Senators Expand Home Buyer Tax Credit, Extend Unemployment Benefits

8,000 benifit for first time buyers is great if they can actually aford the house they are buying and this does not add to a bunch of future forclosures. It would really be nice to give some kind of relief to some who are strugling to just pay their exsisting loans.

House prices are down about 100k, but 8k makes a big difference? Just Democrats and Republicans buying voters with borrowed Chinese money.

I might buy a house in the future: prices are still too high. $8000 will do nothing to make me change my mind to buy a house faster. I incidentally might benefit of more foreclosures if housing goes down, BUT at the same time, I believe, the government would make a BIGGER FAVOR to current homeowners who are in foreclosure or about to go to foreclosure and GIVE THEM the $8000 so that they can stay at least a bit longer in their houses, and perhaps, save themselves from foreclosure in the future.

Thank you Jesus for answering the prayer of all who suffer unemployment.

I cannot believe this... they finally stopped bickering about BS that doesn't have anything to do with the unemployed that have exhausted all of their benefits and are about to be homeless and passed the bill!!! AM I READING THIS RIGHT or am I going to wake up in the morning and there be another HOLE (not bump) in the road?!!! I pray this is true and how soon it will come to us is yet to be known but I pray it will be before I am homeless. I take care of my elderly mother and if I go homeless, so does she. God, please let this be true and take effect soon.

Per the Extended Benefits office here in my state, I was told it would take 4-6 weeks to implement the extension if it passed though. That the stipulations/regulations had to be broken down into terms we all understand, then the states receive the money to go to the ESC, then the profiles of each of us that have exhausted our benefits have to be reopened, all to take roughly 4-6 weeks. Let's all pray that this "emergency extension" they so call it will not take quite this much time. If so, there will be more people winding up like a local Christian couple. The husband shot and killed his wife, 17 yr. old daughter along with 15 yr. old son... and I was told it was due to financial problems. It's absolutely horrible what people have done (turned to) all due to this mess with the economy. My heart goes out to this family and their friends.

As much as I hate it when the government gives bailouts, I do think a tax break for first time homebuyers is a good move. And I'm one of those who own their own home and never got one.

I've been unemployed for over a year and a half now and my benifits are running out I don't know how me and my specials needs son will make it. Right now I really pray that this extention is true and I qualify for it.

I finally settled down and purchased a home in mid-November/2008.I took the first time home buyers tax credit of $7,500 when I filed my 2008 tax returns. The 2008 tax credit is in reality a interest free loan to be paid back in 15 installment payments over 15 years. Six weeks after the closing of the home I purchased in 2008,the 2009 first time home buyers credit increased to $8,000 and it doesn't have to be paid back at all! Now the U.S. Government has extended the 2009 first time home buyers credit to April 2010. Will the U.S.Government ever address the payback of the 2008 tax credit or are the people who bought homes in 2008 and took the tax credit out of luck.

I hope that the homebuyers benefit is extended... however I think that the stipulations for unemployment need to be revisited. I live in a place where many complain of not being able to find a job... I had 3 at one point last month and had to decide which ones to keep. McDonalds is always hiring, and if they won't hire you, then you need to re-evaluate your position in society. (I am not including those truely disabled or those forced to be at home with disabled/elderly loved ones).

What I dislike is that I bought a home in April of 2008 and was not eligible for the tax credit because I owned a 30 year old Mobile home previous to the house. Now they are talking about another credit that I wont be eligible for because I haven't lived in iot for 5 years.
I will never understand why!

Does the extension include Cobra stimulus?

They are going to let Deduction of Sales tax on purchase of a new vehicle, deduction for school teachers, reduced capital gains rate,marriage penalty tax, all expire. What are they thinking. These are a few that alot of people still need. There are people who work too that need a break. Come on government do your job!

Lord, hear our prayer that all unemployed will get the new unemployment extention immediately, and
not have to wait for weeks to get it. Turn your eyes of mercy upon us.

Let us all pray for one another.

They did this last year
there kindness is not what it seems,
The real reason will show itself
not long from.
Because we all know who made this mess in the economy and when they try to fix it nothing good comes of it.