As I have posted multiple different times, numerous members of Congress are hoping to increase this year’s new homebuyers tax credit to $15,000. Now, the American Land Title Association has also sent an open letter to congress asking them to support the increase. You can find a clip from a MarketWatch.com article covering the story below.
In a letter sent June 26 to the Senate and House, ALTA asked legislatures to extend the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit and remove income and other restrictions on who can qualify for the credit.
The Senate version of the bill, S.B. 1230, was introduced by Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and is co-sponsored by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, D-Conn. The companion bill in the House, H.R. 1245, was introduced by Rep Ken Calvert, R-Calif. Both bills are known as the Home Buyer Tax Credit Act of 2009.
The proposals would extend the home buyer credit to multi-family properties used as the borrower's primary residence, eliminate income caps of $75,000 and $150,000 on individuals and couples seeking to claim the credit. The bill would extend the current credit, which expires Dec. 31, 2009, for one year after enacted.
The idea of expanding the tax credit first surfaced in the federal stimulus bill at the beginning of the year, passed the Senate but was dropped from the final version. The legislation has gained renewed attention since a noticeable uptick in purchase transactions driven by the $8,000 tax credit.