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Friday, March 26th, 2010Governor Schwarzenegger today signed AB 183 providing $200 million for home buyer tax credits. The bill allocates $100 million for qualified first-time home buyers who purchase existing homes and $100 million for purchasers of new, or previously unoccupied, homes.
Eligible taxpayers who close escrow on qualified principal residences between May 1, 2010 and December, 31, 2010, or who close escrow on a qualified principal residence on and after December 31, 2010 and before August 1, 2011, pursuant to an enforceable contract executed on or before December 31, 2010, will be able to take the allowed tax credit.
This credit is equal to the lesser of 5 percent of the purchase price or $10,000, taken in equal installments over three consecutive years. Under the bill, purchasers will be required to live in the home as their principal residence for at least two years or forfeit the credit (i.e. repay it to the state). Buyers also must be at least 18 years old and be unrelated to the seller. First-time buyers are defined as those who have not owned a home in the past three years.
Any details on when offers need to have been written? I am thinking specifically about buyers who wrote offers months ago on Short Sales and which may not be in escrow before April 30, 2010.
Hi Michelle!
Nothing in the legislation about when the offer needs to be written. Escrow has to close between May 1, 2010 and Dec 31, 2010 (and there is a provision that extends this to Aug 1, 2011 if there is an enforceable contract on or before Dec 31, 2010). And they have to be a first time buyer, or purchasing a new or never occupied property.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Caylyn
*** TAX Credit AB 183 violates first-come, first-served basis***
The AB 183 statement: “The tax credit will be available to buyers on a first-come, first-served basis and is applied in equal amounts over a period of three taxable years.”
At that time most people believed that it would be the same as IRS Credit for first time home owner.
I bought my first home and closed escrow account on 05/19/2010. My realtor as well as the escrow employees did not know about this 14 days limit to submit the application. No body told me about that until I visited FTB website on 06/07/2010. Even though, it was 5 days late, I faxed my application on that day. And my application was denied.
I believe it is unfair practice. It is unfair because it is not a first-come, first-served basis as the law said. I submitted application and bought a house first, but my application was denied because 14 day limit. Whereas, other homeowners bought a house after me and submitted application after me, but their application were approved.
FTB should announce clearly and widely on radio, TV, not only on its website and should allow the time enough for the information reach the recipients.
FTB should do more and clear because normal people may assume it is the same as IRS. Moreover, two-week limitation is too short .
What do you think if the Right to speech have a limit “you cannot critize the government?” like Chinese communist? What a ridiculous bill!
If you visit this web site on 03/26/2010 you can see no info about 14 days limit law of FTB.
http://california.realestaterama.com/2010/03/26/governor-schwarzenegger-signs-10000-homebuyer-tax-credit-legislation-ID0583.html
FTB 14 days annoucement
http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/new_home_credit.shtml?WT.mc_id=HP_Feature_HomeCredit_Hed