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As the April 15 deadline to file 2009 federal tax returns approaches, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is providing answers to some of the questions home buyers are most frequently asking about the home buyer tax credit.

“NAHB’s website that provides information about the home buyer tax credit, www.FederalHousingTaxCredit.com, has received more than 8 million visits,” said NAHB Chairman Bob Jones, a builder and developer in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. “We are doing everything we can to make sure home buyers are informed about this outstanding opportunity to benefit from buying a home before it expires April 30.”

Some of the more commonly-asked questions, and the answers, include:

1. How does a home buyer claim the tax credit?

The credit is claimed when the home buyer files or amends their federal income taxes. For qualifying homes purchased in 2009 or 2010, the taxpayer must complete IRS Form 5405 and attach a copy of the settlement statement. In most cases, the settlement statement is a properly executed Form HUD-1.

In circumstances where a HUD-1 is not provided, such as purchasing a mobile home or a newly constructed home, the IRS will accept an executed retail sales contract (mobile homes) or a copy of the certificate of occupancy (new homes).

2. Does the home buyer have to sell their current home in order to qualify for the $6,500 repeat home buyer tax credit?

A home buyer does not need to sell their current home in order to be eligible for the repeat buyer credit. They can continue to own both homes, and rent or use their former home for something else, as long as it no longer serves as their principal residence. The taxpayer is required to use the new home as their principal residence, and live in it for at least 36 months, or they will have to repay the credit.

3. Do married couples both have to meet the eligibility requirements in order to claim the credit, even if they file taxes separately?

Both spouses must fully meet all the eligibility requirements for either the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit or the $6,500 repeat buyer tax credit, regardless of if they file joint or separate tax returns. However, if an unmarried couple purchases a home and only one person qualifies, the eligible person may claim the full credit.

4. Do all home purchases need to be completed by April 30, 2010, in order to be eligible for the credit?

There are two exceptions to the April 30 deadline. If the buyer enters into a binding contract by the deadline, they have until June 30, 2010, to complete the purchase. The deadline has been extended a year, to April 30, 2011, for members of the uniformed services, Foreign Service or employees of the intelligence community who have been on qualified extended duty outside the United States for at least 90 days between January 1, 2009, and April 30, 2010.

Article recently taken from RISMedia

This year has started out with a much different level of confidence than we had last year at this time.  According to the National Association of Realtors, less mortgages are becoming delinquent and going into foreclosure.  This bears well for our local real estate market and economy.  In Burlington, Vermont  and our surrounding area, we are experiencing a much better mortgage delinquency rate than in most other areas of the country.  Our deposits are ahead of last year and we are working with a number of people that are looking to purchase homes.  Business has definately picked up and we feel that the economy has taken a turn for the better.  Run a VT MLS Search or view new listings this week!

 All indications are that consumer confidence is up in Burlington, Vermont and the real estate market is more active this year than last year during the same time period. More people are thinking of making a move which will increase the inventory and buyer options on the market.

The interest rates are still extremely low and the Federal Government is still offering tax credits for those individuals that qualify and make the move in the required time frame. Don’t get left behind wishing you had done something a few months from now. Drop me a line and I can help you through the process. Contact me Brian at Brian@c21-advantage.com and I can help you with your real estate move.

View what’s on the market in Burlington, Vermont.

RISMEDIA, February 22, 2010—Nationwide housing production hit its strongest pace in the last six months this January, posting a 2.8% gain to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 591,000 units, according to figures recently released by the U.S. Commerce Department.

“Builders are starting to see the positive impacts of home buyer tax credits and other favorable buying conditions in terms of consumer demand, and are cautiously increasing production to meet that demand,” said National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Chairman Bob Jones, a home builder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

“As our latest home builder surveys have indicated, today’s excellent home buying conditions–including the availability of tax credits for first-time and repeat buyers, very favorable mortgage rates and stabilizing home values–are helping drive potential buyers back to the market,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. However, he said, “A continuing shortfall in available credit for building projects is still producing a drag on new construction and slowing the progress of recovery in housing and the overall economy.”

The overall gain in housing starts was reflected on both the single- and multi-family side this January. While single-family starts posted a 1.5% gain to a seasonally adjusted, annual rate of 484,000 units, multifamily starts posted a 9.2% gain to 107,000 units.

Meanwhile, overall permit issuance, which can be an indicator of future building activity, fell 4.9% to a rate of 621,000 units in January. This was due entirely to a 23% decline to 114,000 units on the multifamily side, which offset a big gain in that sector the previous month. Single-family permits held virtually even, with a 0.4% gain to 507,000 units.

Combined single- and multifamily housing starts rose in three out of four regions this January. The South and West each registered a third consecutive month of improvement, with 1% and 8.9% gains, respectively, and the Northeast also posted a 10% gain. The Midwest saw a 3.2% decline in overall housing starts.

Conversely, permit issuance declined in three out of four regions this January. The West was the only region to post a gain, of 8.5%, while declines of 17.8%, 20.2% and 1.3% were registered in the Northeast, Midwest and South, respectively.
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For more information, visit www.nahb.org

Source: RISMedia