This past Friday, President Obama signed into law H.R. 3548. This bill, at it’s heart a bill to extend unemployment benefits {which, by the way, is being completely overlooked as the critical step it was to help the unemployed workers in this country, but that’s a topic for another day (see, I’m overlooking it too!)} contained a roundly supported amendment to Extend and Expand the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit that was set to expire this month. Unless you were hiding under a rock, by now you’ve no doubt heard countless talking heads telling you that this bill will either (A) Save the US Economy or (B) Lead the US Economy into a head on Collision with the ever growing Mountain of National Debt.
Well, if you were looking for someone to support Choice (B), you should probably look elsewhere. But if you were looking for someone to explain just why this bill is critical to the recovery of the nation’s housing market and just may save our entire economy, then keep on reading!
The Senate voted today 98-0 to pass the HR 3548. HR 3548 is a bill that extends unemployment benefits for an additional 20 weeks and contains an amendment that extends the existing $8,000 First Time Buyer Tax Credit and adding a tax credit for Move Up buyers!
According to a quick release from The National Association of Realtors today, the Senate is voting on an amendment to Extend Unemployment Insurance Benefits. In this bill, there is an amendment titled “Dodd-Lieberman-Isakson Amendment to Extend and Expand the $8,000 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit”.
The 99 Cent effect, maybe you’ve heard of it, maybe not, but did you ever wonder why prices end in 99? Turns out there is a proven psychological effect (dating all the way back to 1800’s) with prices that end in 9. Researchers at the Rutgers School of Business found that prices ending in .99 communicate low price to consumers and consumers are then more likely to buy.