Posted
Following a 98-0 vote in the Senate, the House of Representatives has overwhelmingly agreed to pass legislation extending the home buyer tax credit until April 30, 2009. Next the bill will head to the desk of President Obama to be signed into law.
No one argues the extension of the tax credit has value to the marketplace. But what other immediate steps must be taken --- either by government or industry --- to create a sustained housing recovery?
It is universally expected that interest rates will rise next year when the Fed is expected to stop purchasing MBS next year. How high, how quickly is a matter for debate.
What is not debatable is the negative impact of higher rates and an ever shrinking credit box. The extension of the Homebuyer Tax Credit will serve to soften these blows. However, a sustained recovery in the housing market must have two key components
1) Stable Employment
2) Access to Credit
In the absence of either the single shot tax credit will have limited impact. The tax credit is positive but not a universal solution.