Tax credit lures nearly half of all first-time buyers

According to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Zillow.com, 18% of prospective first-time homebuyers said extending the credit from Dec. 1, 2009 to Nov. 30, 2010 would be the “primary influence” in their decision to purchase a home. An additional 25% said it would be a “significant influence,” 27% said it would have “some influence,” and 31% said it would have “no influence.” Zillow projects 1.86m home buyers stand to take advantage of the program if it is extended, and if all potential buyers took the full tax credit, extending the program could cost $14.86bn.

Zillow.com chief economist Stan Humphries said of all home buyers expected under the 12-month extension through 2010, only one in five home buyers will enter the market specifically because of the extended tax credit. In other words, 334,000 mortgages will open because of the tax credit extension. “While 334,000 may seem like a small number relative to the total number of home buyers who would claim the credit, their addition to the market next year could make the difference between a robust annual increase in home sales next year and a flat or negative change in home sales relative to this year,” Humphries said.