We just received the following from the Kentucky Association of Realtors.

The Kentucky General Assembly adjourned Sine Die Wednesday, June 24, 2009.  During this special session a $5000 New Home Tax Credit was added to the economic incentives bill.  Below you will find the language and fine point regarding this New Home Tax Credit.  We are working with the Home Builders to gather the details of Tax Credit and will notify you once we have this information.

To view the bill, continue reading:

SECTION 104.   A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 141 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

(1)           As used in this section:

(a)  "Approved time" means three hundred sixty-five (365) days beginning thirty (30) days after the effective date of this Act;

(b)  "New home tax credit cap" means a maximum of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) allocated to qualified buyers on a first come, first served basis;

(c)  "Purchase" means a point within the approved time when escrow closes between the qualified buyer and the seller of the qualified principal residence;

(d)  "Qualified buyer" means a resident who:

1.      Purchases a qualified principal residence; and

2.      Is not eligible to receive the first-time homebuyer credit allowable under Section 36 of the Internal Revenue Code; and

(e)  "Qualified principal residence" means a single-family dwelling which is:

1.      Either detached or attached;

2.      Certified by the seller as having never been occupied; and

3.      Purchased to be the principal residence of the qualified buyer for a minimum of two (2) years.

(2)  (a)        There is hereby created a one (1) time, nonrefundable new home tax credit against the tax imposed by KRS 141.020, with the ordering of credits as provided in Section 30 of this Act.

(b)  The credit shall apply to the tax liability of a qualified buyer who purchases a qualified principal residence within the approved time.

(c)  Within seven (7) calendar days after the purchase of a qualified principal residence, the qualified buyer shall submit via fax a completed application for the new home tax credit on forms provided by the department.(d)        1.         The new home tax credit allowable to the qualified buyer shall be equal to five thousand dollars ($5,000), unless the new home tax credit cap has been reached.

2.      If the new home tax credit cap has been reached, the qualified buyer shall not receive a credit.

(e)  The new home tax credit is not refundable and any unused amount in the taxable year of the purchase cannot be carried forward or back to another taxable year.

(f)   Any credit that reduced the tax imposed by KRS 141.020 shall be repaid in total if the qualified buyer does not occupy the new home for at least two (2) years immediately following the purchase.

(3)           To administer the new home tax credit and new home tax credit cap, the department shall:

(a)  Create the application required to be filed by a qualified buyer;

(b)  Promulgate administrative regulations to administer the new home tax credit, including but not limited to:

1.      The process of recapture of the credit if the qualified buyer does not maintain the new home as his or her principal residence for two (2) years; and

2.      How to allocate the new home tax credit between unmarried co-purchasers or between married individuals who file separate returns;

(c)  Create a Web site containing the amount of the total credit allocated to date, the date the last processed application was received, and the remaining credit available to qualified buyers;

(d)  Establish a dedicated telephone line to receive faxed applications;

(e)  Allow the date and time stamp from the faxed application as the order within which the application was received; and

(f)   Notify the qualified buyer of the allowable credit available to the qualified buyer by a credit allocation letter, which shall be submitted by the qualified buyer with his or her return.

(4)           The application for the new home tax credit shall be void if:

(a)  The home has been previously occupied;

(b)  The application is not received within seven (7) calendar days from the purchase; or

(c)  The application is received after the new home tax credit cap has been reached.

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Mike Parker has been helping families buy and sell real estate in Northern Kentucky for over 23 years now! In 2008 Mike was awarded HUFF Realty's most prestigious award, The Life Time Achievement Award and HUFF Realty's Hall of Fame award. Mike is the only agent in North America who is in the RE/MAX Hall of Fame and the HUFF Realty Hall of Fame.

