Where are the First Time Home Buyer’s Checks?

John — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:21:07 +0000

With the recent talk of raising the first-time homebuyer’s credit, one important question is still open: why are the current checks taking so long to go through? No one expects the tax credit to be instantaneous, and of course the IRS will need to validate each claim. But reports of delayed tax credits are pouring in — and when the tax credit is a key part of financing a new home, this has people nervous.

One online commenter complained of a 12-week wait for the check, which hadn’t arrived yet.
Other commenters are asking when the check will arrive — the answers indicate that it takes ten to twelve weeks, but there’s lots of confusion nonetheless.
Other estimates for how long the credit takes imply a wait of 12-16 weeks.
Some people are even less lucky. One of them had to wait fourteen weeks — to find out that he needed to send the IRS more information.

Some people are in no mood to wait for the check. Several states have found a way around this: HUD is starting to lend people money backed by the tax credits, for certain mortgages. And several states have taken matters into their own hands: here is a list of states that lend new homeowners money to tide them over until the tax credit arrives. For many new home buyers, this can be a good way to stay afloat, but in most cases, it’s best not to rely on that tax credit as the only way to close a new home purchase.

RapidTax Blog » State Taxes

Where are the First Time Home Buyer’s Checks?