Economic Stimulus Plan - Signed, Sealed, Delivered - A Consumer Brief

Housing and Mortgage Industries Benefit from the 2009 Economic Stimulus Plan

Signed . . . Sealed . . . Delivered . . .Tax cuts and spending programs are the target to revive the US Economy. Yes the $787 Billion Economic Stimulus Plan is signed sealed and delivered to the American people. Scaled down from nearly $1 Trillion (with a BIG T), the plan will stand as the largest anti-recession effort in the U.S. since the great World War II.

Key provisions in the plan are Tax Credits for first-time home buyers, tax incentives to jump start energy savings, repair public housing and expand housing assistance to promote neighborhood stabilization.

Keep your eye open in the coming weeks for an expanded plan to assist struggling homeowners before they are faced with foreclosure. Birds flying around Washington are reporting that the Obama Administration is looking to spend an additional $50 billion in direct assistance to homeowners struggling to keep afloat.

Below are more details of the plan in simple terms. It is my intent to help you understand the plan and provide assistance in any way.

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Tax Credit for Home Buyers

First-time home buyers who purchase homes from the start of the year until the end of November 2009 may be eligible for the lower of an $8,000 or 10% of the value of the home tax credit. Remember a tax credit is very different than a tax deduction - a tax credit is equivalent to money in your hand, as opposed to a tax deduction which only reduces your taxable income.

The tax credit starts phasing out for couples with incomes above $150,000 and single filers with incomes above $75,000. Buyers will have to repay the credit if they sell their homes within three years.

For a really great comparison and more information, please visit Larry Bettag's post.

Home Buyer Credit is Passed By Congress!!! All you need to know!!!

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Additional Housing-Related Provisions

Tax Incentives to Spur Energy Savings and Green Jobs - This provision is designed to help promote energy-efficient investments in homes by extending and expanding tax credits through 2010 for purchases such as new furnaces, energy-efficient windows and doors, or insulation.

Landmark Energy Savings - This provision provides $5 Billion for energy efficient improvements for more than one million modest-income homes through weatherization. According to some estimates, this can help modest-income families save an average of $350 a year on heating and air conditioning bills.

Repairing Public Housing and Making Key Energy Efficiency Retrofits To HUD-Assisted Housing-This provision provides a total of $6.3 Billion for increasing energy efficiency in federally supported housing programs. Specifically, it establishes a new program to upgrade HUD-sponsored low-income housing (for elderly, disabled, and Section 8) to increase energy efficiency, including new insulation, windows, and frames.

Expanding Housing Assistance-This provision increases support for several critical housing programs. It includes $2 Billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to help communities purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed, vacant properties.

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More Help for Homeowners in the Future

Another thing to keep an eye on in the coming weeks is President Obama's plan to help struggling borrowers before they are faced with a default on their mortgage.

According to reports, the Obama administration is discussing plans to help borrowers who are struggling to stay afloat, but who have not yet fallen behind on their payments. At this point, details are scarce; however, reports indicate that President Obama is looking to spend approximately $50 Billion to directly help homeowners before they face foreclosure and financial disaster.

While this is good news for individual homeowners, it will likely be good for the housing industry as a whole. That's because, assisting struggling borrowers before they default should help stop the wave of foreclosures, which are estimated to top two million this year. That, in turn, will help stabilize home prices.

The Economic Stimulus Plan is huge, and impacts a number of industries. I've highlighted some of the major provisions that may impact you now and in the future.

I truly hope that this information has been of benefit -

As always, if you have any questions or would like to discuss how this may specifically impact you, I'd be happy to sit down with you. Just call or email me to set up an appointment.

Gwenn Tanvas is a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialists who specializes in Government Programs such as FHA, State and Federal VA and USDA Rural Housing Loans. Visit her website for more information, on-line calculators and a secure on-line application. She is able to assist with transaction throughout the state of Wisconsin. Her offices are located in Appleton, Oshkosh and Green Bay and offers the convenience of one-stop shopping. http://www.WisconsinLoanTips.com or http://www.MortgageProsOfWisconsin.com she can also be reached for comment or to answer questions via email at gwennt@centurytel.net