June 30, 2009 is the deadline for amending 2008 Tax Returns to get quick payment on the $8,000 tax credit.  "Eligible first time homebuyers who purchase a principal residence after Dec.31, 2008, and before July 1, 2009, may elect to treat the purchase as made on December 31, 2008.  The first-time homebuyer credit phases out for individual taxpayers with modified AGI between $75,000 and $95,000 ($150,000 - 170,000) for joing filers for the year of the purchase."

Below is an article from the Federal Housing Tax Credit Website regarding frequently asked questions on the $8,000 tax credit.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 authorizes a tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.

The following questions and answers provide basic information about the tax credit. If you have more specific questions, we strongly encourage you to consult a qualified tax advisor or legal professional about your unique situation.

1. Who is eligible to claim the tax credit?
   First-time home buyers purchasing any kind of home-new or resale-are eligible for the tax credit. To qualify for the tax credit, a home purchase must occur on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009. For the purposes of the tax credit, the purchase date is the date when closing occurs and the title to the property transfers to the home owner.
2. What is the definition of a first-time home buyer?
   The law defines "first-time home buyer" as a buyer 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/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, unmarried joint purchasers may allocate the credit amount to any buyer who qualifies as a first-time buyer, such as may occur if a parent jointly purchases a home with a son or daughter. 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.
3. How is the amount of the tax credit determined?
   The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home's purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
4. Are there any income limits for claiming the tax credit?
   Yes. The income limit for single taxpayers is $75,000; the limit is $150,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. The tax credit amount is reduced for buyers with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of more than $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. The phaseout range for the tax credit program is equal to $20,000. That is, the tax credit amount is reduced to zero for taxpayers with MAGI of more than $95,000 (single) or $170,000 (married) and is reduced proportionally for taxpayers with MAGIs between these amounts.
5. What is "modified adjusted gross income"?
   Modified adjusted gross income or MAGI is defined by the IRS. To find it, a taxpayer must first determine "adjusted gross income" or AGI. AGI is total income for a year minus certain deductions (known as "adjustments" or "above-the-line deductions"), but before itemized deductions from Schedule A or personal exemptions are subtracted. On Forms 1040 and 1040A, AGI is the last number on page 1 and first number on page 2 of the form. For Form 1040-EZ, AGI appears on line 4 (as of 2007). Note that AGI includes all forms of income including wages, salaries, interest income, dividends and capital gains.
   
   To determine modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), add to AGI certain amounts of foreign-earned income. See IRS Form 5405 for more details.
6. If my modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is above the limit, do I qualify for any tax credit?
   Possibly. It depends on your income. Partial credits of less than $8,000 are available for some taxpayers whose MAGI exceeds the phaseout limits.
7. Can you give me an example of how the partial tax credit is determined?
   Just as an example, assume that a married couple has a modified adjusted gross income of $160,000. The applicable phaseout to qualify for the tax credit is $150,000, and the couple is $10,000 over this amount. Dividing $10,000 by the phaseout range of $20,000 yields 0.5. When you subtract 0.5 from 1.0, the result is 0.5. To determine the amount of the partial first-time home buyer tax credit that is available to this couple, multiply $8,000 by 0.5. The result is $4,000.
   
   Here's another example: assume that an individual home buyer has a modified adjusted gross income of $88,000. The buyer's income exceeds $75,000 by $13,000. Dividing $13,000 by the phaseout range of $20,000 yields 0.65. When you subtract 0.65 from 1.0, the result is 0.35. Multiplying $8,000 by 0.35 shows that the buyer is eligible for a partial tax credit of $2,800.
   
