An overview of the enhanced home buyer tax credit

The $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit has been extended into the year 2010, and now "long-time" home owners who sell one home and buy another are eligible for a $6,500 tax credit. A long-time home owner is defined as someone who has owned and occupied a home as a primary residence for at least 5 consecutive years out of the previous 8 years.

Tax payers who plan to claim the credit need to have a binding contract by April 30th 2010, and must close on their property by June 30th 2010.

If you're planning to take advantage of the tax credit, we recommend you plan on making your offer by April 1st. In case your offer does not get accepted, you'll want to allow yourself some time to find another property that meets your needs. And don't forget right now is a great time to shop for a home. Buyer traffic is lower right now than at any other time during the sales year. That means less competition from other buyers and more leverage with sellers.

For more information on the enhanced tax credit, you can check out this article on the buying real estate page at DaneCountyMarket.com.

Dan Miller, Realtor, Certified Distressed Property Expert, Keller Williams Realty and DaneCountyMarket.com