’s tax credit is determined by tow additional factors:

  1. The price of the home.
  2. The buyer’s income.

Price

Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, credit may only be awarded on homes purchased for $800,000 or less.

Buyer Income

Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, which is effective on November 6, 2009,  single buyers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000—may receive the maximum tax credit.

These income limits have changed from the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit limits. If you or your client purchased a home between January 1, 2009 and November 5, 2009, please see 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.

If the Buyer(s)’ Income Exceeds These Limits, Can He/She Still Get a Credit?

Yes, some buyers may still be eligible for the credit.

The credit decreases for buyers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000 for single buyers and between $225,000 and $245,000 for home buyers filing jointly. The amount of the tax credit decreases as his/her income approaches the maximum limit. Home buyers earning more than the maximum qualifying income—over $145,000 for singles and over $245,000 for couples are not eligible for the credit.

Can a Buyer Still Qualify If He/She Closes After April 30, 2010?

Under the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit, as long as a written binding contract to purchase is in effect on April 30, 2010, the purchaser will have until July 1, 2010 to close.

Will the Tax Credit Need to Be Repaid?

No. The buyer does not need to repay the tax credit, if he/she occupies the home for three years or more. However, if the property is sold during this three-year period, the full amount credit will be recouped on the sale.

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Sylvia November 6, 2009 at 10:45 pm

Question: As of what date are the income limits for the first time buyers tax credit measured? If I enter into a contract to buy a house in 2010, will the IRS look to my 2008 or 2009 tax returns for determining whether I qualify for the first time buyers tax credit?

2 Bob in Conifer November 7, 2009 at 11:02 am

Hi Sylvia,

My understanding of the various guidelines is that the income restrictions are based on the Adjusted Gross Income of the year you are requesting the credit. Of course, I recommend you talk this over with your tax advisor or accountant to be sure!
-Bob

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