   Please remember that these examples are intended to provide a general idea of how the tax credit might be applied in different circumstances. You should always consult your tax advisor for information relating to your specific circumstances.
8. How is this home buyer tax credit different from the tax credit that Congress enacted in July of 2008?
   The most significant difference is that this tax credit does not have to be repaid. Because it had to be repaid, the previous "credit" was essentially an interest-free loan. This tax incentive is a true tax credit. However, home buyers must use the residence as a principal residence for at least three years or face recapture of the tax credit amount. Certain exceptions apply.
9. How do I claim the tax credit? Do I need to complete a form or application?
   Participating in the tax credit program is easy. You claim the tax credit on your federal income tax return. Specifically, home buyers should complete IRS Form 5405 to determine their tax credit amount, and then claim this amount on Line 69 of their 1040 income tax return. No other applications or forms are required, and no pre-approval is necessary. However, you will want to be sure that you qualify for the credit under the income limits and first-time home buyer tests. Note that you cannot claim the credit on Form 5405 for an intended purchase for some future date; it must be a completed purchase.
10. What types of homes will qualify for the tax credit?
    Any home that will be used as a principal residence will qualify for the credit. This includes single-family detached homes, attached homes like townhouses and condominiums, manufactured homes (also known as mobile homes) and houseboats. The definition of principal residence is identical to the one used to determine whether you may qualify for the $250,000 / $500,000 capital gain tax exclusion for principal residences.
11. I read that the tax credit is "refundable." What does that mean?
    The fact that the credit is refundable means that the home buyer credit can be claimed even if the taxpayer has little or no federal income tax liability to offset. Typically this involves the government sending the taxpayer a check for a portion or even all of the amount of the refundable tax credit.
    
    For example, if a qualified home buyer expected, notwithstanding the tax credit, federal income tax liability of $5,000 and had tax withholding of $4,000 for the year, then without the tax credit the taxpayer would owe the IRS $1,000 on April 15th. Suppose now that the taxpayer qualified for the $8,000 home buyer tax credit. As a result, the taxpayer would receive a check for $7,000 ($8,000 minus the $1,000 owed).
12. I purchased a home in early 2009 and have already filed to receive the $7,500 tax credit on my 2008 tax returns. How can I claim the new $8,000 tax credit instead?
    Home buyers in this situation may file an amended 2008 tax return with a 1040X form. You should consult with a tax advisor to ensure you file this return properly.
13. Instead of buying a new home from a home builder, I hired a contractor to construct a home on a lot that I already own. Do I still qualify for the tax credit?
    Yes. For the purposes of the home buyer tax credit, a principal residence that is constructed by the home owner is treated by the tax code as having been "purchased" on the date the owner first occupies the house. In this situation, the date of first occupancy must be on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
    
    In contrast, for newly-constructed homes bought from a home builder, eligibility for the tax credit is determined by the settlement date.
14. Can I claim the tax credit if I finance the purchase of my home under a mortgage revenue bond (MRB) program?
    Yes. The tax credit can be combined with the MRB home buyer program. Note that first-time home buyers who purchased a home in 2008 may not claim the tax credit if they are participating in an MRB program.
15. I live in the District of Columbia. Can I claim both the Washington, D.C. first-time home buyer credit and this new credit?
    No. You can claim only one.
16. I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I claim the tax credit?
    Maybe. Anyone who is not a nonresident alien (as defined by the IRS), who has not owned a principal residence in the previous three years and who meets the income limits test may claim the tax credit for a qualified home purchase. The IRS provides a definition of "nonresident alien" in IRS Publication 519.
17. Is a tax credit the same as a tax deduction?
    No. A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in what the taxpayer owes. That means that a taxpayer who owes $8,000 in income taxes and who receives an $8,000 tax credit would owe nothing to the IRS.
    
    A tax deduction is subtracted from the amount of income that is taxed. Using the same example, assume the taxpayer is in the 15 percent tax bracket and owes $8,000 in income taxes. If the taxpayer receives an $8,000 deduction, the taxpayer's tax liability would be reduced by $1,200 (15 percent of $8,000), or lowered from $8,000 to $6,800.
18. I bought a home in 2008. Do I qualify for this credit?
    No, but if you purchased your first home between April 9, 2008 and January 1, 2009, you may qualify for a different tax credit. Please consult with your tax advisor for more information.
19. Is there any way for a home buyer to access the money allocable to the credit sooner than waiting to file their 2009 tax return?
    Yes. Prospective home buyers who believe they qualify for the tax credit are permitted to reduce their income tax withholding. Reducing tax withholding (up to the amount of the credit) will enable the buyer to accumulate cash by raising his/her take home pay. This money can then be applied to the downpayment.
    
