Archive for the ‘$6500’ Category

Housing tax credits – 58 days to go!

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Homebuyers have 58 days to obtain a written, binding contract to qualify for the housing tax credits. First-time buyers and buyers who have not owned a primary residence for the past 3 years qualify for an $8,000 tax credit (or 10% percent of the sales price, whichever is less) so long as they are under contract by April 30, 2010 and close on the home by July 1, 2010. Homebuyers who have owned a primary residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years qualify for a $6,500 tax credit. The home being purchased in either scenario must be a primary residence.

Income limits are very generous for those who buy between now until April 30, 2010:

  • $125,000 – single (Additional $20,000 phase out)
  • $225,000 – married (Additional $20,000 phase out)

While the $8,000 tax credit is getting a lot of use, Realtors are seeing very few existing homeowners taking advantage of the $6,500 tax credit.

The housing tax credits were extended under the H.R. 3548 Worker Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009

DHW asks: Will you take advantage of the housing tax credits?

88 Days Later — Housing tax credits expire soon

Monday, February 1st, 2010

The extended housing tax credits are set to expire soon. Buyers must have a signed contract on or before April 30, 2010. The transaction must close by July 1, 2010. There are additional extensions available to certain armed service, intelligence service and foreign service personnel.

DHW asks: Will you take advantage of the housing tax credits?

IRS releases new tax rebate form for recent home purchases

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

The IRS released its long awaited tax rebate form 5405 for buyers who closed on a home after November 6, 2009.

DHW asks: Will you use the new form 5405 to requisition your tax credit?

Game clock: Housing tax credits expire in 107 days

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Buyers hoping to take advantage of the housing tax credits will need to have a written, binding contract in effect by April 30, 2010. Buyers will have until July 1, 2010 to close.

There are exceptions for certain armed service, intelligence service and foreign service personnel.

DHW asks: Will you take advantage of the housing tax credits?

Tax Credits: extra perks for armed service and foreign service personnel

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Press release explaining housing tax credits benefits for the armed service, intelligence service and foreign service personnel  (National Association of Realtors).

“SAN DIEGO – Nov. 13, 2009 – According to the National Association of Realtors@ (NAR), the recent homebuyer tax credit extension expands benefits for the U.S. military.

Armed service, intelligence service and foreign service personnel on active duty and out of the U.S. for 90 days during any part of 2009 get an additional year to buy their homes – to May 1, 20ll.

Another benefit is a waiver on the time of occupancy. Most homebuyers using the tax credit must use that home as a principal residence for a period of no fewer than three years or forfeit the entire credit. But military, intelligence and foreign service members do not have to repay the credit if they sell their home in less than three years if they move because of official business.

“NAR is the leading advocate for private property and homeownership issues, and firmly believes that those who are in service to their country should be full participants in the homebuyer tax credit law,” says NAR President Charles McMillan. “These men and women are often hindered by hardships from full participation in the American dream of homeownership because their duty disrupts them in the buying and selling of a home.” NAR was a main advocate for the homebuyer’s tax credit extension into 2010 and its expansion to include present homeowners.

Under the tax credit extension, eligible first-time homebuyers can get a tax credit up to $8,000. Current homeowners are eligible for a $6,500 tax credit, provided they have lived in the home they are selling, or have sold, as their principal residence for five consecutive years in the past eight years.

Income limits for eligible homebuyers are expanded to $125,000 for single buyers and $225,000 for couples. The purchase price of the home cannot exceed $800,000. To help guard against fraud, buyers are required to attach documentation of purchase to their tax return.”

Realtors: October pending sales up 3.7 percent

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

The National Association of Realtors reported its seasonally adjusted index of sales agreements inched up 3.7 percent from September to October to 114.1.  Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters predicted the index would sink to 109.5.

The housing industry’s index represents offers written and accepted for existing properties. All parts of the country saw a year-over-year increase in pending home sales.

Housing tax credits and record low interest rates are credited with boosting sales. First-time homebuyers qualify for a tax credit of up to $8,000, while those who have owned their current home for at least five years qualify for a tax credit of up to $6,500.  Buyers must have a signed sales agreement by April 30, 2010, and close by the end of June 2010 to qualify.

DHW asks: Will you take advantage of the houisng tax credits?

Tick-tock, Housing Tax Credits expire in 153 days

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

Before you know it, we’ll be saying goodbye to the beloved housing tax credits that brought new life to sales markets around the country. Here are some helpful links for first-time buyers seeking an $8,000 tax credit and for those taking advantage of the $6,500 tax credit.

The $8,000 Tax Credit (this link is provided by the National Association of Home Builders. However, you do not need to buy a new home to qualify for the tax credit)

The $6,500 Tax Credit

DHW asks: Will you take advantage of the Housing Tax Credits before they expire?

Existing home sales skyrocketed 10% in October

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

From the AP:

“Home sales far exceeded expectations last month, surging to the highest level in 2 1/2 years as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of an expiring tax credit.

The National Association of Realtors said Monday that home resales rose 10.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.1 million in October, from a downwardly revised pace of 5.54 million in September.”

The South will rise again, but in a good way.

Monday, November 16th, 2009

A survey released last week by Move.com, a real estate website, shows 1 in 5 Americans plan on purchasing a home within the next year. The survey also revealed these buyers are most likely to be 34 years of age or younger and live in the South or West.

It should be noted this survey was taken before the housing tax credit extensions were announced.

DHW asks: Do you intend to buy a home within the next year?

Will expanding the housing tax credits beyond first time homebuyers contribute to housing inventory woes?

Sunday, November 15th, 2009

The Capital published an intriguing article addressing the potential side-effects of expanding the housing tax credits beyond first time homebuyers. The article raises some fair questions with regard to existing homes needing to be liquidated so that current homeowners can take advantage of the housing tax credits now afforded to them. The Capital article focuses on housing inventory in D.C. and its surrounding area. However, this potential side-effect could present itself in other parts of the country.

DHW asks: Do you think expanding the housing tax credits beyond first time homebuyers will increase housing inventories?