$8,000 1st time home buyers tax credit - the clock is ticking

I have a tool for all of you 1st time home buyers out there sitting on the fence about buying a home. It's a countdown widget you can put on your desktop that will remind you just how many days are left until you've missed getting an $8,000 TAX CREDIT from the U.S Government.

I don't know about you but I sure don't want to miss any opportunity to take advantage of someone wanting to give me money. And $8,000? That to me is a good chunk of change.

Just imagine what you could do with that money.. You could use it for new furnishings in your new home (AND you'd be helping the economy too right?) Now you could save it for a rainy day - I'm sure you'd be happy when that rainy day rolls around but that option may not be so enticing right now...

OR you could grab your partner and plan an amazing trip say to Hawaii! Whatever you can dream doing with that money - just don't let the opportunity pass you by because you don't know where to start.

Just this week I've had 2 calls from 1st time home buyers wanting to know if they could get that $8,000 tax credit for real... Granted - there are qualifications that you need to fulfill. Here's a recap:

• The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.
• The tax credit does not have to be repaid.
• The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
• The credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
• Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit

So what are you waiting for? Call a REALTOR®. Find someone you can sit down and talk with. Ask them if they would refer you to a good mortgage lender. Your REALTOR® will have the expertise to make your 1st time home buying experience a pleasant one.

But hurry that clock is ticking! Don't wake up December 1st from a terrible nightmare... I'm afraid many will...