Earlier this month, President Obama signed the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, extending and expanding the first-time home buyer tax credit and offering some assistance to existing homeowners.

To help consumers who are considering purchasing a primary residence, Coldwell Banker Holtan Real Estate in Albert Lea has summarized the details of this new legislation and what it means for those thinking about entering the market:

The tax credit is now available for first-time home buyers and select homeowners. A first-time home buyer is defined as an individual who has not owned a principal residence during the three year period prior to the purchase. For married taxpayers, the law tests the homeownership history of both the home buyer and his or her spouse. For example, if you have not owned a home in the past three years but your spouse has owned a principal residence, neither you nor your spouse qualifies for the first-time home buyer tax credit. However, consumers should note that ownership of a vacation home or rental property not used as a principal residence does not disqualify a buyer as a first-time home buyer.

A qualified homeowner is defined as someone who has owned and resided in a home for at least five consecutive years within the last eight.

The maximum credit amount for first-time home buyers is $8,000; the maximum credit amount for current homeowners is $6,500. The federal tax credit amounts to 10 percent of the cost of the home, up to a maximum credit of $8,000 for first-time homebuyers and $6,500 for current homeowners. Under the new legislation, a tax credit may only be awarded on homes purchased for $800,000 or less.

In other words, if a home costs $60,000, the allowable credit for both a first-time homebuyer and a current homeowner would be $6,000. If a home costs between $80,000 and $800,000, then the allowable credit for a first-time homebuyer would be $8,000 and for a current homeowner, $6,500.

Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with a joint income up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit. Individuals whose Form 1040 filing status is “single” are eligible for the tax credit if their income is no more than $125,000. Individuals who file a joint return are eligible if they have no more than $225,000 in income.

Single taxpayers who earn between $125,000 and $145,000, and married couples who earn between $225,000 and $245,000 are eligible to receive a partial credit. Individuals with incomes greater than $145,000 (single) and $245,000 (joint return) are not eligible for this tax credit at all.

The credit is available for homes purchased on or after Nov. 7, 2009 and before May 1, 2010. The federal income credit can be claimed on one’s individual or joint tax return for the purchase of any single-family home (newly-constructed or resale, single-family detached, townhomes or condominiums) between the dates of Nov. 7, 2009, and April 30, 2010. Home purchases subject to a binding sales contract signed before May 1, 2010, will also qualify for the tax credit provided closing occurs prior to July 1, 2010.

The tax credit is refundable. A refundable credit means that if the amount of income taxes a home buyer owes is less than the credit amount he / she qualifies for, the government will send a check for the difference. In essence, the credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in what taxpayers owe for the calendar year following the year they close on their home.

In other words, a first-time home buyer who qualifies for the full $8,000 tax credit and owes $5,000 in federal income taxes would owe nothing to the IRS and receive a $3,000 payment from the government. A current homeowner who qualifies for the full $6,500 tax credit and owes $5,000 would pay nothing to the IRS and receive $1,500 back from the government. If the move-up buyer is due to get a $1,000 refund, he or she would get $7,500 ($1,000 plus the $6,500 move-up buyer tax credit).

The tax credit is a true credit. It does not have to be repaid unless the homeowner sells or stops using the home as their principal residence within three years after the purchase. In that case, the full credit amount will be recouped on the sale.

Coldwell Banker Holtan Real Estate is at 305 S Newton Ave, can be reached at 373-8963 or www.cbholtan.com Coldwell Banker Holtan Real Estate has been serving Albert Lea since 2004.