Blog
You’ve got til April 30th to find a home
Just a quick reminder, if you are a first time home buyer or have not owned a home in 3 years, you have until April 30th to get a home under contract to get up to $8000 from the government. You do not have to close on the home until June.
New Home Buyers Downsizing and Going Green in Recession
For the first time since 1982, the square footage of completed new homes fell from an average 2,520 square feet to 2,480 square feet in 2009, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
Smaller homes have been a trend for many years (fewer bedrooms and bathrooms) but the recession has accelerated that trend. And with rising energy costs, many prospective home buyers will be looking for smaller homes with greener alternatives such as energy efficient windows and appliances and programmable thermostats. Builders are likely to include those as standard features in their new homes.
Adding to the smaller home size trend are the new home buyers taking advantage of the $8,000 tax credit and those over 55 who will be looking to compromise size for a lower mortgage. The tax credit has been extended until April 30th and was expanded to include a tax credit for existing home owners.
Expanded Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers
Great news for those who missed out on the new home buyers tax credit! Home buyers can take advantage of the extended new home buyers tax credit, up to $8,000 (or 10% of the purchase price), until April 30, 2010 . Additionally, existing homeowners can also take advantage of a new tax credit up to $6500 (or 10% of the purchase price) if they have lived in their existing home for 5 years and are purchasing a new primary residence.
There are stipulations to these credits though. Your contract to purchase must be written by April 30, 2010 and the deal must close by July 1, 2010 in order to claim the credit and the credit is less for those in the higher income brackets. This credit does not have to be repaid.
Pending Sales for Homes Remains Higher Than Last Year
Great news for existing homeowners who are selling their homes. Not only are home sales higher than last year, but the newly expanded tax credit will allow existing homeowners to also get a tax credit when they purchase their new primary residence. They must have lived in their previous home for 5 years and the new home must be their primary residence. Existing homeowners can qualify for up to a $6500 tax credit! New home buyers can still qualify for up to $8,000.
Pending home sales were more than 15% higher for November 2009 than in 2008. According to Lawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors chief economist, “The fact that pending home sales are comfortably above year-ago levels shows the market has gained sufficient momentum on its own. We expect another surge in the spring as more home buyers take advantage of affordable housing conditions before the tax credit expires.”
You must have your contract written before April 30, 2010 and it must close before July 1, 2010 in order to take advantage of the non-repayable credit.
$8,000 Tax Credit Now Available at Closing for FHA Loans
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will now allow the maximum $8,000 tax credit to be applied at closing for qualified home buyers. Additionally, FHA will now allow those home buyers to use the credit to make a larger down payment (FHA still requires 3.5%), cover closing costs or to buy down their interest rate. This is great news for buyers and that means great news for sellers too. “A true housing recovery depends on buyers returning to the market and reducing inventory,” said National Association of REALTORS President Charles McMillan.
Even If you do not qualify for an FHA loan, you may still be able to qualify for the First Time Homebuyer Credit on your 2009 tax return as long as you purchase your home before December 1, 2009. See your mortgage and tax professionals for more information.