First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit extended & expanded Good news as of this afternoon 11/06/09. The President signed the bill to extend and expand the buyer credit. Now even current home owners can benefit from it. Here are the details. TAX CREDIT OVERVIEW Who Gets What? First-Time Homebuyers (FTHBs): First-time homebuyers (that is, people who have not owned a home within the last three years) may be eligible for the tax credit. The credit for FTHBs is 10% of the purchase price of the home, with a maximum available credit of $8,000 Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount. Current Owners: The tax credit program now gives those who already own a residence some additional reasons to move to a new home. This incentive comes in the form of a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years. Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount. What are the New Deadlines? In order to qualify for the credit, all contracts need to be in effect no later than April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010. What are the Income Caps? The amount of income someone can earn and qualify for the full amount of the credit has been increased. Single tax filers who earn up to $125,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, single filers who earn $145,000 and above are ineligible Joint filers who earn up to $225,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, joint filers who earn $245,000 and above are ineligible. What is the Maximum Purchase Price? Qualifying buyers may purchase a property with a maximum sale price of $800,000. What is a Tax Credit? A tax credit is a direct reduction in tax liability owed by an individual to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In the event no taxes are owed, the IRS will issue a check for the amount of the tax credit an individual is owed. Unlike the tax credit that existed in 2008, this credit does not require repayment unless the home, at any time in the first 36 months of ownership, is no longer an individual’s primary residence. How Much are First-Time Homebuyers (FTHB) Eligible to Receive? An eligible homebuyer may request from the IRS a tax credit of up to $8,000 or 10% of the purchase price for a home. If the amount of the home purchased is $75,000, the maximum amount the credit can be is $7,500. If the amount of the home purchased is $100,000, the amount of the credit may not exceed $8,000. Who is Eligible fort FTHB Tax Credit? Anyone who has not owned a primary residence in the previous 36 months, prior to closing and the transfer of title, is eligible. This applies both to single taxpayers and married couples. In the case where there is a married couple, if either spouse has owned a primary residence in the last 36 months, neither would qualify. In the case where an individual has owned property that has not been a primary residence, such as a second home or investment property, that individual would be eligible. As mentioned above, the tax credit has been expanded so that existing homeowners who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years are now eligible for a tax credit of up to $6,500. How Much are Current Home Owners Eligible to Receive? The tax credit program includes a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years. Can Homebuyers Claim the Tax Credit in Advance of Purchasing a Property? No. The IRS has recently begun prosecuting people who have claimed credits where a purchase had not taken place. Can a Taxpayer Claim a Credit if the Property is Purchased from a Seller with Seller Financing and the Seller Retains Title to the Property? Yes. In situations where the buyer purchases the property, even though the seller retains legal title, the taxpayer may file for the credit. Some examples of this would include a land contract or a contract for deed. According to the IRS, factors that would demonstrate the ownership of the property would include: 1. Right of possession, 2. Right to obtain legal title upon full payment of the purchase price, 3. Right to construct improvements, 4. Obligation to pay property taxes, 5. Risk of loss, 6. Responsibility to insure the property, and 7. Duty to maintain the property. Are There Other Restrictions to Taking the FTHB Credit? Yes. According to the IRS, if any of the following describe a homebuyer’s situation, a credit would not be due:
Can Homebuyers Purchase a Home from a Step-Relative and Still be Eligible for the Credit? Yes. As long as the person they buy the home from is not a direct blood relative, the purchase would be allowed. If a Parent (Who Will Not Live In The Property) Cosigns for a Mortgage, Will Their Child Still be Eligible for the Credit? Yes, provided that the child meets the other requirements for the tax credit. Please contact me if you have questions or are ready to buy or sell. Paul Dumke Real Estate Consultant Core Real Estate 269-921-1125 SWMIRealtor@gmail.com Add Comment Real Estate Market in Berrien County 01/09/2010
The leaves are gone, fall havest is in, SNOW is here for sure. The Real Estate market here appears to have hit bottom and has the slightest upward movement. Unit sales have been up due to incentives and just plain old "good deals". The Commercial sector has been a somewhat busy, offering investment opportunity with many more land contract deals available than in the recent past. Residential range up to $150,000 is where the first time buyers are cherry picking the market attempting to take advantage of the available tax credit. Many opportunities awaite the second home buyers, especially in the next six months. Many current owners are looking to shed the extra expenses of the retreats and many locals are struggling with employment. Harbor Country and Southwest Lower Michigan's Lakes, Wineries, and charm are sure to assist values to rebound quicker than other surrounding areas. Paul Dumke Real Estate Consultant SWMIRealtor@gmail.com 269-921-1125 First Post! 01/09/2010
Start blogging by creating a new post. You can edit or delete me by clicking under the comments. You can also customize your sidebar by dragging in elements from the top bar.
| AuthorREALTOR, ABR, E-Pro, Notary Public, Treasurer and Chairman of Public Relations Southwest Michigan Association of REALTORS. ArchivesCategories |
RSS Feed