Senate Passes Homebuyer Tax Credit…

By • November 4th, 2009

Today the US Senate passed the Homebuyer Tax Credit witha 98 to 0 vote. The credit is included in the Unemployment Bill. In order for it to be effective The house must still pass this legislation and then President Obama must sign it into law. It is generally expected to be to The President by the end of the week.

In essence, the bill extends the $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit through April 30, 2010 and provides a $6,500 credit to new purchasers who have lived in their current residence for five or more years.

In Corvallis, Albany and Philomath, this should help create movement in the housing market by assisting the mid-range of the market to move-up into the currently slow upper range; assisting owners of lower cost “entry level” homes to move into the mid-range; thus, freeing up entry level housing for first time homebuyers.

Exciting news for the real estate industry in Oregon; and good news for buyers and sellers in Corvallis, Albany and the surrounding communities in the Willamette Valley of Oregon.

The extension was expected in late October, but has been slow in coming…

“People are going to wonder, how is it, that something that is just common sense and fairness should take so long to make its way through the United States Congress,”‘ Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said after the vote.

Key Provisions of the Bill Follow (Provided by Teresa “Terry” Estergard, Wells Fargo Bank):

HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT SUMMARY
S.A. 2712 would:

  • Extend through April 30, 2010 the tax credit for first-time homebuyers (up to $8,000 or up to 10 percent of the purchase price of the residence), allowing 60 days to close, provided that the homes are under a binding contract by that date;
  • Provide homebuyer tax credit of up to $6,500 to owners who have been in the same principal residence for five consecutive years during the previous eight years;
  • Increase the income limitations to $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for joint filers;
  • Phase out the credit for individuals with incomes above $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for joint filers at the same rate as current law (over the next $20,000);
  • Limit the credit to purchases of principal residences equal to or less than $800,000;
  • Eliminate the 36-month recapture requirement for military personnel, including members of the Foreign Service and intelligence community, forced to sell as a result of an official extended duty of service; and
    Extend the tax credit for one year for military personnel serving outside the United States for at least 90 days in 2009 or 2010.
  • S.A. 2712 would also include anti-fraud language. The measure would not extend the credit to taxpayers under the age of 18 on the date of purchase unless that person is married to a taxpayer above the age of 18. The amendment would also require a properly executed copy of the settlement statement to be attached to the tax return. Moreover, the substitute would expand the restriction on a residence acquired from a family member to include a residence acquired from a spouse’s family member.
  • S.A. 2712 would also extend math and clerical error authority to the Internal Revenue Service. 

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