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Change is good: $8,000 Federal tax credit now ineligible for down payment

By
Real Estate Agent with Flex Realty

Many lenders, real estate agents, and home builders applauded when HUD said it would let banks and local governments offer short-term "bridge loans" to cover the down payment for first-time buyers eligible for the tax credit. The loans would have been available to applicants for federally insured mortgages such as Federal Housing Administration loans. 

See:  Home builders see positive signs in market

Now, Federal officials have done a 180 saying that the money cannot be used as a down payment.

See:  Tax credit ineligible for down payment

To many, including myself, this money should be used to for other things than the buyer's down payment.  Without any skin in the game by homebuyers, we could end up where we are today...buyers need to have equity in their homes to make prudent decisions about their homes.

Sellers of homes in the Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Dewey-Humboldt need every bit of help they can get and welcome Federal help.  However, throwing good money after bad is in noone's best interest.

To find deals of REO, bank owned, foreclosed, short sale, and distressed homes in the Prescott AZ area: 

Posted by

Patrick Schutte
REALTOR

Comments (1)

Regina P. Brown
MBA Broker Consultants - Carlsbad, CA
M.B.A., Broker, Instructor

Patrick, I agree that buyers need to have some type of investment so they have an interest in maintaining their home!  But with that being said, here in CA it's nearly impossible to save money while you're renting, because rents are so extremely high!  So it's a catch-22 -- how to save money for a house while renting?

May 21, 2009 05:48 AM