This information has been out a couple of weeks, but I still felt the need to pass it along...it is a great opportunity for first time homebuyers to get into a home this year!! The act basically give first time homebuyers up to a $7500 tax credit for buying a house (must be their first house in the last 3 years).
The tax credit is 10% of the cost of the home, up to a maximum of $7,500. So, if the home costs $65,000, your tax credit is $6,500. If the home cost $100,000, you would get a credit of $7,500. This is not an additional deduction that lowers the amount of income to be taxed, it is a tax credit. In other words, you take $7,500 off your tax bill. What if your tax bill is only $5,000? The IRS will send you the additional $2,500 as a refund. When was the last time the IRS sent you a refund because you bought something?
The loan has no interest, and will be paid back over 15 years. You get the credit on your 2008 taxes, but you start paying it back on your 2010 taxes that are due in 2011, so you get at least two years without a payment. You pay back 6.67% of the credit each year, so for a $7,500 credit the payment is $502.50 per year. If you stay put for 15 years, you pay it off with no interest.
What happens if you sell the house? You pay the balance back at the closing. So, you get $7,500 now, and pay the rest of it back if you make money on the sale of your house.
What happens if you do not make enough money when you sell your house? They forgive the rest of the debt. In other words, get $7,500 now and pay back nothing if your house only breaks even, or loses money, at closing. When was the last time you got a loan on a speculative venture where the person who gave you the loan forgave the rest of the loan if you did not make enough profit on the sale?
There are restrictions on the amount of income that you can make and still get the credit. But the restriction is $75,000 per year for a single person and $150,000 for a couple filing jointly, so the vast majority of people qualify. If you make more than that, you can still get some of the tax credit, but there are complicated rules about phasing out the credit as the income goes up. If you make that much money, you can afford to hire someone to figure out the formula.
Basically, it is a great opportunity for first time buyers to buy and get an interest free loan!! You should let everyone know about this opportunity, and if you know of someone who would benefit from this program, we can help them buy. Or if you know of someone anywhere in the country, we can help them find a great agent who can help them buy!! So pass along the information...
