Guest Column: House Passes Legislation Extending FTHB Tax Credit for Veterans

House Passes Legislation Extending FTHB Tax Credit for Veterans

By LaVerne Brookie, Broker Associate
Coldwell Banker

The House of Representatives voted unanimously Monday, October 12 to extend the deadline for the home buyers’ tax credit for one group of Americans. HR 3590 will allow eligible military personnel, foreign service and intelligence officers to apply for the $8,000 tax credit for one year beyond its current November 30 deadline. Those meeting the underlying requirements for the credit must also be serving overseas or have spent at least 90 days deployed outside of the country during the current calendar year. It is expected that about 350,000 military personnel and an unknown number of federal employees may be affected by the new law. The bill, introduced by Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) because it was thought that families serving overseas were being passed over for this one-time opportunity to purchase a home. There is currently a battle being waged over extending the popular credit for all eligible persons and possibly even removing the requirement that the home be a qualified first-time purchase. Many credit the current tax break for a recent surge in the housing market after months of rising inventories and falling prices. Such an extension is strongly supported by the National Association of Realtors, the National Association of Homebuilders, and other major players in the housing industry, however, many argue against it on the basis of cost.