Allison Krueger
THE PROPOSED FIRST DOWN PAYMENT HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT
Additional help could be on the way for first-time homebuyers.
For starters, the Homebuyer Tax Credit could be used to cover all or a considerable share of a buyer’s down payment. With home prices rising ever higher, any down payment assistance is welcomed when a family is looking to buy.
For years, aspiring minority and millennial homebuyers have struggled unsuccessfully to save enough for a down payment.
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Sky-high student loan payments along with ever-increasing childcare costs and other urgent needs have made the goal of buying that first home elusive for too many Americans.
Add to that the financial hardships brought upon us by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit minorities and lower-wage workers particularly hard. These demographics especially would immediately benefit. Down payment assistance – in this case, up to $15,000 – could make all the difference in helping hopeful buyers buy their first home.
Making the credit advanceable would mean buyers could access the funds upon closing.
Otherwise, they would have to wait until next year when their tax return is filed and the refund arrives.
That said, policies to increase the supply of homes are equally important.
If you look at the current housing market and mortgage data, there is upward trend.
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For instance, existing-homes sales totaled 5.64 million in 2020 – their highest level since 2006, before the Great Recession – with mortgage rates at all-time lows.
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But while demand is high, supply is registering at a 50-year low. This means home prices will continue to soar unless more residential units can be created.
So, tax and other incentives that increase supply are equally important in order to keep home prices affordable. The National Association of Realtors will continue to advocate for the building of more affordable housing because, in addition to increasing the housing supply, it will provide a boon for our economy.
As REALTORS, we are proud to help lead efforts that encourage policies and ideas that level the playing field and help all our neighbors achieve the American dream of homeownership.
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