Several factors might leave prospective home buyers who don’t purchase a property now wishing they had taken action sooner! RISMEDIA, March 24, 2010—Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions an individual can make. So it’s understandable that one considering a home purchase may take their time to avoid rushing into such a large financial commitment. However, several factors might leave prospective home buyers who don’t purchase a property now wishing they had taken action sooner.

The Expanded Home Buyer Tax Credit Could Chase Away the Winter Blues and everything you need to know about the extended and expanded tax credit.

By Ken Trepeta, Director, Real Estate Services Print Article

RISMEDIA, January 7, 2010—As we begin 2010, both real estate professionals and home buyers have something to look forward to and more importantly, take advantage of—the extended and expanded home buyer tax credit.

Originally created in 2008, the home-buyer tax credit has evolved from a $7,500 credit, which had to be repaid by the home buyer over the course of 15 years, to an $8,000 tax credit with no repayment required in 2009. Now, for a limited time in 2010, the $8,000 home buyer tax credit will still be available to first-time home buyers and certain current homeowners will also be eligible for a $6,500 credit.

To help everyone better understand the extended and expanded home buyer tax credit, here are some highlights of the changes.

Who can claim the credit?

“First-time home buyers” who purchase homes between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010 are eligible for the credit. 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.

For current homeowners purchasing a home during the same time frame, they are also eligible for a tax credit, so long as the home being sold or vacated was their principal residence for five consecutive years within the last eight. To elaborate, it must be the same home; it is not enough that they have been homeowners for five consecutive years, they must have been in the same home for five consecutive years.

Another key point is that the existing home does not need to be sold. One must, however, occupy the new home as a principal residence and do so for three years or risk recapture of the credit. Also, the new home does not need to cost more than the old home despite the concept that it is directed at “move up” buyers.

How much is the credit and what are the income limits?

The maximum allowable credit for first-time home buyers is $8,000 or 10% of the sales price, whichever is less. For current homeowners, it is $6,500 or 10% of the sale price, whichever is less. Under the extended home buyer tax credit, single buyers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 may receive the maximum credit.

The credit decreases for single buyers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000 and between $225,000 and $245,000 for home buyers filing jointly. The amount of the tax credit deceases 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.

What are the deadlines for qualifying for the credit?

Under the extended home buyer tax credit, as long as a written binding contract to purchase a home is in effect on April 30, 2010, and the deal is closed by July 1, 2010, one can claim the credit.

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 of the credit will be recouped on the sale. Another provision of the law waives the recapture provisions for service members who receive orders that require them to move.

Are there any other critical provisions?

-There are three provisions people should be aware of:
-There is an $800,000 limitation on the cost of the home
-The purchaser must be at least 18 years old on the date of purchase
-For a married couple, only one spouse must meet this age requirement and dependents are not eligible to claim the credit

Finally, as an anti-fraud measure, purchasers must attach documentation of purchase to his/her tax return claiming the credit. Normally this would be a copy of the HUD-1, but could include other documents memorializing the settlement.

As with all tax matters, responsibility for complying with the tax code belongs to the taxpayer. Real estate professionals should recommend that their buyers consult their tax professionals to ensure eligibility for the credit and the proper way to claim the credit. For more information including the required IRS forms please contact the Internal Revenue Service at 800-829-1040.

Ken Trepeta is the Director, Real Estate Services for the National Association of REALTORS® Real Estate Services program.

For more information, visit www.realtors.org/res.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.

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Read more: http://rismedia.com/2010-01-06/the-expanded-home-buyer-tax-credit-could-chase-away-the-winter-blues/#ixzz0c2ZlGEJR

Good News for the Upper end Homes)(Up to $800,000 and how this new tax credit was designed to assist Upper-end homes

The Christian Science Monitor suggests that the $6,500 credit may help to move houses in the higher price ranges, because the tax credit now applies to residences priced up to $800,000. The majority of homes sold during the initial tax credit program were priced at under $300,000. Only 20% were priced between $300,000 and $400,000

Since its inception in 2008, close to a million and half people have filed for the home buyer tax credit. However, despite whatever economic stimulation it may have caused, and regardless of what its costs in lost tax revenues may have been, legislators have signaled that this is likely to be the last time the tax credit will be extended.

The extension of the home buyer tax credit is official now. The $8,000 home buyer’s tax credit will be extended and the new $6,500 homebuyer’s incentive tax credit will begin. The bill is expected to be signed by President Obama on Friday, November 6, 2009. The same bill also provides a tax break for businesses that lost money, and extends unemployment benefits for another 20 weeks.

The $6,500 home buyer tax credit applies only to people who have previously owned their homes for at least 5 years and are planning to purchase a new home by or before April 30, 2010. For those who previously owned a home and purchased another one this year, the tax credit will not apply. It won’t start until the bill is signed, and it is not retroactive. So if you closed on that new home today…sorry, you’re not getting anything from the government except the standard IRS refund based on your mortgage payments and property taxes.

Most people are likely to claim the $8,000 or $6,500 dollar tax credit in their 2009 tax returns. But, an immediate refund is available to those who amend their 2008 tax returns. This time around, in order to avoid fraudulent refunds, the IRS will require those claiming the tax credit to attach proof of their new home purchase. Also, all purchasers must prove that they are over 18 years of age.

The new homebuyers tax credit also expands the income limits for buyers. The adjusted gross income limit for single taxpayers to receive full benefits has risen to $125,000, and to $225,000 for joint income tax payers.