Lawmakers Look at Home Buyer Tax Credit
October 21, 2009
Facing mounting concerns over the bleak outlook for jobs, more lawmakers on Capitol Hill last week showed interest in extending and possibly expanding the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit that is set to expire on Nov. 30.
However, political observers at NAHB cautioned that renewing the popular credit is still far from a done deal, with a number of lawmakers reluctant to act unless Congress imposes offsetting tax increases or spending cuts.
Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) were planning to offer an amendment extending and expanding the credit to a House-passed bill that would extend unemployment insurance benefits. Though it is unclear if the Senate will act on this proposal, NAHB will be urging senators to approve the amendment if it comes up for a vote.
The Isakson-Dodd proposal would extend the credit to June 30, 2010 and expand it to a wider circle of principal home buyers. It would also double the current income eligibility phase-outs to $150,000 for single taxpayers and $300,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return.
Reporting on the Isakson-Dodd plan, the Associated Press cited NAHB statistics that extending the credit for one year and expanding it to all buyers of a principal residence would spur 383,000 additional home sales, create more than 347,000 jobs and generate $16.1 billion in wages and salaries and $12.1 billion in business income. Continue reading…
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