To Qualify you:

Must be in a binding contract to purchase a house prior to April 30, 2010 and settle on the purchase prior to June 30, 2010.

The Maximum Amount of the Credit is:

$8,000.00 for first time home buyers.

$6,500.00 for the “long time resident” credit. (To qualify this way, a buyer must have owned and used the same home as a principal or primary residence for at least five consecutive years of the eight-year period ending on the date of purchase of a new home as a primary residence)

You may claim an eligible 2010 credit on your 2009 or 2010 taxes.

To qualify for the full tax credit your income(MAGI) must be less than:

$125,000.00 if you are filing single.

$225,000.00 if you are filing jointly.

You cannot get the credit if:

You are a dependent.

You are buying a home  with a purchase price of more than $800,000.00.

You are under the age of 18 on the date of the purchase.

You are buying a home that is not going to be your primary residence.

Some Useful Resources:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=215791,00.html

http://www.realtor.org/home_buyers_and_sellers/2009_first_time_home_buyer_tax_credit

http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?genericContentID=128298

http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/

2009 Home Buyer Tax Credit

Everybody and their dog from TV and Radio is going to be advising you to go out and buy a house.  If you are smart and in the know you will hear it first here at the Oklahoma City Real Estate Blog. 

The Fed said Wednesday that it would put over a Trillion Dollars into the economy.

$300 Billion Dollars of Long Term Treasuries.

Another $750 Billion Dollars of Mortgage Backed Securities.

Purchase of Freddie and Fannie debt of up to $200 Billion Dollars.

Keep the Fed Fund Rates between 0 and .25 for a long time.

What does this all mean?  It means interest rates are going down and the Fed has got your back.

How do you take advantage of this.  Buy a house and find it quick.  The ridiculously low interest rates along with the First Time Home Buyer’s Tax Credit is going to heat up the market.  The builders have quit building.  There is over three years of pent up demand for housing and when they come flooding back in the supply will not be there.  I know there is a lot of supply but when you subtract all the busted up foreclosure that most do not want or can’t get financing for you have very few houses.  I will say it again there are very few good houses on the market for serious buyers and as the army of sideline buyers enter the game, prices on good homes are going to go up.  So in short, if you do not move quickly you will pay more for your house and you will be talking about the chance that you missed.  If you wait for the statistics to show this or you are waiting for all the reporters to tell you now is the time to buy a house you are going to miss the boat.  If you want to hear someone call a bottom to the housing market.  Here it goes. 

 This is the bottom of the housing market. 

If you buy a house now you will be rewarded.  There you  have it.

The new stimulus bill has been signed and in it was included the latest incarnation of The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.  So here is what you need to know.

First Time Home Buyers

First time home buyers are eligible for the tax credit.  People who have not owned a home in the last three years are considered First Time Home Buyers and are eligible for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit.

Income Limits

For the full credit you must make less than 75k if you are single and 150k if you are married.

2009

The Tax Credit is for First Time Home Buyers who purchase a home as a primary residence in 2009.

$8,000.00

The tax credit is 10% of the home purchase or $8,000.00 whichever is less.

No Payback

The old $7500.00 tax credit had to be paid back over 15 years.  The new tax credit is a freebie.  No payback as long as you live in the home for 3 years. 

Refundable

This means you get a check.   Unlike a deduction which just reduces your tax liability, the new first time home buyer tax credit drops straight to the bottom line.  Figure out what your taxes are without the credit then move the number $8,000.00 in your favor.  Example: without tax credit you owe $3,000.00.  With Tax Credit you get a sweet check for $5,000.00.

I usually like to end with a call to action like now is a great time to buy a house, but if you can’t do the math on this one then maybe you shouldn’t buy a house.  If you have any questions about the details email me.  If you are ready to get started looking for a new home email me.  Carpe Diem.

This in from the Associated Press

NEW YORK — The price of money for American consumers went on sale in a spectacular way Tuesday after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates to their lowest level on record and promised to keep them low for a long time.

In response, most banks cut the rate they charge their best customers, known as the prime rate, to 3.25 percent from 4 percent. The last time it was that low was in 1955, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

What does this mean to you as a Buyer?  It means that the money you need to buy a new house is cheap.

How Low are interest rates you ask?

Here is what a local lender here in Oklahoma City was quoting today with no points.

5% Fixed Interest Rate on an FHA Loan. And are you ready for this on a 95%LTV with a 740 FICO score we are at (drum roll please) 4.875% Fixed Interest Rate.

That is right 4.875%!

These rates are historically speaking about as low as they get. See chart below from  Freddie Mac.

Monthly Average Commitment Rate And Points On 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgages Since 1971

If you took a close look at the above table you will notice that you did not see any loans under 5% and you definitely did not see any under 5% with no points.

If you were looking for the perfect time to buy a house.  Look no Further.

It was reported today that new housing starts are at their lowest since they started tracking them in 1959.  What does that mean?  That means there are very few new houses being put out there which will lead to decreasing inventories leading to a stabilization of home prices and possibly in the near future increasing house prices.  In short it means we are at or near the bottom of housing devaluation.  Throw in the lowest mortgage interest rates ever and a $7500.00 Tax Credit and those sitting on the sideline are going to look back on today with regretful nostalgia.

Don’t miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity and I won’t have to say “I told you so.”

Search for a Home Here.

Get a Loan Quote Here.

Just thought I would write a little about the first time home buyer tax credit.  First of all it is a credit not a deduction, which means it comes straight from the bottom line.  So, if you owe $1000.00 on your taxes then with the $7500.00 credit you will receive a check for $6500.00.  A deduction comes off of your taxable income.  The credit is much better.  However in this case the credit is actually a loan that must be paid at $500.00 a year for fifteen years.  Those who do the math will realize this is interest free.  Not as great as free money but you will never get a loan with better terms.

Who is Eligible

First time home buyer is defined as a buyer who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.

Limited Time

The Tax Credit is eligible on home purchases between April 9, 2008 and July 1, 2009.

Income limit

The income limit for the full credit is $75,000.00 for singles and $150,000.00 for married people.  Partial credits may apply at higher incomes.

How Much is the Credit

The Credit is 10% of the home purchase or $7500.00 whichever is lower.

As far as I could find this tax credit does not disallow you from the tax deduction you get on mortgage interest.  So in short if you are currently throwing your money away on rent you should talk to your accountant to verify your situation and then go out and claim your little part of the world.  The time will probably never be better than right now. 

For more information you can check out the National Association of Home Buiders tax credit site at FederalHousingTaxCredit.com