    Buyers should adjust their withholding amount on their W-4 via their employer or through their quarterly estimated tax payment. IRS Publication 919 contains rules and guidelines for income tax withholding. Prospective home buyers should note that if income tax withholding is reduced and the tax credit qualified purchase does not occur, then the individual would be liable for repayment to the IRS of income tax and possible interest charges and penalties.
    
    Further, rule changes made as part of the economic stimulus legislation allow home buyers to claim the tax credit and participate in a program financed by tax-exempt bonds. Some state housing finance agencies have introduced programs that provide short-term credit acceleration loans that may be used to fund a downpayment. Prospective home buyers should inquire with their state housing finance agency to determine the availability of such a program in their community.
    
    The National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) has compiled a list of such programs, which can be found here.
20. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development has announced that HUD will allow "monetization" of the tax credit. What does that mean?
    It means that HUD will allow buyers to apply their anticipated tax credit toward their home purchase immediately rather than waiting until they file their 2009 income taxes to receive a refund. These funds may be used for certain downpayment and closing cost expenses.
    
    Under the guidelines announced by HUD, non-profits and FHA-approved lenders will be allowed to give home buyers short-term loans of up to $8,000.
    
    The guidelines also allow longer term loans secured by second liens to be used by government agencies, such as state housing finance agencies, to facilitate home sales.
    
    Housing finance agencies and other government entities may issue tax credit loans, the funds of which home buyers may use to satisfy the FHA 3.5% downpayment requirement.
    
    In addition, approved FHA lenders will also be able to purchase a home buyer's anticipated tax credit to pay closing costs and downpayment costs above the 3.5% downpayment that is required for FHA-insured homes.
    
    More information about the guidelines is available on the NAHB web site. Read the HUD mortgagee letter (pdf) and an explanation of the FHA Mortgagee Letter on Tax Credit Monetization (pdf).
21. If I'm qualified for the tax credit and buy a home in 2009, can I apply the tax credit against my 2008 tax return?
    Yes. The law allows taxpayers to choose ("elect") to treat qualified home purchases in 2009 as if the purchase occurred on December 31, 2008. This means that the 2008 income limit (MAGI) applies and the election accelerates when the credit can be claimed (tax filing for 2008 returns instead of for 2009 returns). A benefit of this election is that a home buyer in 2009 will know their 2008 MAGI with certainty, thereby helping the buyer know whether the income limit will reduce their credit amount.
    
    Taxpayers buying a home who wish to claim it on their 2008 tax return, but who have already submitted their 2008 return to the IRS, may file an amended 2008 return claiming the tax credit. You should consult with a tax professional to determine how to arrange this.
22. For a home purchase in 2009, can I choose whether to treat the purchase as occurring in 2008 or 2009, depending on in which year my credit amount is the largest?
    Yes. If the applicable income phaseout would reduce your home buyer tax credit amount in 2009 and a larger credit would be available using the 2008 MAGI amounts, then you can choose the year that yields the largest credit amount.

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The numbers listed below are the current numbers (as of June 1, 2009) for active listings in Northern Kentucky (per the Northern Kentucky Multiple Listing Service). 

• Single Family Residential Homes - 2821
• Residential Condominiums - 684
• Multi-Family - 165
• Single Family Lots and Land - 1153

Single family homes and residential condo's total 3505.  This is 15% less than the average of what was on the market in last 3-4 years.

The average list price in Northern Kentucky is listed below for each category:

• Single Family Residential Homes - $214,431
• Residential Condominium - $253,054
• Multi-Family - $152,545
• Single Family Lot and Land - $141,991

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